“Cam?”
“I got your dad and Bailey to find out who owned the place.” He looks at me, then looks at whatever it is he’s suddenly found so interesting on the rug beside my head. “Turns out we know him.” His eyes meet mine again. “He owes us a few favours from way back and it turns out, a lot of money to a few people we know.”
“So what does that mean?” I’m covered in goose bumps now and it’s got nothing to do with the fact Cam’s inside me and I’m desperate for an orgasm.
“It means your dad and Bailey convinced him they could take care of his debts and he could let us have the house at the price we offered.”
“We offered the asking price. Why would he suddenly want more?” His eyes move to what I can only imagine to be a miniature stripper with her legs wide open or a game of football between ants going on beside my head; sex and football are generally the only two things that ever capture Cam’s attention like this. Unless, of course he’s just trying to avoid my gaze.
“Well, no, we didn’t, exactly.” His eyes are back on mine. “When you used the toilet at the house, I told Vera to offer two hundred and fifty grand less than the asking price. I thought it would be worth a try.” Well, this is news to me and I’m not sure how I feel about it. This is our house, our home, a joint venture and already he’s making decisions without me.
“You never told me that.”
“No, I know I didn’t. I thought it would be worth a try, and if it saved us some money then I could surprise you with the news later. If they said yes… accepted the offer…” he trails off. He knows full well I’m not buying into his bullshit.
Cam is like Dad. He wheels and deals at any opportunity. I’ve seen my dad in action first hand and I’ve heard Cam on the phone all week. It’s in their nature. It’s just the way they do business and I really don’t have a problem with that. I did it myself when I was hands on at Posh Frocks and I’ve used what I learnt from Dad when I’ve been trying to get individuals and businesses to donate to my charity work. What I don’t like, though, is the fact he went behind my back.
“You went behind my back and offered less than the asking price so you could check out who owned the house and see what you could dig up on them. Get off me.”
“What?”
“You heard what I said. Don’t say ‘what’, so I repeat myself and give you time to think of some bullshit excuse. Now get the fuck off me.” He rolls onto his back and I sit up.
“I don’t understand why you’ve got the hump.” I look at him with raised eyebrows and reach to the side of the sofa and pull the big thick fur throw over myself.
“I’ve got the hump because you went behind my back, Cam. I spent the last two years of my marriage weighed down by the guilt of what you and I did behind my husband’s back. I don’t want that for us. I don’t want lies or secrets.” I let out a long breath. “I’m a big grown up girl. I’ve lived a life. I don’t need protecting from your dodgy dealings.” He sits up, moves closer to me and pulls the throw over his lap, obviously feeling at a disadvantage sitting and arguing with me while naked and at half-mast.
“My dealings aren’t dodgy.” I look at him and roll my eyes. I’d heard him on the phone just yesterday negotiating a price on a whole container load of Wild Turkey, Rare Breed Bourbon, so I know that’s not true.
“So the container that arrives in Tilbury next Thursday is all legal and above board is it?”
“Well, no, I mean. How’d you know about that?” he asks with a frown.
“Doesn’t matter how I know, Cam. I know. I’m not stupid, and you don’t have the quietest of voices.” He crawls over, rests his back against the sofa and pulls me into his lap.
“Sometimes a deal comes along that’s too good to turn down, but mostly, everything I do is legit. I’m sorry I went behind your back. I honestly didn’t see it that way, but I’m sorry I didn’t try and see it how you would.” He tilts his head so he can see my face. “This is all new ground for me, Kitten. I’m forty-two, and despite being married before, I’ve never shared my life with anyone. I’ve never taken anyone else and their feelings into consideration. I’ve never been in love, except with you and just as I was starting to get used to the concept back then, you fucking left me, so give me a break here, will ya.”
“Did anyone get hurt?”
“What? What are you talking about?” He frowns even more as he asks the question, causing a deep ridge between his eyebrows.
“Did my dad, my brother or my live-in lover, arrange for anyone to get hurt so we can buy that house at a ridiculously reduced price?” He lets out a huff, like it’s an incomprehensible notion. I know different.
“No, Kitten, no one got hurt or was threatened with… Well, no, it’s like this…”