Coming Home to Seashell Harbor (Seashell Harbor #1) - Miranda Liasson Page 0,30

want? “I want to help my grandmother get her business back together. And her confidence. If she does want to sell, I want her to leave the business from a position of strength. And I want to walk dogs and pet dogs and be out of the spotlight until I figure out what I want.”

Whoa. Where had all that come from? Clarity from good friends, no doubt.

“Sounds like you made a decision.” Darla got up and walked over to Hadley.

“Here. Take this.” She held out her palm, which held the fabulous ring. The facets of the stone sparkled, catching the bright light from the windows. The dainty silver filigreed base looked both vintage and feminine. It was a beautiful ring.

Hadley pushed Darla’s hand back. “You’re silly. I can’t take your heirloom ring!”

Darla gripped her wrist. “Had, listen to me. Take it to remind you to make authentic decisions. To be bold. To act from your strengths, not to do what you think you should do because of what other people want.”

“Darla’s right,” Kit said. “You should wear it. It might help you sort out your life.”

Hadley looked from one friend to the other before giving a resigned sigh. “Okay, fine.” If it worked, Hadley would thank her friends, the would-be psychologist and the passionate, independent free thinker.

Darla dropped the ring into her palm and closed her fingers over it. “Have an amazing summer.”

“To summer!” Kit held up her glass.

“May we all have an amazing summer,” Hadley echoed, reluctantly slipping on the ring. And whatever it may bring.

Chapter 8

Cam, come over here.” Cam’s longtime agent, Ian Felding, walked over to him that evening, crossing the deck of the little bungalow Cam was renting. “Let me introduce you to some people.”

Cam bent to grab a few beers from an ice chest. His bad knee caught him off guard, but he reclaimed his balance and held back a wince before smiling and handing Ian a beer.

“We’ll make the lady an offer she can’t refuse,” Ian said. “It will be a win-win for everybody. The restaurant team is thrilled.”

“Wait—you told the team I had the building?” Cam asked. It was far from a done deal.

“Relax.” Ian held up the beer. “We’ve got this. Everything is going to come together.”

A server wearing black and white held up a tray of hors d’oeuvres as about twelve people milled around in small groups. A small bar was set up in the corner of the patio so people could enjoy the unobstructed ocean view, with the sun just setting and stars already dotting the sky. Cam didn’t mind the setup, but poor Bowie had been booted out of his usual resting place near the patio furniture and seemed beside himself with all the commotion.

Ian put an arm around his shoulder. “The guys I’m about to introduce you to are the owners of Dudley and Dolittle. They’ve come all the way from LA. I think we need to emphasize that we’ve all but locked in the location.”

Cam suddenly saw Hadley’s determined face, plotting to stop him any way she could. Waves of guilt shot straight through him.

But thinking of her also reminded him of the insecure kid he’d been. Of not being good enough. Of feeling like a failure. Except, once again, he simply could not afford to fail now. He had to rebuild his life, and he had to succeed, or he’d have…nothing.

Ian pulled him back and spoke in a low voice. “We have to tell Dudley and Dolittle that we’re committed and ready. Dudley’s assistant alluded that if you’re not a sure thing, they’re going to try for Tom Brady.”

“Tom Brady?” Geez. These people didn’t mess around.

“This is the power team, as far as these deals go. Once they choose to invest, they go all the way. We have to be decisive and quick, or we’ll lose the deal.”

“Got it.” Ian did his job, and his at times unapologetic pushiness had served Cam well over the years.

He soon found himself shaking hands with Mr. Dudley. Or had Ian just introduced him as Dolittle? They even looked similar, both with expensive haircuts and slim-line suits. And they both kowtowed to him, which was phony to the max.

For the hundredth time, he glanced over at Maddy’s bungalow next door. He was almost certain Hadley would be staying there and kept waiting for a door to click, a light to turn on. But so far, nothing.

Ian introduced him to an expensively tailored suit named Rocco. “We love that the flagship