Chapter 2
Emma Cooper let out a deep breath as she closed the door to her hotel room. That was not how she expected tonight to go. Not that she had a lot of expectations to begin with, but whenever she set out earlier and that wild hair kicked in, she ran with it. That’s what she got for not thinking things through.
She hadn’t planned on changing her mind and kicking the guy out. His name was Tony, which wasn’t worth her remembering because every time he opened his mouth a part of her wanted to duct tape it shut. Who knew one person could be so annoying and full of themselves? The way he told her he expected women to call him Mr. Carlson in the bedroom as though it made him sound sexy or dangerous was gross. The only thing she ended up calling him was an asshole, not that he even made it to her bed.
Emma plopped down in the chair at the desk and her fingers automatically reached up to massage her temples. What was she doing? This was so unlike her. Well, maybe not the having crazy ideas part, but the bringing a stranger back to her room as an aid to cope with the dread that had been building since she boarded her flight this morning.
Her stomach rumbled, signaling it was time to rethink her dinner plans. Originally, she intended to land in Dallas, come to the hotel to check in, get refreshed, and then head to a restaurant before they became overcrowded. Instead, she found herself not wanting to deal with people and sitting at the hotel bar with a vodka tonic determining what she should order to eat when the previously mentioned asshole approached and offered to buy her another.
It wasn’t that she found him attractive, though he was admittedly good-looking, but even as she knew she should’ve declined, a light bulb went off inside her head. Maybe if she could drown herself in the tall blonde distraction in the suit offering to buy her a drink, then she wouldn’t have to feel as pathetic this weekend when she faced her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend.
The knock at her door tore her from the ruminating thoughts of how quickly her night derailed from its tracks. Emma blew out a breath as she stood to go answer it. This guy had to be kidding. She already threw all of his clothes out of her room, so what on earth could he want now? Did he have no humility? Her heart picked up its pace as she reached for the door, her anger reignited at the man’s audacity.
She yanked the door open, her tone a mixture of exasperation and fury as she bit out her question. “What the hell is your problem? I said–” Her words died on her tongue as she saw the handsome face standing there, one brow arched at her greeting.
She recollected her features. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “I thought you were someone else.”
Cam’s lips twitched into a smile. “Clearly.”
She looked at him, noticing he’d already changed from the businesswear he’d been in only minutes ago when he witnessed the dramatic scene outside her door. What was he doing here? She’d already apologized for the disturbance. A small kernel of embarrassment began taking space in the base of her gut.
“My name’s Cam,” he offered when she didn’t say anything. The way she was looking at him had him questioning his decision while also feeling a bead of excitement spread through his body.
“Emma,” she said, her tone suspicious. “Can I help you?”
“Have you had dinner?” he asked.
Why was he asking her about dinner? “No, but I’m not sure how that is of your concern.” That was probably more rude than necessary, but still, she couldn’t help but question the sanity of this man to be standing at her door after witnessing her kick another one out.
Cam’s mouth grew into a full smile. “Would you want to have dinner with me?” He watched as her eyes squinted in confusion and skepticism. “Downstairs in the hotel restaurant,” he added as if that made his proposition less random.
It took her a moment to process what he was asking. “You want to have dinner with me?” she asked, still unsure about him.
“Yeah.”
He said it simply and without a second thought, yet it made her mind kick into over gear.
“Why?” she asked. Was this some sort of male ego thing? “You just saw how well it worked out for the last man I was interacting with, so why would you want anything to do with me? Aren’t men supposed to fear drama?”
Cam let out a laugh. He didn’t know a thing about this woman except that he found her very intriguing. “Let’s just say I was told I need some excitement in my life” he started. “And there’s something about taking a woman who kicked someone out of her room half-naked that makes me think the dinner conversation would be interesting.”
The small smile and shrug of his shoulders matched that of which she’d given him earlier. He didn’t know if she’d take him up on it, but he was at least putting himself out there. Cam wasn’t sure what he was hoping for, but ever since he stepped inside his hotel room, the idea formed and wouldn’t escape him. He changed into jeans and a plain t-shirt then stepped across the hall before he could change his mind.
