Chapter 9
Sophia
S ophia had never been this on edge before.
The second Cameron climbed behind the steering wheel, she couldn’t keep still.
His words echoed in her head, bouncing around until it made her dizzy.
She couldn’t bring herself to look in his direction because he’d been right.
He’d hit the metaphorical nail on the head with everything.
She had been uncomfortable with the two men. The first guy hadn’t been too bad, but the relief she’d felt over Cameron intervening had been palpable.
The second guy was a stupid mistake. Emma had nearly convinced her to go over to Cameron and ask him to dance when she’d caught sight of him with that blonde Barbie.
The only way to describe the emotions that churned inside her at witnessing the two of them together had been hot, fiery rage.
It brought her back to the night she’d caught him with that girl outside of his hotel room.
Both had been blondes. Both had been the stereotypical women she saw in every magazine. It made her feel sick to her stomach, and she’d wanted to make Cameron hurt for it. So, she’d found the first guy she could and flirted with him mercilessly.
That woman had her hands all over Cameron, and while Sophia had no claim to him, she couldn’t deny the ache that reared its ugly head when she saw him with someone else.
The fury was so opposite of the longing she had for that man, and it only served to add to her confusion. How could she want someone who would only toy with her? It didn’t make sense.
She let her eyes drift toward Cameron, noting how hard he was gripping the steering wheel. He wasn’t thrilled to be in here with her. But she didn’t know why. If he was so upset with her, why did he even bother taking her home?
“Message your friends,” he said.
Startled, she glanced at his face. His jaw was tight, and his eyes remained locked on the road.
Cameron continued, “Tell them you caught a ride home. They’ll be worried about you.”
She nodded numbly and pulled her phone from her back pocket. Once she had sent off the message and told Emma she would fill her in later, she put the phone into her lap and turned her attention to the window.
Part of her wanted to thank him for what he’d done for her.
When he’d stepped in, he had helped her even if she didn’t want to admit it to herself—or him.
But she couldn’t. She would never show him her weaknesses because that was what these feelings were.
She was weak. What kind of person caught feelings for a guy who was unattainable?
And she would know because she was the female equivalent of unattainability.
The irony of this situation wasn’t lost on her. The universe was laughing at her, watching her fall for a guy who would never want her back—not in the way she’d need him to.
She stared out the window, unseeing as she relived the evening and the other interactions she’d had with Cameron.
When they arrived at her home, she lurched from the truck and practically ran toward the house.
The last thing she wanted was for Cameron to walk her to her door.
Sophia could do without the temptation of kissing him.
Because whether she liked it or not, he’d been right about that, too. If he’d wanted to steal a kiss, she would have let him and loved every second of it.
The following days were filled with as much tension as the ones leading up to that night at the country club.
Sophia couldn’t forget the way Cameron had looked at her when that guy had nearly kissed her.
Whenever she closed her eyes, all she saw was the look in his eyes when Cameron whispered what would happen if he were to be the one kissing her.
The simple act of remembering that moment was enough to give her goosebumps, and it was really starting to get old.
When she entered the barn that morning, Cameron tossed her a saddle bag. “We’re going for a ride.”
She lifted a brow. “I beg your pardon? I have work to?—”
“Mateo and Daniel signed off on it. We’re taking a couple dogs with us.
Trained ones who haven’t been out in a couple days.
Everyone’s a little antsy.” He gave her a pointed look, and her stomach had once again turned into an acrobat.
She had definitely grown antsy. Her body practically buzzed to be touched by him.
Sophia put her hands on her hips. His focus dipped to her waist, and he turned toward the two horses that had already been saddled. The light from the sun was only just filling the sky. In about thirty minutes, it would be rising over the mountains toward the east.
He wasn’t trying to take her to see a sunrise, was he? No. He wouldn’t go to the trouble. He’d said himself, this was something Mateo wanted. She frowned as she headed toward the horse and climbed into the saddle.
“They need some exercise, but I also want to see how they handle the terrain. If they have any weak muscles, then I’ll be able to take note and get the vet to come do a physical.
We want these girls in top physical condition before we get them ready for breeding.
” Cameron said all of this without looking at her directly.
He focused on securing his own pack and ensuring that the saddle was how he wanted it to be.
Then in one quick movement, he was situated in the saddle, the Stetson on his head giving him a rugged cowboy look.
He led the way out of the barn, and at that moment, Mateo materialized with two of his favorite ranch dogs.
He crouched down and scratched each of them with affection, then jerked his chin toward Cameron and Sophia. “Behave.”
Cameron smirked, and Sophia snickered before she whistled for the dogs to follow.
They loped beside her as she followed Cameron out to the nearest trail.
Her eyes remained locked on the back of Cameron’s head.
There was so much that had been left unspoken.
Since that night, Cameron hadn’t said a word to her that wasn’t related to the animals.
Maybe he was embarrassed. Or he could have regret for how he’d treated her.
Sophia sighed. She didn’t like the person she’d become around him. Under normal circumstances, she didn’t avoid the men in her life. To be fair, those men were all very aware that she didn’t do relationships, so there wasn’t the implication that anything would come after their interaction.
She urged her horse forward so she could ride beside him.
Cameron glanced at her, his face unreadable.
Of course. Cameron was a master at hiding how he felt.
The closest he’d gotten to showing her his feelings was at the country club.
