The Price of Passion (Texas Cattleman's Club: Rags to Riches 1)

Cam looked at his old friend. “She hasn’t called.”

Tonight was the vote on new members and Cam had wanted to be there. Maybe a stupid decision, but if he was voted out he didn’t want someone having to make a sympathetic phone call to let him know. Besides, he wanted to see who supported him and who didn’t. Might be a masochistic move, but he’d always believed that knowing was better than guessing.

Sliding his gaze across the room, he spotted Burt Wheeler in a black blazer thrown on over his jeans and a blue-and-white-striped shirt. His cowboy hat was balanced on his upraised knee, and the frown on his face told Cam exactly how Burt was feeling about the upcoming vote.

“And you haven’t bothered to call her,” Tony said, “even though you know what crap she and her family are going through right now.”

Yeah, he did know. Everyone in Royal was talking about the Wingates. There were stories online, reporters streaming in and out of town and theories about the fire—lots of theories. Some made sense, and others were as outlandish as saying space aliens started the blaze.

Through it all, Beth had not once reached out to him. Clearly she believed she didn’t need him around, so Cam had kept his distance. But he was about done with that. Tomorrow, he and Beth were going to talk. Whether she liked it or not. He’d find a way to convince her that he was here now and he wasn’t going anywhere. “No, I didn’t. Because if she wanted me there, she’d have told me.”

“How

the hell did you two ever get together in the first place?” Tony asked, astonished. “Two harder heads I’ve never seen.”

“Thanks for the support, pal.” He looked away and watched James Harris move slowly to the front of the room, stopping to shake hands and chat along the route. He envied James’s easy, comfortable manner. The man was where he belonged and he knew it. Cam was still feeling like an imposter. The son of a couple of horse trainers becoming a member of the TCC? How his father would have laughed at the notion.

The rumble of conversation rose and fell like the tides, and, as an outsider, Cam could see friendships and wary enemies greeting each other.

“You’re going to get in,” Tony said easily.

“We’ll find out soon.” In his black suit, white shirt and black hat, Camden glanced around the room and felt as if he were wearing the uniform of the TCC. Every man there was dressed pretty much as he was. Good omen?

Then he spotted Justin McCoy, and everything in him coiled into a tight knot. The man walked through the room like he owned the place, which was just another irritation added to the rest. He carried his hat in his hand, and in the overhead light the man’s receding blond hair looked almost white.

Cam stiffened as he followed Justin’s progress through the room. He had to wonder if McCoy would still be welcome in the prestigious club if the members knew the truth about him.

Tony followed his gaze and sneered. “The only reason Justin’s a member is because his great-great-whatever-grandfather was a founding member.”

“Doesn’t say much for the membership committee.” Just looking at the man made Cam’s hands curl into fists.

“No, really doesn’t,” Tony agreed.

When Justin spotted Cam, he headed right for him, a self-satisfied smirk on his face. It took everything he had for Cam to stay rooted to the spot. All he really wanted to do was meet him halfway and plant his fist in the other man’s face.

Justin stopped right in front of him and gave Tony a brief nod of acknowledgment.

“You’re not going to get in, you know.”

Cam chuckled and his gaze never left Justin’s. “You’re the one reason that might be okay with me.”

Justin flushed, and on his pale face, the red splotches were unmistakable.

“But me being a member isn’t up to you, Justin. You just think you’re important.”

“You’re not getting into this club,” Justin repeated, then leaned in closer. “And you’re not getting Beth. You don’t deserve her.”

A part of him might have always secretly believed that, but damned if he’d let Justin say it. “You don’t want a war with me, Justin...”

“Guys, dial it down, okay?”

Cam ignored Tony’s warning. “Because I’m going to tell you right now, I’ve got plenty of ammo to use against you if that’s the way you want to go.”

Justin flinched. Cam saw it in his eyes, but he still used bravado to talk his way out. “I’m not worried. Do what you want. Who here would ever believe Camden Guthrie against a McCoy?”

When Justin moved on, Tony leaned in and said. “Don’t get yourself in a twist. The man’s a dick. No one likes him. No one listens to him.”

Justin McCoy was all that and more, Cam thought. He forced himself to put McCoy out of his mind and concentrate instead on his own future.