Page 24 of Caught in the Middle

Cam was really going to have to take note because he was beginning to sense that the man knew if he wanted to get things to work out the way he wanted, then he waited until everyone was too full and tired and ready to call it before he brought up his idea.

He wasn’t going to complain though because it meant he would get to spend tomorrow with a ball on the tee, the sun in the sky, and a beer in his hand.

Chapter 10

The moment Cam got out of bed to head to the shower, Emma jumped off the couch to crawl into it. She didn’t even bother to go to the opposite side from where he’d been sleeping, the blankets still warm from his body. It earned her a chuckle from him as he closed the bathroom door.

She didn’t care. There was nothing as bad as tossing and turning on the small couch, never finding a comfortable spot to lie. Whenever she finally fell asleep, she woke up a couple of hours later feeling like her neck might be forever wrecked. Obviously, she didn’t fight hard enough for the bed.

Whenever they returned to the room last night, Cam didn’t bother bringing it up as he called down to the front desk to see if it was too late to get his shorts cleaned. By the time he had changed, Emma thought she’d be sly and claim the bed first, tucked in under the covers, but she glared at him when he came strolling into the room in nothing but his boxers and started flipping back the covers on the other side.

She’d been as exasperated by him trying to get into the bed as she had by the muscles rippling down his torso, implying he did a lot more than just hike once in a blue moon.

Needless to say, he wasn’t bluffing so she huffed and hopped out of the bed to make a pallet on the sofa with the blankets she’d sat out earlier. When she’d asked where the hell his clothes were, his only response was that he was wearing them.

How on earth was she supposed to have fallen asleep any easier last night whenever she’d forever be graced with the image of him practically naked, especially when he looked like that. Was it a thing to find a man’s legs attractive? Because she was pretty sure Cam had the most enticing legs she’d seen for a man, or maybe that was because she’d done her best to avoid him catching her mouth agape while drooling over his abs.

Next time she was in need of a fake boyfriend, she’d make sure they didn’t even know how to spell the word dumbbell.

By the time Cam had finished showering and dressing for his day of golfing, Emma must’ve already fallen into a deep sleep because he was gone when she awoke a couple of hours later.

The perks of not being the one invited to tee off meant she could sleep in and then meet the girls downstairs for breakfast before they took off in the rental car.

By the time Emma left the room, images of Cam’s sculpted arms still tantalizing her, she felt refreshed and ready for this day.

???

“This feels so good just to lay here and relax. I don’t know why I don’t live at a beach full time.” Lulu was lounged back in her chair, legs spread out long in front of her.

Lauren laughed as she leaned forward to grab her cocktail. “We’re not even in the ocean. We’re at the pool.”

“Have you even set foot on the sand yet?” Emma questioned, spread out in her chair, soaking up the sun.

“No, but that’s because I don’t see the point in bothering with sand in every crevice when I have a perfectly good pool right here. Hell, there’s two of them here.”

The other two women laughed, already knowing her too well.

“Do you think the guys will be back soon?” Emma asked.

Lauren raised her sunglasses and gave a grin. “Ready to have Cam give you a little try-on haul?”

She’d gotten his sizes last night before bed, so as they were out shopping today, she made a point to find him shorts and shirts that he wouldn’t suffocate in. Then she decided to buy him two pairs of trunks, one a navy blue with a striped pattern of lighter blue on the legs, and the other a coral color.

He gave her his card last night to pay, but she didn’t use it. Emma was sure she’d hear him gripe about it later, but it was the least she could do for dragging him into this, and if it made him feel guilty then maybe he’d switch her the bed for the couch to ease his conscience. She wasn’t against that idea.

“Oooh, I wouldn’t mind sitting in on that,” Lulu teased.

It was easier for Emma to play the role of girlfriend at some points more than others. This being one of them, because who wouldn’t want to see Cam strip down after all day in the sun, his muscles gleaning, that v-shape leading right down to–

“She’s blushing!” Lulu sat up. “Oh my gosh, you’re totally thinking about him right now, aren’t you?”

“Oh hush,” Emma tried. “You’re the ones who put the image in my head.”

Lauren giggled. “I like him. You two are perfect for each other.”

The lightness Emma had been feeling today disappeared, replaced with a heavy thud of reality.

“You like everyone, Lauren. You’re too nice. We’ve been trying to ruin you for years, but you’re still all sunshiny and thinking the best of everyone and everything.”

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