12 Chapter 12

Life Lessons According to Camryn:

One must handle stress like a dog; if you can't eat it or play with it, pee on it and walk away.

Troy stared at the golf ball on the green in front of him, then clear across the grounds to where it was supposed to land. No way was this going to end well. He'd never golfed a day in his life. Never wanted to. He aligned his club, reared back, and swung.

The ball bounced off a neighboring tree and straight at Justin's face. He ducked and looked at Troy as if they'd escaped a near-death experience.

Fisher shook his head. "Nice shot, man. At least you hit something. I can't find my ball."

Fisher was talking to him now. This was new.

Troy scratched his head. "Whose idea was it to go golfing, anyway?" They were only on the fifth hole and collectively their score was higher than a basketball game.

Justin pointed an accusatory finger at his dad.

Tim shrugged. "You guys said sure when I asked."

Troy laughed. "I thought you meant golfing on the Wii. We're gonna kill someone out here."

Tim grinned and set a nine iron back in his bag. "Thank goodness. I hate golfing. Bernice bought these clubs for me thinking it would be good exercise. Want to have a beer in the clubhouse instead?"

They headed back in silence. After ordering drinks at the bar and sitting at a table, they laughed, agreeing never to repeat the golfing experience.

"I still can't believe my son is getting married."

Fisher set down his beer. "I tried to warn him, sir."

Tim looked at Troy. "I guess you'll be next, then. You and Camryn seem like a nice couple."

Troy choked trying to swallow. Couple of what? After seeing Fisher's expression of confusion, Troy backpedaled. "One doesn't just propose to Camryn Covic. He must let her think it's her idea and give her the control."

A corner of Fisher's mouth lifted. It was a start. Problem averted.

Tim grinned and took a sip from his Scotch. "You know your woman well."

Camryn wasn't his woman, and he used to think he knew her well. Until that kiss today.

When Heather had told him about what this Maxwell guy had said to Camryn, Troy's first instinct was anger. No matter how good a woman was or wasn't in bed, a gentleman never divulged the truth. After he'd gotten to thinking about itand he'd tried really hard not tohe figured Camryn was wound too tight to ever let herself go and enjoy sex.

But after kissing her, he'd discovered she had a whole other side to her. All cool and nice and controlled on the surface. Under that-

Well, she wasn't a damn fish, that's for sure.

He loved women. The way they smelled, laughed, felt. How they looked first thing in the morning, the devious way they wrapped men around their fingers. Females were the last great misunderstood mysteries to the world. Making love was one of life's true treasures. He'd been with a lot of women, and he wasn't ashamed of it.

None of them had stopped his heart dead like Camryn had done earlier. None of them had stunned him enough to render him speechless.

Hell, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious in exploring that more. This was Camryn, though. He wouldn't come out alive.

"Well," Tim said, "I'm just glad you all could come. Bernice has been so happy planning this wedding. She always wanted a daughter."

Justin drank from his bottle. "Thanks for the reminder, Dad."

Fisher lifted his drink. "Thank you for having us. This took a lot of-guts."

Justin wanted to laugh, Troy could tell, but he somehow held back. "What do you guys say to horseback riding tomorrow? Jessie, my best friend growing up, has a farm at the edge of town. She's been on me to bring you by."

Fisher shrugged. "Sure. We can put the family in traction for the ceremony."

Justin laughed. "I was thinking more along the lines of just us with the girls."

Troy tried to picture Camryn on a horse and couldn't. "FYI, Justin, we've never been this-rural."

"Oh relax," Fisher said. "It'll be fine. Emily wants a pony. She'd love riding."

Justin pulled out his cell. "Horseback riding it is," he said while texting. After a few moments, he got an incoming response. "Jessie says the day after tomorrow would be better. You guys will love her."

What Troy was going to love was the look on Cam's face when she found out he'd agreed to this. Moreover, watching her mount a horse. He shook his head and grinned. "Cam's gonna kill me."

Fisher eyed him speculatively. "Since when do you give a damn what a woman thinks? You can handle Cam."

Justin glared at Fisher. "Have you met your sister? Attila the Hun is less intimidating."

Tim sat back as if enjoying the show. "This almost makes me miss being young."