Alaskan-Reunion by CBelle

out. Cameron watched from across the room as Declan leaned down for a hug and wrapped Paige up in his long arms, then spun her around for good measure. Cameron felt a wild urge to punch him in the nose. Declan might have been Boone’s best friend and a lifelong pal, but the sight of him hugging Paige felt like being doused with a bucket of ice-cold water. At six foot two, with a head of blond hair and movie-star good looks, Declan had always been the golden boy. The one most likely to make ladies’ hearts flutter. He was also an honorary member of the Prescott family.
    Declan had never made a secret of his affection for Paige. He’d always flirted shamelessly with her. Back when Paige was Cameron’s girlfriend, it hadn’t bothered him, since he’d never doubted her devotion to him. Now Declan threatened to make him lose every ounce of composure he still had.
    With a sour feeling in his gut, he turned away from the sight of them, focusing instead on the lunch specials for the rest of the week. Even though he was trying to concentrate on the menu, all he could hear was the loud drone of Declan’s voice.
    Before he knew it, Boone had sidled up to him. “You know it doesn’t mean anything. He’s just being Declan. He was flirting with pretty girls back in kindergarten.”
    Cameron shrugged. “I don’t have a claim on Paige. If Declan wants to chase after her, that’s his business.”
    Boone folded his arms across his chest and rocked back on his heels. “He’s not exactly chasing after her, Cameron. They’re simply catching up on old times.”
    “What part of I don’t care don’t you understand?” he spit out. Boone was buzzing around him like a gnat at the moment, serving no other purpose than to annoy him.
    Boone grunted. “You can try to sell that story somewhere else, little brother—to someone who hasn’t known you your entire life.”
    Cameron turned his head to look at Boone. “What do you want me to say? That I feel like walking over there and knocking his teeth out?”
    Boone narrowed his gaze. “I don’t need you to say anything. Just listen for a second. I almost lost Gracie due to false pride and not wanting to take a chance at loving again.” He shook his head, a fierce expression stamped on his face. “Take a lesson from me. If you still love Paige, don’t waste another minute rehashing the past or creating problems where there aren’t any. Do it for Emma. Show her the power that exists when two people commit themselves to one another for life.”
    “It’s not that simple,” Cameron said. He cast a quick glance over at Paige. Her head was thrown back in merriment as she laughed at something Declan had said to her. She looked relaxed and happy. A tight feeling settled over his chest. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been able to make her feel that way.
    Boone followed the path of his gaze. “And why not?”
    “I loved Paige years ago, but a lot of water has flowed under that bridge. I’m sure you remember that when she left town, it wasn’t of her own accord.”
    “I remember,” Boone said with a solemn nod. “She was practically run out on a rail.”
    Cameron swung his gaze back toward his brother. “I was the one who gave her the final push to leave. There were a lot of things that had me convinced she was in collusion with her father. Things I haven’t been able to forget. Big-ticket items she purchased, trips, jewelry. All of which I suspect she couldn’t have afforded on her salary.”
    “None of which is concrete proof of her guilt,” Boone said. “I’ll admit I had suspicions in the past about Paige, but after seeing her desire to make things right here in town and your beautiful little girl, it’s forced me to reflect on things. God placed her right in your path again. From where I’m standing, it looks like you have another shot to get it right.”
    “It’s not as if we can just pick up where we left off. Because of everything that took place two