Falling For The Right Brother

“Hi, I’m Tony. I own this place,” he finally said.

Elle shook his hand. “Oh, nice to meet you. I’m—”

“Ellie Owens. I know.”

“How do you know?” She couldn’t place him and was pretty sure they hadn’t gone to high school together.

“Offering a legal, addictive stimulant every morning makes me the best friend of pretty much everyone in town. I have a knack for remembering faces and I’ve never seen yours before.” He picked up a copy of the local paper and handed it to her. “Plus, you’ve been outed.”

“Excuse me?”

“By the Bayside Blogger. You made both the online and print versions of the paper.”

She stared at the front page of the newspaper. “Who’s the Bayside Blogger?”

“Only the most popular columnist in the whole Bayside Bugle.” A woman wearing a flurry of bright colors planted herself by Elle’s side. “Riley Hudson,” she announced. “We graduated in the same class.”

Right. Riley Hudson of the Hudson family that had lived in Bayside for so many generations many people thought they’d probably discovered it. If Elle remembered correctly, Riley had been the most outgoing person in their class, popular, pretty and always dressed like she’d just stepped out of a fashion magazine. Basically, she’d been Elle’s polar opposite in high school. Given how she looked now, her fashion sense hadn’t changed. She was wearing a chartreuse A-line dress, a cute little fuchsia scarf and matching sunglasses perched atop a head of thick, wavy red hair.

“Hi, Riley. Nice to see you again.”

“You, too. Welcome back.”

While Riley said hello to Tony and put in an order for a nonfat latte, Elle quickly scanned the paper. The headline Lovesick Ellie Owens Returns to Bayside, splashed across the front page of section C, almost made her choke on her drink. The article following went on to sum up her brief, yet crazy history with Jasper, with an even quicker mention of her time in Italy.

Did people really read this? Did her dad? Biting her lip, Elle pushed down an uneasy feeling. She’d embarrassed her father beyond belief back in high school, and the last thing she wanted to do was repeat the past.

Elle turned her attention back to Riley as the other woman said, “If you want to know anything about the Bayside Blogger, just ask me. I read her column religiously. It’s like the New York Post’s Page Six, only here in Bayside. Want to sit together?”

Elle found her energy infectious. She nodded and followed Riley to a table. “So it’s like a gossip column?”

“It’s annoying.” This came from the guy behind the counter who had filled Elle’s order. “Damn Blogger got me in trouble with my girlfriend when she reported that I had been out with my buddies at the Beer Bash.”

“You were at the Beer Bash, Brody. I saw you,” Riley stated.

“But maybe I told Elizabeth that I would be watching a game over at Alan’s that night.”

Riley rolled her big emerald green eyes. “That’s your fault then. The Blogger was simply reporting the truth.”

He moved away, mumbling something under his breath that sounded a lot like “damn busybody.” Riley smiled and turned her attention back to Elle. “Are you excited to be back?”

“I guess.” She couldn’t hold in a long yawn. “Sorry. I’m jet-lagged.”

“Living in Europe for six years. That’s so glamorous. What did you do there?” Riley added a couple packets of sweetener to her latte and then sat back with a moony look on her face. “I imagine you lounging at cafés for hours with hot Italian men hanging on to your every word. I see plates of sinful pasta and caprese salads and you drinking amazing wine while tourists rush into the Duomo behind you.”

Elle laughed at the imagery. “The wine part’s true enough.” She leaned across the table and lowered her voice. “But you forgot about the shoes. Oh, the amazing designer shoes.”

An appreciative sigh escaped Riley’s lips. “You’re killing me. Hashtag, jealous.”

After sampling her bagel, Elle took another sip of coffee. “I wish I could tell you it was all play and no work, but truthfully, I did have to make a living. Even in a country as laid-back as Italy, they tend to expect payment for things like housing and food.”

“Sticklers.” Riley shook her head. “What did you do?”

“My last job was at an up-and-coming gallery right around the corner from the Duomo. But I’ve worked in a ton of museums there.”

Riley looked down. Noticing Elle’s sketch pad, she pointed at it. “Are you an artist, Ellie Owens?”

There was a certain awe in the question that filled her with pride. “It’s a hobby, and actually, I go by Elle now.”

“No more Ellie?” Riley cocked her head.

