Page 45 of Camden

Stephanie

You know… I’m sure girls hate it when you pull them over.

Camden

Some do. Where’s mine?

Stephanie

Your what?

Camden

My picture. I wanna see your beautiful face.

Stephanie

There’s nothing beautiful about me today.

Camden

I think I should be the judge of that.

Stephanie

Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

She followed the message with an image of her sitting in a glider. Her dark hair piled on the top of her head in a messy ponytail, a few tendrils framing her make-up-free face. The freckles I loved beautifully dotted the bridge of her nose and pink cheeks. Those blue eyes crinkled as she smiled.

My heart raced at the image.

Camden

You’re wrong. Everything about you is beautiful. Breathtaking. Gorgeous.

She didn’t respond, but I wasn’t worried. “Hey. Ry said they’re checking out now.”

I kept my eyes trained on the front of the store as we waited for them to walk out. I felt strangely like a stalker as I watched Stephanie walk in the bright sun. The light hit her bare shoulders, and my breath caught in my chest. I couldn’t pull my eyes away.

“You ready, man?” Mason asked, and I nodded, putting the car into drive. I waited until she pulled onto fourth before I took off after them. When she turned onto a side road, I flipped the lights on. She stopped on the shoulder, turning on her hazard lights.

Smart girl.

Mason wagged his brows as he stepped out of the car and made his way to the passenger door. The driver-side window was rolled down, and Stephanie kept both hands on the wheel where I could see them. Leaning down, I rested my forearms inside the window. Close enough to touch her. She looked up at me with wary eyes before a smile tipped the corner of her lips.

“Fancy meeting you here,” Mason said from the passenger side and Rylie laughed, slapping him on the shoulder.

“That was messed up, babe,” she said before reaching up to give him a quick peck on the lips.

I trained my gaze on Stephanie, who played with the frayed end of her shorts. “Will you step out of the car, ma’am?” I grinned.

When she looked up at me from under those dark lashes, I wanted to pull her out of the car and press her against it. She worried her bottom lip before grabbing the door handle. I stepped back as she opened the door and got out. Grabbing her hand, I led her back to the cruiser, opening the passenger side door for her before I took my place in the driver’s seat.

“So, this is what the inside of a cop car looks like?” She examined the gadgets before running her finger over the console between us.

I watched as she took it all in. “It is. I’m surprised you haven’t seen one before. Being the rule breaker that you are.”

She giggled. “Speaking of breaking the rules. Are you supposed to let me sit in the front with you?”

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