Page 48 of Tied Up in Riches

“My boyfriend,” I add.

Cam squints his eyes, shifting his gaze back and forth between the two of us. “No. He’s not. A tactic to ward off the Mosqueda?”

A momentary panic flashes over Marcus’ face, but I laugh it off. “That obvious?”

“I would try a little harder.” He looks at Marcus. “She won’t bite unless you ask. You could at least stay close enough to touch her. Not sure how you resist this beauty anyway.”

I bump my shoulder into Cam’s as I roll my eyes. “Stop,” I mutter as Marcus says, “I’m not sure either.”

Both mine and Cam’s eyes shoot to Marcus, a glint of satisfaction on his face for getting our attention. It’s all for show. “Alright, well I’ll let you two catch up. It was nice to meet you, Cam.”

“The pleasure is all mine. I’ll take good care of your girl.” He winks before wrapping an arm around my shoulder, pulling me to the hotel bar as Marcus diverts to the elevator without looking back.

“Okay, spill,” Cam demands as we reach the black marble bartop, simultaneously leaning over it and waiting for the bartender.

“Spill what? You already called it. It’s an act for my mom. I needed to get her off my back so she doesn’t try to force me back with Beau every chance she gets.”

“Oh, she is still going to do that.”

“Ugh.” I sigh, sliding my elbow across the counter with my chin in my palm. “I know. That’s why Marcus is here, though. Hopefully he’ll be a good buffer.”

“Hmmm.” He studies my face looking for who knows what. “You like him.”

“No.” The bartender greets us and I order two shots of vodka before turning back to Cam. “Not like that, anyway.”

He waves his hand an inch from my face, and I flinch back on instinct. “Oh good. Just checking to make sure you didn’t go blind.”

“Shut up.”

“Seriously, why don’t you like him?”

“I don’t think we’d fit. I don’t know how long I’ll be in Oregon. He’s so organized and professional and all about work. Total opposite of me.”

“Opposites attract.”

“No. Complementary opposites attract.”

“Sounds like you could complement each other. He could help you focus long enough to find a passion. You could help him relax a little. I mean, the man is working on a Thursday night instead of hanging out with me.” He picks up one of the shots set in front of us, clinking it to mine, then tapping in on the bartop before throwing it back. “And you . . .” We both cough a little at the burn of a first shot, but he raises his hand toward the bartender for another round. “Maybe he meant what he said. That it’s hard to resist you. So he’s hiding from temptation.”

“Doubtful. It’s all an act.”

Cam picks up the new shot. “Things always get exciting in Act Two.”

I roll my eyes and toss back the liquor. Slamming the glass down on the bar top, I turn to my friend. “Question.”

“Answer,” he states, nodding to the bartender for another.

“Have you ever, you know, been tied up?”

He turns to fully face me, a grin splitting across his face as his hands land on my shoulder. “Please swear on our love for tracksuits in high school that this is not a hypothetical question.”

“I mean . . . I’m asking you if you’ve ever been tied up. Seems like a yes or no to me.” I laugh, avoiding his implication.

“Nuh-uh. Stop that shit. Of course I have been. Have you?”

I shake my head, reaching for the shot placed in front of me and downing it before his follow-up question.

“But you want to try?” He takes his shot too, shaking his head at the bartender when they make eye contact again. He focuses back on me.

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