Chapter 28 #2
I found it oddly comforting, knowing he was behind me, that I had backup if I really needed it.
I also knew I felt that way because Cameron wasn’t hotheaded, wasn’t someone who might run his mouth at Korey and make things worse.
I doubted he’d even step a single foot in our direction unless there was some drastic reason that warranted it, and that was exactly what I needed—knowing I wasn’t alone but being supported enough to feel like I could do it alone.
“Fucking prick,” Korey repeated under his breath, at least soft enough this time that Chloe likely hadn’t heard.
Cameron’s lips twitched, like he knew he’d gotten under Korey’s skin.
And he liked it.
Ignoring my ex, I focused on saying goodbye to Chloe, giving her a kiss on her head before shutting the car door and watching as they drove away. It wasn’t until they were out of sight that I turned on my heel and walked up the driveway toward Cameron.
“I’m starting to wonder what really went down in that deposition,” I said, plucking the beer bottle out of his hands and taking a swig. I needed a drink after that interaction.
Cameron watched me with a hooded stare, his eyes focused on my mouth as I swallowed the IPA. Wasn’t my usual choice of beer, but I’d take what I could get. When I lowered the bottle and licked my lips, a muscle jumped in my lawyer’s jaw.
“We have the entire thing on camera, if you want to watch,” he answered after a weighty beat of silence where the summer air seemed to have a pulse.
“I don’t really like listening to Korey talk.”
“Good thing I don’t really let him get a lot of words in.”
My lips spread. “No wonder he doesn’t like you.”
“Feeling’s fucking mutual,” Cameron grunted, his eyes trailing to the corner where Chloe and Korey had disappeared around. “I don’t like it.”
I cocked my head to the side. “You don’t like what?”
“Chloe going with him.”
My heart lurched at his words, leaving me momentarily breathless. I didn’t like it, either. In fact, I hated it. But for some reason, I hadn’t expected Cameron to vocalize that.
His gaze wandered around the rest of the front yard before he finally looked back at me and lifted his hand, tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “She should be here with your family tonight.”
“I know,” I whispered, lowering my gaze to stare at the bottle in my hands and the way the beer sloshed against its glass confines.
“Hey.” Cameron slipped a finger beneath my chin, raising it so I’d look at him again.
It reminded me of what I’d seen Blake do to Delaney, and I wondered for a second if he might kiss me, especially considering how his eyes roamed my face, flicking to my mouth as they did.
My heart beat a little faster, but then he said, “I wanted to ask you something.”
I mean, of course he wouldn’t kiss me. Not standing outside my brother’s house. Not where anyone could see us.
Regardless, disappointment threaded through my being.
Our eyes met, a clash of heat, and I gave him a nod to let him know I was listening.
“I have extra tickets to the Caps game on Wednesday night. Plans with my grandpa and uncle fell through. I was wondering if I could take you and Chloe? It’s no field day at school, but it’s something.
I think they might even have root beer floats at the stadium. Or some kind of ice cream, at least.”
My lips parted, stunned by his proposal.
That sounded…so nice. I didn’t even have to work Wednesday night, and I’d been thinking about what Chloe and I could do that might be special.
She’d been such a sports enthusiast lately that I knew she’d love going to a baseball game.
And getting to spend time with Cameron was an obvious bonus. For both of us, honestly.
But was it really a good idea?
“Cameron…” I breathed. “That’s really sweet, but I don’t know.”
“Daphne loved the idea,” he said, like he’d been waiting to unleash further reasoning on me.
“Your boss?”
He nodded. “I proposed it as client bonding. Strictly professional. Gives me an opportunity to get to know Chloe better.” There was a pause before he added, “Of course, she doesn’t realize that I’ve already met Chloe on a number of occasions, but still.”
I bit down on a smile but didn’t really know what to say. I knew what I wanted to say, but…
“If you don’t want me spending more time with Chloe, I understand,” Cameron offered gently. “But from a professional standpoint, this would be strictly aboveboard. I made sure of it, and we could make sure to tell Chloe exactly what it was so she doesn’t get confused.”
The way Cameron considered Chloe so carefully with every decision and proposal he made caused my insides to squeeze with a strange mix of emotions.
It was so incredibly considerate, but it also made me wonder.
Was Cameron so worried about Chloe becoming attached to him because he knew I didn’t want that?
