A Perfect Fit (24 page)

Trina nodded. “Of course. I’m sure you have a lot to take
care of while you’re in town.”

Cami said her goodbyes, and she and Vince walked away.

“That was interesting,” Vince muttered to her. “Is Trent an
ex-boyfriend? He acted a little jealous.”

“Something like that.” They only made it a few steps before
she spotted the prince’s cousin nearby and turned Vince in his direction. “I’ll
explain later.”

“Ah, Miss DiCarlo,” the man said when he spotted her. “I’ve
heard so many fascinating rumors about your hotel.” His eyes were warm and
friendly.

“I’d hoped to speak to you about that, actually. Do you have
a minute?”

He took her hand and bowed over it, kissing her knuckles. “For
you, always.” He introduced himself to Vince, then suggested they find a quiet
corner.

“I’d love to.” Cami took Vince’s hand and they followed in
his wake.

~*~

Vince watched Cami move around her apartment after they left
the party that night. She kicked off her shoes and dug through her bags,
chattering about the people they’d met.

She was like a lick of flame in her dress, sultry and eye-catching
without trying. She’d worked her way through the groupings of people, chatting,
kissing cheeks, laughing off reports of ridiculous rumors. Even now she was
wound up from the party, not appearing the least worn down from the long
evening after the cross-country flight and shopping trip.

He worked in hard, physical labor all day and he was ready
to drop. How had she done it?

Cami turned to him, holding something silky with a generous
helping of lace the color of champagne. “As parties go, I think it went well.
Don’t you agree?”

His heart twisted in his chest. She only planned on staying
in Colorado for a year. She loved Chicago—she hadn’t even sold her condo. “Yeah.
You were amazing.” How was he going to convince her to stay in Juniper Ridge
when she had a vibrant social life here?

“You’re no slouch yourself. And, seriously, that suit is a
killer on you.” She ran one hand down his lapel, making the worry and yearning
twist together in his gut.

“Not half as killer as this dress is on you.” Vince was
definitely curious about the bit of fabric she still held in one hand, but
decided he had other priorities. He slid his hands around her waist and pulled
her close. She melted into his embrace and he felt home.

The next morning Cami and Vince walked hand in hand past a
row of shops on Michigan Avenue.

“Where are we going?” he asked. “You’ve been mulling
something over all morning.”

When Cami had woken at two a.m. she’d replayed her
conversation with Trent and came to a startling realization—she really did
think her sisters were amazing. Well, Rosemary was seriously irritating, and
Delphi stayed pretty aloof, but they were still incredible at their jobs. What
was more, Cami liked the women and was starting to feel like maybe they would
make the connections their father had wanted.

 She gave Vince’s hand a squeeze and was glad he was there
to talk to. “Ever since I found out about my sisters, I’ve been angry and kept
myself apart from them. I didn’t want to get to know them, or like them. At
best, I hoped we could stand to live together until the end of next August.
Last night at the party, when I told Trent I would stand behind my sisters, I
realized I meant it. We’ve pulled together, stepped up. They’re funny and always
teasing each other about something. I never expected to feel close to them.”

 His gaze caught hers and warmed her as they continued
walking. “But now you do.”

“Not like I feel with Lana, but we’re getting there. Not
only that, but after the way I’ve drawn back from them, I feel like I should do
something—something to say yes, we’re sisters, we’re a unit, and of course, I
thought I’d do it with jewelry.” Something tangible they could all wear the day
of the hotel’s grand opening.

“Is someone on this street going to have six of something
you can take home with you today?” He checked his watch. “We have to leave for
the airport in a couple of hours.”

“I thought I might have something custom made, so it’s all
about us. I’ll ask the designer what he thinks.” She caught the smile on Vince’s
face. “What?”

He pulled her to a store doorway, out of the rushing crowd,
and turned her into his arms. “I think you’re pretty great.”

She wound her arms around his neck and nibbled on his chin. “I
think you’re pretty great, too.”

He caught her mouth in a quick kiss, then moved them back
into the flow of foot traffic. “So where are we going?”

