Page 17 of Bad for Business
I turn around, pressing my back against the door as I find her in the exact position I expected. “I’m bored. I need out of this house.”
She frowns, two creases forming on her forehead that are annoyingly adorable. Maybe I’m only thinking that because I’ve been stuck with her for a week. “We got out of the house yesterday. The dinner, remember?”
I roll my eyes. “And that was boring, Camille. I even saw you yawn a few times. All we did was listen to a bunch of rich dudes talk about all the money they had.”
“Well, we’re trying to impress those rich dudes right now. The dinner was necessary.”
I nod. As much as I hated going to the dinner last night, I understand why I had to be there. Now that summer is in full swing, everyone is here in the Hamptons. The hallways that were empty at Pembroke last week are now full. We attended a dinner party last night at the club to celebrate the start of the season. And while I completely understand why the dinner was necessary, it doesn’t mean I wasn’t bored out of my mind.
“I did what you told me to last night. I talked business with some board members, and I was on my best behavior.” I let out a little groan and push myself off the door. I take a few steps until I come to a stop right in front of her. “Let me have fun today.”
“Your fun is what gets you in trouble.” She shifts on her feet. The movement of her body catches my eye. I pull my gaze from hers and take a quick look at what she’s wearing. I swallow, not expecting to be attracted to what I see.
She wears black from head to toe. Her shirt clings to her skin, and I have to close my eyes for a moment as I try to push from my mind the mental picture of what exactly she’s hiding underneath the fabric.
I need out of this damn house. I need to see other people who aren’t Camille Vaughn. Maybe then I won’t be thinking about what she looks like underneath her clothes.
“You know it’s summer and you’re in the Hamptons. Is all the black necessary?”
“I’m sorry. I don’t exactly remember asking for your opinion on my outfit.”
My lips twitch with the hint of a blooming smirk. “I bet youalwayswant my opinion.”
Her entire face pinches together as she lets out the loudest scoff. “You’re the last person on Earth who I want an opinion from.”
My grin gets even wider. I know it isn’t nice to like to push her buttons, but I can’t help it when it comes to her. Her being my publicist and forced to babysit me all summer, paired with her insisting that what happened between us was nothing to remember, has upset me. Pushing her buttons is a fairly innocent way to get back at her. Plus, maybe if I annoy her enough, she’ll just leave me alone for the summer.
I cock my head to the side as an idea forms in my mind. If I want to get rid of her and impress the board without her help, maybe I can. I’ll be on my best behavior in public but annoy the shit out of her in private until she goes running back to Manhattan.
“Why are you smiling like that? Shouldn’t you be offended?” Camille asks, her dark eyebrows pulling in.
“It doesn’t matter,” I say, reaching my arms above my head and stretching for a moment. I try to keep my tone as casual aspossible, not wanting her to know that I’m thinking of all the ways I can annoy her to finally get her to leave me alone.
I don’t miss how her eyes dart to my biceps for a moment. Her gaze trails along my body until she checks out my other arm as well.
I can’t help but smirk, loving that despite her obvious dislike for me, the spark of attraction we both felt on New Year’s Eve wasn’t all in my head.
“I’m leaving,” I announce, breaking the silence. “My friends are all showing up, and I want to see them. I’m going to Pembroke, and you’re not stopping me.”
“How does this help our plan?” she asks, her heels clacking against the floor as she gets closer to me and the door. My clubs and a change of clothes are already at the club, so I don’t have to grab anything other than my favorite hat I left here a few days ago after Camille let me out for a round of golf with one of the board members. I was so focused on sneaking out, I almost forgot it.
“This helps our plan because…” I pause, opening the door and stepping outside. I keep my hand on the door just long enough for her to follow me before letting it close.
“Because why?” she annoyingly asks from behind me.
“Because I need to get out, Camille. Believe it or not, being locked in a house alone with you is driving me fucking nuts. All we do is talking about plans, executing plans…it’s always fucking plans.”
The sound of her heels clicking against the driveway stops.
I sigh, knowing I should keep walking and use this as a chance to ditch her. I don’t. Instead, I turn around to find her standing in front of the house with a pinched expression aimed in my direction.
“Plans are good. I love plans.”
I laugh. “Oh, I’m well aware. Tell me, do you plan every single second of your day? Or do you just get off on planning mine?”
“I don’t get off on anything that has to do with you, thank you very much.”
I smirk as I cock my head to the side. “Really? I remember you loving the thing I did with my tongue.”