Emma stared at him, not sure if she was shocked or in admiration. If she thought she had bad ideas, then this stranger might have her beat. Because who in their right mind watched a train crash happen outside their door and then invited the person responsible to share a meal?
She was about to say no when a small tug inside her pulled in the other direction. She had been wanting a distraction tonight. Something to keep her from her thoughts. She’d thought a meaningless one-night stand might be the answer, but clearly that didn’t happen. But who knows? Maybe dinner with Cam would do the trick.
As if on cue, her stomach let out another growl, catching Cam’s attention and causing a little smirk. She rolled her eyes at the impeccable timing. “As it turns out, I am hungry,” she said offhand. Then quickly added, “But I’m not sleeping with you.”
If she’d been worried that was his agenda, the idea quickly faded when his eyes widened and something that looked like mortification crossed his face before it quickly disappeared. Interesting, she thought.
“Just dinner,” Cam reassured her, realizing for the first time that she might see his invitation as nothing more than an end goal to get laid. Maybe he didn’t think this through, but she didn’t seem to be offended and that wasn’t his agenda. She was clearly beautiful, but he wasn’t looking to hook up. He liked the idea of having dinner and learning how she wound up throwing a sock out of her hotel door.
“Give me a couple minutes and I’ll be right out,” Emma said, giving him a smile for the first time since he knocked on her door. The excitement that brushed through him earlier now felt like a tidal wave. Cam had no clue what he was getting himself into, but he was now looking forward to his night. This might be out of character for him, but maybe Nate had been right. He needed a little adventure, even if it was for only one dinner.
◆◆◆
The restaurant was much livelier as Emma entered for the second time tonight, although this time she had Cam walking beside her. As the host guided them through the seating area, Emma happened to glance toward the bar she’d been seated at earlier. The high-backed chairs were almost all taken as diners sipped on cocktails and beer, some mingling and others as a party of one, the mirrored glass wall facing them from behind the bar showing her their many different expressions. She found herself curious about what brought each of those people here tonight. She’d always been like that, interested in the lives of others and what else was out there in this world.
As the light reflected off the hundreds of bottles lining the shelves in front of the mirror, her eyes flitted over the bartender in time to find him staring right back, though one brow pitched high in question as his head nodded forward.
She should’ve been mortified to be seen a second time in this same bar but with a different man, or at least that’s what her Aunt Mel’s friends would have insisted. Her Aunt, not so much. Thankfully, the woman who ended up raising her since she was seven was less stiff than the crowd she kept. No doubt she would shake her head when Emma told her about tonight and insist that she deserved better, but then she would let out one of her world-famous cackles at how the stranger across the hall asked her to dinner anyhow. Gosh, she wished she could’ve brought her Aunt with her on this trip. She’d know how to make it all better.
Emma let out a silent laugh and shook her head no to answer the bartender’s implied question. The last one didn’t work out and she wasn’t after the same thing with this one.
He gave a smile and laugh she couldn’t hear before returning his attention to his duties at the same time their host stopped in front of a small booth. It had bench seating with tufted upholstery on one side and two black chairs lining the other.
Cam stepped to the side and held his arm out to let Emma have first choice of seating. He wasn’t sure if she preferred the bench or chair, but he was thankful the host found them a booth on the far side of the restaurant by a wall of windows that offered the most privacy from the rest of the guests.
There was something about a laid back and quiet dinner with Emma that sounded right, even if the hotel’s dining was quite luxurious compared to most. He was very curious to learn about the events of her night, and he wasn’t too certain if she would want to discuss it if they had people sitting nearby on either side.
As she scooted onto the bench, Cam pulled out a chair for himself across from her. They thanked their host before turning their attention to one another.
“So you’re in need of excitement, huh?” Emma asked to break the silence. They’d made small talk in the elevator, but nothing greater than the casual compliments of her quick outfit change and hoping the restaurant wasn’t too busy.
When she shut the door, she quickly raced to her suitcase and found plain black slacks with a wide leg to throw on and a simple but classy tank to tuck into them. She slicked her hair back into a low bun and left her small hoops in her ears. Technically, the dress and sandals she’d been wearing earlier would have been fine for dinner, but there was something about an outfit that made a statement. Walking out in a good pair of pants instead of her original dress would signify this wasn’t anything close to a date, but rather two people grabbing a bite to eat. Even if she did look damn good and sleek in the all black outfit. Who said making a statement had to mean sacrificing style?
