Page 4 of Caught in the Middle

His head tilted. “What does?”

“You spend all day around people in a high-stress job. This isn’t a week away for you, it’s still work-related. Of course, you’d want to relax and take a break. I’m guessing you have a social life back home and this probably acts like a breather to lounge in your room each night.”

Cam was taken aback by the insight. “What makes you assume I have a social life? Maybe all I do is go home after work and binge-watch shows.”

The laughter that escaped her mouth put a smile on his face. It was carefree and electric.

“I highly doubt that,” she said.

“Why’s that?”

She gave him a look as if to say he couldn’t pull one over on her. “Because you have a friend reaching out to you while you’re on a work trip for starters, so I doubt he or she is your only one. There’s also the fact that you don’t look like that whenever you’re a couch potato,” she gestured toward his arms, where his biceps indicated weight training. However, she had to admit it was nice to see a man in good health, but who wasn’t so beefed up that she wondered if they lived at the gym and snorted protein powder on the weekends.

“Besides,” she continued, not phased by the smirk he was giving her at the compliment. “You don’t seem like the boring type. I bet you have a lot of excitement in your life, but you’re probably responsible enough to keep a work trip professional and get your rest.”

Cam didn’t know if he was flattered or impressed by her assumptions, mainly because she was spot on. Before he could say so, their waiter stopped at their table.

“Sorry for the wait,” he said.

“No problem,” Emma said as Cam nodded in greeting.

“What can I get you to drink?”

“I’ll have a glass of water, please,” Emma responded.

“An old-fashioned as well as a water,” Cam told the waiter.

“I’ll be back with those and to take your order,” the waiter responded.

Cam nodded again. “Thank you.” As the waiter left them, Emma picked up the menus that had been on the table and slid one to Cam. “Thanks,” he told her.

“Hmm,” she pondered out loud. “I have no idea what I’m in the mood for. I just know I’m starving.” Thankfully, her stomach decided to give her a break and stop growling, but she was still ready to devour anything.

Another idea struck Cam. “How about we order for each other?” he proposed.

She looked up at him, those dark brown eyes appearing bright. “I’m in. Any allergies I should be aware of?”

“Nope. And you?”

“None.” She smiled while looking at the menu. This actually sounded fun, she thought, trying to decide what kind of dinner he might order for himself.

“Anything you can’t stand?” he asked while browsing the menu.

“I eat anything. But don’t order me a salad or I’ll leave this table and stick you with the bill.”

Cam’s laugh left his mouth before she finished her warning. “What did a salad ever do to you?”

She was laughing now, too. “Okay, that might’ve been a little excessive, but all I’ve had today is airport food and snacks from the plane. I like salads but I want to indulge in something I can’t make myself.”

“Noted,” he replied, looking at her over the menu. He hadn’t complimented her outfit in the elevator earlier just to be kind. He’d meant it when he said she looked nice, although downright sexy was more like it. Her dark hair was still breathtaking pulled back away from her face. In fact, it only showcased her beauty even more, her deep brown eyes intensely roaming over the menu, her shoulders rolled back with reverberating confidence, and one of her hands mindlessly tapping its fingers on the table as she read over the options.

How was it this woman was shorter and smaller than him, yet he felt like she took up more space and left a bigger impression?

Cam looked at the menu again, having decided he was going to find her the perfect dish to satisfy her cravings after a day of travel.

For whatever reason, he found himself not wanting to let her down.

Chapter 3

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