Page 54 of Caught in the Middle

That caused him mixed feelings, but one thing was for sure. She’d never have to worry about being cared about if she was with him. That was a fact.

???

The massage had been a godsend Emma acknowledged as they took a seat at one of the outdoor bistro tables at the hotel. She rolled her neck, then took a drink of her water bottle before sitting it back down and grabbing the iced coffee she’d also gotten.

“How are you feeling?” Cam asked, also juggling water and coffee.

Emma was trying to rehydrate, especially after the massage and hangover, but there was no way she’d survive this day without caffeine.

“Way better.” She leaned back in her chair. “I think I could’ve laid there the rest of the day if they’d allowed it.”

He laughed. “I’m surprised you didn’t fall asleep, too.” Cam had passed out in the first fifteen minutes.

“I don’t know how anyone falls asleep during a massage,” she exclaimed. “It feels way too good to miss out on.”

“Exactly! It feels way too good and relaxing.”

She shook her head. “Were you awake for the hand massages?”

“Nope.” Her laughter made him smile bigger.

“I swear I would have never thought such a simple thing on the hands could be life-altering.” He gave her a funny look. “Here, give me your hand.” She stuck her arms across the small round table.

Cam leaned forward, obliging. Emma took his hand in hers and began her best mimic of the massage they’d done. To her credit, it did feel pretty damn incredible, although he wasn’t sure if it was the pressure or the simple fact that her hands were touching his.

“It’s amazing, isn’t it?”

“It’s something,” he said, his fingers lightly closing around one of her hands. She didn’t pull back immediately and he stared down at their joined hands.

“I like your hands,” he admitted quietly.

Emma could feel her chest tighten. “Why? They’re just hands.”

“I like that they’re both soft and rough.”

She bit her lip. “I’ve never been one of those girls with cute hands. I don’t think I even quit biting my nails until after I graduated college, and my polish is always getting chipped.”

He reached out for her other hand, entwining his fingers through both of them across the table. “I think they’re perfect.” He liked her painted nails, the calluses, and small scars.

Emma knew in her heart that something was happening here. Not just in this moment but between them. Looking across the table at this kind man, willing to go along with her shenanigans after only just meeting her, made her nervous and excited. He was wearing a light blue shirt today that she’d bought him from her shopping trip earlier this week and it brought out his eyes the way she’d known it would. He looked so good and dreamy, relaxed even, in his khaki shorts, his brown hair highlighted in the sun, and that stubble-covered jaw looking delicious enough to eat.

She swallowed. She so badly wanted to ignore whatever this was, but she also knew they should address it. At least talk about it. She was about to do just that when a familiar voice called out their names, followed by its friendly face and smile.

“There you are,” Henry was saying as he approached their table.

Emma started to pull back her hands, but Cam held tight. “Hey.” She smiled up at him.

“I’ve been looking for you,” he said.

She sat up a little straighter. “Why? Is everything okay?”

He slashed his hand through the air. “Oh, yeah, yeah. Nothing like that. I meant Cam.” He looked at Cam who appeared surprised, if not a little worried. “I got us a charter for some deep-sea fishing,” he explained. “They were booked up for the week so I left my information and it turns out they got a cancellation for this afternoon, but we got to get over there.”

Cam noticed it was positioned as though he was going and not being offered, not that he’d have said no since who wouldn’t want to go deep sea fishing? He looked toward Emma to gauge her thoughts, but Henry added more.

“I set you girls up with some horseback riding on the beach since we’ll be gone. No sense in us having all the fun.” His grin was genuine and wide.

Horseback riding did sound like a blast, Emma thought, even if she was fighting off the end of her hangover. “Thanks, Henry.”

---