11. Talia
eleven
Talia
My head whips between the note in my hand and my cell phone in the other. One fills me with anxiety while the other sends butterflies soaring in my stomach.
Shoving my phone in the back pocket of my jean shorts, I reread the words that make my heart race and my cheeks flush.
Last night was great. Thank you for dinner. I have a meeting with sponsors that I need to take, so I’ll be home a little later tonight. I hope to see you in our spot after. I’ll be thinking about you and possibly picturing what color bikini you’re going to wear this time. X, Cam
I bring the note to my chest and inhale, catching a hint of Cam’s spicy bergamot scent lingering on the paper. Heat travels to the apex of my thighs at the mere thought of him and the smell of his heady, masculine … cologne? Body wash? I don’t know what it is, but it’s yummy.
Cam is yummy.
He’s sweet and funny. It’s like I’m a young, giddy high school girl with a crush on the popular guy who is finally paying attention to her. I, too, had a great time talking and eating with him last night. He made me laugh and forget all about the stress of my board results. In fact, I haven’t thought about work since I met him.
He’s nothing like the guy my brother made him out to be. I’ve tried wrapping my head around how Nico doesn’t see the Cam I’ve been getting to know. Nothing makes sense.
My phone weighs a hundred pounds in my pocket as it buzzes again with another text message from my brother.
I lied to Nico last night when he asked me what I was doing for dinner, and I know I’m about to do it again. I knew if I told him I made friends and stayed out, he would have no problem doing the same and it would be the perfect opportunity for me to spend time alone with Cam. If Nico found out I went behind his back to be with Cam, he would be livid.
In his eyes, even talking to Cam is betraying him.
But I can’t stop myself from wanting to spend time with Cameron. If I’m being honest, I want to do a lot more than spend time with him.
Walking over to my suitcase, I flip it open and hide the note Cam left for me next to the other one, in the pocket lining. As I’m closing the bag, my eye catches on the bright jewel-toned fabric of my bathing suit.
I pull out my phone and read the new text.
Nico : Dinner tonight?
Nico : Hey, so, last-minute change of plans. Dame’s here and wants to grab dinner. Want to join?
I’d rather eat dinner in the Arctic, freezing my ass off than eat dinner with Damien. He’s been friends with Nico since high school, but something about him has always rubbed me the wrong way. Aside from him being a womanizing pig—call it intuition or whatever—there is just something off about that guy.
Talia : I’m good. I think I’m going to meet up with those girls from the food tour after the street art tour. That okay?
Biting my lip, I wait, watching the three dots move as Nico writes me back.
Nico : Cool. Be safe and have fun. Glad you’re making friends. Use my car service account for a ride home. I might be out late.
Talia : I will. Thank you. Don’t have too much fun.
Guilt gnaws on the lining of my intestines as I send my response, but I push it away. If I wasn’t here, this is what Nico would do anyway—meetings, baseball practices, and going out with the guys. This is all the usual for him.
Nico : I can’t make any promises.
I don’t bother returning Nico’s last text. He doesn’t need his little sister to remind him of his responsibilities.
Before this trip, I never really thought about what he did outside of baseball. I hope he doesn’t do anything stupid. He’s been going out a lot more lately, and I’m worried about him.
He’ll talk when he’s ready. For now, I’m going to give him space to figure it out, so I can have the same space to figure out what’s happening between me and the one man I shouldn’t get involved with.
The gliding of the glass door has Cameron turning his gaze to me as I step through. Like the other night, he beat me to our spot, and I spent a good thirty seconds taking in him and his shining hard body.
“Hey.” I swallow down the lump in my throat. He makes me nervous and excited all at the same time.
“Hey yourself, beautiful.”
I fight the shiver his husky voice sends through me as my eyes dart to the towel knot at my chest. I don’t understand why I am acting so timid with him. Guys have given me compliments before, but it hits different with him.
“Talia.”
At the concern in his voice, my eyes jump to his unique hazel ones.
