Chapter 14
Chapter Fourteen
C am scrubbed his hand over his face as he stared at his computer monitor. He’d reread this e-mail he was drafting to Sara at least twenty times and still kept thinking of things to add. He’d be better off just talking to her in person to make sure they captured everything that needed to be done for the winery dinner. She’d laugh and tell him he was obsessing. Which was probably true.
Just not about this.
He couldn’t stop thinking of Brooke. He’d started texting her a dozen times today, but never sent anything. He didn’t know what to say about last night. Things had taken a weird turn, and he was sure it was his fault. But that wasn’t why he didn’t text her. No, it was because he was pretty sure she’d given him a definite brush-off this time. She’d been friendly at the grocery store, but not necessarily flirty. Then when he’d become flirty, she’d started to distance herself. Then he’d stuck his foot in it with Marcia, and Brooke had completely left the building as far as he was concerned.
Time to figure out a way to move past her once and for all. He sat straight in his chair and inhaled sharply before refocusing on his screen.
A moment later, his resolve took a major hit when a light knock on his door was preceded by Brooke stepping into his office.
Her gaze met his. Searching. Tentative. Beautiful in its clarity—he could stare into her eyes all damn day. “Am I bothering you?” she asked.
“No.” He coughed past the cobwebs that had suddenly crisscrossed his throat.
“Oh good.” She smiled softly and came farther into his office. “I, ah, came to pick up that case of chardonnay I need for next week. I’m headed to the beach tomorrow morning.”
“You can’t be working Labor Day weekend.”
“Actually, my sisters are meeting me for a girls’ weekend.”
Cam sat back in his chair and rested his right elbow on the arm. “Sounds like trouble.”
Now she grinned. “Probably. But that’s how we Ellis girls roll.”
“Damn, now I wish I could come along.”
“It’s a girls’ weekend.” She lifted a shoulder. “The condo’s in Lincoln City.”
The one owned by her employer—he knew it well. “Willamette’s? I’ve been there for an after-party or two. Nice place. There’s a hot tub on the deck.” He sat up in the chair and dropped all pretense. “Am I nuts, or are we flirting? I am so confused. After last night?—”
“I’m flirting. Are you flirting?”
“I’m trying not to. But you make it impossible, sorry.”
“So do you.” She laughed softly. “That’s the other reason I’m here. I’m sorry about last night. I was trying really hard to keep things platonic, and then we made plans to have dinner at my loft, and, well, that just didn’t seem like it would support the whole platonic thing.”
He couldn’t disagree with her there. He stood up slowly and circled the desk. “I don’t disagree. But I was really disappointed. I also felt like a major jackass for saying that at the store. I was just trying to be private, I guess.”
“I get it. This is a small town. I think I glommed on to that as a good reason to put the brakes on.”
Cam moved in front of his desk to face her and leaned against it. “Makes sense. So we’re flirting. And it seems like platonic is tough for both of us.”
She dropped her purse into one of the chairs facing his desk. “It seems that way.” Her gaze was hot and intense.
He swallowed, his body tightening with desire. He eyed her purse and tried to process why she’d dropped it. She planned to stay? She wanted her hands free? She was about to touch him? All of the above? His skin tingled with anticipation.
She took a step toward him. “I was thinking that one-and-done business didn’t really pan out for me. How about you?”
“Not even a little bit,” he rasped. Need catapulted through him. He put his hands on the desk on either side of his hips and squeezed the wood lest he launch himself forward and crush her against him.
“I was hoping you’d say that.” She moved closer and laid her hand against his chest.
He was sure she had to feel the wild pounding of his heart. “So you’re here to…?”
“Negotiate terms.” She arched a brow at him and curved her lips into the sexiest smile he’d ever seen. “You told me that you make no promises, that you like to live in the present and take one day at a time. Is that right?”
He wanted to live in this moment forever. “Yes.”
“Perfect. No expectations. No demands. And we have to agree that we can still work together.”
“Yes, of course.” He vaguely realized that he’d probably surrender his firstborn right now if that were part of her terms, but that was his Y chromosome talking. He meant what he said. “I respect and value you too much to let anything else happen.”
“Then I guess we’re settled.” She started to remove his shirt, slowly, her fingers slipping the buttons through the holes.
“I guess so. And we’re going to move on this now?”
Her hands stilled. She blinked at him, her head cocking to the side. “Unless you’d rather not?”
“I’d rather die than not.” He swooped forward and clasped her against him as his mouth claimed hers.
