Chapter 10
The moment Cam got out of bed to head to the shower, Emma jumped off the couch to crawl into it. She didn’t even bother to go to the opposite side from where he’d been sleeping, the blankets still warm from his body. It earned her a chuckle from him as he closed the bathroom door.
She didn’t care. There was nothing as bad as tossing and turning on the small couch, never finding a comfortable spot to lie. Whenever she finally fell asleep, she woke up a couple of hours later feeling like her neck might be forever wrecked. Obviously, she didn’t fight hard enough for the bed.
Whenever they returned to the room last night, Cam didn’t bother bringing it up as he called down to the front desk to see if it was too late to get his shorts cleaned. By the time he had changed, Emma thought she’d be sly and claim the bed first, tucked in under the covers, but she glared at him when he came strolling into the room in nothing but his boxers and started flipping back the covers on the other side.
She’d been as exasperated by him trying to get into the bed as she had by the muscles rippling down his torso, implying he did a lot more than just hike once in a blue moon.
Needless to say, he wasn’t bluffing so she huffed and hopped out of the bed to make a pallet on the sofa with the blankets she’d sat out earlier. When she’d asked where the hell his clothes were, his only response was that he was wearing them.
How on earth was she supposed to have fallen asleep any easier last night whenever she’d forever be graced with the image of him practically naked, especially when he looked like that. Was it a thing to find a man’s legs attractive? Because she was pretty sure Cam had the most enticing legs she’d seen for a man, or maybe that was because she’d done her best to avoid him catching her mouth agape while drooling over his abs.
Next time she was in need of a fake boyfriend, she’d make sure they didn’t even know how to spell the word dumbbell.
By the time Cam had finished showering and dressing for his day of golfing, Emma must’ve already fallen into a deep sleep because he was gone when she awoke a couple of hours later.
The perks of not being the one invited to tee off meant she could sleep in and then meet the girls downstairs for breakfast before they took off in the rental car.
By the time Emma left the room, images of Cam’s sculpted arms still tantalizing her, she felt refreshed and ready for this day.
◆◆◆
“This feels so good just to lay here and relax. I don’t know why I don’t live at a beach full time.” Lulu was lounged back in her chair, legs spread out long in front of her.
Lauren laughed as she leaned forward to grab her cocktail. “We’re not even in the ocean. We’re at the pool.”
“Have you even set foot on the sand yet?” Emma questioned, spread out in her chair, soaking up the sun.
“No, but that’s because I don’t see the point in bothering with sand in every crevice when I have a perfectly good pool right here. Hell, there’s two of them here.”
The other two women laughed, already knowing her too well.
“Do you think the guys will be back soon?” Emma asked.
Lauren raised her sunglasses and gave a grin. “Ready to have Cam give you a little try-on haul?”
She’d gotten his sizes last night before bed, so as they were out shopping today, she made a point to find him shorts and shirts that he wouldn’t suffocate in. Then she decided to buy him two pairs of trunks, one a navy blue with a striped pattern of lighter blue on the legs, and the other a coral color.
He gave her his card last night to pay, but she didn’t use it. Emma was sure she’d hear him gripe about it later, but it was the least she could do for dragging him into this, and if it made him feel guilty then maybe he’d switch her the bed for the couch to ease his conscience. She wasn’t against that idea.
“Oooh, I wouldn’t mind sitting in on that,” Lulu teased.
It was easier for Emma to play the role of girlfriend at some points more than others. This being one of them, because who wouldn’t want to see Cam strip down after all day in the sun, his muscles gleaning, that v-shape leading right down to–
“She’s blushing!” Lulu sat up. “Oh my gosh, you’re totally thinking about him right now, aren’t you?”
“Oh hush,” Emma tried. “You’re the ones who put the image in my head.”
Lauren giggled. “I like him. You two are perfect for each other.”
The lightness Emma had been feeling today disappeared, replaced with a heavy thud of reality.
“You like everyone, Lauren. You’re too nice. We’ve been trying to ruin you for years, but you’re still all sunshiny and thinking the best of everyone and everything.”
Emma appreciated Lulu’s humor to try and take the heat off of her.
Lauren took the teasing in good stride. “No sense in fixing what isn’t broken.”
Emma looked at her, taking in the beautiful woman who was only a couple of years younger than them. It was true that she’d always been the more positive and bubbly one, though Emma knew better than to think it was because she didn’t have struggles or hard times of her own. Lauren had her own type of strength, not the kind that showcased itself in toned muscles and competition, rather the silent and sturdy kind that she used to get through even the toughest of days and carry more burdens than her own.
A feeling of gratitude and guilt washed over Emma as she realized she was sitting here with two of the most important women in her life, one knowing the truth and the other one being lied to.
“I like your positivity,” Emma offered. “The world needs more of it.”
“I need more of this,” Lulu said, gurgling her straw at the remains in the bottom of her glass.
They all laughed.
“I need the restroom, so I’ll get us refills on my way back.” Lauren stood up to leave.
“I’m good,” Emma said.
“Nonsense. You’re just hoping to remain sober before Cam gets back. You’ll thank me later when you’re seeing double that body stripping down to try on the new clothes.”
Emma and Lulu’s laughter was loud enough to earn some looks from nearby guests, but she didn’t care. It felt good to goof off with her friends.
After Lauren gave them a mischievous smile, as if to say she could still be just as funny without giving up her outlook on life, Lulu turned toward her friend.
“How are you holding up? I feel like I’ve not had a chance to talk to you alone since we got here.”
Emma bit at her lip. “So far so good,” she admitted. “But I still feel bad lying.”
Lulu waved a hand in the air. “Don’t bother. Everyone’s getting along great with Cam.”
She looked like she wanted to say more but didn’t, so Emma raised her brows in question. “And?” she prodded.
“And nothing. You’re both pulling it off so far. The subtle glances, cutting in for one another at dinner last night. I even saw you on the beach messing around with your camera. You look like a real couple.”
Emma tried to ignore the little flips happening in her stomach. Why did that admission cause her to feel giddy? “It’s all fake. We just need to get through this week.”
“What if it isn’t?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well,” Lulu hesitated, then pushed her sunglasses on top of her head as she turned to face her friend. “From the times I’ve worked or communicated with Cam, he’s always seemed like a great guy. And when I was looking at his pictures–”
“You creeped his profile?” Emma blurted, both shocked and intrigued.
“I’m not going to let you room with a man you just met unless I get a good vibe about him.”
Emma gave her a look. “And did you do background checks on every guy you took to bed?” Then she grinned. “Or that guy over there you keep ogling and eye flirting with?”
Lulu’s mouth gaped. “What? You’re insane. I’m not ogling him.”
“Oh yes you are, and don’t even pretend otherwise.”
“Fine, but I’m not ogling, I’m nonverbally letting him know he can approach me if he has the balls to do so.”
Emma laughed because only Lulu would come up with a retort like that.
“And don’t you try changing the subject, missy.”
“Fine. What conclusion did you come to after stalking my pretend boyfriend online?” She whispered the last part as she saw Lauren was coming back their way.
Lulu noticed too and kept it short. “That you both have a lot in common, if pictures are to be trusted, and that you may have your perfect match already in your reach.”
Emma didn’t reply as the words hit her and Lauren came over to hand them their drinks.
“Do you know there’s a man over there staring at you?” Lauren asked her sister. Emma and Lulu broke out in laughter again.