“Let’s just say I retired her a long time ago. So, what do you do now?”

Riley ran a hand along her plaid computer bag. “I’m a writer.”

Elle smiled. “That would explain the colorful descriptions. What do you write?”

“I’d like to write the next great American novel. Or at least a really juicy romance novel devoured by women at every beach in the country. But for the moment I’m a reporter with the Bayside Bugle. I write for the Style & Entertainment section.”

Something from earlier niggled at her brain. “Wait a minute.” Elle put her bagel down. “If you write for the Bugle, you must know who this Bayside Blogger is.”

“I wish. I have friends that have offered me big money to reveal her identity. Sadly, the only person who knows is our editor in chief, Sawyer. He’s also received offers of money, concert tickets, home-cooked meals, you name it. But he won’t budge.”

“Sawyer Wallace? Wasn’t he a couple years older than us in school?”

“Two,” Riley confirmed.

“Didn’t he drill a hole between the boys’ and girls’ locker rooms once so he could get an eyeful?”

Tony chuckled from behind the bar.

“Annoying then and annoying now. He hasn’t changed.”

But Riley’s face did. Elle couldn’t help but notice her cheeks redden. Interesting. As interesting as the fact that she’d just spoken more to Riley Hudson in the last ten minutes than all of high school. Not that Riley had ever been mean to her. But they’d run in very different circles.

The bells above the door jingled and in walked none other than Cam Dumont. Elle looked up as Riley waved a hot-pink nail-polished hand and called, “Hey, good-looking.”

“If it isn’t the girl trying to turn Bayside into her own version of sophisticated Manhattan,” he replied.

“One small step at a time. Speaking of elegance and style, I got the invite to your mother’s Printemps soiree. You know I’ll be there.”

“You and the rest of the planet.” Cam rolled his eyes and turned toward Elle. “Morning, Elle.”

“Hi, Cam. Nice to see you again.”

He moved to the counter and placed an order for an extra-large coffee to go. While he talked with Tony, Elle couldn’t help but notice once again the way Cam’s worn jeans clung to certain places in a really awesome way. In fact, now that she was observing, she had to admit that with his tall, muscular body, slight stubble on his chiseled face and too-long dark hair, Cam Dumont was a nice healthy dose of man candy. No wonder she kept thinking about him last night. And this morning.

She could only imagine that when he got to work and slung a tool belt around his waist he would become even more appealing. And maybe if it was a hot day and he needed to take off his shirt...

“So, Elle, have you seen Jasper yet?”

Elle sloshed the remainder of her espresso onto the newspaper. She accepted the napkins Riley offered, even as she became aware that Cam, Tony, Brody and the table of older men sitting on the other side of the room all turned in her direction at the question. She felt she should have some grand, detailed story to tell Riley in answer, when really the truth was simple. “Nope,” she said softly.

“Well, you’ll definitely see him at the Printemps party tomorrow night.”

“Actually, I’m not going to the party,” Elle said.

Riley appeared taken aback, as if Elle had just reached across the table and slapped her. “Excuse me? Hold the presses. Why in the world are you not coming tomorrow?” Her hands gestured wildly and her mouth went into a pout.

Elle laughed. “For one thing, I wasn’t invited.”

“But your dad probably was. Oh, by the way, I’m so sorry to hear about his cancer. How’s he doing? You have to come tomorrow,” she continued, without taking a breath. “I’ll introduce you to the new faces of Bayside. Not that there’s many.”

Blame it on the jet lag, but Elle didn’t know if she could keep up with Riley.

“Oh, my God, there’s this guy I should totally set you up with. I mean, unless you’re still stuck on Jasper.”

Cam cleared his throat, calling both women’s attention to him. “Uh, yeah. I’m supposed to invite you to the party tomorrow.” He didn’t meet her eyes. Instead, he looked into his cup of coffee as if it held all the answers of the universe.

Jeez, Elle thought. Could he be less excited? He made it sound like he was inviting her to a mass murder.

“Aww, Cam, are you inviting Elle? That’s sweet.”

“I’m not. My mom wanted me to.”

Even better. And why did it bother her that he wasn’t the one inviting her to the party? “I probably shouldn’t go,” she began.

Eyes shining, Cam let out a huge breath. Then he took a long swig of coffee. “Yeah, probably better.”