He’d almost appeared worried for her. She knew better than to believe he was jealous.
Even if things felt weird between them, she wasn’t going to let him see that. Sophia straightened her shoulders and flashed him a smile. “So, do you like it here? In Copper Creek?”
Cameron offered a smile back, and it almost looked genuine. He nodded. “It’s nice. A lot different than Texas.”
She barked out a laugh. “Definitely. Just wait until winter comes.”
He smirked. “Can’t wait.”
Sophia tilted her head, eyeing him for a moment. “Did you grow up in Texas?”
Cameron nodded. “I did.”
“I bet the change in weather up here is a lot different than you’re used to.”
“I’ve been all over. I’m probably more used to this sort of thing than you realize.”
“Really?” Her brows lifted. “Do you really travel that much for work?”
Cameron’s body language relaxed, and he nodded. “I didn’t used to travel, but that changed a couple years ago.”
“What place is your favorite?”
He glanced at her before he rolled his shoulders and opened his mouth. But then he closed his mouth and rubbed a hand down his face. “Tell me something, Red. In Texas?—”
Why did he have to go there? She shook her head.
“I don’t live in the past, Cameron. I’ve moved on from Texas.
” Lies . “I’d rather live my life to the fullest.” She prayed he couldn’t hear the way her voice shook.
The last thing she needed was for him to point out that he could tell she was lying through her teeth.
He frowned, and his jaw tightened. Clearly, he didn’t like her response.
The friendly conversation shut down just like that. She didn’t want to talk about Texas, and he did. Well, tough luck for him. She wasn’t going to linger on one of the more depressing moments of her life.
They entered a clearing where a couple cowboys hovered around something on the ground. The dogs at her side bolted, and she shot a concerned look to Cameron before she knocked her boots to her horse’s side.
A calf lay on the ground, apparently mauled by an animal.
Sophia gasped and jumped down from her horse. She moved up to Mark’s side. She grabbed his forearm and said, “What do you think happened?”
“Wolves.” Mark spat. He raked a hand through his hair, then returned his hat there. “We’ll have to tell Mateo about it. Sounds like the ranch on the western side of the property has had a few sightings.”
Sophia frowned. This neighboring pasture was on the outskirts of their property. If they were lucky, they wouldn’t get any unwanted visitors. She stared down at the calf with a heavy heart. “Poor thing.”
Mark nodded. Unfortunately, this was the way of life on a ranch.
He glanced at her, and a smile broke across his face.
“Hey, on a better note, I’ve been meaning to tell you something.
” He leaned in close, his voice dropping to a whisper.
His hand reached for her upper arm as he did. “I’m proposing to Tracy this weekend.”
She reared back and grinned at him before she threw her arms around his neck and gave him a tight hug.
“I knew it.” When she pulled back, she could feel the hot stare of the man who was still seated in his saddle.
It bore into her and nearly set her insides on fire.
When she glanced at him, she noted the anger marring the handsome lines of his face. What on earth was wrong with him?
Her eyes narrowed, and she shook her head in exasperation. Mark glanced over at him after noting her attention. He lifted a brow. “He seems… nice.”
“Yeah,” she said. “Real nice.” Then she smiled at Mark again. “Tell me how it goes. I want details.”
Mark nodded. “Of course.”
When she was back on her horse, she wasn’t surprised that the remainder of the ride continued in silence. Cameron was in a sour mood, and there was nothing she could do about it. Nor did she care.
“What do you mean, you know him?” Emma said into the speaker.
Sophia stared at the ceiling, her phone pressed to her ear. Emma had finally convinced her to spill the truth about Cameron after the ridiculous night that had been the country club outing. “I met him five years ago when I went to a conference in Texas.”
“And?” Emma urged. “What happened?”
Sophia pressed her finger and thumb into her closed eyes. “Nothing happened. We flirted. He wore me down, and I told him I’d go on a date with him. Then another.” She groaned, detailing what had happened after that. The whole thing was still just as heartbreaking.
Emma let out a whistle. “Okay, now it totally makes sense.”
“What makes sense?” Sophia asked. “The fact that he can still make me jealous?”
“Well, to be fair, he looked pretty jealous, too.”
Sophia snorted. “No. He’s just… I don’t know… controlling.”
“You sure about that?”
“That’s the only thing that makes sense. If he was jealous, then he wouldn’t have let that girl put her hands all over him. And that girl in Texas? It’s the same thing. He’s got the attention of any girl he wants. He doesn’t have to be jealous about me being with guys.”
Emma was quiet for a moment. “I don’t know, Soph. Maybe you should corner him and demand he explain himself. He was supposed to go on a date with you, and you said yourself that he showed up at the club you were at. Maybe there’s more to this story.”
“There isn’t. Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but honestly, I think it would be better if I forget about him and move on.
I don’t need this kind of drama. You should have seen the way he was glaring at me today.
It was like I’m not allowed to be friends with a guy because I didn’t fall to his whims or something. ”
“Sounds like jealousy to me.”
Sophia rolled her eyes. She knew jealousy. That wasn’t jealousy.
“You know what they say. If you want to move on, then the best thing to do is clear the air. So talk to him.”
“Maybe,” Sophia muttered noncommittally. She definitely wasn’t going to do that. She didn’t need to see the triumph on his face when he realized that she had been hurt by his philandering ways.