“You did all of that to my girl. You bastard.”
Justin backed up a step and bumped into Tony Alvarez. He was trapped, and the expression on his face said that he knew it.
Burt wasn’t finished. “If I ever hear my Julie’s name coming out of your mouth again, I swear by all that’s holy, I will beat you into the ground.”
Justin believed him. Beth could see that truth on the man’s face. He backed away again slowly and Tony let him go. When Justin saw a clear path out of the building and through the crowd, he took it, crashing into people as he made a hasty exit.
Sympathy welled up in Beth’s heart for Burt. The man looked as if his own heart had just been ripped from his chest. He took a shaky breath, then stepped up to Cam and held out his right hand.
“I was wrong about you, Guthrie. And I’m sorry for it. I’m sorrier still that my girl was too afraid to come to me when she needed help.” His eyes were wounded, and Beth knew that he would be haunted by that knowledge for the rest of his life.
Cam shook the older man’s hand and said, “Julie loved you, Burt. She wasn’t afraid you’d hurt her. She was afraid of disappointing you.”
Some of the pain in his eyes eased. “That’s something, I guess.” Burt sighed heavily and slowly shook his head. “I’m going inside to talk to James. I want to change my vote on your membership.”
Nodding, Cam said, “Thank you, Burt.”
He nodded. “You did right by my Julie. You took care of her and helped her when she needed it most. I was too blind to see that sooner, but I do now, and I thank you for that.”
“That was kind,” Beth whispered.
Cam was watching the older man thread his way through the people in the room. “He’s not a bad man. Just a hard one.”
Beth was silent for a second or two before turning on Cam. “You honestly thought I was ‘with’ Justin?”
He frowned at her. “You looked pretty cozy to me.”
“So you didn’t notice me trying to get away from him?”
“That’s why I came over. I didn’t like him touching you.”
“Okay, I’m gone.” Tony Alvarez moved away, leaving Cam and Beth alone.
Beth said, “Why haven’t you called me all week?”
“You could have called to tell me you wanted to talk to me.”
“Seriously?” Her jaw dropped. “I have to tell you that?”
People were turning to look. Everyone had missed the upset with Justin and Burt, but now they were paying attention.
“Damn it, Beth—” He grabbed her hand and led her through the crowd and out into the parking lot.
She had to hurry to keep up and didn’t mind a bit. It was past time they talked. Really talked. Cam didn’t stop until he was in a far corner of the darkened lot, where the shadows were deep and the nearby oaks dipped low enough to provide some privacy. A soft, warm wind blew past them and brought the scent of coming rain with it.
Beth didn’t care. Lightning could have split the sky and dumped gallons of water down on them and still she would stand there, looking up into the dark chocolate eyes staring down at her.
“Look,” he said tightly, “I waited a week. Gave you the time and space or whatever the hell else you needed, but I’m done now.”
Her heart took another high leap. “Is that right?”
“Damn straight it is.” He dropped both hands to her shoulders and pulled her close. “I get that you don’t trust me. I’ll earn that back if I have to work at it for the rest of my life.”
She did trust him and would have said so if he hadn’t kept talking.
“And, if you think I’m going away again, you’re wrong. I’m here for good. And if I ever did decide to leave, I’d go nowhere without you.”
Her heart was pounding, her breath coming in short, hard puffs, and she felt as if she could fly. Beth read the truth of his words in his eyes, in his expression, in the hard grip on her shoulders. “I believe you.”