Page 1 of Finally Home

CHAPTERONE

CAMI

In an ideal world, she’d be dancing in the kitchen to Christmas carols, decorating cookies, and sipping on spiced cider. She’d look across the room and find her husband starting a fire while occasionally glancing her way with a come-hither stare—and she’d gladly abide. They’d cuddle on the couch and watchWhite Christmasas fat snowflakes fell outside the giant windows of their cabin.

But that was in an ideal world, where dreams came true and happily ever afters were plausible.

In the real world, though, Cami was closing up Little Fawn Outfitter and Retreat alone so her employees could get an early start to their holiday festivities with their families. She’d hike the six hundred yards to her cabin and spend the evening by herself, since she didn’t have a boyfriend, let alone a husband, to share her home with.

As if to remind her she wasn’t completely alone, Bear came trotting from his usual post by the front door of the shop just as the last employee headed out. Cami dropped to her knees and gave him a thorough belly rub. He’d always be a puppy in her eyes, but the five-year-old Great Pyrenees was anything but puppy size. He was 115 pounds of solid protector. Though you’d never know that by the way he happily greeted guests at the store, begging for attention from anyone who would give him the time of day.

Cami thumbed the money one more time before adding it to the cash drawer and locking it. When she’d finished, she raised her eyes and took her time glancing over the shop. A smile tugged at her lips. She’d built this place from the ground up on her own. It may not be her ideal world, but that didn’t mean her life wasn’t a happy one.

She had her family down the mountain in Aspen, and despite being tucked away up the mountain away from other outfitters, Little Fawn was doing well. After the holidays, business would pick back up again with the winter retreat season. She didn’t have many friends, but the ones she had were the best a girl could ask for. Still, on nights like tonight, she wished she had someone to share her life with. A man. Someone to cuddle up with in front of a fire. Someone to love.

Cami shook her head as she turned and placed the cash drawer in the safe behind the counter. The absence of a man in her life wasn’t for lack of trying. She had dated every eligible bachelor in Aspen, but none of them had stuck. And forget dating the tourists who frequented the mountain. They all had the hit-it-and-quit-it mentality. While that had been fun for a time, at thirty-two it sounded exhausting. There’d been only one man who had ever held her heart, and he’d gone and broken it in two. Since then, no man could compare. Settling for less wasn’t in her genetic makeup. She’d just have to make do on her own, and most days she was okay with that.

Her mood perked up when her favorite contemporary Christmas song blared from the shop’s radio. Usually she was a diehard for the classics, but there was something about this particular pop song that got her hips moving. She reached over, turned up the music, and danced behind the counter, circling around Bear, who had plopped down at her feet. Despite the occasional holiday blues, Cami couldn’t deny Christmas truly was her favorite time of year.

With each verse of the song, her mood improved, and she found herself looking forward to locking the door to the outfitter and decorating her cabin that evening.

“Those are some impressive moves.”

Cami jumped at the deep voice behind her. With the music turned up, she hadn’t heard the door chime. Trying to project a casual air, she turned to meet her customer. “Oh, I’m sorry. How can I—” Her mouth went dry when she recognized the man standing in front of her.

Weston fucking James.

What the hell was he doing here? Had her momentary thoughts of him somehow conjured him into existence in the middle of her store?

His mouth dropped open. Apparently she’d shocked the shit out of him too. “Red?”

Her hands lifted to her red tresses. She’d once loved the nickname he’d given her, even if it lacked originality. Now it made her want to throat punch him.

Weston James. The only man who’d ever held her heart. The reason she was unable to give it to another. He stood before her, looking as good as the day he’d left Aspen. He wore a weathered leather jacket over a green plaid shirt that made his emerald eyes pop. His jeans hung low, but damn were they snug in all the right places.

Get your mind out of the gutter, Cami.

Stunned into silence by his presence, she brought her eyes back to his and studied his face. He’d aged some, as had she. Crow’s-feet and laugh lines formed as he gave her a half smile, and a sharp pain hit her heart. He’d been happy all these years. Happy and married to that brunette Barbie doll. Facts she tried to forget but needed to remember.

“I had no idea you worked here.”

She was sure he silently added,Because if I did, I wouldn’t have entered the building.

Cami swallowed hard, finding her confidence. “I don’t. I own the place.” Which he’d know if he’d checked on her, but in the last fifteen years it clearly hadn’t crossed his mind to do so.

West took a moment to look around the shop, his gaze traveling over every display. “Damn. It’s quite a place you got here.”

Bear padded up to him to see if he could entice West into some pets. “Who’s your friend, Red?”

“That’s Bear.” She rolled her eyes as the pup slid onto his back and showed his belly. Didn’t Bear know he was the enemy?

West crouched down and laughed. “He’s not much of a guard dog, is he?”

“Not when he thinks he can get some attention, but I’d trust him with my life.”

“I’m glad you aren’t up here alone.”

Her eyes rolled clear into the back of her head. He didn’t get to care. Not anymore. “What are you doing here, West?” The words came out more sigh than question.

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