Hold on, did Cam not want her to go? Why the hell not? Because of the video?

Buoyed by a sudden stubbornness, she said, “You know, on second thought, maybe I should stop by. I mean, since your mom extended the invitation to me and all.”

Riley clapped her hands together in quick succession. “Yeah.”

Cam’s face fell. “Are you sure? It’s, ah, a formal, black-tie kind of party.”

“Not a problem. I recently bought a gown when I was visiting Milan. It’ll be just perfect for the occasion.”

Did he think she couldn’t afford a gown or something? That she’d never been to a formal party? She may not have a bank account like his but, hell, who did? Besides, Elle couldn’t figure out why he wouldn’t want her there. But she’d show him. Not only would she go to that party, but she’d look better than she ever had in her entire life.

“A gown from Milan? Oh, my God, you are like the coolest person I know. I must raid your closet immediately.”

Elle smiled at Riley even as she watched Cam seething.

“My mother’s parties are overrated. Trust me,” he said through clenched teeth.

Enough was enough. She was tired, a little overwhelmed and greatly annoyed. She stood and turned to Cam. Trying to get up in his face proved difficult, considering her five feet six inches didn’t come close to his height. Still, she tilted her chin up and pegged him with her most intimidating stare.

“Maybe I should come to that conclusion myself.”

Riley stayed silent as she watched the two of them from the table with an interested look on her face.

“It’s not going to go the way you want,” Cam said quietly, so only she could hear.

“What way is that, exactly?”

He looked as if he wanted to say something. His mouth even opened slightly, but no words came out. Elle could practically see the wheels churning in his brain.

“Jasper,” he whispered, his eyes glued to hers.

Just as she’d suspected. Even Cam thought she would still make a fool out of herself over his brother.

It hadn’t even been a full twenty-four hours since she’d returned and she already felt like a total outcast. Stupidly, she’d thought a full decade away would have given everyone ample time to forget about that one little moment when she’d lost her mind.

Her cheeks felt warm as she tried to hold the embarrassment at bay. She wanted to yell at Cam, tell him she wasn’t some girl obsessed with her high school crush. Truthfully, she didn’t know how she’d feel seeing Jasper again. Her stomach tightened at the thought of it. But she was back in Bayside, so she knew it would happen eventually. What did Cam think? She would see his brother and throw herself at his feet?

How many other people would assume the same?

Beyond frustrated with Cam and his presumptions, she gathered her things and nodded to Riley. Then she narrowed her eyes at Cam. “I wouldn’t miss this party for anything in the world, Cameron Dumont.”

With that, she pushed open the door with all the dignity she could muster.

Chapter Three

Bayside Blogger @BSBlogger

First nugget of the day. Ellie Owens in @TheBrewside, a certain yummy recluse antagonizing her until she fled the scene...

“Elle, wait up!” Cam called as he rushed out of The Brewside. It had taken him one whole second to realize he’d really hurt her feelings.

It wasn’t that he didn’t want Elle to come tomorrow night. It was more that he didn’t want her to become upset at the party when the local gossips would no doubt descend on her like a scene from Hitchcock’s The Birds.

And dammit, he knew she’d changed. Jasper had changed, too. But the rest of Bayside? Still the same. That was the problem.

Bayside was his home and he loved it. But that didn’t mean he was oblivious to the inherent small-town quirks—like gossip, clinging to the past and more gossip.

Elle and Jasper in the same room with the entire town watching was a recipe for disaster.

But at the moment, Cam needed to find Elle and explain. Or at the very least, apologize. He spotted her light brown hair blowing in the soft breeze coming off the water. She was halfway across the square. He rushed in that direction.

“Elle, hang on.”

“I’m done talking to you.” She kept walking.

Finally close enough to stop her, Cam reached for her arm. He grabbed hold for a second before she shook him off and turned around to face him. “What is your problem?”

“I only wanted to say...”

“What?” she snapped.

“I’m sorry.”

“Well—oh.”

By the way she blinked multiple times in rapid succession without any words coming out of her mouth, he’d obviously taken her by surprise. She started biting her lip, and then squinted up at him.

“I think you got the wrong impression back there,” he said. “My parents’ parties...” He threw his hands up in the air. “They are... I mean, it’s just that the people that go... I really don’t...”