She pointed to a store with a familiar logo. “Tiffany’s—where
else? There are lots of other stores around if you want to do some browsing of
your own while I’m inside. I’ll probably be an hour or so.”

“I think I’ll do that.”

He squeezed her hand at the store entrance. “Call me if I’m
not waiting inside when you finish.”

She pushed open the doors, anxious to see what she and the
jeweler could whip up between them.

~*~

Cami was in a great mood when Vince brought her home that
evening. She walked in carrying her small bag, while Vince muscled in her big
suitcase—not that it was exactly strenuous for him to carry. “Hello, everyone!
I’m home!” she called as they came in the door. Vince had tried to convince her
to go to his place for the night, but she’d demurred, anxious to see her
sisters again after her epiphany and knowing she needed a good night’s sleep
before jumping back into work in the morning. He was a little too distracting
sometimes.

“Only you would consider your arrival a reason for the whole
house to celebrate,” Rosemary said, coming around the staircase to see her. Jonquil
trailed behind.

“I have news. Who all is here?”

“Everyone,” Rosemary walked over and grabbed Cami’s left
hand, flipping it over. She gave Cami a disdainful glance. “I thought you said
you had news.” She shifted her gaze to Vince. “You had her alone in another
city overnight and didn’t get anywhere after your talk earlier this week?”

Vince merely grinned, making Cami nervous. Because he was
listening in, she didn’t have the guts to give the response she wanted to—that
she was far too smart to become engaged to someone she’d only known for a
couple months, no matter how she might feel about him—so she settled on rolling
her eyes. “Get a grip.” She looked at Jonquil. “You have a big mouth, you know
that?”

“I’m biding my time,” Vince said. “She’s not ready yet.”

“Hello? News, remember?” Cami said as she set down her packages.
She shot a look at Rosemary. “After that crack, you don’t deserve to see the
new T-strap pumps I bought, or these gorgeous boots.”

“Boots? You can’t say something like that and not share.” Rosemary
crossed her arms over her chest.

Cami glanced at Vince. “It’s a girl thing.”

He shook his head as if still clueless about the fetish.

Lana came to the top of the stairs and headed their way. “Did
I hear the words new boots? And what news? Go sit down.”

Cami found the rest of her sisters, along with Blake and
Joel, sitting in the great room. So it really was nearly everyone.

“Is this a business meeting I shouldn’t attend?” Vince
asked.

“Join us,” Blake said. “I’d rather have you in on the
conversation this time.”

Vince grinned and grabbed the loveseat, pulling Cami down
beside him. She squealed slightly, but settled in. “I appreciate that,” he said
to Blake.

When everyone was finally seated, Cami started. “So the
party last night, while mostly boring and obnoxious, did yield some good
results, I think. I spoke with the prince’s cousin and he said he would pass
along the good word.”

“We already received confirmation that the prince’s
representative is going to be here for the gala,” Lana confirmed. “It came a
few hours ago.”

“Beautiful!” Cami was glad to have good results from the
hellish night of socializing.

“I understand you had words with Trent last night,” Lana
said.

Huh? How did she know?
“Yeah. He was being petty, but
I think I came out ahead, so we’re good.”

“You told him you were proud of your sisters and backed us
all the way,” Jonquil said. “I didn’t know you felt that way.” Her voice was
soft, filled with pleased surprise.

“You heard that?” A few months ago Cami would have sworn
this place was like the bottom of a hole, and yet gossip still managed to
travel fast.

“There was an interesting article in the news today
recapping the conversation you had with Trent, speculating about your former
relationship with him,” Blake said.

“You didn’t send me a link?” Cami asked, feeling a little
let down that everyone basically knew everything she had to say and also worried
about what was in the article.

“I wanted to talk to you first. I’ll send it over tonight.”

“Anything else?” Delphi asked. “Because I need to go next
while we’re all sitting here.”

“Yeah, I guess that’s it.” Cami tried to ignore her feelings
of disappointment.