Brow scrunched and concern etched across his face, he says, “If you don’t want to stay, I’ll understand.”
My heart melts at his offer. I shake my head. “No, I want to be here … with you.”
The smile Cam gives me at my confession hits me like an arrow to the heart.
“I want to be here with you, too.”
A breath catches in my lungs, and my heart jumps as the air between us grows thick with tension. I stand there, staring at him while he sits in the bubbling jacuzzi.
Okay, those stupid gossip magazines have it right. Cameron Miller is the sexiest man alive .
His biceps flex and ripple as he moves them to rest along the back of the hot tub. I can’t help but gawk at Cam’s pecs as he chuckles. “Well, are you going to get in, or do I have to come and get you?”
His question snaps me out of my daze. My cheeks flame at the embarrassing way I was just staring at him, like he’s some sort of sexy man-meat trophy to be objectified. Cam smiles wider at my obvious shame spiral.
Finding my confidence, I say, “I’m just taking my time. Problem?” Dropping my towel to the ground, I stand before Cam in nothing but the turquoise bikini Sofia bought me for this trip.
He brings his fist to his mouth, biting it. “Fuck, itty bitty. You look even sexier than I imagined.”
I don’t wear bathing suits as revealing as this, but with the way Cam is looking at me, I might have to more often. For him.
“Really?” I ask, my voice shaky.
Cam’s grin turns predatory as he checks me out. His eyes burn a path along my skin as he peruses every inch of my body. “Fuck yeah. Baby, I need you to get into the water right now and cover up before I jump out, throw you over my shoulder, and take you to my room to fuck you all night long.”
My pussy floods with desire as a small moan vibrates in the back of my throat at his dirty declaration and the way he called me baby.
Like a fawn with trembling legs, I climb the steps up the side of the hot tub. Cam reaches out a hand for me, guiding me into the water. The electricity I am starting to associate with his touch shoots up my arm as I take a seat across from him.
Being so close and yet so far from this man has me on edge. I’m fighting with myself to keep as much space as possible between us rather than sit in his lap like my body is begging me to.
His foot reaches out and slides along the side of mine as if he needs to touch me. Butterflies soar and dip in my belly. Cam watches me as he shifts from side to side uncomfortably, his jaw clenched tight .
“Are you okay?” I ask, basking in the electrifying caress of his skin against mine as the hot water eases my nerves and the tension in my neck.
“You don’t want me to answer that question.”
His answer confuses me. “What?”
“I’m fine. Just finding it … hard … to relax.” Cam’s eyebrows lift, waiting for me to catch onto the meaning in his words. He looks down at the water, to his lap, and back at me.
Hard?
“Oh,” I gasp.
“Yeah, oh. I need you to say something that will distract me.”
I can’t help but giggle at his obvious agony as he takes a deep breath.
“That’s not helping.”
“I’m sorry,” I lie. I enjoy knowing I have this effect on him.
“Little liar. You like knowing I’m sitting here, only a few feet away from you, with my cock hard as fuck for you.”
At his vulgar language, heat surges between my legs and blood boils hotter than the water in this whirlpool. No man has ever spoken to me like that before. I’m not sure I would like it to come from someone other than Cam.
My tongue swipes across my bottom lip as I contemplate his words.
He’s right. I do like knowing I turn him on. But he asked for me to make it go away, so …
“When I was in grad school, I worked as an ER nurse at night, not only because it looked good on my resume, but the pay was great for a struggling college student.”
“You’re a nurse?” His eyes widen with surprise.
Have I not mentioned that to him yet?
I shrug. “Yeah. It’s no big deal.”
“Are you kidding? That’s fucking awesome. ”
“I’m not a doctor or anything.” You would not believe the number of people who have asked me why be a nurse when I could be a doctor. Like being a nurse is less than.
Cam’s face turns serious as he chides me. “Don’t do that. Don’t diminish what you do. I saw the way your eyes lit up when you said you were a nurse.”
“Okay,” I whisper.
