To Catch a Camden Read Free

surmised.
    “We just want to help,” he said, firmly holding that line and acknowledging nothing else.
    Gia shook her head. “The Bronsons are in trouble. But they’re proud people. I’ve convinced them to accept help from their friends and neighbors, their church, by assuring them that the help is coming from people they’ve given business to for decades, from the same people they’ve helped in the past or would help if the need arose even now and they could. I’ve promised them that it isn’t charity, it’s people who know and care about them just wanting to do something for them. But they hate you—I’m sorry to be so direct, but that’s just a fact. I know them—they’ll think that anything you do will have an ulterior motive. If they know you’re behind a dime, they won’t take it.”
    “Maybe you can persuade them to,” he proposed.
    “I don’t know how I’d do that.”
    “I’ll bet you can think of a way...” he said pointedly.
    “You do owe them,” Gia said matter-of-factly because it was true. And even though she knew how the Bronsons would feel about accepting anything from the Camdens, she also knew that they were in need of more help than what her efforts were producing. The Camdens’ assistance could go much further in solving the elderly couple’s problems.
    “Maybe you could introduce me as a friend of yours and leave out the part about me being a Camden.”
    “They’d recognize you. They might not know exactly which Camden you are, but they follow your family like fans follow celebrities, begrudging you every step of the way. And they might be old, but mentally, they’re both sharp as tacks. Nothing gets by them, and you wouldn’t, either.” With another glance over her shoulder to make sure no one was looking in this direction, Gia added, “And really, I want you to leave before they spot you.”
    “I’m not giving up,” he said then, but he did step one step higher, which made him tower above Gia even more. “So how about I leave it to you to convince them to accept my help?”
    He reached into his shirt pocket with his free hand and pulled out a business card. “All my numbers are on that.”
    Gia accepted the card.
    “If I don’t hear from you, you’ll have me knocking on your door—don’t forget you already told me that you live next to the Bronsons.”
    “I can’t make any promises,” Gia said, knowing full well that she had to do what she could to convince Larry and Marion, because the Camdens—no matter how despicable—still had the kind of resources the Bronsons needed.
    “I’m relying on you anyway,” he said, investing her with the responsibility despite her hedging.
    “I’ll do what I can if you just go!”
    He grinned again and took another step up. “I’ll tell you one thing,” he said as he did, “you’re the prettiest bouncer I’ve ever been ousted by.”
    “As if a Camden has ever been kicked out of anyplace,” Gia countered.
    “You might be surprised.”
    “Just go!” she said, trying not to think that he was lingering in order to stare at her—which was how it appeared, because his beautiful blue eyes seemed to be taking in every inch of her and his expression said he was enjoying the view.
    “Get back to me soon or I’ll come for you...” he threatened in a way that didn’t sound as if they were still talking about helping the Bronsons.
    “No promises,” Gia repeated firmly to let him know he wasn’t wearing her down.
    But he was. Just a tiny bit.
    Enough so that, as she turned from the sight of him backing up the rest of the steps so he could go on studying her, she felt a smile come to the corners of her mouth.
    Because although she had no idea why, just the way Derek Camden looked at her made her feel better about herself than the dinner invitation from the minister had.

Chapter Two
    “G eorgie! You feisty little beanbag, where are you?” Derek called when he went into his grandmother’s house midmorning on