Page 58 of Caught in the Middle

“Did you want me to miss you?” Her heart was going to pound out of her chest and land right here on the floor.

He smiled into her hair, fully aware of how damn amazing she smelt, like the salt, ocean, a summer’s breeze, and a floral rose perfume. He took a deep breath. “There are much better pictures of me than that one,” was his reply.

Emma remembered what picture she’d been eyeing when he got back and a bit of humiliation and refueled jealousy hit her. Knowing she’d likely be better off not asking, she did so anyway. “Is there any particular reason you’re not fond of that picture?”

Reluctantly, Cam let his hold go on Emma, mainly because he didn’t need her knowing he was already at half-mast just by being so close to her. Damn, she had way too much power over him. She turned around as he stepped back. “No, not really. There’s just better ones than that one.”

“Who is she?”

“Not you,” he said before he could stop himself.

Her brow raised, as did her heart rate and the fire he caused in her.

Cam rolled his neck for a moment then explained. “Her name is Phoenix, and we’re just friends. She’s one of Slone’s friends and they work together.”

“Did you ever date?” She should stop while she’s ahead.

“No, and the more we got to know each other from hanging out with the same people the more I think it’s safe to say we would both laugh at the idea. We’re just friends, nothing more.”

It’d be a lot less obvious how happy that made her if she would’ve refrained from smiling, but she couldn’t stop it from happening.

“I did flirt with her a little that weekend, and then I realized I would never move to a small town to date her so I didn’t bother the second night.”

Her smile turned to a very unenthused smile. “You couldn’t of stopped at the ‘nothing more’ part?”

He chuckled, gently lifting her chin with his finger and thumb. “I wanted to test a theory.”

“Oh, yeah? And what’s that?” she asked, still unenthused.

“If I like it when you get jealous over me.” She didn’t think his grin could grow any bigger, but yep, it could. “And turns out I do.”

“I’m not jealous,” she said, pushing his hand away, though what good that did she didn’t know because he only laughed and picked up his suitcase.

“Keep telling yourself that.” He dug out some clothes to sleep in.

“You’re full of it.” She knew he was right. He knew he was right. But she felt like planting her flag on this hill anyway.

He clearly wasn’t buying it because on his way to the bathroom, she heard him say with a laugh, “Keep scrolling down and you’ll discover my summer of shirtless selfies in no time,” then the shower kicked on and Emma found herself doing just that.

Chapter 22

Cam spent the majority of his shower cussing the need to turn the water from hot to cold. No matter how much he fought it, he could not stop the goofy smile that spread across his face as the water splashed over him, nor could he deny how badly he wanted Emma. To know that she cared enough about him to be jealous over a picture of him and another woman, that excited him.

And if she thought he was letting her off easy with that knowledge, she had another thing coming once he got out of the shower. He had no intention of letting her walk away from him at the end of this trip, or at least not without hesitating first.

It was one thing if he’d been involved with another person, but for her to be bothered by the thought of him with someone else and knowing she’d been looking at him online again… That only encouraged him. He wanted Emma, and in more ways than just the physical sense. No, he wanted her to share that mind of hers, laugh and travel together, learn about her aunt and every facet of her childhood. He wanted to be the person who knew her best in this entire world.

Cam rinsed the suds out of his hair and turned off the water. He didn’t just want a girlfriend or fling or one-night stand. He wanted a best friend and he wanted that to be Emma.

He normally wasn’t into jealousy, but he could value a healthy dose. The kind that suggested she might think he’s something worth not wanting to lose, even if they didn’t fully have each other. Yet.

Cam smiled and reached for the towel. He dried off then wrapped it around his waist, ignoring the clothes he’d brought into the bathroom. If she thought her sweats and hoodie weren’t as seductive as her bikinis and dresses, then she was about to be in for a world of surprise.

Because the moment he walked in that door earlier, he knew he had a craving that only she could satisfy. Now it was a matter of whether she wanted to give into that hunger, too.

“I thought you took clothes in there with you.” Not that Emma minded a half-naked Cam in nothing but a towel.

“Maybe I didn’t think I’d need them,” he replied.

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