Page 16 of Among the Stars
Where did you grow up?
How did you end up in Nashville?
Why aren’t you with your family?
What do you mean you don’t have family? Everyone has family.
Instead of answering the last one, he’d complimented her home, suggesting she could give his decorator a run for her money. Angelica Redmond wouldn’t appreciate the comment, but what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.
In the middle of explaining how she’d chosen the particular shade of yellow on the kitchen walls, Mr. Hamilton called his wife away.
“Rookie mistake,” said one of the brothers-in-law, who stepped up beside Cam and offered a glass of punch. “Never let Marsha corner you on the first visit.”
Cam had never developed a taste for the fruity drink. “I’ll pass, thanks.”
“You’ll want this. Trust me.” He winked, and Cam caught the scent of bourbon, aware that he’d found an ally.
Accepting the drink, he asked, “Does she do that to all of her daughters’ dates?”
“Yep. We’re all the rookie at some point.”
The two older kids sped through the kitchen, racing between the men on their way into the living room. The youngest chased after them, but drew to a halt in front of Cam.
“You’re tall,” she said.
“You’re short,” he replied.
“I’m four,” she defended.
“And I’m not,” Cam pointed out.
Penelope pursed her lips and watched him with an intense glare as if assessing an opponent for battle.
“Are you going to take Uncle Ash’s place?”
Cam drew the line at lying to children. “No.”
“Okay. I’m going to sit by you at dinner.”
An odd response, but who knew the mind of a four-year-old?
“I’m fine with that.”
The little spitfire turned her attention to the man beside Cam. “Do you mind, Daddy?”
Her father shook his head. “You sit by me all the time, baby. You can sit next to Mr. Cam if you want to.”
“Good.” Without another word, she ripped into the next room, but not before leaving white fingerprints on Cam’s black pants.
“Sorry about that,” said the man Cam now knew to be Nick. “She must have gotten into the doughnuts when no one was looking.”
“How did your pants get dirty?” Veronica asked as she joined them. “I left you for two minutes.”
“Penelope,” Nick replied.
Cam wasn’t worried about his pants. “Your mother asks a lot of questions,” he said, holding her gaze.
Her slender nose scrunched. “She does. I’m sorry.”