He still didn’t turn around. Well, shit. She managed another few steps, getting past the sandy shore now. Which meant she was directly over the water, specifically the waves lapping at the beach. Perfect, and now she was starting to hyperventilate right on cue.

Which was of course when Cam turned and caught her standing there, very carefully dead center of the dock, hands to her pounding heart.

“Hey,” she managed with a pretty good false cheer, if she did say so herself. “Whatcha doing?”

“Swimming.”

This had her fear momentarily forgotten. “In the lake?”

“No, in the air.” He shook his head, a small smile playing around his mouth, but not making it to his eyes. “Yes, the lake. I swim it every day.”

“The whole thing?” she squeaked. “On purpose?”

He lifted a shoulder. “I’ve always used swimming to blow off steam.”

Well, hell. Something most definitely wasn’t okay. “What’s wrong?”

He didn’t answer, which meant—dear God—she was going to have to move closer.

Chapter 17

“I remember all my promises.”

Cam heard Piper’s question; he just had no idea how to answer. What was wrong? Every-fucking-thing, but that seemed overly dramatic, and he didn’t do dramatic. Or emotions. Not since he’d bottled everything up, including Rowan’s death, and shoved it down deep.

For him, it was the only way to deal. Keeping it deep, however, was proving all but impossible. Three-plus months. Three-plus months Rowan had been gone, and whoever had said time heals all wounds was full of shit.

“Cam?”

She’d taken another step toward him but was still only halfway to him. She was standing oddly, as if every muscle in her body was strung too tight and on high alert. He realized the wide-eyed look she was wearing meant she was too petrified to walk out on the dock to get closer to him, and yet she was doing it anyway, inch by inch.

For him.

He shook his head. “Go home, Piper. You’ve had a long day, you’re exhausted.”

She swallowed, but didn’t retreat. “Something’s wrong.” Her eyes were now once again locked on his, like he was the only thing keeping her sane, telling him without words what trying to support him was costing her. “I’m coming to get you.”

With a sigh, he rose and met her. Wrapping an arm around her shoulders, he started to lead her back to the shore.

She gulped hard and stopped him. “No. The other way. You weren’t done sitting out there.”

“You sure?”

She nodded, and not about to argue with her, he walked her to the end of the dock. He once again sat and hung his legs over the side, waiting for her to do the same.