Page 54 of Camden

“Two reasons.”

“Okay.”

He lifted one finger between us. “I have to stay in shape to keep my girl interested, and it is hot as fuck out in the afternoon.”

Cam could replace the eight-pack for a dad bod, and I would still find him just as attractive. “Lucky girl.” I licked my lips and looked him up and down, causing him to belly laugh. When I stopped my perusal of his sweaty body, I continued. “The second reason?”

“I wanted to see you.” He shrugged like it was the easiest explanation in the world for why someone would get up so early. His earnest expression made my pulse race.

“You’re a charmer.”

“Only for you, sweetness.”

I pressed a hand against his chest and pushed him lightly, playfully.

“I’m glad I got to see you.” I dropped my hand from his chest to his side and let the pad of my finger brush the skin there. His breath caught as I walked my fingers down the side of his body and along the lines of his abs, which flexed under my touch. “Just so you know, I love seeing the body that you work so hard for, but I don’t like that other girls get to see it, too.” My fingers trembled slightly, and I fought the urge to make sure no one else was watching, but the heated look on his face kept me locked on him.

“My girl has a jealous side.”

“Not jealous,” I whispered and lost the battle with myself. I glanced around. Not one person looked in our direction, but I dropped my hand in my lap all the same.

He cocked one brow and pressed his elbow to the table, turning his body to cage me in. It was his way of making the moment a little more private. He could tell I felt uncomfortable even though I tried to hide it. “Possessive, then?” He leaned further into my space.

“Nope.”

“Okay then, what would you call it?”

I searched for a good word, but he was right. It was jealousy. “Okay. I’m jealous of other women seeing this.”

“You like me enough that you don’t want to share me.” Cam did nothing to hide his joy.

My face heated. I looked down at my fingers as I played with the drawstrings of my light grey scrub pants. “Maybe.”

He placed a finger under my chin, lifting it. “I hope so because I sure as hell don’t want to share you.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “Is that your way of asking me to be your girlfriend?”

“I don’t need to ask.”

“You don’t?”

He shook his head slowly. The pad of his calloused thumb rubbed my cheekbone, before he slipped a hand around the back of my neck, pressing our foreheads together. “Nope. Because you, Stephanie Lynn Monroe, mean so much more to me than a girlfriend. You’re mine. My future. We can label it, but that isn’t a big enough word for you.”

Not what I expected him to say.

I remained speechless as he pressed the sweetest kiss to my lips. My phone vibrated on the table with my alarm. Cam shut it off. We had breakfast together enough times to know what the alarm meant. He slid out of the booth, grabbed my hand, and led me out to my car.

Instead of opening the door, I turned and leaned back against it. I laid my palm on his chest and lifted my lips to his. He gripped my hip and kissed me like I’m sure he had been wanting to. A passing car honked, breaking us apart before things went too far. I dipped my chin to my chest as he chuckled. “You have a good day at work, sweetness,” he said, stepping backward.

He turned and jogged down the street. “Cam!” I yelled when I realized I hadn’t responded to his declaration inside. Not that he asked for a reply. Cam never pressured me and never would. I knew that. And I loved it. He stopped immediately, turning to face me, a question in his eyes. “You’re my future too.”

He sprinted back to where I stood. One arm hooked my waist, and the other palmed the back of my head as his mouth devoured mine.

His tongue immediately traced my bottom lip, and I let him in without hesitation. I gripped the front of his shirt. He moved to cup my jaw as he pressed my back into the side of my SUV. His hard against my soft. Our chests heaved as we both caught our breath when he pulled back.

“I really wish you didn’t have to work today,” he mumbled against my lips.

“Me either.” I really, really didn’t want to leave him.

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