Page 2 of Caught in the Middle

“Later.” Cam hung up the phone as he stepped onto the elevator. Sure, he could probably use something exciting in his life, especially considering Nate had a point. He only had one other single friend still, and he was already noticing the decline in guys’ nights. They still got together for game nights and dinners or basketball at the park occasionally, so it wasn’t all bad.

Yet there was still that part of him that hoped to find what his friends had found. Maybe Nate’s nonsense about finding something exciting to do tonight wasn’t too bad of advice. His friends didn’t meet their partners by staying at home or sitting by themselves in their hotel rooms. Maybe he did need an adventure. He just didn’t know what kind.

As the elevator opened and he turned to go down the hall, the scene at the end of it caught his attention and evaporated all thoughts of adventure.

A man was banging on the door across from his, shouting all sorts of outrage and insults, which only made it all the more absurd considering he had on nothing but a pair of briefs, one sock, and what looked to be a bunched-up shirt tucked under his arm.

As Cam approached he caught part of the yelling more clearly. “At least give me my other sock, you psycho,” he shouted through the door. Cam began to avert his gaze until he noticed the door part long enough for a woman to chuck a sock out.

As the door slammed shut, the man began his wrath again. While pounding with his fist, he started yelling about his shoes and pants. Cam did his best to keep a straight face as he moved closer, stopping behind him to open his door.

The guy paused long enough to look over. “Sorry for the nuisance. Hopefully, I’ll be gone soon,” then he raised his voice as to be heard through the door he was beating. “I just need this crazy woman to give me back the rest of my clothes,” he shouted.

Cam only dipped his head in acknowledgment. He wanted no part in whatever was happening behind him. He opened his door and stepped inside, but as he began to shut it, he turned at the sound of the door across the hall opening and a feminine response slicing through the air with an icy snap.

“Take your shit and get the hell out of here. Maybe next time don’t act like you’re in some ridiculous movie trying to step out of your clothes all over the damn place.” She threw two shoes, pants, and who knows what else at the man, who only mumbled as he dipped to grab it all and jet down the hallway not even bothering to turn around.

Cam was still paused with his door half open, taking it all in. Part of him wondered when the man planned on putting his clothes back on, the other part was suddenly thankful for his boring night.

Then a voice that could soothe the worst of migraines filled the hall and regained his attention.

“Sorry about that,” the woman across from him said with a slight shrug of her shoulder. Without his view obstructed by a pissed-off, half-naked fool and clothes flying through the air, he could finally see her. Dark hair that made him think of staring up at the stars, eyes like melted chocolate, and fully clothed compared to the man she just kicked out.

Cam nodded. “No worries.”

She gave him a small smile. “I promise, no more disturbances. Have a good night.”

Her voice was sweet and tranquilizing, her smile genuine. The total opposite of whatever had just taken place. She was a puzzle, Cam thought. One very intriguing puzzle.

“You too,” he replied before shutting the door to his room while a new thought took root.

Chapter 2

Emma Cooper let out a deep breath as she closed the door to her hotel room. That was not how she expected tonight to go. Not that she had a lot of expectations to begin with, but whenever she set out earlier and that wild hair kicked in, she ran with it. That’s what she got for not thinking things through.

She hadn’t planned on changing her mind and kicking the guy out. His name was Tony, which wasn’t worth her remembering because every time he opened his mouth a part of her wanted to duct tape it shut. Who knew one person could be so annoying and full of themselves? The way he told her he expected women to call him Mr. Carlson in the bedroom as though it made him sound sexy or dangerous was gross. The only thing she ended up calling him was an asshole, not that he even made it to her bed.

Emma plopped down in the chair at the desk and her fingers automatically reached up to massage her temples. What was she doing? This was so unlike her. Well, maybe not the having crazy ideas part, but the bringing a stranger back to her room as an aid to cope with the dread that had been building since she boarded her flight this morning.

Her stomach rumbled, signaling it was time to rethink her dinner plans. Originally, she intended to land in Dallas, come to the hotel to check in, get refreshed, and then head to a restaurant before they became overcrowded. Instead, she found herself not wanting to deal with people and sitting at the hotel bar with a vodka tonic determining what she should order to eat when the previously mentioned asshole approached and offered to buy her another.

It wasn’t that she found him attractive, though he was admittedly good-looking, but even as she knew she should’ve declined, a light bulb went off inside her head. Maybe if she could drown herself in the tall blonde distraction in the suit offering to buy her a drink, then she wouldn’t have to feel as pathetic this weekend when she faced her ex-boyfriend and his new girlfriend.

The knock at her door tore her from the ruminating thoughts of how quickly her night derailed from its tracks. Emma blew out a breath as she stood to go answer it. This guy had to be kidding. She already threw all of his clothes out of her room, so what on earth could he want now? Did he have no humility? Her heart picked up its pace as she reached for the door, her anger reignited at the man’s audacity.

She yanked the door open, her tone a mixture of exasperation and fury as she bit out her question. “What the hell is your problem? I said–” Her words died on her tongue as she saw the handsome face standing there, one brow arched at her greeting.

She recollected her features. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she said. “I thought you were someone else.”

Cam’s lips twitched into a smile. “Clearly.”

She looked at him, noticing he’d already changed from the businesswear he’d been in only minutes ago when he witnessed the dramatic scene outside her door. What was he doing here? She’d already apologized for the disturbance. A small kernel of embarrassment began taking space in the base of her gut.

“My name’s Cam,” he offered when she didn’t say anything. The way she was looking at him had him questioning his decision while also feeling a bead of excitement spread through his body.

“Emma,” she said, her tone suspicious. “Can I help you?”

“Have you had dinner?” he asked.

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