Page 3 of Caught in the Middle

Why was he asking her about dinner? “No, but I’m not sure how that is of your concern.” That was probably more rude than necessary, but still, she couldn’t help but question the sanity of this man to be standing at her door after witnessing her kick another one out.

Cam’s mouth grew into a full smile. “Would you want to have dinner with me?” He watched as her eyes squinted in confusion and skepticism. “Downstairs in the hotel restaurant,” he added as if that made his proposition less random.

It took her a moment to process what he was asking. “You want to have dinner with me?” she asked, still unsure about him.

“Yeah.”

He said it simply and without a second thought, yet it made her mind kick into over gear.

“Why?” she asked. Was this some sort of male ego thing? “You just saw how well it worked out for the last man I was interacting with, so why would you want anything to do with me? Aren’t men supposed to fear drama?”

Cam let out a laugh. He didn’t know a thing about this woman except that he found her very intriguing. “Let’s just say I was told I need some excitement in my life” he started. “And there’s something about taking a woman who kicked someone out of her room half-naked that makes me think the dinner conversation would be interesting.”

The small smile and shrug of his shoulders matched that of which she’d given him earlier. He didn’t know if she’d take him up on it, but he was at least putting himself out there. Cam wasn’t sure what he was hoping for, but ever since he stepped inside his hotel room, the idea formed and wouldn’t escape him. He changed into jeans and a plain t-shirt then stepped across the hall before he could change his mind.

Emma stared at him, not sure if she was shocked or in admiration. If she thought she had bad ideas, then this stranger might have her beat. Because who in their right mind watched a train crash happen outside their door and then invited the person responsible to share a meal?

She was about to say no when a small tug inside her pulled in the other direction. She had been wanting a distraction tonight. Something to keep her from her thoughts. She’d thought a meaningless one-night stand might be the answer, but clearly that didn’t happen. But who knows? Maybe dinner with Cam would do the trick.

As if on cue, her stomach let out another growl, catching Cam’s attention and causing a little smirk. She rolled her eyes at the impeccable timing. “As it turns out, I am hungry,” she said offhand. Then quickly added, “But I’m not sleeping with you.”

If she’d been worried that was his agenda, the idea quickly faded when his eyes widened and something that looked like mortification crossed his face before it quickly disappeared. Interesting, she thought.

“Just dinner,” Cam reassured her, realizing for the first time that she might see his invitation as nothing more than an end goal to get laid. Maybe he didn’t think this through, but she didn’t seem to be offended and that wasn’t his agenda. She was clearly beautiful, but he wasn’t looking to hook up. He liked the idea of having dinner and learning how she wound up throwing a sock out of her hotel door.

“Give me a couple minutes and I’ll be right out,” Emma said, giving him a smile for the first time since he knocked on her door. The excitement that brushed through him earlier now felt like a tidal wave. Cam had no clue what he was getting himself into, but he was now looking forward to his night. This might be out of character for him, but maybe Nate had been right. He needed a little adventure, even if it was for only one dinner.

???

The restaurant was much livelier as Emma entered for the second time tonight, although this time she had Cam walking beside her. As the host guided them through the seating area, Emma happened to glance toward the bar she’d been seated at earlier. The high-backed chairs were almost all taken as diners sipped on cocktails and beer, some mingling and others as a party of one, the mirrored glass wall facing them from behind the bar showing her their many different expressions. She found herself curious about what brought each of those people here tonight. She’d always been like that, interested in the lives of others and what else was out there in this world.

As the light reflected off the hundreds of bottles lining the shelves in front of the mirror, her eyes flitted over the bartender in time to find him staring right back, though one brow pitched high in question as his head nodded forward.

She should’ve been mortified to be seen a second time in this same bar but with a different man, or at least that’s what her Aunt Mel’s friends would have insisted. Her Aunt, not so much. Thankfully, the woman who ended up raising her since she was seven was less stiff than the crowd she kept. No doubt she would shake her head when Emma told her about tonight and insist that she deserved better, but then she would let out one of her world-famous cackles at how the stranger across the hall asked her to dinner anyhow. Gosh, she wished she could’ve brought her Aunt with her on this trip. She’d know how to make it all better.

Emma let out a silent laugh and shook her head no to answer the bartender’s implied question. The last one didn’t work out and she wasn’t after the same thing with this one.

He gave a smile and laugh she couldn’t hear before returning his attention to his duties at the same time their host stopped in front of a small booth. It had bench seating with tufted upholstery on one side and two black chairs lining the other.

Cam stepped to the side and held his arm out to let Emma have first choice of seating. He wasn’t sure if she preferred the bench or chair, but he was thankful the host found them a booth on the far side of the restaurant by a wall of windows that offered the most privacy from the rest of the guests.

There was something about a laid back and quiet dinner with Emma that sounded right, even if the hotel’s dining was quite luxurious compared to most. He was very curious to learn about the events of her night, and he wasn’t too certain if she would want to discuss it if they had people sitting nearby on either side.

As she scooted onto the bench, Cam pulled out a chair for himself across from her. They thanked their host before turning their attention to one another.

“So you’re in need of excitement, huh?” Emma asked to break the silence. They’d made small talk in the elevator, but nothing greater than the casual compliments of her quick outfit change and hoping the restaurant wasn’t too busy.

When she shut the door, she quickly raced to her suitcase and found plain black slacks with a wide leg to throw on and a simple but classy tank to tuck into them. She slicked her hair back into a low bun and left her small hoops in her ears. Technically, the dress and sandals she’d been wearing earlier would have been fine for dinner, but there was something about an outfit that made a statement. Walking out in a good pair of pants instead of her original dress would signify this wasn’t anything close to a date, but rather two people grabbing a bite to eat. Even if she did look damn good and sleek in the all black outfit. Who said making a statement had to mean sacrificing style?

She saw where Cam’s eyes slightly crinkled at the edges as a genuine smile cascaded his lips. He didn’t give the impression of a dull guy, she thought, finding herself curious about what his reply would be.

“Apparently so,” he said. “I’ve been here for work all week and one of my buddies can’t believe I’ve been spending the majority of my evenings in my hotel room.”

Emma tapped her chin with one of her pale pink manicured nails as she studied him. “What do you do for work?”

“I work in sales more or less,” Cam said, not wanting to dive into work talk. “I oversee my team and make sure they’re hitting their numbers and making sales. I’m here for meetings before I return to St. Louis.”

“Ah,” Emma said with a nod. “That makes sense then.”

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