Black and white love

The Lighthouse Inn June 4 7:00 p.m. JESSIE’S JAW hurt from gritting her teeth to keep from making a sound. One that would let Cam know he still mattered. Since returning home, she’d fought not to show what she was feeling. But then, she hadn’t been sitting next to him on a raised platform in front of the town. However, for the past two hours every time he moved, his leg bumped against hers, and electricity zipped from the point of impact. It brought everything full circle – something she wasn’t sure she was ready to face. “Jessie?” Cam’s husky voice broke into her thoughts. “Refill?” “Sure.” That the word came out sounding like a squeak was something she chose to ignore. “Thank you.” Cam grinned, and her gaze was immediately drawn to his dimples, still so deep they created craters in his lean cheeks, “I’ll be right back.” As soon as he was gone, Jessie grabbed the edge of the table. With her head spinning from Cam’s cologne, and her hands shaking, she was a mess, and all she wanted to do was sink into the floor. Except that wasn’t appropriate behavior for a bridesmaid. Ryan, the groom, laid his hand on hers, “Are you okay?” “I need some air.” “Go,” he nodded toward the glass doors. “I’ll cover for you.” Jessie stepped off the elevated stage, wound around a few tables and slipped out an open door. The bouquets of pink, white, yellow, and purple flowers still decorated the ceremony area, but her focus was on the cliff several yards beyond. She dropped her shoes on a chair and, bypassing the arch where Cassie and Ryan were pronounced husband and wife, she could finally breathe. The wind whipped her long hair around her head and molded the periwinkle dress to her body. With the view spread out below, she could easily imagine living in another time. One where she might have been a Princess looking down upon her charges as they readied for battle. A fanciful thought, yes. But somehow the analogy fit. It hadn’t been easy to return home after two years away. However, it had been the right thing to do for Cassie, one of her best friends. Then, once committed, there’d been no running, especially when their other friend, Sadie, got involved. Since returning, Jessie had been forced to admit how much she’d missed them – and Swan Harbor. More even than she’d realized. Laughter spilled from the ballroom and without even turning, she could feel his eyes. Cameron Hunter was six feet, two inches with shaggy blond hair, deep dimples, and eyes that undid her. Whether they sparkled with happiness or were dark green with desire, they’d always made her feel as if he could see inside her soul. Cam had been a part of her life forever, seeing her at her worst and at her best. When her life had been torn apart, he’d given her strength, and helped chase the darkness away. She loved him, and at one time, he'd loved her. However, when she’d arrived in town, the sight of him locked in an embrace with another woman had left her reeling. Her brother, Dylan, had shared the woman’s identity. Eden Fowler was the only daughter of the Chief of Police, and several years her junior. But the scene of another woman in Cameron’s arms forced her to be honest with herself. Something she’d been loath to do for years. Cam had always been the one constant in her life, and she hadn’t expected that to change. Somehow, the fantasy image of him meeting her at the town line had stuck inside her head. That their relationship had remained stagnant … waiting for her to return. However, the sight of him with another woman made her realize, it was time to put up or shut up. Except, that meant revealing why she’d stayed away for so long. Could she do that? After all this time, could she explain there’d been a reason why she’d left Swan Harbor? She’d tried to ignore her feelings, when they’d been thrown together as members of the wedding party. A get-together at the arcade, a bonfire on the beach, other moments meant to celebrate Cassie and Ryan’s upcoming nuptials. After every occasion, though, Jessie had taken refuge from her feelings of loss and escaped to Sonny’s. Only on the ice had she been able to outrun the demons that never seemed to be far away. Had it worked? Maybe … a little. Except, while Cassie and Ryan had recited their vows, her eyes had been drawn to Cam’s. When she’d caught him looking back, her heart had stuttered and some of those empty places began to fill. Then, he’d turned away, and the moment had been broken. His attention had been pulled to Eden, which had caused an ache deep inside, she’d tried to ignore. Eden was pretty and kind and devoted to Cameron. Everything he deserved, but …. Since then, the words, it should be me, were on repeat inside her head. They had her wondering if she’d made a mistake in running, instead of staying to fight. It had her asking, if it was too late for the Princess to win the battle for her own happily ever after? “Jessie?” Cam placed his tuxedo jacket around her shoulders. “Readying for war?” She cut a side-eyed look at him and found his expression curious. It was watchful – almost as if he was trying to figure something out. “Why would you say that?” Cam shrugged, “I don’t know. You just looked so …” “No war,” Jessie replied. Then silently added, yet. Until she’d made up her mind, she wanted to keep her options open. “Well, that’s good,” Cam murmured. “I’d hate to see Swan Harbor without any of our favorite hangouts.” Our hangouts? Her breath caught at the implication, but she wasn’t brave enough to put the question out there. Instead, she took a step back to ask, “Did you need something?” Cam was quiet for a second, and a part of her wished for him to say, ‘I missed you.’ She could hear the words so clearly, her heart picked up speed, and her hands tightened on the edges of his coat, still around her shoulders. “It’s almost time for the dances.” His quiet reply and the rapid beating in her chest, had her wondering if she was ready for what came next. “Alright.” Jessie took one last fortifying breath before retrieving her shoes and returning inside. That Cam and she were being watched was a given, except she couldn’t make herself look around. Instead, her entire focus was on the bride and groom. The way they were looking at each other had tears rushing to her eyes. “You ready?” Cam took her hand, pulled her close and their movements immediately meshed. “There,” he murmured. “That’s not so bad, is it?” What she’d both feared and desired happened, as the pieces she’d been searching for clicked into place. With him – she was home. Ignoring how she felt hadn’t worked. The question was, what was she going to do about it? That answer wasn’t one that came easy, as she didn’t know. Because, what if, she put herself out there, and he rejected her. If that happened, she wasn’t sure how she’d feel. It made her nervous and want to take a step back … away from his heat. She kept trying to tell herself, this was Cam. Why was she tongue-tied? But the pep talks didn’t seem to do any good, and her heart rate wasn’t slowing down. “You’re still light on your feet,” Jessie quipped. “I won’t have to worry about my toes.” “No, Jess,” he whispered against her temple. “You don’t need to worry about your toes.” His voice was low and dangerous. The unspoken message had her insides waking, wondering what was next. There was so much she wanted to say, but the subtle tightening of his palm on her lower back had her dropping her head against his shoulder. They would talk, she just wasn’t sure when the opportunity would arrive....