4. Lizzy
As I stare into the eyes of the sexiest man I’ve ever seen, I remain frozen in place. My ears pulse with the sound of my racing heart, and my legs feel like they might buckle at any moment.
I know from personal experience, under that white button-down shirt is a chest with pecs for days. I’ve freaking kissed every muscle along his happy trail, had my hands roam along his sculpted body, and I’ve experienced what it feels like to have this glorious man fill me from the inside out.
How the hell is he of all people standing in front of me?
The one who’s starred in all my recent fantasies.
The one I was instantly attracted to the moment we met.
The one I broke all my rules for and had my first one-night stand with because I didn’t want to regret not being with him.
Our chemistry was off the charts. Sure, he’s a bit older than the guys I typically date, but when we were together, none of that mattered.
He made me feel as if I was the only one in the universe.
Our attraction was more than physical though.
He was charming, and fate had a way of making our paths continually cross when we least expected it.
With both of us leaving town, we couldn’t commit to anything. But I couldn’t walk away without knowing what it was like to be with him. Our chemistry was so combustible, and I will never regret the hottest experience of my lifetime.
To protect my heart, I did make some mental boundaries. I purposely made a point in not exchanging numbers or revealing much about my personal life—once I realized our time was limited. I knew there wouldn’t be any point. It couldn’t go anywhere.
Has it really only been three weeks?
His unreadable expression fills me with unease as he glances to the paper in his hand, then back to me. “ You’re Elizabeth Lancaster?”
“Yes, but everyone calls me Lizzy.”
Clearly, he knows that. It’s the name the barista called at the coffee shop by the university each time we ran into one another. I frequent there because it’s just far enough away from the college crowd, I was able to focus on my studies—that is until he stole my attention.
Squeezing my hand, Emilia adorably draws my attention to her as she obliviously states, “Iz is my friend.”
Looking to the daughter I never knew he had, Cameron asks, “Is that so?”
Emilia nods fervently. “Ya. She reads my favorite books.” (Though she pronounces the v in favorite with a b instead, making her even more adorable.)
Cameron’s body shifts, and he leans in and bops his daughter on the nose. “Is that right?” Turning to me, he grumbles, “She’s a sucker for anyone who reads to her nonstop. It’s also how she always stays up way past her bedtime, if I’m not paying attention.”
Emilia grins widely, but it’s her grandmother who says, “Who can blame her? A girl and her books are nothing to be messed with.”
When Emilia shrugs as if saying, yeah, what Gammy said , the room fills with laughter.
Blood still courses through my veins, and every nerve ending in my body remains on high alert, but as the laughter dies down, it feels as if some tension in the room has been released.
“Has she been to the library yet?” I ask with curiosity. I loved going to our local library as a kid.
Cameron’s expression is still unreadable as his head cocks to the side. “No, we haven’t been there. We’ve spent the last few weeks getting settled, as we just moved out here.”
“They’re from Portland,” his mother adds for my benefit. “The two of you may have crossed paths without even knowing it. Cameron works not far from the University of Portland.”
Oh, trust me, Dianne. Our paths have crossed.
Cameron’s silence speaks volumes. Obviously, he doesn’t want his mother knowing that he does indeed know me—intimately at least. We never quite made it past our carnal needs to go far beyond our casual flirting that led to our one date.
Focusing his attention on the resumé in his hand, he asks, “So you’re a student at U-P. You’re double majoring in psychology and elementary education?”
Okay… so we’re doing this.
Clearing my throat, I straighten to meet his eyes when they return to me. “Yes. I’ve got two more quarters of classes, then I’ll be placed for student teaching in the spring.”
“Clearly, she’s got a talent for working with kids. Just look at how attached Emilia is to her already,” Dianne chimes in.
Crap. Looking down, I realize she’s still holding my hand. There’s no way I would drop hers, even if my instincts say to do so. I can’t do that to an innocent child. Her grandmother told me she doesn’t warm up to people easily, so I’d never purposely push her away.
However, her getting attached to me could be disastrous in so many ways if shit goes sideways between her dad and me. Not only could it mean I never get this job, but even if I did, could I handle working for someone I’ve slept with?
Fuck. I’m so confused.
Yes, I wanted to run into him again. But I never in a million years expected it to be today.
Glancing back to Cameron, his expression remains stoic.
I thought I could read him so well in our weeks spent flirting. But hell, I didn’t even know he had a kid. Clearly, I don’t know him at all.
“Tell me about your experience as a nanny in previous summers.”
Taking a steadying breath, I force myself to relax.
“I’ve worked for a variety of families. I was on call whenever the agency needed me.
I did everything from being a glorified Uber driver for preteens to staying overnight for families who worked or had other commitments.
I’ve watched kids from as young as four months old to teens who just needed someone to hang out with them to keep them out of trouble with so much time on their hands.
You name it, I’ve probably done it. I’ve been babysitting since I was twelve. ”
Narrowing his eyes, he asks, “And just how many years ago was that?”
Before I can answer, he holds up a hand and shakes his head. “Wait. Don’t answer that. You’re obviously experienced in this field, and I won’t discriminate against you by asking.”
“I… uh… respect that.” The words fly out of my mouth before I can think better of it.
There’s an obvious age gap between us, so he likely wants to know on a personal level as well as professionally. But it says a lot about his character that he’s trying to remain professional.
This can’t be easy on him either. Finding me here certainly wasn’t on his bingo card.
“Look…” he starts, but his mom interrupts.
“I think we’ll leave the two of you to finish this interview…”
Suddenly, she’s beside us, reaching for Emilia. I’ve been so distracted by seeing Cameron again, I’d forgotten she was even in the room.
Reaching out, she pats Cameron on the chest, before she calmly says, “It’s time for Emilia to get ready for swim lessons.”
“Swimming?” Emilia’s excitement fills the room. “I go get my soup.”
And just like any three-year-old, she runs as fast as she can down a hallway and disappears.
Chuckling, Dianne shrugs. “I’d better go help. It was great seeing you again, Lizzy.” Glancing between the two of us, she adds, “I hope everything works out as it should.”
Cameron and I watch his mother disappear down the same hall as his daughter. Within seconds, we hear the sound of feet, and Emilia comes running back to us. She flings herself into her dad’s outstretched arms, who has somehow gotten to her level and crouches to envelop her in a hug.
“Bye, Daddy. I go swim with Gammy.”
“You be good and listen to your teacher,” he warns lovingly.
The moment he releases her, she flings herself at my leg and squeezes me as tight as a toddler can. “Bye, Iz. I play with you next time.”
Before I can say a word, Dianne calls her to what I assume is their garage door, and they’re gone.
Tension remains strong, and there’s a long moment of silence.
Suddenly, Cameron breaks it by barking out a loud laugh as he asks, “Is this really happening?”