Page 18 of Cold Feet
"First, I'malwaysannoyed with you. Second, I'm not wearing that for a photo," I insisted, already knowing I was fighting a losing battle.
Twenty minutes and one unexpected purchase later, I found myself standing outside the shop wearing the ridiculous t-shirt over my sundress, Cam's arm around my shoulders as he took our final selfie.
"I can't believe I let you talk me into this," I muttered through my staged smile.
"You look adorable," he assured me, capturing the moment. "And completely besotted with your hockey star boyfriend."
"I look like I lost a bet," I countered, but there was no real heat in my words. Despite myself, I was enjoying this bizarre afternoon. The strategic planning, yes, but also the easy camaraderie, the shared purpose. The way Cam could make me laugh even when I was trying to maintain my professional composure.
"And that's a wrap," Cam announced, reviewing our collection of photos. "Now for the strategic deployment."
We found a bench along the waterfront where we could sit and select the best images. The late afternoon sun cast a golden glow over the water, painting everything in warm, flattering light that seemed determined to make our fake photoshoot feel… romantic.
"Wait, this is too perfect," Cam said, his fingers finding the hem of his shirt. My mouth suddenly went dry as he pulled it over his head in one fluid motion, revealing the sculpted torso I'd been studiously avoiding thinking about for years. Hockey had been kind to Cameron Murphy – absurdly, unfairly, viciously kind. My mouth watered.
"What are you doing?" I managed, trying to sound annoyed instead of breathless.
His eyes met mine with a naughty glint. "Selling it, right? Nobody's going to believe I'm with the love of my life and not getting in the water with her." He reached for my hand, his palm warm against mine. "Come on, Lana. Florida sunset, gorgeous beach backdrop... we'd be idiots not to use this."
I hesitated only a second before letting him pull me toward the shoreline. The feeling of his hand wrapped around mine sent a current of electricity up my arm that had nothing to do with our agreement.
When we reached the water's edge, he dropped his shirt carelessly in the sand, his eyes never leaving mine. I set my oversized tote down next to it, suddenly hyperaware of his presence, of the inches between us, of what might come next.Business, Lana.
"Your turn," he said softly, the challenge unmistakable in his voice.
I gathered my courage, reached for the hem of my final wardrobe change of the day, a black halter dress. Cam's eyes were on me as I untied it behind my neck and let the dress drop to my feet. The white bikini underneath suddenly felt much more revealing than it had this morning in my bedroom mirror. I flicked the dress on top of my tote bag with my foot.
Cam's eyes darkened as they swept over me, lingering in places that made heat bloom across my skin that had nothing to do with the sun.
"See something you like?" I cocked my head mischievously.
"Just making sure you look presentable," he said, his voice rougher, lower, than I was used to.
"For the photos..." I offered playfully.
"Yeah..." His smile was slow, dangerous. "Forthe photos."
The water lapped at our ankles as we posed with the Gulf stretching behind us, bathed in the pink and orange glow of sunset. When Cam's arm slid around my waist, his fingertips brushed the bare skin just above my bikini bottom. I inhaled sharply, my body instinctively leaning into his touch.
"That got the goosebumps I was hoping for," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear. "Very convincing."
I turned my face to his, our lips now inches apart. "Always the professional."
"Notalways," he replied, and for a moment, I thought he might close that last sliver of distance between us.
Instead, he pulled back slightly, eyes intense. "One more for luck?"
Before I could answer, he scooped me up in his arms with athletic ease, carrying me deeper into the gentle waves as I squealed in surprise. Water splashed around us as I clung to his shoulders – shoulders I now knew feltexactlyas solid as they looked. Damn. That memory wasn’t going anywhere soon.
He snapped a few more. "Perfect," he said with a grin that turned my insides molten, setting me back on my feet but keeping his arms loosely around my waist. "These are...convincing."
As I gathered up my things, Cam dropped to his knees, a playful glint in his icy blue eyes. "Marry me," he said dramatically, clutching his chest. His golden brown hair ruffled in the beach breeze, and it took all I had to suppress a smile.
"Are you serious right now?" I said, trying my hardest to maintain a stern expression. "You're killing my patience today, Murphy."
His grin widened, revealing a dimple that always made my heart flutter. "I've never been more serious about anything in my life," he teased. "You know, just in case we need to go the extra mile to land that Redline deal.”
As we made our way back up the beach, Cam insisted on carrying my tote. I couldn't help but stare at the way his muscles flexed under the weight, or how he didn't immediately put his shirt back on, letting the sun dry his lightly-tanned skin. His eyes kept finding mine as we walked, each glance lingering a little longer than the last. The casual brush of his arm against mine sent a spark of electricity through me. I found myself leaning into his touch, and despite my best efforts, craving more.