“Good. Now, finish telling me your story, itty bitty.” Cam winks at me.
My heart skips a beat at his nickname for me.
“Anyway, one night shift, this guy came in and he was screaming, holding his crotch. Another nurse and I approached him, trying to help calm him down, but he was freaking out and screaming in pain.”
As I tell him my story, Cam listens to me with such rapt attention that it has me feeling all kinds of things. The way he’s staring at me so intently, it’s almost like he’s proud of me.
My chest tightens and floods with this unfamiliar warmth. No one has ever looked at me with such intensity as he absorbs every word I’m telling him. When I tell these stories at home, my family half listens. I mean, I come from a long line of artists, chefs, and athletes, so I get it. They don’t have any interest in medicine. It sometimes makes me the outsider in my family.
I don’t get that with Cam. He sees me. He sees my passion and wants to hear about it. He’s interested in whatever I want to say.
“Nurses and doctors were coming out of exam rooms to see what was going on. No one knew what the heck to do until this woman came rushing, begging us to help her boyfriend. Turns out they were using toys in the bedroom, and one got stuck.”
Cam winces, shaking his head. “Shut the fuck up, no. Wait… Where?”
“Yup.” Repeating his earlier gesture, I point down into the water. “He had a cock ring stuck at the base of his penis. We tried to help, but the scissors we had were too small because his problem was … quite large, if you know what I mean.”
Cam throws his head back and laughs. It’s hearty, free, and infectious. I laugh with him.
“Not a bad problem to have,” Cam jokes, sending us both roaring with laughter.
Wiping a tear from the corner of my eye, I watch Cam relax. My story worked.
“True, but the ring was so tight it was cutting off all the blood flow to the area. We had to put in an emergency call to the fire department to bring us cable cutters. Poor guy almost lost his junk.”
“Is it wrong to laugh at this guy’s misery?” he asks, trying to sober up.
“Probably. If it makes you feel better, no one laughed until after he was safe … and out of earshot.” I’m going to hell for telling this story, but the carefree look on his face is worth it.
“Good to know. What hospital do you work at?”
Cam’s question gives me pause. “Oh, um. I don’t know yet.”
“What do you mean you don’t know yet?”
“It depends on the results of my board exam.” The flood of nerves that usually follows thoughts of my boards doesn’t come.
“When do you get those?”
“Yesterday.” I cringe. I couldn’t bring myself to open the email and look. But now?
“Are you scared?”
“A little. What if I didn’t pass?”
“You passed,” Cam says without a hint of doubt.
I narrow my eyes at him, and he flashes me a wide grin. Sexy jerk.
“If I passed,” I continue, ignoring the way my insides turn to liquid at his smile and attention, “I start my dream job. But—”
“There’s that but again.” He winks at me. It’s playful, but from the way his eyes soften, I know he gets it without me even saying it out loud. “Just say it. Be fearless. ”
“Now what?” I slap my hand to my mouth. Did I really just admit that out loud? I’ve only known this man for a few days, and here I am practically spilling my biggest fear.
Cam sighs. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. Everyone thinks that, even me.”
“Really? Why?”
This man, coined one of the best pitchers in baseball history, has multimillion-dollar contracts from his team and a variety of sponsors. He doesn’t have to worry about what comes next. He can do nothing or everything with that kind of money. It also doesn’t hurt that he’s both incredibly handsome and talented.
He drops his head back onto the rim of the tub and stares at the sky. “If and when I retire, I can’t do … nothing after. I’ve worked every day since I was a kid, trying to be the best baseball player. Sitting around doing nothing all day sounds great, for a month maybe. But after that? What comes next for me? I’ll be just another washed-up, old pitcher, and I refuse to be one of those talking heads sitting around a table reminiscing over my glory days.”
He stays focused on the sky, refusing to look at me after spilling his biggest fears. Fears you wouldn’t imagine a man like him to have. Fears that are similar to mine, even though we live in different worlds.
Without thinking, I move beside him and twine my fingers with his, letting him know he’s not alone.