to him.
Chapter Six
P aige smiled at the group of women who were seated at a large table by the window. There were six of them in all, and from what she’d gathered of their conversation, they were all participants in the Operation Love program. The women had come from Maine, Louisiana, Texas and Idaho to find love and companionship with the single bachelors in Love.
Paige placed a basketful of blueberry muffins and scones down on the table, along with a pot of hot water and an assortment of teas. The ladies smiled at her and murmured a round of thank-yous.
The one named Gretchen darted a glance behind Paige. “There he is. He’s the most handsome man in this whole town.” Gretchen put her elbow on the table, then placed her jaw on her hand so she could stare moon-eyed into the distance.
“And he owns this café,” the dark-haired woman with glasses chimed in.
“Why do you think I suggested having tea here? Great food and an even greater view,” Gretchen said. All the women giggled.
Cameron! Of course they had their eye on him. After all, he was a single, gorgeous Alaskan male. A hottie, according to the ladies. Paige’s chest tightened. Her cheeks suddenly felt warm. She fought against a sudden urge to tell the women to back off. The feeling terrified her since she had no claim on Cameron. Sure, he was Emma’s father, but he was no longer hers. She had no right to be upset, although her out-of-control pulse hadn’t quite got the message.
“And what about that pilot with the killer smile?” another of the ladies asked. “I couldn’t take my eyes off him.”
“Go for it, Dahlia. He’s single, unlike that rugged-looking sheriff. I heard he just got married a few months ago to a journalist who came here to write a story about Operation Love,” Gretchen said with a knowing look. “See, ladies. There really are happily-ever-afters in this town.”
Paige walked away from the table with the empty tray in her hands and an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach. She knew she had no right to feel territorial about Cameron, but the thought of him settling down with one of these women bothered her deeply. The emotions traveled all the way down to her gut. She wasn’t in love with him anymore, so why did she care so much?
Feeling on edge, she walked back toward the kitchen as she battled against a huge, gnawing feeling in her belly. Rather than dwell on the jealousy eating up her insides, she wanted to focus on something positive. Running into Declan had been a nice surprise. To be greeted so warmly by a friend here in Love restored her hope that one day the townsfolk might view her in a better light. If he was to be believed, she had been missed by many of the villagers.
“Declan seemed mighty glad to see you,” Cameron said, quirking his mouth.
“He hasn’t changed one bit,” Paige said with a chuckle. “He’s something else.”
“That’s for sure,” Cameron muttered. He set a cup down on the counter with a bang.
She couldn’t miss the big frown on Cameron’s face and the fact that he was being short with her. His tone was sharp. After such a nice day when they had actually enjoyed some light moments together, it felt like a slap in the face. Yet another rejection from Cameron. They were back to square one. What had she done? Or had Cameron just remembered that he neither liked nor trusted her?
Paige let out a wounded sigh. She had volunteered to work at the café today because she wanted to put her best foot forward and show Cameron that she could pitch in and help out when needed. Even if he didn’t realize it, she was still part of the fabric of this town. But it didn’t matter, she supposed. No one seemed to recognize that fact but her.
Would she always be considered guilty by association?
“Why don’t you sit down for a bowl of salmon chowder? You’ve been on your feet for hours.” Unbeknownst to her, Cameron had walked up behind her. His voice was full of a gentleness
Chapter Six
P aige smiled at the group of women who were seated at a large table by the window. There were six of them in all, and from what she’d gathered of their conversation, they were all participants in the Operation Love program. The women had come from Maine, Louisiana, Texas and Idaho to find love and companionship with the single bachelors in Love.
Paige placed a basketful of blueberry muffins and scones down on the table, along with a pot of hot water and an assortment of teas. The ladies smiled at her and murmured a round of thank-yous.
The one named Gretchen darted a glance behind Paige. “There he is. He’s the most handsome man in this whole town.” Gretchen put her elbow on the table, then placed her jaw on her hand so she could stare moon-eyed into the distance.
“And he owns this café,” the dark-haired woman with glasses chimed in.
“Why do you think I suggested having tea here? Great food and an even greater view,” Gretchen said. All the women giggled.
Cameron! Of course they had their eye on him. After all, he was a single, gorgeous Alaskan male. A hottie, according to the ladies. Paige’s chest tightened. Her cheeks suddenly felt warm. She fought against a sudden urge to tell the women to back off. The feeling terrified her since she had no claim on Cameron. Sure, he was Emma’s father, but he was no longer hers. She had no right to be upset, although her out-of-control pulse hadn’t quite got the message.
“And what about that pilot with the killer smile?” another of the ladies asked. “I couldn’t take my eyes off him.”
“Go for it, Dahlia. He’s single, unlike that rugged-looking sheriff. I heard he just got married a few months ago to a journalist who came here to write a story about Operation Love,” Gretchen said with a knowing look. “See, ladies. There really are happily-ever-afters in this town.”
Paige walked away from the table with the empty tray in her hands and an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach. She knew she had no right to feel territorial about Cameron, but the thought of him settling down with one of these women bothered her deeply. The emotions traveled all the way down to her gut. She wasn’t in love with him anymore, so why did she care so much?
Feeling on edge, she walked back toward the kitchen as she battled against a huge, gnawing feeling in her belly. Rather than dwell on the jealousy eating up her insides, she wanted to focus on something positive. Running into Declan had been a nice surprise. To be greeted so warmly by a friend here in Love restored her hope that one day the townsfolk might view her in a better light. If he was to be believed, she had been missed by many of the villagers.
“Declan seemed mighty glad to see you,” Cameron said, quirking his mouth.
“He hasn’t changed one bit,” Paige said with a chuckle. “He’s something else.”
“That’s for sure,” Cameron muttered. He set a cup down on the counter with a bang.
She couldn’t miss the big frown on Cameron’s face and the fact that he was being short with her. His tone was sharp. After such a nice day when they had actually enjoyed some light moments together, it felt like a slap in the face. Yet another rejection from Cameron. They were back to square one. What had she done? Or had Cameron just remembered that he neither liked nor trusted her?
Paige let out a wounded sigh. She had volunteered to work at the café today because she wanted to put her best foot forward and show Cameron that she could pitch in and help out when needed. Even if he didn’t realize it, she was still part of the fabric of this town. But it didn’t matter, she supposed. No one seemed to recognize that fact but her.
Would she always be considered guilty by association?
“Why don’t you sit down for a bowl of salmon chowder? You’ve been on your feet for hours.” Unbeknownst to her, Cameron had walked up behind her. His voice was full of a gentleness
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