Her face fell and she shrugged. “I get it. You don’t want me there. You think I’ll make a scene and ruin the event. Is that what you’re trying to say?”

“No.”

“Then what?” she asked.

“I hate those parties.”

There, he’d said it out loud. He’d never really told anyone that before, although he was sure many people assumed as much. After all, a surly guy hanging out in the corner, downing beer instead of expensive, imported champagne, and talking to as few people as possible, might give off the impression he wasn’t the party-loving animal the rest of the Dumonts were. He felt almost guilty admitting that. Like he was betraying his family, and hadn’t he already done that when he’d shirked his birthright and started his own company?

“You hate the parties? Really?” She emitted a little laugh.

“Why are you laughing?”

“It’s funny. Unless they’ve drastically changed, your parents’ parties are supposed to rival...” she tapped a finger against her lips, pausing in thought “...Oscar parties, inaugural balls, royal weddings.”

His turn to laugh. “Can’t say I know about any of those things. Listen, I don’t think you’d make a scene tomorrow, although to be honest, it would be a hell of a lot more fun if you did.”

“Cam.” She rolled her eyes, but was smiling as she did so.

She had a nice smile. Really nice, he noticed. It brightened up her face and brought out those adorable dimples in her cheeks.

And the sun was catching her hair, casting a golden hue on the brown tresses.

“Cam,” she repeated. “Tell me the real reason you don’t want me to come to the party.”

He looked around the square, at the stores that hadn’t yet opened for the day. Some wouldn’t open at all, their owners here only for the busy summer tourist season. In the distance, he could hear the squawking of gulls as a fishing boat no doubt returned to the bay.

Bayside was home. It always would be. There was something comforting about that.

“You know,” he said, gesturing vaguely. “Some things have changed around here since you left. But others, not so much.”

Elle nodded even as she narrowed her eyes. “That’s kind of the way of the world.”

“One of the things that changed... I mean, you really should know something.” He wasn’t doing this right.

“What is it?”

He studied her face for a long moment before running a hand through his hair. “Nothing. Never mind.”

“You sure?”

He decided to avoid her question and change the subject instead. “So, do you really have some fancy dress from Milan?”

Elle smiled. “I don’t know about fancy. I was going more for sophisticated. But yes, I have a dress from Milan.”

“Did you go there often?”

She bit her lip, considering. “I went every so often. What I really loved was taking weekend trips to Southern Italy. Naples has the best food.”

Cam found himself genuinely interested. How could he not be when she became so animated talking about a country that she clearly loved. Her eyes were practically sparkling.

“I thought all of the food in Italy was amazing,” he offered.

She licked her lips, an enticing gesture that drew his gaze right to her.

“Oh, it is. Trust me. There’s no salt in the food in Tuscany, which takes some getting used to. But once you do...” She kissed her fingers. “Molto bene. Delizioso.”

There was something really appealing about this woman. It went beyond her looks, which were obviously stunning. But something else drew him to her.

“Of course, the wine is insane. Chianti was a personal favorite. And don’t even get me started on the gelato.” She winked at him. “I’m really going to miss that.”

“I’ve seen gelato here,” Cam said.

Her face fell. “It won’t be the same.”

“Hey,” he said, reaching out and touching her arm. “You sure you’re okay being back here?”

She glanced around the square, a million thoughts crossing her face. She let out a long sigh.

“Elle?” he prompted.

“I will be fine. I know it. I’ve missed it here.”

“But you’re going to miss Italy, too.” He said it rather than asked it because it was so clear she was struggling with this move.

Cam rolled back on his heels as he studied her. She had really beautiful eyes. They were so expressive, yet inquisitive. He bet she didn’t miss much. Including her father’s recent health scare. Cam had to hand it to her. She could have come back for a short visit. Instead, she’d dropped her life, all the things she adored, to return to Bayside.

She gave up her life for her dad. It caused a pit to form in his stomach. She’d run toward her family while he’d run from his and everything they offered.

“Hey, you okay?” she asked. Cam had been right. She was perceptive.

Without overthinking it, he said, “You’re pretty amazing, Elle.”

Those fabulous eyes widened. “Thank you...Jasper.”

Momentarily confused, Cam realized that Elle was looking over his shoulder. Turning, he saw his brother strolling from his car toward The Brewside.

