Page 106 of Already At Risk
Cameron’s lips twitched, like he knew he’d gotten under Korey’s skin.
And he liked it.
Ignoring my ex, I focused on saying goodbye to Chloe, giving her a kiss on her head before shutting the car door and watching as they drove away. It wasn’t until they were out of sight that I turned on my heel and walked up the driveway toward Cameron.
“I’m starting to wonder what really went down in that deposition,” I said, plucking the beer bottle out of his hands and taking a swig. I needed a drink after that interaction.
Cameron watched me with a hooded stare, his eyes focused on my mouth as I swallowed the IPA. Wasn’t my usual choice of beer, but I’d take what I could get. When I lowered the bottle and licked my lips, a muscle jumped in my lawyer’s jaw.
“We have the entire thing on camera, if you want to watch,” he answered after a weighty beat of silence where the summer air seemed to have a pulse.
“I don’t really like listening to Korey talk.”
“Good thing I don’t really let him get a lot of words in.”
My lips spread. “No wonder he doesn’t like you.”
“Feeling’s fucking mutual,” Cameron grunted, his eyes trailing to the corner where Chloe and Korey had disappeared around. “I don’t like it.”
I cocked my head to the side. “You don’t like what?”
“Chloe going with him.”
My heart lurched at his words, leaving me momentarily breathless. I didn’t like it, either. In fact, I hated it. But for some reason, I hadn’t expected Cameron to vocalize that.
His gaze wandered around the rest of the front yard before he finally looked back at me and lifted his hand, tucking a stray piece of hair behind my ear. “She should be here with your family tonight.”
“I know,” I whispered, lowering my gaze to stare at the bottle in my hands and the way the beer sloshed against its glass confines.
“Hey.” Cameron slipped a finger beneath my chin, raising it so I’d look at him again. It reminded me of what I’d seen Blake do to Delaney, and I wondered for a second if he might kiss me, especially considering how his eyes roamed my face, flicking to my mouth as they did. My heart beat a little faster, but then he said, “I wanted to ask you something.”
I mean, of course he wouldn’t kiss me. Not standing outside my brother’s house. Not where anyone could see us.
Regardless, disappointment threaded through my being.
Our eyes met, a clash of heat, and I gave him a nod to let him know I was listening.
“I have extra tickets to the Caps game on Wednesday night. Plans with my grandpa and uncle fell through. I was wondering if I could take you and Chloe? It’s no field day at school, but it’s something. I think they might even have root beer floats at the stadium. Or some kind of ice cream, at least.”
My lips parted, stunned by his proposal.
That sounded…so nice. I didn’t even have to work Wednesday night, and I’d been thinking about what Chloe and I could do that might be special. She’d been such a sports enthusiast lately that I knew she’d love going to a baseball game. And getting to spend time with Cameron was an obvious bonus. For both of us, honestly.
But was it really a good idea?
“Cameron…” I breathed. “That’s really sweet, but I don’t know.”
“Daphne loved the idea,” he said, like he’d been waiting to unleash further reasoning on me.
“Your boss?”
He nodded. “I proposed it as client bonding. Strictly professional. Gives me an opportunity to get to know Chloe better.” There was a pause before he added, “Of course, she doesn’t realize that I’ve already met Chloe on a number of occasions, but still.”
I bit down on a smile but didn’t really know what to say. I knew what Iwantedto say, but…
“If you don’t want me spending more time with Chloe, I understand,” Cameron offered gently. “But from a professional standpoint, this would be strictly aboveboard. I made sure of it, and we could make sure to tell Chloe exactly what it was so she doesn’t get confused.”
The way Cameron considered Chloe so carefully with every decision and proposal he made caused my insides to squeeze with a strange mix of emotions. It was so incredibly considerate, but it also made me wonder. Was Cameron so worried about Chloebecoming attached to him because he knewIdidn’t want that? Because he knew I was so worried about spiraling into a new relationship and ultimately causing her more pain if it didn’t work out? Or was he worried about it for himself? Did he want to make sure Chloe wouldn’t get attached because he had no interest in stepping into a role like that?
