Page 69 of Engaging with Her Enemy

“He's never going to forgive me.” Trying to figure out if she should forgive him was an entirely different emotion than hoping he'd forgive her. The desperation almost pushed her over the edge. She ran a hand over her hair, tugging at the ends, and wishing the pain would override the pain in her body.

“Yes, he will, Becky,” Juliana said, from her perch near the door. “He came back late last night. He's sleeping at the Sheriff’s Office. Dewey let him stay on one of the cots.”

Becky snapped her fingers together. “Ring. You said something about a ring.”

Cameron nodded and grimaced. “He'd planned to propose that night. Dewey rushed him to a jewelry store and back before your date.”

She stepped forward, her hands curling and uncurling. She wanted to hit him and choke him at the same time. Maybe a well-placed knee to the groin. But nothing would equal the pain she’d endured.

Cameron stepped back until his hip bumped the counter.

Becky slid out a chair from the table, standing on it to look down at him. She took a big breath. “You ruined my relationship. My celebration of graduating from college. Myproposal!” She poked him in the chest. “I swear, if Hudson doesn't accept my apology, I'm going to,” she paused, taking a second to smile and emphasize her intent. “I'm going to tell your mother.”

His face, despite the natural tan from his Indian heritage, paled a little. “Hudson will forgive you. I promise.”

“Oh, I'll at least make sure he listens to me.” She jumped down and grabbed her cell phone off the counter, dialing Dewey's number. “Are you still on duty at the station?”

“Yes. I got a prince charming, still sleeping in a jail cell here.”

“Lock him in.”

“What?”

Becky narrowed her eyes with Cameron. “Lock Hudson in the cell. I'm coming down there, and he's going to listen to my apology.”

She hung up and pointed her finger at Cameron. “I…ugh…damn it, Cameron!” She left the room to get ready. Getting ready required brushing her hair and teeth and putting a bra on. Flip flops with her pajama pants and an old T-shirt. Not the best way to win a man back, but she didn't have time.

Becky jumped in her car and raced into town, sliding to a stop behind Hudson's truck.

Two raised male voices reached her before she reached the door. The shouting continued until Hudson saw Becky. Dewey gave her a fake salute and walked out of the station, giving them privacy.

“Becky?” He shook the jail bars. “Did you tell him to do this?”

“Yes.” Her voice shook. “I didn't want you to leave before I had a chance to talk to you.”

“Listen, I don't know what Juliana's plans are, but you have to believe me when I said I didn't tell Cameron.”

She nodded and stood out of his reach. “I do. Cameron and Juliana came to my house this morning. Cameron confessed.”

“Is he still breathing?” His body relaxed as his lips quirked to the side.

“Barely. I threatened to tell his mom.”

“You are ruthless.” His eyes racked down her body and back up. “Even dressed in your pajamas.”

She crossed and uncrossed her arms, impatience zipping through her. She didn’t even know how to apologize, so she just blurted it out. “Please forgive me?”

He blinked and straightened.

“I know I don't deserve it. It's the second time I've assumed the worst about you. My life has been horrible since you left. I haven't slept. All I've done is try to perfect a brownie recipe because I think you'll like it. And I got a tattoo.”

His head tilted to the side. “A tattoo? Where?”

She turned around and lifted her hair.

“Come closer.” She took a step backward. His hand grabbed the back of her shirt and tugged her all the way to the jail bars. His lips pressed near the tattoo. “I like it.”

He kissed her again, along the side of her neck, through the bars. “Becky, I want to come back home with you.”

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