Jasper turned in their direction and gave a small wave to Cam, before he took in Elle.

Could he be more obvious about giving her a long once-over?

Once he’d assessed Elle, he quickly switched courses and headed their way.

“Good morning,” he called.

“Hey, Jasp, what are you doing in town? Shouldn’t you be at the office already?”

Cam really didn’t care about the answer to that question. He was too busy watching Elle for her reaction. She was smiling as she noted his brother approaching.

“I have an off-site meeting first. Cam, why don’t you introduce me to your lovely friend.” Jasper didn’t so much as look toward him as he said this. Instead, he sidled up to Elle and offered her a hand.

Cam shoved his own hands in his pockets. “You already know her.”

But Jasper was shaking her hand, anyway. “I’m only kidding. How could I ever forget someone as beautiful as Ellie Owens?”

Elle pulled her hand out of Jasper’s grasp. “Wow, so early for such a cheesy line.”

Score one for her.

Undeterred and offering Elle what Cam liked to call “Jasper’s megawatt smile,” his brother leaned closer and put a hand over his heart as if it was breaking. “Ouch. But you are beautiful.”

Elle leaned in as well and winked at him. “But I didn’t used to be. In fact, the last time you saw me I probably looked quite different. That can only mean that someone told you I’d returned.”

A crease formed on Jasper’s brow. “Maybe I just remember you.”

“Hmm, perhaps,” Elle said with a coy smile. “Although I think you’ve taken me in longer this morning than you did in all our years of high school.”

It wasn’t often a female addled Jasper’s brain, and Cam was enjoying it.

“I was an idiot in high school,” his brother said, stepping forward again. Taking her hand once more, he added, “Forgive me?” with another Jasper smile.

Elle tilted her head before removing her hand yet again. “It’s fine.”

Shifting uncomfortably, Cam eventually elbowed his brother in the ribs.

“Ow.” Shaking him off, Jasper returned his attention to Elle. “How long are you back in town?”

“I’m not sure, actually.” She chewed on her lip. “I just got back from Florence yesterday.”

“Did you come back with your boyfriend? Husband?”

Cam snorted, unable to hold it in. Elle shot him a look.

“Actually I just broke up with the man I was seeing. I’m single now.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Jasper snapped his fingers. “We should grab dinner some night. Catch up.”

Elle studied him, appearing amused at their meeting. Besides that, Cam couldn’t tell what else she was thinking. Did seeing his brother remind her of her adolescent crush? Personally, he thought Jasper was laying it on a bit thick, but he’d seen plenty of women succumb when his brother wasn’t being half as charming.

“Maybe. We’ll see.”

Score two points for Elle. A team, Cam decided, he was firmly rooting for.

Jasper seemed confused at her reluctance. “Here,” he said, pulling a business card out of his jacket pocket. “Give me a call if you change your mind.” His megawatt smile appeared once more. “In the meantime, you should come to a party tomorrow.”

“The Printemps do at your parents’ house?” she asked innocently.

Jasper’s face lit up. “Yes. Please come as my guest.”

“Actually,” Elle said, “your brother already invited me.”

“My brother...” Jasper turned to him and his left eyebrow arched dramatically. “Oh, really?” He darted his gaze between the two of them, waiting for some obvious sign of understanding. “So are you going...together?” He gestured from one to the other, then leaned toward Cam and whispered, “That’s faster than you usually move.”

Before Cam could counter that, Elle spoke up. “No, we’re not,” she stated quickly.

Too quickly, Cam thought. And why should that bug him?

Jasper took a step closer. “Good to hear.” He offered Elle a wink.

“Well, I really should be going. I wanted to get some sketching in today and the light is just right at the moment. But I’ll see both of you tomorrow.”

She began to walk away, a feminine sway to her hips that Cam knew both his and his brother’s gazes were drawn to.

“Ellie Owens?” Jasper said out loud, after running a hand over his mouth.

“She goes by Elle now,” Cam said, still watching her walk off.

“Little Ellie Owens?” The surprise in Jasper’s voice was comical.

“The one and only,” Cam said drily, slapping a hand on his brother’s back as they watched Elle’s retreating form.

Jasper scrubbed both hands over his face. “When you said she’d changed, you weren’t kidding. She’s gorgeous.”