Page 38 of Bad for Business
I reach for the seat belt, being careful as I tug it over her body. On accident, my knuckles just barely brush over her breasts as I reach for the buckle. Her chest hitches at the small amount of contact between us.
Fuck.
I hurriedly straighten and slam the passenger door before I can do something stupid. What’s wrong with me today? I can’t think straight, and I can’t even blame it on drinking too much. Maybe it was too much time spent in the sun.
It’s quiet as I open the driver’s side door and slip into the seat. Neither one of us says anything, something I’m thankful for. My head is too jumbled with thoughts of her to hold a conversation.
I’m spending too much time with her. That’s got to be the reason I’m still having thoughts of kissing her after she’s made her thoughts about me well-known.
We’re almost to the house when I feel Camille’s gaze against my cheek. I risk a glance over at her, shocked to find her smiling.
I lift an eyebrow, my own smile blooming on my lips because I’m just not used to seeing her smile so freely.
“Hey, Ryker?” Her voice has a softness to it that I’m not used to.
“Yes?”
“I know we’re almost home, but…” She pauses for a moment, and she does something that takes me by surprise.
Camille giggles.
An actual fucking giggle.
And the feeling is no longer a flip of my stomach. It’s a punch to the gut. A hand squeezing my heart. I feel that fucking giggle throughout my entire body.
My throat feels dry, and the beat of my heart increases. My body and my emotions are at war with each other. I love the sound of her giggle. God, I love it so much I want to hear it again. But I hate that something so simple as hearing her laugh can have such an effect on me.
“But?” I prod, wondering if she’ll give me the luxury of hearing her laugh like that again. Even though I’m not sure if it's something I want to experience again or not.
I pull up to the front gate of the house and put the SUV in park. I look over at her, waiting to type the code into the keypad until she finishes her thought.
“I’m starving,” she admits with a smile.
“Want me to make you something inside?”
Her mouth falls open. “You cook?” She doesn’t even bother to hide her shock.
I give her a nonchalant shrug. “I’m not the best, but I can make something decent. Lizzie might’ve also left some extra food for us. We can check.”
Lizzie is my family’s private chef. My mom hired her years ago, and her meals are incredible. This summer, her schedule is more open than it typically is because it’s only me and Camille here, and we opt to go to the club most days, but she still comes by often and keeps the fridge stocked with prepped meals and snacks.
Camille bites her lip. I watch her do it, for a moment wishing it was my teeth pulling that plump bottom lip into my own mouth.
“As much as I want to see you cook, I have something else in mind. I want to go back out and get food. A burger.” She gasps before sitting up in her seat. “Or maybe a taco.” A little groanescapes her lips as she sits back. Her eyes find mine. “I can’t decide. But can we go back out and get something?”
I’d do anything she asked of me right now. I don’t tell her that. All I do is put the SUV in reverse and back out of the driveway. Who knows how she’ll act in the morning. She might go back to hating me. Or maybe she won’t. Maybe things will be different between us in the morning. Either way, I’m going to soak in this version of Camille while I have her.
“Sure,” I finally answer her. “Whatever you want, princess.”
TWENTY-TWO
CAMILLE
I stareat the water in front of me, swishing my feet around in the pool, enjoying the feel of the cool water on my skin. I’ve never been one who enjoys being in pools, but sitting safely on the ledge and dipping my toes in the one at the Davenports’ house has become one of my favorite nightly rituals.
I always leave my phone inside and give myself just a few minutes of peace. The rolling waves of the ocean and the faint rustling of the leaves moving in the breeze are the only sounds to be heard tonight.
It’s peaceful. And peaceful is just what I need after getting off the phone with my father. Talking to him is exhausting. I wanted to tell him all about the progress Ryker is making. That he’s doing great at not only forming relationships with the board members but impressing them as well. We’re three weeks into the summer, and I have a good feeling that by the end of it, the board will have full confidence in Ryker taking over Davenport Media.
