Coming Home to Seashell Harbor (Seashell Harbor #1) - Miranda Liasson Page 0,34

Really mattered, more than she’d realized.

Part of what had attracted her to Cooper was how beloved he was—by everyone. Yet his popularity hadn’t guaranteed him to be a good-hearted person.

Cam had a big personality too—but when she’d fallen in love with him, he hadn’t had fame or money. She’d just loved…him. But he’d left her too. And she needed to understand why so it didn’t happen again.

He heaved a sigh. “I figured it was just a matter of time before you broke it off with me.” He paused. “I wasn’t from an old town family. I didn’t belong to a country club. You were into leaving for NYU and I…I felt like a country bumpkin. I didn’t get my scholarship because of my smarts. I butted and tackled and pushed my way through the dirt to get a ride to college.”

None of that had mattered to her. It hadn’t mattered to her parents either, who’d loved Cam from the start because he’d been bright and ambitious and driven. Their concerns had been more about how fame and stardom would impact their relationship.

“I never cared about how much money you had.” Looking at him was a huge mistake. Those beautiful eyes of his were full of something she’d rather not see. The truth.

“I was a scared kid who had no idea how far I could go. I had to prove myself.” He shrugged. “I’m not making excuses for being a dumb kid.”

“I loved you, Cam.” She still couldn’t tear her gaze away from his face. “A lot.”

“I loved you too.” He took her hand. “And I’m sorry I hurt you.” She was caught up in the warmth of his hand holding hers, in the tender look in his eyes telling her that he meant it.

“Thank you—for saying that.” Her voice came out low and strange, choked up. She went to pull her hand away, sensing that something between them had shifted. Something that had nothing to do with high school love or teenage insecurities or resolving their long-ago past.

How could she tell him that hearing his explanation had closed a very old wound—one from years of wondering, maybe. But if she were completely honest, it had done something else. Opened the crack in her heart she was trying very hard to keep closed. The one that kept her from letting him in.

For a moment, she was mesmerized, lost in the heat of his gaze, in the feel of his strong hand over hers. She hadn’t felt this—this force—whatever it was between them that she’d always been helpless to resist—in all these years. Not like this.

She swiped her eyes on her arm so he wouldn’t see her getting emotional and stood up fast, looking down the beach. “Oh, Bowie’s wandering off. I better go grab him.”

The old dog hadn’t budged more than a few feet from where he’d been frolicking in the surf. And Jagger sat on the shore, chewing on a big chunk of driftwood. But she needed to step away, to break the strange connection still sparking between them.

Suddenly a man in salmon-colored shorts and a collared shirt patterned with rows of tiny whales approached. “Hey, Cam.” He handed him a bright green drink. “We’ve been looking all over for you. I brought you a Camminator.”

A Camminator? What the…

Cam touched her lightly on the elbow, sending an unwelcome shiver through her. “Hadley, this is my agent, Ian Felding. Ian, my friend Hadley. We…grew up together.”

“A pleasure,” Ian said, barely acknowledging her. “Cam, our investors are finally talking money. This is going to be huge. They’re really excited to work with us on this. Oh, and they brainstormed a name. They came up with Cammareri 1.0 for the flagship, and then each restaurant afterward would count upward from there. Isn’t that cool?” He hiked his thumb in the direction of the bungalows. “I think you should get back up there as soon as you can.” He turned to Hadley. “Nice to meet you, Hailey.”

“I’ll be right there.” As Ian headed back up the beach path, Cam turned to her. “I’ve got a little group of businesspeople up there. Everyone’s discussing the restaurant. Guess I’d better go.”

Cammareri 1.0 ran through Hadley’s mind as they walked back up the path in silence. It was the most impersonal name for a restaurant she’d ever heard, but it wasn’t her business to tell him so. While she’d been caught up in reminiscing, he’d been furthering his plan to take over the Palace without missing a