Page 26 of Cameron's Contract

“I’m addicted to Cole’s Coconut Tea.” I tried to lift the tension.

“You always did have a sweet tooth.” He frowned. “You were nine when I first realized.”

“Realized?”

“How damn smart you are. We played chess for the first time that Christmas. We were snowed in.” He looked over at the fireplace. “Right over there. Do you remember?”

“Yes.”

“You won, Cameron.”

“You let me.”

“Didn’t.”

I arched a brow. “I was excited to spend time with you. I wanted to impress you.”

“Told your mother that Cole Tea was going to be in good hands. What with your brother’s bravery and your brilliance.”

“And Willow?”

“Prefers horses.”

“All grown up.”

“I remember finding a stash of dolls under your bed once,” he said. “I was so worried about you. Really believed you were showing signs of…”

“Homosexuality?”

He waved it off. “Turned out your sister was going through a phase of pulling the arms and legs off her dolls. You were—”

“Trying to save them.” I chuckled at the memory of me gathering them up and hoping not to get caught.

“Blonde Barbies, I think.” He thinned his lips. “Thank goodness she’s over that.”

“Willow was six, Dad.” I shook my head. “Exploring her world through toys.”

“We were worried for a while there.”

“She only did it once.”

“Because you hid the rest.” He smiled. “You never dated blondes. Always brunettes. Probably traumatized by your sister.”

“Mia’s blonde.”

“Is she here?”

“Yes.”

He arched an amused brow. “Perhaps this means you’ve finally recovered from your childhood trauma.” Dad sighed deeply. “When I snapped that bird’s neck, I knew you were watching.”

He’d put that dying bird out of its misery. Ten minutes before I’d found it in the garden and brought it to him, hoping he could save it.

“A healthy introduction to death,” I said sarcastically.

“You were too soft.”

“I was five.”