Delphi met her eye. “We wanted you to know most of us have
invited our parents to the opening party. I know you’re still struggling with
what Dad did, and we don’t blame you, but we thought we ought to give you time
to adjust to the idea of them being here.” She added Lana in her gaze.

As Cami looked around at the others, she could see they were
all a bit anxious about her response.  “I guess this is a night for
non-revelatory revelations.” She let her mouth quirk. “I already knew.”

“Me too,” Lana added. “Cami told me a while ago.”

“I’ve studied the guest list several times, checking to see
who was coming. I know I’ve been pretty standoffish, but I’ll be happy to
welcome them here and treat them with the respect they deserve as your parents.”
It was hard to hold back the unhappiness she felt as she spoke, but Cami took a
moment to look around the circle, catching everyone’s gaze. “You should all be
proud of what you’ve accomplished, and what you’re making of this hotel. Your
parents should share in it, so I’m glad they’re coming.”

It cost Cami to say the words, and she knew it would take
her a while to completely push her bitterness to the background, but she was
glad their parents would be able to come. For herself, she felt a strange
mixture of relief and regret that her mother was dead and couldn’t be there. It
would have been great to have her present, to feel the pride her mother always
took in her daughters’ accomplishments. On the other hand, there would have
been pain too, as her mother saw the other women and knew the other four
sisters existed because her husband had cheated.

Which still begged the question of whether her mother knew
about the other sisters, or about her husband’s many affairs.

“Well, that simplifies things,” Delphi said.

“Anything else?”

When no one else spoke up, Vince broke the silence. “Great.
I better get home, then.” He stood, pulling Cami to her feet. “Walk me to the
door?”

“She gets all the lip locks,” Rosemary complained as they
walked away. “It’s so not fair.”

“Don’t take too long,” Lana called out. “I want to see those
pumps.”

Cami laughed, feeling for the first time in months like she really
belonged.

A headache pounded behind Cami’s left eye as she looked at
her overflowing inbox. She hadn’t checked her email in almost twenty-four
hours, but hadn’t expected such an influx. She scanned the messages for
anything pressing and her eyes caught one from Liesel Gentry from the
transplant database.

Her stomach cramped up when she saw the subject: “Good news!”

She could only imagine it referred to them finding a match
for Robert Grady.  Yeah, that was good news, but Cami wasn’t in a place
emotionally to feel good about anything that would make Matilda Grady happy. 
She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes for a long moment,
trying to center herself.  After a moment, she lifted her gaze back to the
monitor and clicked the email.

Camellia, great news, I know you were anxious to hear
about Robert Grady’s results, and we’re in luck! We’ve found a match in
Albuquerque. They had enough tests done previously that we can fast-track the
transplant. I’m contacting you because you offered to help with travel expenses
for the transplant, something I know the Gradys need with the other bills
piling up. If you’re still able to help us out with this, please let me know
and we can discuss the financial aspects of the situation.

Cami felt her throat clog with hot tears as she thought
about her commitment to assist with fundraising or even paying for some of the
expenses herself. She had been more than happy to make the offer at the time,
but her feelings were completely different now. How was she supposed to help
the Gradys after everything that had happened?

Blake walked into Cami’s office while she stared at a small
print of Vincent van Gogh’s Starry Night that hung near the door. Cami focused
on Blake and tried to put her mind back into work mode.

“Hey,” he said, taking the chair across from her. “These pages
came to my fax.” He handed some papers to her. “And . . .” His brow furrowed. “You’re
really pale. Are you feeling all right?”

Cami cupped the back of her neck with her hand and looked at
him. She didn’t really want to talk about it, but he was there and had a look
of understanding and compassion. “It’s about Robert Grady.”

He sat forward, anxious. “What about him? You haven’t heard
from Matilda, have you?”

“No. I . . .” She let out a breath. “Several weeks ago I
managed to track down a new transplant database that holds lists of people who
are willing to do organ donations. I got a form for Robert to have his records
sent there. Today I opened an email from the director saying they found a
match.”