Chapter 7
Cam
“I know you pretty well.” I step closer to her, invading her space. I can see how alert her body is, ready for me, like she’s waiting for me to claim her.
“I know that what happened between us in your bedroom was supposed to happen.”
“W-what?” She stammers as if her lips feel a bit sticky.
“It was supposed to happen. You and me. Don’t tell me you didn’t feel it, Koty.”
She doesn’t tell me anything and it looks like her mind is reeling. Did sex not mean as much to her as it meant to me?
“I-I did feel it. All of it. Too much of it. But you don’t even want kids, and I want a family. It’s why I bought this house.”
“What makes you think I don’t want kids?”
“You said so.”
I scoff. “You mean like ten years ago?”
“Ya.” She looks sheepish, like she’s realizing what she confessed sounds a bit dumb, and then she sneaks a glance up at me. “You’ve changed your mind?”
“Hell ya, I’ve changed my mind. I want a family. Why do you think I’m here working on your basement? I’m trying to redeem myself to my brothers in order to take on more in our company. So that,” I pause to search her face and let her know how serious I am, “I can provide for my family one day.”
“You are?”
“Ya. I am.”
Somehow her hands are resting on my shoulders, and I’m peering down at her with a small half smile tugging on my lips.
“Does that change things for you, Dakota?” I need this to change things for her.
I can’t stand the awkwardness around the house anymore.
I want her to see me for who I really am.
For the man I’m trying to be. For the person I want to be for her.
“Um…” She bites her bottom lip. “Ya. Just a little.” She pauses again, and I notice that I’m holding my breath. “By little, I mean a whole heck of a lot.”
“I’ve always admired you, Dakota. You’re a strong woman who goes after what she wants.
You’re ambitious, but you have your priorities straight.
Moving in here, I had so many reasons to take this job.
I’ve told you about a few of them. But the last reason is that I just wanted to be near you.
To see if I couldn’t change your mind about me. ”
“So…you’re saying you like me?”
“Ya. I like you.” I take a step so close to her that now I’m crowding her space. “But I more than like you. I’ve fallen for you, Koty.”
She drops her eyes just before I cup her chin in my hand. “You’re the most beautiful woman I know, and I can’t stop these feelings. You’re the only one I want to be with. You’re the one I want to protect. You’re the one I want to build a family with. There’s no one else for me. I love you.”
“Shit.” She sniffles and covers her eyes with her arm.
“Look at me, sweetheart.”
When she pulls her arm down, her eyes are red. “I misjudged you, Cam. I thought you were…an asshole. But you’re protective. And caring. You’re loyal to the people you love, and you’ll do anything for them. Even pay them to do free work for them. You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Ya. I’m crazy for you.”
Her deep inhale has me bracing myself for something, and I’m not sure if it’s good news or bad news yet.
“Our night together—” she pauses to look up at me. “You’re the best sex I’ve ever had, Cam.”
Normally hearing something like that would fly straight to my head, but in this moment her words feel heavy, like a comforting blanket.
“It was so intense that I physically had to take a step back so I wouldn’t profess my undying love for you…which is…just crazy.”
“Maybe you’re a little crazy too, then?”
“Ya. I am.” Her fingers trail the back of my neck in small circles.
“I’m crazy for you, too.” She looks up at me with so much vulnerability in her eyes that I can’t help but pull her tighter and press a kiss to her temple.
“I’m falling for you too, Cam. And I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I love you.
So much. You’re exactly what I need and what I want in life. ”
I want to whoop. Give a big holler. Fist pump straight into the air. But I keep it cool. “That’s perfect. Let’s build this life together then. Starting with the basement.”
“I love that idea.” She nudges my head down to her. “Except…can we start in the bedroom?”
“That’s the perfect plan.”
So we head upstairs to make love in her room. To build a foundation of intimacy and openness. And ya…eventually we get to the basement.
I mean, it’s got to be christened, too.