Page 26 of The Summer I Loved

"That's a good idea," he said.

"I also think we need to get her back into her routine. We can take turns helping her with her homework and making sure she is doing more reading than the basic." She turned to Luciana. "You and Chase are an important part. She's always had an aunt and uncle around and she needs you. No more faces when she mentions the people she loves, no matter how much you hated them in high school."

Luciana nodded, but Adrianna wasn't done, "And no more gifts. You're going to spoil her. No matter how hard you try, you can't make up for your absence all these years with presents. Lauren doesn't always give her presents. She gives her love, attention, and affection. She doesn't need another iPad, but she would love it if you played with her outside, watched a movie, or taught her painting stuff."

"I noticed. She screamed louder for your T-shirt than she did for the iPad," Luciana murmured.

"It's better if you get to know her and you let her get to know you. And don't do everything she says either. You're the adults," Adrianna pointed to them. "I'm going to go give her a bath."

Cam nodded and she headed upstairs, almost feeling sorry for them. They weren’t used to being around kids.

•••

She got Bronwyn to lay down after her bath. Adrianna pumped her fist in the air and walked out of the bedroom. Bron almost never napped anymore but the meltdown probably got the best of her. In the alcove outside her bedroom, she found Cam sitting in one of the chairs. His back was so straight it looked like it could shatter.

She smiled and sat in the chair across from his.

"I should've noticed something was wrong," he said looking down. "She mentioned you so many times. At one point she said she wished you were there during the helicopter ride. Then we went somewhere else and as we headed home, she asked for the time and began to cry when I told her."

"She realized a lot of time had passed."

He nodded. "I'm a stranger to my own daughter. She can't stand to be with me for a few hours."

So that’s where Bron got her dramatic nature.All this time she’d blamed Lauren but nature and nurture worked together in her little girl.My poor baby.

"She just found you and too many things are happening. She got scared for a minute. Did you not see how quickly she bounced back?"

He said nothing. Adri got up and stood before him and soothingly touched his hair like she did with their daughter when she was upset.

But this wasn't their daughter and when he looked up to her, it wasn’t a child’s eyes she saw. Something had replaced the sadness, an emotion she associated with Cam’s name. It provoked a gnawing deep in her belly, releasing a desire pent up for almost a decade.

This. Was. Bad.

He kissed her stomach and circled her lower back with his hands as he rose. His mouth bee-lined for hers and she waited for him with hers a little open and when their lips met, it was like the room caught on fire.

His tongue slipped into her mouth and he pressed his body to hers, searing her skin. She moaned and tried to press herself closer. His hands closed around her ass. Hers roamed his back. He rubbed himself against her, sending her blood straight to her head.

He walked her back until she was up against a wall next to the door. She instinctively got on the tips of her toes to align herself with him. It was her favorite thing, to feel him, all of him, this way. He groaned. Their bodies brushed against each other in a dance as familiar today as it was their last time. His mouth attacked her neck as he rocked his hips against her, kissing his way up to her ear.

"Let's go to my room."

She began to nod and then remembered where they were. "We can't, Cam."

"Okay, here, then," he said, strangling another moan out of her as he captured her lips again, making her dizzy and drunk on the taste of his mouth.

Make it stop, Adri.

He was wearing out her resolve and she had to use the one thing she knew without a doubt would work on both of them.

"Your daughter's in the next room."

Cam lifted his head, confusion and frustration waging a silent battle in his eyes. He pulled away slowly and it took every ounce of self-control in her not to pull him back. He turned around, putting distance between them. His hands buried in his hair, he turned around again.

"Are you seeing anyone?"

His question caught her by surprise. "What? No, I'm not dating anyone. That's not why…"

"What about this Evan guy?" he countered. "The one you're all smiling and happy in pictures with," he spat at her with enough spite to make her wince.

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