Because he knew I was so worried about spiraling into a new relationship and ultimately causing her more pain if it didn’t work out?
Or was he worried about it for himself? Did he want to make sure Chloe wouldn’t get attached because he had no interest in stepping into a role like that?
I suppose it didn’t really matter either way, considering our agreement—the one that didn’t go beyond sex.
Cameron’s motives didn’t make a difference, as long as he was following the rules we’d originally laid out, and one baseball game where we were careful about how we acted around each other in front of Chloe wouldn’t ruin them.
“I’m sure Chloe would love to go,” I said finally. “And I would, too. I’ll ask her when she gets home tomorrow.”
Cameron’s lips split into a genuine smile, his dimples indenting, and I tried to ignore the burst of emotion it caused in my chest.
Just sex—this was just sex, I reminded myself for the second time in a matter of minutes. It didn’t matter that this man was visibly excited at the idea of taking me and my daughter to a baseball game. It was still just sex.
“Excellent,” he breathed. “We should probably get back to the party, but first…”
He looked around again, checking for anyone who might have shown up without us realizing it. But the front yard was still empty. I wasn’t sure where Blake had wandered off to, but he wasn’t anywhere in sight now.
Cameron placed a hand on my hip, giving it a little squeeze as he leaned in. The sudden proximity and heat of his touch that I’d spent days thinking about made my breath hitch.
When he spoke, his voice was everything I’d remembered from the other times we’d been this close. Deep. Demanding. A hint of gravel that made flutters erupt low in my belly. “Come home with me tonight. You deserve more than what you got last weekend.”
“What do I deserve?” I asked, my voice wispy as desire threaded through me, taking up every part of my being as I thought about what he was saying.
Cameron inched closer, letting his lips graze my ear. “To be fucked, Sunshine. Properly. Repeatedly.”
Embarrassingly, a whimper slipped out of me.
But I didn’t really care. Not considering how it made Cameron groan and release a hushed “Fuck” before pulling back to wait for a response. He plucked his beer back from my hands, like he needed something to hold onto. Then he took a swig of it, watching me with intent as he swallowed.
Oh, God, I wanted to say yes. But I couldn’t.
“I’d love to come over…but my friend is in town tonight,” I said with a regretful shake of my head. “We made plans—”
“That can be pushed off until brunch tomorrow morning,” Ellie cut in, walking out of Noah’s front door with a sly grin on her face. “I think I can fend for myself for the night.”
“Ellie, no,” I insisted, knowing a deep red was coloring my neck and face. Had she heard Cameron’s earlier words? “That’s not—”
“You’re the lawyer,” Ellie cut in, sticking her hand out to Cameron. “Aren’t you?”
Cameron nodded, his lips pulling into a crooked grin. He’d dropped his hand from where it had been on my hip the moment Ellie walked outside and now raised it to shake Ellie’s.
“I knew there was a reason I liked you,” she said, and I wanted to melt into the ground. “Ellie Summers. Nice to meet you.”
“Cameron Bryant,” Cameron replied smoothly. “Same to you.”
He looked between the two of us, and if he was bothered that we’d essentially just blown our cover, he didn’t act like it.
“I’ll leave you two to figure out your plans,” he said. “My offer still stands, Natalie.”
I nodded, struggling to breathe or formulate words while Cameron pinned me with a long, intense look before walking away.
“That offer involves some horizontal cardio, doesn’t it?” Ellie asked, breaking the tension and making me choke on air as a strangled laugh tried to escape my throat. “Or maybe standing cardio? Upside-down cardio? Experimental cardio?”
When she just stared at me, I threw up my hands.
“All of the above? I don’t know exactly what he has planned, but he’s…talented.”
My cheeks flushed, but Ellie just looked positively delighted by my answer. “I knew he was a man comfortable in his own sexuality.”
“You cannot tell anyone, Ellie.”
“Sworn to secrecy,” she promised, pretending to zip her lips shut. And then unzip them again. “But you need to fill me in on the whole secret. I’m not against begging for the details.”
“Can I fill you in over mimosas tomorrow?” I asked, feeling a little guilty at the idea of not spending the rest of the night with her. Even though the sun was already going down, and we both knew we’d probably fall asleep promptly at ten o’clock after one glass of wine.
But Ellie’s face lit up with excitement, pushing my guilt away. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
I laughed and then pulled out my phone, sending Cameron two words.
I’m in.