Page 16 of The Beachside Cafe 4
Alex wasn’t looking at her. He had his eyes glued to the screen in front of him. “Help with what?”
“She wanted him to do some kind of physical job for her. It was right before Russo was attacked.”
Alex glanced at her. “The plot thickens.”
“I think it’s narrowing,” Jaymee teased him. “Because we don’t have nearly as many suspects now as we did before.”
“I think you’re doing a good job zeroing in on the perpetrators, Jaymee,” Alex admitted, turning around and looking up at her with a friendly face. “I just wish it was making it easier for you to find Doug. Divorce or not, something happened to that man.”
Jaymee knew he was right but she could only go where the clues led her.
“Do you think he’s still alive?”
Alex turned away when she asked that question, mostly because she was looking at Cameron when she asked it. He raised his eyebrows.
“I have no idea, Jay. I’m sorry.”
She shook her head. “It’s okay. I was just wondering about it. Wondering if…” She hesitated. The two men were both looking at her now, their eyes compassionate, their mouths quiet. “If I would know. You know? If I would feel it. Like he’s dead. Like I should know, after being married to him for 22 years, if he’s alive or not. I should know that. If there was any kind of real marriage there… I feel like I should know if he’s alive or not.”
She knew neither of the men had a clue what to say. Alex gave her a sympathetic look and when Cameron gathered her in his arms, he turned back to his computer.
She stayed in his arms for a while, letting the warmth of his body and his strength sustain her. She felt reinvigorated by the time the long hug was over with.
She would know the truth someday.
She just had to be patient.
TEN
Jaymee looked up, enjoying the breeze that lifted her hair from her neck. She closed her eyes and breathed in the scent of the ocean.
This was one of the things she loved the most about the enormous house behind her. Doug had made sure it was on a shoreline, one of the cliffs that kept the house from getting beaten during bad weather. It was solidly built, had reinforced windows and a view unlike anything Jaymee had seen before.
She and Cameron were having dinner on the second floor veranda. They’d had a celebration dinner for Cheyenne but the girl, Russo and Alex had already left for the night. It was just her and Cameron, having a night cap and getting to know each other better.
She felt his presence behind her and a surge of desire struck her. She froze and stayed where she was, just wanting that heat to flow through her body. When he spoke, she felt a little thrill pass through her.
“I see you’ve taken your ring off.”
Jaymee pulled in a deep breath and turned to face him. She looked down between them to see he was holding a glass of red wine out to her. She smiled at him, taking it.
“Thank you.” She took a sip, not moving her eyes from his. “And yes, I took it off. I see no need to have it on anymore. Do you?”
Cameron shook his head. He reached up and brushed a few strands of hair from in front of her eyes. When his fingers brushed her cheek, Jaymee felt weak in the knees.
Her eyes were locked with his. She didn’t ever want to look away. His hand cupped her chin under her ear and he leaned toward her.
When their lips met, Jaymee felt an explosion of fireworks in her stomach. Her whole body tingled at first and then was washed over with a warmth she knew could only be love.
The kiss was long and passionate. When they separated, she felt cold. She turned her back to him and leaned on the railing that surrounded the veranda, looking out over the rippling water in the ocean, reflected by the many lights along the shoreline, as well as the bright moon in the night sky above.
He put his arms around her from behind and she closed her eyes, swinging her wine glass gently from side to side.
“I know you’ve been saying how this house is too big for you,” Cameron whispered, his breath brushing against her ear and making her tingle again, “but can you imagine not living here? Seeing this view? Being this comfortable?”
Jaymee sighed. “No, I suppose I can’t. It’s been my home for fifteen years. It’s all Cheyenne really knows.”
Cameron chuckled and replied in a teasing voice, “Cheyenne is a grown woman who has recently moved out into her own condo. What’s important now is whether you want to leave or not.”
