Chapter Thirteen
Sue
Cam leaned back in his chair, totally relaxed now, that cocky half-smile curling at the corners of his mouth. “I don’t really care what you want or need, Britt. Things between us will stay exactly as they’ve been for the past five years—nonexistent.”
That snake Brittany tilted her head, all fake innocence and a slow, sultry smile.
“Are you sure about that? I’ve heard you’re living in New York now. I could give you a… proper tour.”
He beamed that disarming smile I loved. “I did move the company here, yes. But I’ve already got someone showing me around.”
My brain screeched to a halt. He’d moved the company? I blinked, connecting the dots in real time. He didn’t work for Omega Software—he owned Omega Software. Holy ravioli!
Cam kept going, oblivious to my revelation. “How’s good old Chuck, by the way?” His voice was smooth as espresso, but with a definite sting. “Burned through his newfound wealth yet?”
Brittany’s expression soured. “I hope he’s miserable. He was cruel to me.”
Cam raised a brow. “I take it he closed the tab on your shopping sprees.”
“He’s a controlling, penny-pinching miser. Not like you.”
Cam directed his gaze to the glittering diamonds around her neck. “Yes, clearly you were forced to suffer through unimaginable hardship,” he deadpanned. “I never could buy you rocks like those. Thank God,” he added under his breath.
I bit down on a laugh.
Brittany went on, ignoring his last remark. “I came to my senses. I’m divorcing him. It’s just such a shame he sold you his shares. We could’ve been… partners.”
She leaned forward, the sparkle in her eyes downright predatory. “I’m free, Cammy. I’ve missed you. Why don’t we do lunch tomorrow? We can catch up. Talk about old times. And… you know. Stuff.”
I nearly threw up in my mouth. I knew exactly what that “stuff” might be. This woman needed a fandom, not a fiancé.
Cam didn’t miss a beat. “As tempting as you think that offer is, I’m afraid I’ll have to pass. Susanne and I have plans—don’t we, baby?” He turned to me with a look so sweet it could rot teeth. “Didn’t you say something about hat shopping?”
This was my cue. My smile was sharp enough to cut glass. “I did. Big day tomorrow.”
Brittany blinked. “Hat shopping? Really, Cameron? You hate shopping.”
He winked at me. “Not anymore.”
“Then maybe the day after,” she said through clenched teeth, turning to glare at me.
If looks did kill, I was already in the hearse.
I wondered what Cam had seen in this she-devil of a woman, but a quick glance over her perfect body showed me the answer.
He was only human, and he’d admitted that much.
Grudge and hate aside, she was a looker.
Even a saint could fall into sin with a living doll like Brittany.
Well, I had personality and was a lot nicer person than she was. I hadn’t fought for Neil because I hadn’t felt he was worth it, but I sure as hell was going to fight for Cam.
I smiled wider, removing my hand from the wine glass before I snapped the stem and went full Game of Thrones on her. Instead, I slid my fingers over Cam’s hand and gave him a squeeze.
“Sweetie, I’m not sure we’ll have a free evening this week to entertain our old acquaintance.” I stressed the word old. “Between work and our… personal time together, our schedule’s a little tight. And then of course there’s my family arriving Friday.”
“You heard the lady.” Cam turned back to Brittany, smug and unbothered. “We’re busy.”
“I didn’t invite your little friend to join us,” she snapped. “Since when do you need a social secretary, Cam?”
He laughed—tight and sharp, no amusement in sight. I could see the flicker of fire behind his eyes.
“Susanne isn’t my secretary; she’s the woman I love, so choose your words carefully.”
I almost choked on my own tongue, but Cam’s gentle pressure on my hand begged me to roll with it. I would have agreed to marry him in that moment, just to watch Brittany implode.
“The woman you love?” she scoffed. “The only thing you’ve ever loved is that little company of yours. Her gaze dropped pointedly to my hand, to Nana’s ring. “What’s that? A promise ring? Is that all you can afford, Cam? Careful, promises are easy to break.”
“You’d know,” Cam said flatly.
Britt didn’t even flinch.
Cam turned that devastating smile on me again, eyes warm and glinting with admiration. Honestly, if I hadn’t known better, I would’ve believed him, too.
“A man knows when he’s met the right woman.” His voice was low, meant just for me. “And when I met Susanne, I knew.”
My breath caught in my throat. I couldn’t look away. If Brittany had vanished into thin air just then, I might not have noticed for a full minute.
Britt’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Really?”
Cam spared her a glance. “Really. I’ve been flying back and forth for almost a year, getting things set up. Sue and I met through a mutual friend, and I’ve had my eye on her a while. The timing finally clicked.”
He lifted my hand and kissed it. My brain short-circuited. I could barely process what he was saying, and the words of his drunken friend on the night of the porn movie fiasco rang into my head. Cam has his eye on her.
“I should thank you for letting me off the hook when you did,” he told Brittany, voice turning cool again. “She knows all about you, by the way. We don’t have secrets. She doesn’t care about my net worth, and I’m not interested in hers. Some people believe in love. In friendship. In respect.”
Brittany’s mouth tightened. “Respect doesn’t heat the sheets, and you do like it hot in bed.
” She turned to me. “I’d be careful about getting my hopes up if I were you.
Computer software is here today and gone tomorrow.
By this time next year he could be flat broke once more, and you’ll be stomping grapes together in your daddy’s back yard. ”
I smiled, sweet as sin. “If his company tanks tomorrow and we’re left barefoot and bankrupt, I’m still good. I’m not afraid of hard work or stained hands. My dad always says, you can’t make good wine without getting dirty. And I love getting dirty with Cam.”
