Cameron finished the last of her notes and closed the notebook she’d used. Arabella sat in the grass by the picnic table, scratching Creek’s head. The dog basked in the attention of his favorite human. His tongue lolled to the side of his mouth, drool dripping onto Ara’s knee. Neither girl nor dog seemed to mind the mess. A smile lifted the corners of Cameron’s mouth as she watched the pair. Though Ara’s stitches and ribs would take time to heal, eventually she’d be back to her old self.
A sound from the path across the grounds made Cameron tense. Instinctively, she shifted to shield her daughter. Though she hoped the bodies on the beach would satisfy Victor Roberts, she couldn’t count on him staying away from the clinic.
“Keke,” Ara squealed.
Creek jumped to his feet as his girl tried to rise.
“Whoa, whoa.” Keso jogged over before Ara could move more. “Who let you out of bed?” Although the words sounded accusatory, a smile softened his tone.
She beamed at her father. “Dr. Ian said fresh air is good for me.”
Keso grinned back at her. The sight of their matching smiles caused Cameron’s chest to tighten.
Ara raised her arms, wincing slightly.
“Watch those stitches, Little Bit.” Keso lifted the girl into his arms, then snuggled her to his chest.
Finally, he turned to Cameron. They hadn’t spoken alone since she’d confronted him about the plane explosion. They’d spoken cordially when passing at the clinic, but their usually easy conversation was strained. She could understand his anger. If he had nothing to do with the explosion, her accusation likely hurt. But his words and his implication that she’d somehow been glad she’d been unable to save Keira had hurt as well.
Keso narrowed his eyes. “What’s wrong with you?”
She blinked away her thoughts. “Nothing. Why?”
He sat their daughter atop the picnic table, then slid onto the bench across from her. “You look worried. Your face is doing that thing it does.” He contorted his own sun-kissed face, trying to match what he always claimed was her worried expression.
She laughed. The action felt good. She hadn’t laughed much over the past few days. Certainly not today. Between the goon’s visit and Ian’s kiss, laughing was the last thing she felt like doing.
Keso’s own face grew serious. His wide grin melted away. “There it is again. What’s wrong?”
Glancing around to make sure no one could hear them, she leaned forward. “Victor Roberts came here this morning.”
Keso’s finger’s flinched, tightening where they rested on Ara’s legs to make sure she didn’t fall. “Why? What did he want?”
Again, she scanned their surroundings. “We have Americans here. Tourists. He wanted to see if any of them were his friends from the plane.”
He leaned forward, trying to block little ears from the conversation. “You said they all…”
“They did,” she assured him. “Have you seen the wreckage? There’s no way anyone made it.”
“He doesn’t strike me as someone who would be overly concerned with his friends’ well-being.” Keso sat back, then tugged Ara’s hair, pulling a giggle from her. He smiled at the girl, but when he turned back to Cameron, his face was serious. “He’s making sure there’s no one left.”
Cam nodded. She’d thought the same thing. “Have you heard anything about who was on board or who caused the accident?” Though everyone knew the explosion had been no accident.
Keso tensed. “I told you I didn’t—”
“That’s not what I’m asking. Have you heard anything? He was here, Keso, on our island. Our safe place. Here.” She tapped the table they sat at.
Keso’s eyes widened, and his gaze darted to their daughter. “Did he see her?”
She nodded. “For a moment. Ian was bringing her to see Creek. I rushed them out, but he noticed.”
He cursed under his breath.
“Keke,” Ara admonished, ruffling his hair.
He flashed her a dimple free smile and tugged her braid. “Sorry, Little Bit.” He turned his attention back to Cameron. “Did he say anything?”
“He just asked if she was my daughter.”
This time, Keso cut off his curse. “This is what I’ve been afraid of. We’ve been stupid to think we’re safe anywhere as long as that man lives.”
“Keke,” the girl’s little voice trembled. “What’s wrong? “
When her father turned back to her, she placed her small hands on his cheeks. “Why are you mad?”
Keso’s face softened. Love poured from his eyes. “I’m not mad. Not at you,” he assured her. “I just worry.” He tucked a loose strand of hair, the same shade as his, behind her ear. “I want my girls safe. I don’t like when you get hurt.” He brushed his hand against her side, as if to remind her he had reason to worry.