She clutched at his shirtfront, her fingers digging into his flesh as they clenched the fabric. He held her against him, his head tipping opposite hers to kiss her deeply. Her tongue slid against his as she thrust into him.
She started in on his buttons again, her hands fumbling between them. She pulled back slightly so she could better complete her task, and as soon as the shirt was open, he shrugged it off his shoulders with her help. Her hands caressed his bare shoulders as she kissed him again.
He pushed at the little cardigan she was wearing. It was white and flimsy and slid from her shoulders with ease. He found the hem of her red-and-white sleeveless top, and he pushed his hands up under the fabric. His fingertips skimmed along her rib cage and didn’t stop until he cupped her breasts.
She arched into him, moaning softly into his mouth. Her hips gyrated against his so that he could feel her heat against the raging length of his cock.
He tugged her shirt up and broke their kiss so he could whip the garment over her head. He tossed it away and realized his office door was still open.
“Just a second,” he said, his voice dark and full of gravel. He crossed to the door and closed it firmly, then locked it for good measure. He was pretty sure that Jamie was in his office and that Luke was in the vineyard somewhere.
When he turned to come back to her, he froze. She’d kicked off her sandals and was now shimmying out of her bra. She dropped it to the floor and gave him a torrid, come-hither look that momentarily turned his knees to water.
But then the savage beast within him that couldn’t wait to be inside her stalked forward and drew her against him. “You are so beautiful.” He bent her backward and shoved the items on his desktop to the side, some of them toppling to the floor. Thankfully, his primary workspace with his monitor was on the side that faced the window. Although in this moment, he wasn’t sure he would’ve given a damn about any of it.
He laid her flat on the desk and turned her lengthwise so that the desk could support her comfortably. He stared down at her breasts, so full and perfect, their pink tips hard and beckoning. He cupped them firmly and lightly pinched her nipples. She came up off the desk, her eyes closing in ecstasy as she moaned again. Desperate to taste her, he leaned down and took one in his mouth, using his lips and tongue to drive her mad.
Her hands tangled in his hair, holding him to her. “ Cam. Yes.”
He stroked and kissed her for several minutes, moving from breast to breast—taunting one and then the other with his mouth and hands until she was writhing on the desk.
“You’re torturing me.” Her words came out on a gasp.
“Actually, I’m torturing myself.” He wanted to prolong this time with her, but was also seething with impatience. “You’re killing me.”
She rolled to her side to face where he was standing and started to undo his belt. She quickly had his shorts unfastened and pushed them down, along with his boxer briefs. Her hands stroked his cock. He moaned as wave after wave of pleasure cascaded over him. He tipped his head back and closed his eyes, reveling in her touch. Then her mouth was on him and he had to grab the edge of the desk to keep his legs from buckling.
“Brooke. Good God. You are…amazing.”
Her lips and tongue moved over him as her hand clasped the base of his shaft. She was fast and expert, utterly mind melting. He could barely think and soon his body was taking over, thrusting into her mouth in quick, relentless strokes. If she didn’t stop he was going to pour himself down her throat, and that was not how he wanted this to go.
He moved back and kicked his shoes off before stepping out of his shorts. Brooke stared at him with slitted eyes and pushed herself up and off the desk. With slow, languorous, catlike grace, she slipped her skirt and underwear off until she was naked before him. Then she knelt, and he was sure she was going to finish what she’d started. He wanted to stop her, but the words wouldn’t come.
But no, she was searching the pockets of his shorts. He watched her, confused. Then he realized. “Condom.” Duh. It was a good thing one of them was thinking clearly. “My wallet’s on the desk.” He gestured toward where he’d tossed it earlier, near his monitor.
She moved stealthily behind the desk. He watched her movements, appreciating the slope of her hip and the curve of her back right above her ass. He was going to explore every inch of her. Maybe not today, but soon.
She pulled a condom from his wallet and came back around the desk. Was she moving more quickly now, or was that just his impatient hope?
Either way, when she reached him, she pushed him backward, making him take several steps until he felt the couch hit the back of his legs. Then she forced him down—not that he needed much coercion—and leaned forward with the condom.
He took it from her and ripped open the package. Surprisingly, he managed to get it on without assistance. At least his brain was partially working. And in the ways that counted.
She put one knee on the couch and swung her other leg up on his other side so that she straddled him. Her eyes found his and held them as she fondled his cock in long, agonizingly wonderful strokes. She held him to her entrance. She was all wet and hot and devastating as she lowered herself onto him.
