The Stubborn Suitor, Book 3 (The Stubborn Suitor #3)(8)
“Yeah,” Drew replied, unable to stop the smile that spread across his face as he thought about the night he’d just had.
“C’mon, tell me all about it.”
“I actually got there right in time. Her car wouldn’t start, and she needed to pick up her daughter from her ex’s house. So I gave her a ride.”
“Did you get to meet the scumbag?” Elsie asked excitedly, having heard all about Cami’s custody battle.
“No,” Drew moped. “But I glared at him from the car. I couldn’t help myself.”
“Down, boy,” Elsie replied, patting his head as if he were a dog. “So, then what?”
“Well, I guess Cami had promised Madison that they would do something fun when she picked her up, but without a car, she was at a loss. So I agreed to chauffeur them. We went to Chuck-E-Cheese.”
Elsie’s entire face lit up at the news.
“You got to spend time with her daughter?” she gushed. “That’s a big deal. Huge!”
“I know,” Drew replied, the dopey smile on his face getting even bigger. “And it was great. Madison was great. She’s so much like her mother—fiery and intelligent. And watching Cami with her daughter, oh my God—it made me love her more, if that’s possible.”
Drew suddenly realized that he’d used the word love and slammed his mouth shut, but it was too late. Elsie had noticed. Her eyes got wide and soft.
“Ohhhhh,” she cooed. “That’s so sweet. So things are good between you two now?”
Drew took a deep breath, thinking his answer over before he replied.
“Not yet—not completely, at least. But I think they will be. I’m going over there tomorrow night to cook them both dinner. And, honestly, I could use your help. I have no idea what to make for a three-year-old.”
“Oh, don’t sweat it. Just make lobster mac-and-cheese. Kids love it, and Cami will appreciate that you made the meal sophisticated enough with the lobster. I have a recipe, in fact. Trust me, you can’t go wrong.”
“Thanks, Elsie,” he replied as he rose. He leaned down and kissed his sister on the forehead. “I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too,” she replied with a slightly sad smile.
Later, Drew lay in bed awake for a long time, mentally planning the meal he would make the following evening. His mind then shifted to what it would be like if he, Cami, and Madison were a real family. Outings like the one they had gone on tonight would be a regular occurrence.
They’d make dinner together, take vacations together—Drew smiled at the thought of Madison at Disney World. She’d be even more exhausting than she’d been tonight, but it would be so worth it to see her face light up and hear her squeals of delight. Drew wasn’t sure how his mind had moved from planning a dinner to planning their future together, but he knew that it would happen.
He just needed to play his cards right tomorrow night.
5
Cami
Just as Drew had promised, a tow truck arrived the following morning at 7:30 sharp. The men were quick and skillful at their job, and in only a matter of minutes, the car was all hooked up and ready to go.
“We’re taking her across town to Executive Motors,” the driver said, handing her a business card that listed the auto mechanic’s address and phone number.
She tried to offer the men a tip, but they both assured her that they’d already been well taken care of. Cami wondered how much Drew had already spent on her but tried not to think about it in the moment. She’d find a way to pay him back—though it might not be until after her custody trial.
A quick Google search revealed that Executive Motors was the most well reviewed—and most expensive—auto shop in town. As with the tow truck, Cami forced the worry from her mind, knowing that Drew would most likely pay for everything and she would think of a way to pay him back later.
Nervously, Cami then loaded Madison into Drew’s BMW and headed towards her mother’s house. She’d never driven a car half as expensive and, at first, she was convinced that she’d do something to ruin it. However, she soon relaxed and began enjoying the smooth, quiet ride. It wasn’t until she was behind the wheel of a luxury car that she realized how poorly her ten-year-old piece of junk performed.
“I didn’t hear you pull up,” her mother said as Cami carried Madison inside.
“Um…” Cami replied, not sure how to tell her mom the truth.
Instead, she busied herself with getting Madison situated. When she came back into the living room, her mother was standing in the open door way, hands on her hips, looking at the BMW with a raised eyebrow.
“You better start explaining—and that explanation better not include the robbery of a car dealership,” her mom said, though there was humor in her voice.
“Actually,” Cami said as she walked towards the car, “it’s a little more complicated than that.”
“I’m listening!” her mother replied.
“So…I was heading out to go pick up Madison from Ken’s last night when my good-for-nothing car wouldn’t start. I was about to call you to come pick me up when Drew pulled into the driveway.”
“I thought you’d ended it with that boy,” her mom stated, though she was smiling.