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“Thank you.” He offered possibly the widest smile I’d ever seen. Then he sauntered away.

As he drove away, two more cars pulled up.

Showtime.

Chapter Two

Demetrius

Buttercup.

My mind whirled a hundred miles an hour as I drove away from Pride Camp.

I’d found Buttercup. For six years, I’d thought about him and wondered how he was doing, and now…here he was. In Mission City. At the summer camp where I’d just dropped Keegan off.

Leaving my son was probably one of the toughest things I’d ever done. Well, my stepson. I didn’t differentiate. My two adopted children might not have my blood, but they were mine in every single possible way that mattered.

I’m trying, Erlene. To give them the life you would’ve wanted for them. See? I even found someone to watch over your baby when I’m not there.

Well, like four someones. Makenna, Grey, Cody, and Jai. With Alessandra and Smith close by as well. I was sure they’d be intensely focused on making this inaugural camp successful.

I hummed as I drove the back roads from the northern rural outskirts down to Mission City proper. The town held fewer than forty thousand people. A blip compared to massive Vancouver where we lived. Where I’d lived for my entire life.

Slowly the trees began to thin, and I could see houses from the road. I turned onto Cedar Street, and soon I was passing townhouse complexes that appeared newer. Then I drove down the big hill that would take me to my hotel. I’d register, settle my stuff, and then head out to explore.

My friend Priscilla, upon learning I was heading to Mission City, insisted that I visit Fifties diner. Then she added Stavros’s and a couple of other places to the list.

I’d kind of tilted my head, so she’d typed out a text with everything I needed to know. I was lucky to have good friends, but I wasn’t here to be a tourist.

After turning left onto the main drag, I made my way to the Grand Hotel. The thing wasn’t all that grand, but it had recently been renovated, and the pictures on the pretty website made it look warm and inviting. Since I was setting up for two weeks, the sight of ergonomic chairs in their executive suites appealed. That, and a large desk. Since I had two laptops running at all times, the extra space wasn’t just a luxury—it was a necessity.

I parked, grabbed my suitcase, hefted my briefcase over my shoulder, armed the alarm on my car, and headed for the front door. Soon enough, I was inside.

“Welcome to the Grand Hotel.” A pleasant female voice greeted me.

I yanked off my sunglasses and blinked several times. “Yeah, okay.” I moved to the counter. “Fulton.”

“Of course.” The receptionist’s megawatt smile didn’t slip. “Fourteen nights, correct?”

“Yes.”

“We have a special rate for guests who stay more than a week.”

“Oh?”I don’t remember reading that. Oh well, score!

“We don’t always advertise the fact.” A smooth, deep voice came from behind me.

I turned to find a handsome Black man headed my way.

He grinned. “I’m Aaron. I’m the manager.”

“Demetrius.” I extended my hand.

The man gave me a firm shake. “I have some level of discretion, and when I saw your reservation, I was happy to apply the discount.”

“And I still get an executive suite?” I rolled my shoulder to gesture to my briefcase.

“Absolutely. Best internet connection we can provide. And we can plan housekeeping around your work schedule, so we’re not disturbing you.”