“Mommy saved me.” Their daughter leaned over and kissed his forehead.
Keso closed his eyes, savoring the gesture. Cameron’s heart warmed at the obvious affection between girl and man.
“Yes, she did.” He returned her kiss with one to her cheek. “But I don’t want to risk something else happening.” He directed these last words at Cameron.
Her body tensed. Nerves danced in her belly. “Keso,” she warned.
“What did he say to you? Was he interested?”
Her mouth dropped open. “What? Why would you ask that?” He couldn’t possibly think she’d even entertain the idea of letting that son of a bitch touch her.
Instead of answering, he continued to glare at her.
“Yes,” she conceded. “He liked that I was American and Southern.”
Anger flared to life in Keso’s eyes. On most men, the gesture may be considered jealousy, but that wasn’t how Keso operated.
“He’ll be back,” he told her. “I knew if he ever saw you…”
“What are you talking about?”
“Come on, Doc. You’re beautiful and, here, you’re different from the other women, but also familiar to him. You’re a prize—a beautiful, intelligent, sophisticated prize. Getting you presents a challenge to him. He can’t ignore a challenge.”
She shook her head. A prize? A challenge? How the hell was she supposed to feel about what he said?
“Mom is a treat.” Ara giggled, pulling Cameron’s attention away from Keso’s words.
He raised an eyebrow as if to point out that even a four-year-old could tell the truth of his words. “Watch yourself,” he mouthed.
Fear slid through her veins. She didn’t want to watch herself. This island was supposed to be a place where she didn’t have to watch her back. Trouble shouldn’t be able to penetrate her haven.
The door to the clinic opened, catching Cameron’s attention. Wes marched out. Ian followed. Even from across the lawn, she could see the two were in the middle of a disagreement.
Keso turned, taking in their visitors. “What’s that all about?”
“I don’t know. Last I heard, they were getting the tourists ready to transport to the big island.” Nothing about that situation should have Wes’s face so red and Ian shooting daggers from his eyes.
Keso turned back to her. “So, the doctors will leave soon?”
She hoped so. Although grateful the two men had saved Arabella, Ian needed to go. “Another day or so,” she replied, as if she couldn’t care less either way what any of the men did.
Keso’s eyes narrowed, and his gaze focused on her face. Her lips still tingled with the memory of Ian’s kiss. She felt certain Keso could see the proof of her feelings on her face.
“You sure you’re okay?” he asked.
She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. “I’m just ready to get back to normal.”
He nodded slowly, unconvinced. Not surprising, since she hadn’t even convinced herself. Now that she’d seen Ian again, her life would never return to her newest normal.
* * *
“Wes, would you just listen?” Ian followed his colleague from the clinic into the humid island air.
The doctor stopped, then spun to face him. “No. We’ve already discussed Brodie Hunte’s care. I thought you were on board with sending him to the big island. What changed?”
The memory of Cameron’s body pressed against his and her mouth opening for him flashed unhindered into his thoughts. But the kiss hadn’t changed his mind. Although he wanted to do whatever he could to make Cameron happy, his visit with Esme had swayed him. “He moved,” he told Wes. “His wife and I were talking, and he moved.”
The other doctor rolled his eyes. “Oh, for Christ’s sake. You know as well as I do, patients have involuntary muscle spasms. You can’t base his medical care on that.”
“I’m not. His response was more than that. He reacted to his wife’s story. I’m sure of it.”
“Even if he is coming around, this isn’t the place for him. Once we leave, there will only be Cameron to watch over him. She can’t see to his care twenty-four/seven, especially with an injured child.”
Wes’s argument made sense. An unconscious patient couldn’t be left alone in a clinic, especially overnight. Arabella already begged to go home. Soon, she’d be released, dividing Cameron’s attention between home and clinic. She couldn’t give her daughter or her friend the attention they each needed.
From underneath the cropping of trees, Arabella laughed. Ian glanced over his shoulder. The girl and her father sat on one side of a picnic table, engaged in conversation. Across from them sat Cameron. When her gaze flickered to his, his stomach tensed.