He clasped her hips and pushed into her, his head falling back against the couch as he closed his eyes in rapture. When she’d taken him completely, she wriggled her hips and just rested for a moment. He felt every ragged breath she drew, every beat of her heart, every muscle stretch and contract around him and against him.
She cupped his neck, massaging his flesh before settling her hands on his shoulders. Then she began to move. Slowly at first, her hips rotating over his, pulling up just enough to tease him and not coming down quite enough to satisfy his need.
He let her play, his pleasure churning and mounting with each thrust. He tipped his head up and opened his eyes to feast on her. Her eyes were closed. She looked focused, her lips parted as soft little moans burst forth. He brought one hand up to her breast and held it captive for his mouth. She gasped as he sucked on her flesh, his fingers digging into her softness.
She clutched at his shoulders and began to move faster. She came down a bit harder, more fully, but it still wasn’t enough.
He moved his hand up and cupped the back of her neck, drawing her head down so he could kiss her greedily. She tasted of heat and summer and bliss, and he couldn’t get enough of her. He nipped at her lower lip. “Harder, Brooke. Ride me.”
She ground down, taking him completely into her until there was nowhere left for him to go. But it wasn’t enough. He kissed her again, his tongue spearing into her as his cock did the same.
He grasped her hair and tugged lightly, not hurting her. She opened her eyes and looked down at him. “Ride me, Brooke. Hard. I’m yours. Now. Own me.”
He pushed up, straightening his hips. Then he clasped her ass and squeezed her as he thrust up into her. He drove hard and fast, pulling sharp groans from her kiss-swollen lips. She did as he asked, riding him with a harsh frenzy that sent blood spiraling to his cock. He brought his hand around and found her clit, pressing and stroking her until she cried out, her eyes closing once more and her head falling back as her orgasm rocked her body. Her muscles clenched around him, and he moved even faster, holding her tight while he pulsed into her again and again.
His balls tightened as his orgasm crested and crashed over him. He yelled her name as he gave himself over completely.
They moved together for another minute, their hips eventually slowing and their labored breathing filling the air around them. She collapsed against him, her breasts caressing his chest. He ran his hands over her back, soothing her, soothing himself.
“That was quite a ride,” he finally said.
“Yes,” she murmured against his neck. He loved the feel of her against him. So soft, so warm. So good.
“I, uh, should get cleaned up,” he said with great reluctance.
“Right.” She pushed up off him, and he regretted not kissing her first.
She retrieved her clothing, and he went to the bathroom to take care of business. When he came back to the office, she’d already donned her skirt and bra and was just pulling her top over her head.
“That was fantastic,” he said. “I’m so glad you came by.”
She laughed, and he detected a bit of nervousness. Or shyness. Or both. It was adorable. And he was surprised to find he felt a little bit of it too. He liked her so much. He didn’t want to fuck this up.
She found her cardigan and tugged it on. “I actually didn’t mean for this to happen. I really did come to pick up wine and just say that I’d be open to seeing you casually.”
If this was casual, he wasn’t sure he wanted to see serious. No, he definitely didn’t want to see serious. This was enough. This was great.
“Clearly, we were both excited by that development.” He pulled on his briefs and shorts and didn’t bother with his belt as he went to grab his shirt from where it barely dangled on the back of one of the chairs. “One of these days, though, I’d like to make love to you in a bed.”
She slipped her feet into her wedges. “I’m sure we can manage that.” She picked up her purse. “Where’s my wine?”
He sat down and quickly put his shoes on. “I’ll carry it to your car for you. Hayden left it out—you probably walked right by it.”
She chuckled. “Probably.”
They walked downstairs and found the wine. He was glad they didn’t encounter his brothers. He wasn’t going to hide their relationship, but he also wasn’t going to put it out in front of them just yet. He cared for Brooke, and he wanted to take things slow. Okay, except for the crazy awesome sex they couldn’t seem to keep themselves from having.
He smiled to himself as he hefted the case of wine onto his shoulder. He didn’t care what speed they went, as long as they were going somewhere.
Brooke snuck a look at Cam’s back as he lifted the case of wine. His muscles rippled beneath his shirt, muscles she’d caressed and madly clutched just a short time earlier. She’d meant what she told him—she hadn’t expected that to happen. But she was glad it did.