Did I just say that?
Yes. Yes, I did. And I would say it again. I watched her nostrils flare and her face tighten like she’d bitten a lemon stuffed with rage. I hoped I wasn’t going too far, but this woman brought out the worst in me.
She turned to Cam. “So, when do you plan to pop the question? I hope there won’t be a reason to rush it.” She stared point blank at my gut. “It’s hard to tell when a woman is pregnant or just fat.”
Oh. Hell. No.
That bitch had crossed the hardest line I had.
My cheeks flamed, and rage pricked the back of my neck. My hackles rose and I started to rise from my chair, hands clenched into fists, ready to launch myself across the table and claw that smug look right off her face.
Before I could go full gladiator, Cam stood. He let go of my hand and stepped forward, eyes blazing.
“Brittany, that’s enough.” He grabbed her arm hard enough to leave bruises. “Let me walk you back to your table before you embarrass yourself further.”
“I’ll find my own way,” she snapped, yanking her arm free.
But she dropped her voice, probably realizing half the restaurant was watching and she didn’t have the moral high ground here.
She leaned in, eyes glittering with malice.
“This isn’t over, Cam. I don’t know what kind of twisted game you’re playing, but I’ll figure it out.
You’d never end up with someone like her—not after me.
You’ll come crawling back. You always do.
I’m the best thing that ever happened to you. ”
Cam’s reply was laced with finality. “You didn’t even crack the top ten.”
The color drained from her face, then rushed back in a deep purple wave. She spun on her sky-high heels and stormed off, fury in every stomp.
Cam dropped back into his chair, jaw tight, hands trembling slightly as he reached for mine.
“I’m so sorry. If I’d known she’d be here…” He exhaled, jaw still tense. “Are you okay?”
I drained the last of my wine in one go, set the glass down carefully, and leaned back in my chair. “Well, you did say this evening would be entertaining.”
His brows shot up. Maybe he’d expected tears, or a scene. Or me running out and flagging a cab with one shoe in hand.
I gave him a crooked smile. “I’m fine, Cam. Honestly. She’s a Rorschach test in lipstick.”
Cam burst out laughing, scrubbing a hand over his face. “You really are something else.” He exhaled slowly. “As you probably guessed, she’s… well, I’m not proud to say it now, but that was my ex-fiancée.”
“No kidding. I figured it out when my gag reflex kicked in.”
“How do you know her?”
I smirked. “Her parents had a summer place in Warwick. She spent a few teenage years gracing us with her royal presence.” I sipped my wine. “I was maybe fourteen the first time I met her. I caught her kissing my boyfriend once. I dumped the guy and put her on my eternal enemies list.”
Cam winced. “I don’t blame you. She’s… not very likeable.”
“So what exactly did you see in her?”
He leaned back, expression sheepish. “You know how people always say not to judge a book by its cover? Yeah, I did the opposite. Back then, she was charming, sweet—even generous. She had this way of making you feel like the center of the universe. But then her dad passed away, the money started drying up, and something just snapped. Greed took over. And once she realized I couldn’t bankroll the princess lifestyle she wanted, the magic wore off real quick.
Now she loves things more than she could ever love people. ”
I tilted my head. “So you’re not tempted to let her... show you around New York?”
His face twisted like he’d bitten into something sour. “Hell no. I meant what I said. That chapter of my life is closed, locked, and set on fire.”
“She really hurt you, didn’t she?”
He looked away for a moment. “Yeah. Enough that I stopped trusting what I felt. Took a long time to crawl out of that.”
I wanted to ask how long, exactly. Still crawling? Already healed? Just starting to peek out of the hole? But I didn’t. Pressure was the last thing this man needed.
Instead, I leaned into humor. “Well, for what it’s worth, you make a fantastic fake boyfriend. I mean, you nearly upgraded us to engaged. Very convincing.”
He didn’t miss a beat. “A guy will fake his own death to get away from a crazy ex. This was nothing.”
The waiter interrupted our laughter as he arrived with the next course.
“Thank you,” I said, inhaling the rich aroma. “This looks amazing.”
As the waiter glided away, I leaned across the table, voice low. “You really went all in with that declaration of love. I’m impressed.”
He shrugged modestly. “It felt right.”
“You nearly had us engaged by dessert,” I teased, lifting my wineglass. “But I appreciate your gallantry. It’s still a thing, you know—single women over thirty are required to justify their unmarried status to the court of public opinion.”
“Which is stupidly sexist.”
“Agreed.” I glanced around and lowered my voice even further. After Britt’s scene, the diners around us were still paying too much attention to us. “Some of these eavesdroppers might be friends of The Red Witch, so it’s best we talk about this later.”
He nearly choked on his wine. “The Red Witch?”
“I couldn’t think of anything more creative on short notice,” I whispered.
“But let’s be honest—it fits. She’s like one of those evil characters in movies, the ones that you keep on killing and they never die.
I doubt that will be her last foray into the battle, but we won this round, so let’s celebrate. ”
Cam squeezed my hand. “I’m so sorry you got dragged into all that. I wasn’t expecting a showdown with my ex tonight. Are you sure you want to stay? We can get the rest of the food to go.”
I frowned. “No way. She’s not going to ruin the best meal I’ve ever had and watch us leaving with our foil swans and our tails tucked between our legs.”
His expression warmed, a soft smile curving his lips. “Is it really the best meal you’ve ever had?”
I pretended to think about it. “I’ll let you know after dessert.”