“That’d be great,” Amanda said. “I’ll only need a few minutes.” She handed Hadley’s grandmother a pill, plumped her pillow, and tossed a few more adoring glances at Cam.
“Gran, we’ll be back in a minute, okay?” Hadley said.
Cam, who had already walked over to the door, swept his arm wide. “After you.”
She tried not to glare at him as she walked past him out of the room. She felt his gaze following her, quietly assessing, predatory. It made the hair on her neck stand up. Because Tony Cammareri didn’t just look at you. He engulfed you with the intensity of his gaze.
But then, everything he’d ever done was intense. From being the offensive rookie player of the year, to going to the Pro Bowl nine times, to breaking the single season touchdown record for a tight end, to the sudden and terrifying way his career had come to a screeching halt.
She tried not to remember other things, equally as intense. The way he kissed her, as if they both had minutes to live. The way he’d whispered, soft and breathless, that she was the only one he’d ever love.
Ha. She’d believed every word he’d ever said. How could she have been so naïve?
She walked out into the brightly lit hallway, which was filled with colorful framed paintings from local grade schoolers. Down the hall, staff at the nursing station bustled about. Occasional beeps and buzzes peppered the background.
Someone walked past, calling out to Cam and asking to shake his hand, which he did with a smile.
Hadley couldn’t help but remember the days before the fame. When he was just a humble boy with killer blue eyes and a bad haircut who’d had the audacity to dream an outsized dream.
What had happened to that boy?
He leaned up against the wall and crossed his feet and his arms, kicking the sexy up another notch. “Can I say something?”
He was big as in legendary, but up close, he was physically big—tall and broad-shouldered and muscley. You could probably bounce a quarter off his chest.
Ugh. Whatever chemicals had attracted her to him years ago were apparently buzzing around in spades.
“Your grandmother is appeasing you by telling you to try and save the business,” Cam said. “My gut tells me that she wants to give it up.”
Hadley’s mouth dropped open in disbelief. The gall. “Maybe listening to your gut might’ve worked for football games, but real life is a different story.”
“She’s seventy-two, Hadley. Things have changed since you’ve been here last. Maybe she wants to retire. She deserves to retire.”
“Or maybe she’s just frightened. Maybe she panicked and got embarrassed by the negative attention. But I’m here now. You can…find another location for your restaurant. Or flirt with other young nurses.” She waved her hand in the air. “Whatever.” She shouldn’t have made this personal. But the dig just slipped out.
He ignored her. “I’m serious about opening up a restaurant at that location.”
“I’m sure you can do whatever you set your mind to. I just don’t want you doing it in my grandmother’s space.”
He didn’t say anything, just looked thoughtful, like he was musing over something. “It never would have worked out with us. Even if I hadn’t been an idiot.”
She jerked her head up, stunned. Idiot? He’d just admitted that he’d been one? Maybe she hadn’t heard right. “Why not?” she managed, swallowing hard.
“Because you fight tooth and nail.”
“For what I believe is right? Yes, that’s true. I have conviction.”
“You always did,” he said. “I always knew you’d go places. Even when I was an average Joe riding a scholarship to college.”
“You were never average.” She sucked in a breath. Why did she just say that? She felt a flush rise up her face.
“Neither were you,” he said with the slightest shrug. His gaze trailed to hers, and for a moment, they collided. Adrenaline took over, making her heart pound, freezing her in place, making it impossible to look away. She got lost in the blue of his eyes, lost in the honesty of the moment. But then she shook her head, certain it was just old remembered feelings from too long ago.
The door to her grandmother’s room opened, and Amanda popped her head out, saying they could go in now.
“Play nice,” Hadley whispered. “We’re causing her stress.” That was the last thing Hadley intended.
Cam gave her an Of course I’ll play nice gesture back.
After they filed back in, her grandmother said, “I need some time to think. In the meantime, Cam, you spell out all the plans for your restaurant. Hadley, you figure out some way to reinvigorate the business. After my mind is in a better place, I’ll consider the idea that does the most good for our town.”
Hadley glanced at Cam when he wasn’t looking. He seemed as unhappy about this as she did.
“Now, then.” Gran gestured at them like a mom trying to get two siblings to kiss and make up. “I want you two to shake on it.”
Hadley could tell from the admiring look her grandmother was giving Cam that there would be no bucking her decision. He clearly had her wrapped around his little finger, and everything about that was positively revolting.
“But, Gran—”
“Hadley, I know you want things to go back to what they were. And, Cam, I know you’re chomping at the bit with your new idea. But I need to decide what’s best for me. And hopefully that will also be the best for Seashell Harbor.”
“That sounds fair,” Cam said in a level voice.
It didn’t sound fair to Hadley. But her grandmother looked tired, and this was way too much stress. So she sucked it up for her grandmother’s benefit and held out her hand. “Okay. Let’s shake.”
“Rules are,” her grandmother said, “you both play fair with one another.”
As far as Hadley was concerned, they could easily steer clear of each other. Because she didn’t want anything to do with him. And she’d tell him so, too, just as soon as they were out of her grandmother’s hearing.
“I’m waiting.” Gran folded her arms. How could she look so formidable when she was in a pink dressing gown and a hospital bed? “You don’t have to like each other. You just have to shake.”
Hadley told herself she had to do this. Until she could really get a handle on how her grandmother truly felt. Over the next two months, she vowed to get the business into such tip-top shape, her grandmother would feel fantastic about it. Plus, her gut was telling her not to give up Pooch Palace. Not to anyone. Especially not to Cam.
Maybe he would soon move on to a more exciting challenge. Just as he’d left her.
People changed their minds all the time. Like Cooper, who’d said he’d love her forever. Turned out forever had only lasted as long as his next movie.
“May the best idea win,” Cam said.
“You bet,” she said in her most businesslike voice.
Hadley met his gaze, now impassive and unreadable compared to a few minutes ago, and stuck out her hand to get this whole thing over with.
Cam caught her hand in his big grip, his long fingers curling around her palm, warm and encompassing. His deep blue eyes met hers, confident and certain.