The Stubborn Suitor, Book 3 (The Stubborn Suitor #3)(9)

Cami knew her mother thought she should have tried harder to make things work with Drew, if only for his money. Cami rolled her eyes.

“I tried. And I hadn’t heard from him in a week. Turns out he’d been on a business trip and had just returned. He ended up taking me to get Madison and he left me his car until mine is fixed.”

She left out the part about dinner and about being half in love with him already. But she knew her mother could see it in her face, as she was beaming at her daughter with a knowing look.

“Isn’t that nice.”

“I’ll pay him back,” Cami said, trying not to smile in return. “Now I have to leave or I’m going to be late. I won’t be late tonight. I’m not picking up any extra time so I’ll be here at five.”

“See you then,” her mother said, still smiling as she turned back into her house.

As soon as she was out of her mother’s view, Cami finally let the dopey grin she’d been suppressing spread across her face. Fight as she might, she couldn’t keep it off her face throughout her entire shift.

She thanked her lucky stars that Maggie didn’t usually work Mondays as her best friend would have known something was up. Ashley continued to give her odd looks, but thankfully didn’t ask. Ashley was much better about knowing when Cami wasn’t ready to talk about something yet.




When her shift was over, she almost got confused in the parking lot, looking for her own car. She was a little self-conscious as she climbed into the sleek vehicle and looked around to make sure none of her coworkers had seen her. She really didn’t want to answer any questions.

“Stay for dinner,” her mother said as soon as Cami was through the door.

“I can’t,” Cami replied. “I have plans.”

“Plans, huh?” her mother asked. She seemed a little too happy at the news. “Anything to do with that fancy car you’ve got outside?”

“No, Mom,” Cami deadpanned. “I don’t have plans with a car.”

Her mother didn’t answer, just continued to smile as Cami readied Madison and headed home. To her surprise, she was home less than ten minutes when Drew pulled up in her driveway. He was driving a classic Thunderbird, painted baby blue, which had its top down.

“A little ostentatious, don’t you think?” Cami asked as Drew pulled a few bags of groceries from the back seat.

“Yeah,” Drew said a little sheepishly, though Cami had only been joking. “That’s why I don’t actually drive it much. But someone else has my other car.”

Now it was Cami’s turn to look sheepish.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “You can have it back any time.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Drew replied, following her into the house. “I’m happy to loan it to you. And my baby out there doesn’t get driven nearly enough. I’m sure she’s excited to get out on the road.”

“She?” Cami asked as Drew moved ahead of her into the kitchen and placed the bags on the counter. “The tow truck guys from this morning referred to my car as a she as well. What’s with that?”

Drew just shook his head, feigning disappointment.

“Women never understand,” he muttered under his breath.

Cami opened her mouth to respond, but was interrupted by a little body shooting past her.

“Drew!” Madison squealed as she wrapped her tiny arms around Drew’s leg.

Cami swallowed and tried not to melt as she watched the man in question bend down and scoop her daughter up.

“Hey, you little rascal. Have you had a good day?”

“Yep,” Madison replied, bringing her hand up to pat Drew’s cheek. “Chuck-E-Cheese?” she asked hopefully.

“Not today, kiddo,” he replied. “I’m going to make dinner tonight. Do you like macaroni and cheese?”

“She loves it,” Cami assured him as he began to unpack the groceries, Madison still in his arms.

“Good,” he said, “because I have an awesome recipe for homemade mac and cheese that you’ll love as well. He shot Cami a warm smile over Madison’s head and any attempt on Cami’s part not to melt failed.

“Can I help?” she asked, trying to keep her wits about her.

“Nope,” Drew replied as he pulled a bottle of wine—Cami’s favorite, of course—out of the bag. “You just sit and relax. Madison and I have got this.”

Drew sat Madison on the counter next to him, making sure she was safe and secure as he opened the wine and poured Cami a glass. Madison on his hip, he methodically scoped out her kitchen, opening cabinets and pulling out drawers until he knew exactly what she had and where it was located.

Feeling not needed—and not minding it one bit—Cami finally sat down at the counter and sipped her wine as she watched Drew and Madison make dinner. Though Drew obviously knew exactly what he was doing, he constantly asked Madison’s advice and let her help whenever it was safe for her to do so. The sight was almost too much for Cami to endure.

She couldn’t help but think about how this would work permanently. She could come home every night to the sight of this man cooking her dinner as he carried her daughter around on his hip. Cami felt her throat constrict at the thought as she tried her best to push the images out of her head.