“I’ll stay,” he blurted.
“You what?” Wes screeched.
Cam cocked her head, as if by doing so she’d be able to hear what they said across the clearing.
He returned his attention to Wes. “I’ll stay. I’ll help Cam give Brodie the care he needs. We can alternate shifts we can… What?”
Wes shook his head. “You won’t win her back by staying.”
“That’s not what I’m—”
“Isn’t it? She wants her friend to stay. She feels strongly about him staying. You think siding with her will win you points.”
Well, now that he thought of it…
No. Maybe he wanted to stay on the island longer. Maybe he wanted answers he still didn’t have, but he wouldn’t risk a patient’s care to get them.
“I agree with her assessment. Brodie Hunte has a better chance of recovering with his family. I saw the way he reacted to his wife. She’s the best medicine we have for him.”
The other doctor lifted his hands, letting them fall in exasperation. “That’s not medicine. That’s a wish and a prayer. Since when do we count on that?”
Ian glared at his friend. Wes knew damn well a wish and a prayer had gotten them through those last days in Africa. And no one could convince Ian all his bargaining with higher powers hadn’t brought Cameron back to him. He didn’t care if Wes believed in hope or not, Esme believed enough for her husband to survive.
“I’m staying,” he repeated.
Wes locked his jaw and placed his hands on his hips. His nostrils flared. “Fine,” he spat. “I just hope your dick doesn’t cost that woman her husband the way it’s cost you everything else.”
What the hell did that mean? The only thing Ian had ever lost had been Cameron, and that had nothing to do with his dick.
“Is everything okay here?” Cameron came to a stop next to them. “You were kind of loud. Your language,” she eyed Wes, “was a little inappropriate for tiny ears.”
Ian glanced to where Keso now carried Ara closer to the trees.
Wes cleared his throat. “I’m sorry. Ian and I were just discussing Brodie’s care.”
Cameron’s face fell. The slight smile that had tugged at her lips while chastising Wes disappeared. “You’re sending him, aren’t you?”
Wes glared at Ian, then turned back to Cameron. “No. Brodie’s staying.”
Relief washed over Cam. Her entire body slumped with the release. “Thank God.”
“And so is Ian,” Wes continued.
“Whoa. What?” Cameron’s eyes opened wide. She spun to face Ian. The relief from moments before vanished, replaced by pure panic. “No. I can handle this. Ian doesn’t need to stay.”
Not exactly the response he’d hoped for. “You’re damn good, but no one can do this alone. Brodie will need someone here around the clock. You have Ara, other patients. You can’t always be here. I’ll help.”
She shook her head hard. “There are others who will stay. They’ll help with Ara, visit with Brodie. We take care of our own.”
Her words struck him squarely in the heart, reminding him that her connections, her loyalties now lie with people who weren’t him. “I have vacation days. I’ll take them.” No matter what she said, he was staying.
“This isn’t a vacation, Ian. This is my life.”
As if he needed the reminder. Meeting her stare, he read the silent plea within the sapphire depths. She feared he’d ruin the careful life she’d created here on the island. She had reason to worry. He didn’t care who or what tried to stand between them. He’d get to the bottom of her leaving and make her come back. “I’m staying,” he repeated.
“And if I don’t want you here?”
That would hurt, but at least this time leaving would be his choice.
“Then Hunte goes to the big island,” Wes interjected. “The only way he can stay is if you have additional medical help.”
Cameron ground her teeth, causing a muscle in her jaw to bulge. Ian hoped for her molars’ sake there was a dentist nearby.
Finally, she shook her head. Resigned. “Do whatever you want. You always have anyway.” Without another word, she turned and strode away.
Neither man moved as she hurried to the clinic, then disappeared inside.
“My advice. Cut your losses and head home. She doesn’t want you.” Wes sauntered after her, leaving Ian alone except for Ara and Keso yards away.
Ian watched Cameron’s family. Keso might be Ara’s father, but he wasn’t Cameron’s lover. She hadn’t admitted they weren’t together. She didn’t have to. From the way she’d kissed Ian earlier, he knew the other man had no hold on her. It didn’t matter what Wes claimed, Ian knew the truth. Cameron still wanted him.