He thought back to that last day. The day that separated his old life from his current life. The dividing line between now and then, good and bad, heaven and hell. He could still picture Cameron lying beside him in their tent. He’d lain awake with his hand on the swell of her belly, feeling their daughter’s tiny movements, careful not to wake Cam. She wouldn’t admit it, but the pregnancy and the environment had been taking a toll on her. She needed her rest, and she needed to go home. They’d argued about her staying in Africa, but she was practical. Eventually, she would’ve admitted going home was best for her and the baby. Ian had already planned for another doctor to take his place. Hopefully, by the time she’d left, he would’ve been able to go with her. If not, he wouldn’t have been far behind. The thought of being away from her and the baby hadn’t set well with him. When she woke up that last morning, they’d made love. Maybe they weren’t married, but that morning he’d never imagined ever loving anyone more.
He forced himself out of the past. “Everything was perfect. We were in love. I don’t understand.”
Wes shrugged. “Maybe she had doubts. Did she say anything that seemed off to you or maybe Mallory?”
Ian’s body tensed at the mention of the other woman. She and Cameron had been friendly. As the only other woman on their team, she’d offered Cameron a reprieve from the constant male camaraderie. But she hadn’t been a genuine friend.
“She didn’t say anything to Mallory.” Because if she had, Mallory would’ve told him in her quest to seduce him. He hadn’t understood why the woman had chosen him, of all the men on their team, to fixate on. But she had, and she’d pursued him relentlessly. He’d never even told Wes. His friend would likely have sent the other woman packing, and Cameron would’ve demanded answers. He hadn’t wanted to add to Cameron’s stress. No doubt, finding out her only female friend was making moves on her fiancé would have been stressful.
Wes lifted his hands, then let them fall to slap against his thighs. “I don’t know, man. This has been fucked up since the beginning, but now…”
Yeah. Now the whole situation was impossible and heartbreaking. Ian just wanted Cameron to come back so they could pick up and start over. That wouldn’t happen. Whether he liked it or not, and he certainly did not; Cameron had a daughter, a family. She wouldn’t, couldn’t, walk away from them. So, where the hell did that leave him?