Cold Dawn (30 page)

"That's terrific news, Jo," Rose said. "I can't wait."

"I can't, either. Between my friends and Elijah's, we'll fill up the lodge. It'll be good for business--"

"It'll be a lot of fun."

Jo looked pleased. "That, too."

Rose heard Hannah's laughter inside the sugar shack, then Sean's, and smiled at Jo. "I have a feeling yours won't be the only Cameron wedding this year."

Nick got a different room at Black Falls Lodge, one with a view of Cameron Mountain.

Maybe the Cameron brothers were trying to send him a message.

He gave the ghost of Drew Cameron a little salute and changed into the suit he'd brought with him from California. It was black, expensive and appropriate for Beverly Hills or the Black Falls Lodge ballroom.

He hoped it'd rock one Rose Cameron back on her heels.

When he entered the ballroom, he had no trouble spotting her in the crowd. She was standing by a window looking out at the starlit meadow behind the lodge.

He was aware of all three Cameron brothers watching him as he made his way to their sister. He liked that they were a strong family and looked after each other.

Rose was wearing a sleek dark blue dress that outlined her shape and would work just fine in Beverly Hills as well as at Black Falls Lodge. She turned, and broke into a smile as he came closer. "Nick," she said. "Couldn't resist bidding on the quilt, could you?"

Nick had noticed several Black Falls locals gathered at the quilt, hanging at the entrance to the ballroom, and overheard them swearing they recognized this or that piece of fabric from a grandmother, a grandfather, an old uncle or aunt.

He winked at Rose. "I think it'd go just fine in my condo."

Those Cameron blue eyes fastened on him. "You're not here for the quilt."

He smiled. "No, I'm not. May I have this dance?"

She lifted the hem of her dress, and he saw she was wearing black high heels. He was more interested in the shape of her ankle. She laughed, sounding just a little breathless. "If I trip in these things--"

"I'll catch you," he said, and whisked her onto the dance floor.

After two dances, Rose went off with Lauren, Beth, Hannah, Dominique and Jo to help with the silent auction. She saw Nick slip out of the ballroom. She had no idea what he was up to next but couldn't take her eyes off him.

The man was as rugged and sexy as ever, and he had her head spinning.

After the auction and everyone started to leave, her friends and family all but threw her out and told her to go home. They'd take care of any cleaning up.

When she arrived at her house, there were no other cars in her dark driveway.

"Looks as if it'll be just Ranger and me tonight," she said to herself.

She went in through the back and noticed the warmth.

Someone had lit the woodstove.

She walked into the living room, and Nick was there, stretched out on her couch with Ranger on his bed by the woodstove.

"Locks, Rose," Nick said, shaking his head. "Locks."

He was in jeans and a soft-looking sweater, and he had her head spinning even more. But she frowned at Ranger. "Some watchdog you are."

Her golden retriever yawned at her, then rolled onto his side and went back to sleep.

Nick was on his feet. "All these months, I beat myself up for taking advantage of you last June."

"You didn't--"

"I know." He locked his eyes with hers and smiled. "I didn't take advantage of you. I fell in love with you."

"Nick."

It was all she had a chance to say as he lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. Outside her window, Cameron Mountain was outlined against the stars, and she pictured Jo and Elijah and Hannah and Sean, and herself now, with Nick, and she knew that her father was at peace.

"I belong with you," Nick said as he laid her on the bed. "That's all that matters to me."

"I love you, Nick," she whispered. "Always and forever."

ISBN: 978-1-4268-7435-2

COLD DAWN

Copyright (c) 2010 by Carla Neggers.

All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the publisher, MIRA Books, 225 Duncan Mill Road, Don Mills, Ontario M3B 3K9, Canada.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

For questions and comments about the quality of this book please contact us at [email protected].

MIRA and the Star Colophon are trademarks used under license and registered in Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, United States Patent and Trademark Office and in other countries.

www.MIRABooks.com [http://www.MIRABooks.com]