Free Seeking His Love by Carrie Turansky Page A

glanced across the street in the direction Ross had pointed his camera. Rachel and another young woman with long red hair stood in front of a booth displaying used books, movie posters and records.
    Cam blew out a deep breath and frowned at the sidewalk.
    Ross glanced at him. “What’s the matter?”
    “Nothing.” Cam folded his arms across his chest and looked back toward the Village Green.
    “I thought you worked things out with Rachel.”
    Cam’s face grew hot. “I did.” He hated that Ross could read him so easily.
    “So what’s with the face?”
    “I just feel a little weird around her, that’s all.”
    Ross cocked his head. “How come?”
    He shrugged, feeling like an awkward adolescent instead of a thirty-three-year-old man.
    “Well, I think Rachel’s one of the nicest people I’ve met in a long time. And she’s certainly easy on the eyes.” Ross glanced at Cam as he adjusted the strap on his camera. “In fact, I’ve been thinking about asking her out.”
    Cam pulled back. “No way. You’re not.”
    “Yeah. I am.” Grinning, Ross pushed his dark frame glasses up his thin nose.
    “But…she’s not your type,” he sputtered.
    “Sure she is. We’re both fun-loving and creative. I think we have a lot in common.”
    Cam shook his head. “You’re too young for her.”
    Ross laughed. “I’m twenty-seven. She can’t be much older than that. And a few years age difference doesn’t bother me.” He wiggled his dark brows. “Besides, older women have more experience, and that’s a plus in my book.”
    Cam clenched his jaw. “You better watch it.”
    Ross’s grin hitched up higher. “Ha! I knew it. You like her.”
    “No!” Cam wanted to kick himself. He’d walked right into that one.
    “Come on, Cam. You don’t have to pretend with me.”
    “Look, I wish you’d drop this.”
    “If you like her, you should ask her out.”
    “No. I’m not ready to date Rachel or anyone else.”
    Understanding glimmered in Ross’s eyes, and his mischievous expression faded. “It’s been four years, Cam. It’s okay to be attracted to someone else.”
    Cam’s throat constricted. Four years wasn’t long enough to erase the painful memories. He’d never realized how much his wife and son meant to him until it was too late and they were gone.
    “Your wife wouldn’t expect you to mourn forever,” Ross added. “She’d want to you to move on and make the most of your life.”
    Cam swallowed and tried to find his voice. “You didn’t even know Marie.”
    Ross nodded, his expression sober. “You’re right. I didn’t. But I know you. And I think it’s time you stop punishing yourself for what happened. It’s not going to bring Marie back.”
    Cam turned away and pulled in a shaky breath. Ross was right. There was nothing Cam could do to bring his wife and son back. Marie and Tyler were gone forever because he’dbeen too self-absorbed to protect them the way a husband and father should.
    He could never forgive himself for that.

Chapter Nine
    R achel flipped through the display of old movie posters and spotted one featuring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing cheek-to-cheek. She smiled and pulled it from the rack. “Look at this.”
    Chandra Wetzel, her friend and choreographer for N.C.Y.T. walked over for a better view. “Oh, I love Fred Astaire. What a charmer.” Sunlight glinted off Chandra’s red wavy hair. Her white peasant blouse and flowing blue skirt showed off her dancer’s figure and reflected her free-spirited style. Chandra sighed with a wistful smile. “Nobody dances like that anymore.”
    “They’ve got some great movie posters.” Rachel turned back toward the rack and began thumbing through. “Maybe I should buy a few for the classrooms. What do you think?” When Chandra didn’t answer, Rachel glanced up at her friend.
    “Someone is watching us,” Chandra gave a subtle nod as she looked past Rachel’s shoulder.
    “What do you mean?”
    “There’s a guy