The Silver Fox (Red's Tavern 3)

And Cameron really was a ray of light in any room he entered. He was always kind, without trying to be. Kind because there was no other way he knew how to be.

But today he was slumped over in his seat, idly thumbing around on his phone as I approached. Usually he looked impossibly well-dressed and put together at all times, but today the top few buttons on his shirt were undone, and his hair wasn’t styled at all.

“Cam,” I said softly, making my way over.

He looked up with tired eyes, giving me a smile that seemed like it took effort.

“Hey, Perry,” he said, standing up and giving me a tight hug.

“Missed you,” I said.

He puffed out a small laugh. “Only been a few weeks since we saw each other,” he said.

“Feels like forever, though, with… everything that’s happened.”

He nodded as he stepped back, and I squeezed his shoulder. “We’re gonna get through this.”

Rock was at my side now, and instantly my heart rate skyrocketed. I’d been so caught up in worrying about my brother that I had briefly forgotten how terrified I was to introduce Rock as my boyfriend.

“Cam, this is Rock,” I said as the two of them shook hands.

“Perry told me about you a couple nights ago,” Cameron said, eyeing Rock. “I’m so glad to meet you.”

I had tried to slip in the “news” about my “new boyfriend” to Cameron on a phone call two nights ago. I’d been on the phone with him for an hour talking about his divorce, and at the very end, when I’d hoped he wouldn’t be too curious, I’d added that I was going to be bringing a guy to the reunion.

In any other state of mind, Cameron would be able to tell I was full of shit from a mile away. But he was only half here right now. Maybe he was willing to believe any good news he could find.

“Good to meet you, too,” Rock said, smiling at Cam.

“Oh, you bet.” Cam nodded. “And I know my son Cooper is going to be bouncing off the walls wanting to talk to you about being a firefighter. It’s his dream job.”

“Is it?” Rock said, his face immediately lighting up. “I’m always happy to talk about it. It was my dream as a kid, too.”

“Mr. Erickson? Your rooms are all ready now,” the older woman at the front desk said, smiling over at us.

“You must be Sadie,” I said, stepping over to shake her hand. “I’m Perry. Thank you so much for helping me and my mom organize this event.”

“My pleasure completely,” Sadie said. “We have extra towels, sheets, light bulbs, rocket ships, you name it. We want you to be happy here from start to finish.”

“Sure hope you don’t have rocket ships available, or I’m going to have to be working off-duty,” Rock said.

I swallowed hard. “He’s a firefighter. Sadie, this is my boyfriend, Rock.”

She looked at me from over her thin glasses, her gaze sharp. She was wearing a charcoal grey suit that made her look like some sort of high-powered executive that could either make your life heaven or hell depending on if you were on her good side or her bad side.

“Well, we’re all going to feel safer knowing you’re around this week,” Sadie said, a smile appearing on her wry face. She passed over three sets of keys. “Cameron said you’re only going to need three rooms for tonight?”

“Only the immediate family is coming tonight,” Cameron clarified. “My… wife and kids will be here in a few hours, along with Mom. Everybody else starts coming in tomorrow.”

“Perfect,” Sadie said. “Let me show you to your rooms.”

We followed behind the click of her heels on the wooden floors. Cameron came up beside me, whispering in my ear.

“He’s hot, Perry,” he said, leaning back and waggling his eyebrows at me.

I widened my eyes at him, hoping he would shut up. Rock was none the wiser, looking around at the inn, but I still felt myself blush a little.

Cameron had a small smile on his face though, and that was enough.

Cam needed a smile. He needed any win right now.

“I know he is,” I said in his ear.

“Maybe I’ll steal him from you.”

I snorted. I knew he was just joking, but it was so strange to think about Cam stealing anyone from anyone. He’d been married for so long, and had dated Rachel long before their marriage. Even though I’d always only liked guys, Cam liked everyone. He could have anybody he wanted, now that he was going to be single. But I knew he wasn’t ready for that. I had no idea how long it would take Cam to get back out in the dating world, and I definitely wasn’t going to push him.

Sadie took us on our tour. She showed us down a hallway that led to a big, open dining area. The walls were covered in big windows, and when I saw the outside grounds through them, my brain went wild immediately.