Page 14 of Staging Love
The sound of the shower shutting off snapped Camilla out of her reverie and moments later, Jade emerged, wrapped in nothing more but a towel.
“It’s all yours she said,” meeting Camilla’s eyes.
With a start, Camilla realized she was smiling, just facing her. “Thank you,” she said. “By the way, I haven’t told you this, but you’re a very, very good actress.”
"Thank you," Jade said, running a hand through her damp hair. "But honestly, there hasn’t been much acting involved. I'm just being myself." She paused. "It's surprisingly easy to be myself around you and your family, as long as there aren't any complicated questions involved."
Camilla frowned, shaking her head. "You're being modest. The touches, the kisses... it all comes across as very natural. I've seen you with the kids, with my uncle Robert. You fit in so seamlessly, it's... impressive."
“Look, I actually like Robert and the kids are cute, so that’s easy.” A mischievous grin spread across Jade's face, her blue eyes twinkling with something Camilla couldn't quite decipher. "And the kisses and touches…” Her voice dropped to a playful whisper. "That's just for my own pleasure."
The words hit Camilla like a physical force, leaving her stunned and suddenly very warm. Her heart raced, and she was at a loss for words, her mind spinning with the implications of Jade's statement.
Jade's playful expression faltered as she noticed Camilla's stunned reaction. "I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I'm just teasing you."
"I know," Camilla replied, but her voice sounded strained even to her own ears.
An awkward silence fell between them, heavy with unspoken words and confusing emotions. Camilla fidgeted with the hem of her sweater, not quite able to meet Jade's eyes.
After what felt like an eternity, Jade took a deep breath. "Look, I... I should be honest," she said. "Of course I find you attractive. You're not only gorgeous, but you're also intelligent, funny, and a great skier to boot. So, yeah… it’s easy."
Camilla's head snapped up, her eyes wide as she met Jade's gaze. She saw sincerity there, mixed with a hint of vulnerability that made her heart race even faster. "I..." she started, but her voice trailed away. How could she respond to that? How could she even begin to sort through the whirlwind of emotions Jade's admission had stirred up? "I... I should shower," she managed to stammer out, quickly grabbing her things and all but fleeing to the bathroom.
“Wait.” Jade stopped her. “Maybe I shouldn’t have said that, even though it was meant as a compliment. Can we talk about this? Just so it’s not awkward over dinner later?”
Camilla felt her cheeks burn as she fumbled for a response. "There's... there's nothing to talk about," she mumbled, one hand on the bathroom door handle, avoiding Jade's gaze. "Thank you for the compliment. It's all fine, I promise."
Despite Jade's request to talk, she couldn't shake the overwhelming urge to escape the sudden intensity of the moment. Her heart was pounding, and her thoughts were a jumbled mess. She needed space, needed time to process what was happening.
"I really should shower," she insisted. "We'll be late for dinner otherwise."
Before Jade could say anything else, she slipped into the bathroom, closing the door behind her with a soft click. She leaned against it, closing her eyes as she blew out her cheeks. No. She was definitely not ready to talk about this.
Chapter Ten
The fire crackled in the great room and board games were scattered across the coffee table. The air was filled with a mix of laughter, playful banter, and the occasional groan of defeat from the assembled Parkes family. Camilla sat on the leather sofa, Jade close beside her.
Theresa, never one to miss an opportunity to stir up trouble, had been peppering them with questions all night, each one more pointed than the last.
"Tell us about your first real date with Camilla,” Theresa said, her voice dripping with false sweetness. “I’m not talking about your coffee date, but your first evening date.”
Camilla tensed, but Jade stepped in. "Oh, it was lovely," she said with a warm smile. "We met in this little French bistro in Beverly Hills, tucked away on a side street. Camilla had made the reservation, but she was running late from work. When she finally arrived, flustered and apologizing, I was already halfway througha glass of wine."
"She looked stunning, of course," Jade continued, giving Camilla an affectionate glance. "But she was so nervous, she knocked over the bread basket reaching for her water glass. We both scrambled to clean it up, and when our eyes met, we just burst out laughing. The ice was broken after that."
Camilla blinked, momentarily thrown by the detailed fabrication. She'd never been to a French bistro in Beverly Hills, had never had that experience, and yet the way Jade told it made it feel real.
“We had a lovely dinner and so much to talk about. I remember they were playing La Vie En Rose,” Camilla added. “It’s our song now.”
"How sweet," Theresa replied, her tone making it clear she didn't believe a word of it. "And Camilla, when did you realize you were in love with Jade? It must have been quite a revelation, given your... previous non-existing dating history."
Camilla opened her mouth to respond, but found herself at a loss for words. How could she describe falling in love with someone when she wasn't even sure what those feelings were supposed to feel like?
Jade's hand found hers, giving it a squeeze. "Oh, come on now, Theresa," she said lightly. "You know Camilla's not one for public declarations. Besides, isn't the important thing that we're happy together?"
Uncle Robert chuckled. "Well said, Jade. Now, who's up for another round of Monopoly?"
But Theresa wasn't done. She leaned forward, a glint in her eye that Camilla recognized all too well. "You know what might be fun? A game of Truth or Dare. I'm sure we could all learn some very interesting things about our new couple."