She was also glad that they seemed to be on the same page. For the first time in years, she felt hopeful. She felt happy. And damn it, she deserved that.
In the parking lot, she unlocked her car with the remote and opened the back end. He deposited the case inside and shut the hatch. He turned, and the breeze tousled his dark brown hair, mussing it over his forehead. She reached out and brushed it back. He captured her hand and pressed a kiss to her palm. A shiver raced up her spine—a good shiver, the kind that was filled with anticipation and sprinkled with longing.
He pulled her against him and kissed her, his lips lingering over hers as she let her body relax into his. “I had a great time,” he said softly. “I’d ask to see you this weekend, but you’re busy.”
“Yes, sorry.” She almost wished she could tell her sisters that the condo had fallen through, but no, sisters before misters was a rule she didn’t intend to break. “I’ll be back Wednesday night.”
He looked at her, his brow arching in seductive query. “Is that an invitation?”
She brushed her hand over his chest, relishing his solid warmth against her palm. “It’s out there. What you choose to do with the information is your choice.”
“I see.” He lowered his head and kissed her again. “There’s tonight, right? You’re not leaving until morning?”
That was true. But she hadn’t packed, and she still had some work stuff to do. But it was early, barely four, she could make some time later…
The sound of a car pulling into the lot drew them apart, but he didn’t move away from her. They hadn’t discussed whether they planned to be public, but she supposed it wasn’t a secret.
It wasn’t a car actually, but a king cab work truck stocked with ladders and a toolbox. They parked near Brooke’s SUV, and a petite blonde climbed out of the passenger seat. “Hey, Cam!” She didn’t come toward them but opened the back door and busied herself with something that Brooke couldn’t see. The driver, a tall, dark-haired drink of water, came around the truck. Brooke could see instantly that he and Cam were related.
He came toward them. “Hi. I’m Dylan Westcott.”
Cam’s older half-brother and the construction guy. Brooke held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Brooke Ellis. I, uh, work with Cam.”
Dylan’s eyes narrowed infinitesimally as he scrutinized her briefly. His gaze darted to Cam with an equally assessing look. “Uh-huh. Nice to meet you.” His demeanor said he wasn’t entirely certain they were coworkers, which meant he’d seen them embracing. Oh well, it really wasn’t a secret.
“Brooke is distributing our wine,” Cam said. “And she’s damn good at it.”
The blonde came toward them, and Brooke saw why she’d been busy in the backseat—she carried a baby. The infant’s chubby little legs stuck out from a ruffled romper, and she smacked her hand against her mother’s chest, clutching at her shirt between thumps. Brooke’s maternal instinct kicked into high gear, and she willed herself to keep it together. She could be around babies, for crying out loud—she had two nieces and a nephew.
Cam went straight for the baby, swooping her from her mother’s arms. He lifted her up, much to the baby’s delight. Her eyes shone as she giggled. He turned to Brooke. “This is my niece Emma. Oh, and her mom, Sara.”
Sara snorted. “This is what happens when you have a baby, you become a second-class citizen.” She gazed lovingly at her daughter. “Not that I mind.”
No, Brooke couldn’t imagine she would. She’d gladly become a second-class citizen in exchange for a baby of her own. “She’s beautiful. How old?”
“Five months,” Sara answered, watching Cam while he made ridiculous faces and silly noises.
Brooke watched him too, and in that moment, any hope she might’ve nurtured for a future with him evaporated like water on a hot summer day. Despite the blazing heat of the sun, ice coated her veins and chilled her mood. Yet at the same time, she told herself this was stupid—she didn’t want a future with him; she only wanted right now.
And right now he was snuggling his niece with adoring eyes.
Brooke urged a smile to her lips. “It was nice to meet you, but I should go.”
“I hope we’re not driving you off,” Sara said.
“No, no, I was on my way out. I have work to finish.” Brooke nodded toward Cam, feeling disjointed and irritated with herself. Maybe she’d drink one of those bottles of chardonnay when she got home. “See you later.”
She made a point of looking at Cam and wished she hadn’t. The picture of him with Emma in his arms would haunt her for a long time. He was an absolute natural as he held Emma’s wrist and helped her wave. He even said, “Bye-bye, Brooke. See you later!”
Brooke smiled because she really couldn’t help it—she loved children—and waved back. “Bye!”
She didn’t end up drinking the chardonnay, of course, but she did throw herself into work and then packing. And when Cam’s texts came and he asked if she was up for a visitor, she pretended she was already asleep.