Page 10 of Bad for Business
“So this is the house,” I begin, holding my arms out and waving them around.
Camille nods, her eyes roaming over the space. I wonder if she likes it. I don’t know her well enough to know her taste. Does she like the coastal vibes of the house, or are her tastes more modern?
I shake my head, wondering why I even care if she likes it. Her opinion of the house doesn’t matter to me…at least, it shouldn’t.
“It’s gorgeous.” Her voice is soft as her eyes continue to take in the space. The staff did an amazing job of getting the house ready for us. I haven’t been to any of the other rooms, but I’m sure they’ve done great at preparing them for us as well.
It’s quiet as Camille looks around the main living space. I take the opportunity to really look at her. I tried on the plane, but she kept catching me and glaring in my direction. But now, she’s too focused on taking in the house that was my mother’s pride and joy to even realize I’m looking at her.
She looks exactly the same as she did on New Year’s Eve. Her hair is still long, and the strands are still so dark they’re only about one shade away from being black. Her eyes are still mesmerizing. Although now that I’ve seen them in the daylight, I’m realizing they’re more of a mix between blue and green instead of being just blue like I originally thought.
Camille runs her hand over the countertop. For a moment, her features soften as she looks around the kitchen. I compare the woman standing here to the one I met at the party. I remember thinking she was the most beautiful woman I’d ever laid eyes on—and that was before I finally earned a smile from her.
I want to ask her why she left that morning. To me, the night we shared was perfect. It was so perfect that I wanted to spend the next day with her and steal as many nights from her as she’d give me. But she didn’t want the same thing.
She left.
And now, when she looks at me, it isn’t the same. She looks at me like I’m the last person on this planet she wants to be stuck with, and I can’t deny that it stings a little to be looked at that way.
“Which room is the farthest from yours?” Camille asks, setting her purse down on the counter and meeting my gaze.
I swallow, wondering why it even matters to me that the woman I haven’t stopped thinking about isn’t the same one standing in front of me.
SEVEN
CAMILLE
“Will this room work okay?”Ryker asks from behind me.
I look over my shoulder, finding him leaning against the doorframe. He has his arms folded across his chest as his brown eyes watch me closely.
“Yes,” I answer, ripping my gaze from his to look around the room. It’s bigger than I was expecting. A large white oak bed sits against the far wall. It’s massive and stunning, looking like it’d been picked straight from an estate sale and placed into the house. A beautiful pale blue comforter sits on the freshly made bed. Whoever was in charge of getting the house ready did a good job. There are even fresh-cut flowers sitting on the large dresser that make the whole room smell incredible.
Ryker’s quiet. He spent the entire morning chatting away. Even when I made it obvious I wasn’t listening to him, he still didn’t stop talking. But since we got here, he’s been quieter than normal.
“You should be happy to know it’s the farthest room from mine,” he remarks, his tone a little flat.
I nod, turning to face him. He stares right back, keeping his mouth shut as he waits for me to say something.
We stare at one another for a moment, both lost in our thoughts as we wait for the other to break the silence.
I sigh, trying not to get lost staring into his mahogany-colored eyes. He watches me closely, his shoulders rising and falling with shallow breaths as if he’s hoping I’ll say something. For the first time today, he looks at me without the glint of humor in his eyes. For some reason, this look from him makes me want to let my guard slip, even if just for a moment. But he’s tricked me once. I won’t let it happen again. Spending time with him is strictly professional, and I can’t let his good looks and puppy dog eyes distract me.
I rub my hands over my thighs before pushing my shoulders back. “How about we get unpacked, and then we can meet in an hour or two to talk about our plan?”
The seriousness of the moment gets swept away. Ryker raises an eyebrow. He adjusts his position against the doorframe as a smile blooms on his lips. “We just got here, and you’re already wanting to go over a plan?”
I purse my lips and narrow my eyes. “Of course. We’re here for business, Ryker. Not for fun. We need to get a plan together as soon as we can.”
“I remember you being more fun,” he tosses out with a smirk.
My eyes go wide at his remark. “You’re breaking rule number two,” I hurriedly get out.
Ryker laughs. “Camille, I never actually agreed to your rules.”
Anger brews deep inside me. I don’t know if it’s because he isn’t listening to me or the fact that my skin heats at the memory of what fun he means.
“You did. Or you will. We’ll meet in an hour.”
