Page 3 of Craving

Freedom tasted good. After so many years with her debt hanging over her head, she’d be able to move forward with her life. And as a bonus, she didn’t need to sleep in her bakery’s office on a blow-up mattress until she filled her bank account back up again. She had a bed and a roof and a very surly roommate. A surly, gorgeous roommate.

Hope was a more potent drug than the three vodka-sodas she’d had over the course of the day. Ten years of stress had compounded into a hard ball in the middle of her chest, and she could finally sense it loosening around the edges.

The debt was gone, her best friend was married, and Camilla was on top of the world.

“You ready to head out?” Marlon’s deep voice shivered down her spine, sending warmth spiraling through her veins.

Camilla turned. He loomed behind her chair, all dark hair and luminous eyes. His shoulders were so big and wide they blotted out the fairy lights strung up on the wall behind him.

She’d never spoken to him, other than a nod and a casual hello when she and Amelia were around the St. James brothers. The force of Marlon’s hazel eyes was something she’d never had to contend with. Not like this.

A big hand came up to scrub his jaw as he popped a brow in question.

Camilla blinked. “Oh. Right. Sure!”

A few hotel workers were stacking chairs in the corner, and most of the weddinggoers had already left. Amelia and Leo were hovering near the door, saying goodbye to the last of their guests. Scarlett and Lucy were cackling against the bar with two bartenders leaning toward them. The other groomsmen had disappeared long ago.

The wedding was over.

Dragging herself up, Camilla winced at the pain in her feet. She should have broken these heels in before tearing up the dance floor for so many hours. Today had been a celebration in more ways than one, even if she hadn’t shared her financial problems with anyone. It didn’t matter, though; those problems were over. She could pour all her relief and hope and happiness into Amelia and Leo’s big day.

“What’s wrong?”

She startled at the gruff question, then shook her head. “Nothing’s wrong. In fact, everything’s great.”

“You’re hurt.” The question was little more than a growl.

Startled, Camilla blinked. She grabbed her purse from the back of her chair and slung it on her shoulder, lifting her chin. “I’m not hurt. I’m fine.”

Marlon was already annoyed at having to house her in the first place. She wasn’t going to stand there and complain about a few blisters. Plus, she’d been telling the truth. Everything was great! When she walked toward Amelia and Leo, Camilla tried her best not to wobble on her sore feet.

Marlon let out a noise that sounded decidedly displeased. It sent a little thrill down to Camilla’s stomach, which was ridiculous. She hadn’t had a man fuss over her in a long time—maybe ever—but so what? Marlon didn’t mean anything by it. He was probably annoyed that he had to host her at all, even for the few days she’d be staying with him.

He hovered near, frowning at her. His gaze ran up and down her body in a way that was more assessing than sexual, but it still made Camilla feel hot all over. That wasn’t good. She was going to be living with the man for the next few days; the last thing she needed to do was develop inconvenient feelings for him. Her life was complicated enough as it was.

Then again, she was free now, wasn’t she? Maybe she could indulge in a bit of lust now and again. Was there anything wrong in feeling good in her body?

“Let me say goodbye to Amelia and Leo,” she said, then set off in their direction.

Amelia turned toward her and threw her arms out. They hugged, swaying from side to side, and came apart with tears in their eyes.

“Congratulations,” Camilla whispered.

“Thank you for everything.” Amelia glanced at Leo, who was hugging his brother while they both walloped each other’s backs in that I’m-a-manly-man-and-I-care-about-you kind of way. “If you hadn’t told Leo where I was having dinner that night, I don’t know where we would have ended up.”

“Probably exactly where you are now,” Camilla answered with a soft smile. “You’re meant for each other.”

Happiness suffused Amelia’s features. She hooked her arm around Leo’s and beamed, besotted. Camilla couldn’t help but smile back.

Amelia deserved all the happiness in the world. She’d been so closed off for so long, and finally someone had recognized what an amazing person she was. Leo would cherish her; Camilla was sure of it. Maybe one day, Camilla would find someone who looked at her like that.

“Ready?”

She glanced up at Marlon, who placed his hand on her lower back to guide her out of the room.

“Sure,” she said, only slightly breathless at the touch.

And, really, wasn’t that just a little ridiculous? The man just wanted to get home. If he was touching her, it was just because he was impatient and wanted her to hurry up. But it still felt good.

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