Page 120 of The Long Game

“Matthew,” I said, now seriously. “What’s going on? You’re calling me very early in the morning.” A pang of guilt cut through me. I’d been so wrapped up in my own life that I hadn’t checked on him in a while. “What’s going on?”

His jaw clenched, and he didn’t need to say a word for me to know that there was something wrong. Probably more than one thing.

“Matthew—”

“Oh my God,” he suddenly groaned. He shut his eyes in a dramatic way. “Are you naked under that cat? Wait. Don’t tell me.”

“There’s a comforter between the cat and me.”

A female voice sounded in the background.

Matthew sighed before turning his head around and yelling, “MA! I TOLD YOU I WAS GOING TO MAKE A CALL.”

I blinked in surprise. “You’re back home? In Massachusetts?”

“Is that Adalyn?” was said in the back. “Tell her to come visit. God knows you need—”

“NOT THAT AGAIN, MA.” He faced me. “It’s a long story.” A shake of his head. “Anyway. I guess that explains why you look…” He trailed off, looking all but miserable. “Like that.”

“How do I look?” I huffed.

“Beautiful,” Cameron answered. “Stunning, really.”

My head swiveled in the direction of that deep, sultry, accented voice that was whispering all kinds of things in my ear last night. He was shirtless, and he looked so handsome and inviting from his spot at the door that I could only gape.

“And thoroughly fucked,” he added, making my jaw drop to the floor.

Matthew let out a strange sound from the phone.

Cameron ignored all of that. He crossed the distance to me with long, determined strides, green eyes boring into mine. He reached the side of the bed and leaned forward. “You’re naked, in my bed, with my cat on your lap, speaking to some other man. Should I be concerned, love?”

“Cameron,” I mumbled like an idiot, instead of a simple no. Or aDon’t be ridiculous, isn’t it obvious that I’m crazy about you?Or aYour biggest concern should be me, helplessly falling for you, if you don’t stop saying things like that.But my brain wasn’t working.

“CAMERON?” My best friend spit from my phone. “As in Cameron Caldani, as intheCAMERON CALDANI?” A panicked pause. “Is that Cameron Caldani’s cat? You’re in Cameron Caldani’s BED.” His voice went high. “Is Cameron Caldani the one who thoroughly f—”

“Matthew,” I stopped him. “Can you please stop saying his name like that? Actually, it would be nice if you would also stop emphasizing all that stuff.”

Cameron placed a mug in my hand and kissed me. Hard. Briefly but intently enough for his mouth to part mine.

Matthew gasped.

And I… I was too dazzled by that kiss. Distracted. I wanted more kisses like that. More growly noises from his chest, I—

“You’re with Cameron Caldani,” my best friend murmured, as if the knowledge was sinking in just now. “I have questions. First one is where is my shirt? Second is how serious are you? How did any of this happen? Are we becoming brothers-in-law?”

Cameron sat on the edge of the bed, placing an arm around my shoulders and muttering, “This should be fun.”

I sighed. “Cameron, this is my best friend, Matthew Flanagan. And, Matty, this is—”

“Cameron Caldani,” he finished for me, eyes growing three sizes. But at least he wasn’t gasping. “Big fan, Mr. Caldani. I’ve followed your career for years. I—” He stopped himself. “Hold on, before I go on, I feel like, as Adalyn’s best friend, I should extend a warning.”

“Matthew, no,” I whispered loudly. “And stop calling him by his full name, please. You’re making this very weird.”

Cameron pulled me closer with the arm that was snaked around my shoulders, and only when I was tucked against his side did he sneak his hand below the comforter and place it on my naked thigh. “Let the man talk.” He squeezed my leg, and my blood rushed to that exact point. “I don’t scare easily.”

My best friend looked so starstruck I doubted he’d be able to scare a fly right now, but he cleared his throat. “Adalyn’s last boyfriend was a complete tool.”

“I already like where this is heading,” Cameron muttered, and his hand moved to my belly, pushing me closer still.

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