She saw where Cam’s eyes slightly crinkled at the edges as a genuine smile cascaded his lips. He didn’t give the impression of a dull guy, she thought, finding herself curious about what his reply would be.
“Apparently so,” he said. “I’ve been here for work all week and one of my buddies can’t believe I’ve been spending the majority of my evenings in my hotel room.”
Emma tapped her chin with one of her pale pink manicured nails as she studied him. “What do you do for work?”
“I work in sales more or less,” Cam said, not wanting to dive into work talk. “I oversee my team and make sure they’re hitting their numbers and making sales. I’m here for meetings before I return to St. Louis.”
“Ah,” Emma said with a nod. “That makes sense then.”
His head tilted. “What does?”
“You spend all day around people in a high-stress job. This isn’t a week away for you, it’s still work-related. Of course, you’d want to relax and take a break. I’m guessing you have a social life back home and this probably acts like a breather to lounge in your room each night.”
Cam was taken aback by the insight. “What makes you assume I have a social life? Maybe all I do is go home after work and binge-watch shows.”
The laughter that escaped her mouth put a smile on his face. It was carefree and electric.
“I highly doubt that,” she said.
“Why’s that?”
She gave him a look as if to say he couldn’t pull one over on her. “Because you have a friend reaching out to you while you’re on a work trip for starters, so I doubt he or she is your only one. There’s also the fact that you don’t look like that whenever you’re a couch potato,” she gestured toward his arms, where his biceps indicated weight training. However, she had to admit it was nice to see a man in good health, but who wasn’t so beefed up that she wondered if they lived at the gym and snorted protein powder on the weekends.
“Besides,” she continued, not phased by the smirk he was giving her at the compliment. “You don’t seem like the boring type. I bet you have a lot of excitement in your life, but you’re probably responsible enough to keep a work trip professional and get your rest.”
Cam didn’t know if he was flattered or impressed by her assumptions, mainly because she was spot on. Before he could say so, their waiter stopped at their table.
“Sorry for the wait,” he said.
“No problem,” Emma said as Cam nodded in greeting.
“What can I get you to drink?”
“I’ll have a glass of water, please,” Emma responded.
“An old-fashioned as well as a water,” Cam told the waiter.
“I’ll be back with those and to take your order,” the waiter responded.
Cam nodded again. “Thank you.” As the waiter left them, Emma picked up the menus that had been on the table and slid one to Cam. “Thanks,” he told her.
“Hmm,” she pondered out loud. “I have no idea what I’m in the mood for. I just know I’m starving.” Thankfully, her stomach decided to give her a break and stop growling, but she was still ready to devour anything.
Another idea struck Cam. “How about we order for each other?” he proposed.
She looked up at him, those dark brown eyes appearing bright. “I’m in. Any allergies I should be aware of?”
“Nope. And you?”
“None.” She smiled while looking at the menu. This actually sounded fun, she thought, trying to decide what kind of dinner he might order for himself.
“Anything you can’t stand?” he asked while browsing the menu.
“I eat anything. But don’t order me a salad or I’ll leave this table and stick you with the bill.”
Cam’s laugh left his mouth before she finished her warning. “What did a salad ever do to you?”
She was laughing now, too. “Okay, that might’ve been a little excessive, but all I’ve had today is airport food and snacks from the plane. I like salads but I want to indulge in something I can’t make myself.”
“Noted,” he replied, looking at her over the menu. He hadn’t complimented her outfit in the elevator earlier just to be kind. He’d meant it when he said she looked nice, although downright sexy was more like it. Her dark hair was still breathtaking pulled back away from her face. In fact, it only showcased her beauty even more, her deep brown eyes intensely roaming over the menu, her shoulders rolled back with reverberating confidence, and one of her hands mindlessly tapping its fingers on the table as she read over the options.
How was it this woman was shorter and smaller than him, yet he felt like she took up more space and left a bigger impression?
Cam looked at the menu again, having decided he was going to find her the perfect dish to satisfy her cravings after a day of travel.
For whatever reason, he found himself not wanting to let her down.