Tempting Cameron

chapter Seven


“What’s going on between you and my brother?”

Chloe avoided Jane’s question, pretended that she was concentrating on her friend’s Mexican honeymoon photos she was showing Chloe on her iPad, a wedding gift from her husband. Her friend was so happy and terrifically spoiled.

Chloe figured Jane deserved every bit of happiness. She’d suffered much to finally find it again. She couldn’t begrudge her this, ever. “The resort you were at looks amazing.”

“I know. It was.” Jane propped her elbow on the edge of the dining table and rested her chin on her fist. “It was the most amazing vacation I’ve ever had.”

“I bet.” Chloe raised a brow.

Jane’s cheeks turned pink. “Stop. I’m a married woman now—I have no business being embarrassed. And besides, you’re avoiding my question.”

It was Chloe’s turn for her cheeks to turn pink. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You and my brother. Rumors are going around town, you know. About you and Cam.” Jane shook her head, clearly surprised.

Chloe barely restrained from rolling her eyes. “Why does this town love to gossip so much?”

“Because there’s nothing much else to talk about around here,” Jane pointed out. “Trust me, been there, done that. They loved speculating on my relationship with Chris.”

“I remember.” Chloe wished she could talk to Jane about what was happening between her and Cam. But she knew her friend wouldn’t get it. Jane would just worry she’d get her heart broken. “We’re just friends. Kind of.”

“Kind of? You’re either seeing him or not. I always figured you looked at him these days like a rude big brother. You know, exactly how I feel about him,” Jane said.

Chloe wanted to laugh. The feelings she had for Cam were the complete opposite of brotherly. “Not really,” she muttered.

“So it’s true. You’re dating Cam.” Jane shook her head. “I can’t believe it.”

“Why?” Why was it so hard for anyone to fathom they could be a couple? Not that they were, not really.

Cam had kept his word, as had she. They spent time together, platonically in public, a bit more scandalously in private, though it never went beyond lots of kissing and the occasional grope session. Not that she let him go too far, though he seemed to take more liberties now that her ribs were mostly healed and her bruises and cuts had faded.

Truthfully, it had been the most exciting, thrilling three weeks of her life. On the Fourth of July, she’d spent the day with her family, then eventually headed over to the McKenzie house for an evening barbecue.

Cam had been there, sending smoldering glances her way with his entire family surrounding them, making her knees weak every time he looked at her. He’d caught her unaware when she went inside the house to grab something to drink, since everyone was outside.

He’d backed her into a hall closet and kissed her hard and long enough to wipe her bright red lip gloss off. They’d had to stop when one of Cam’s nieces came looking for him, calling his name as she wandered through the house.

Not to mention during the fireworks show, when they’d snuck off to hide among the trees. He’d settled on the ground and leaned against the trunk of a mighty pine and she nestled in between his legs. His front to her back, his arms wrapped loosely around her, his chin settled on top of her head as they watched the fireworks go off over the lake.

It had been a spectacular show, made even better when he leaned in and kissed her stupid. His lips had this magical way of stealing precious brain cells every time they settled on hers…

“I never imagined the two of you together. You drove him crazy when we were younger.” Jane studied her, probably noted the dreamy expression Chloe knew without a doubt she wore. Thinking about Cam had that sort of effect on her. “I know you used to have a major crush on him, though I never dared ask you about it.”

Something flitted through her mind. A flash of a conversation between her and Cam, though she couldn’t remember where or when.

I never told anyone I had a crush on you.

You didn’t have to. It was pretty obvious…

She frowned. Had that conversation really happened? Or had she dreamed it?

“Well, we’re hanging out. Not really dating,” Chloe said, which was the truth. What they were experiencing had no definition. It was an adventure, pure and simple.

“Huh. Sounds like every so-called relationship Cam has had his entire adult life.” Jane rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me he’s got you under his spell, too.”

“No,” Chloe said too defensively, jealousy flaring inside her. Silly, considering she knew he had a past. So did she. Probably not as extensive as his, but still.

Her phone buzzed and she grabbed it from where she’d left it on Jane’s table, checking her text message. It was from Cam.

Where are you?

She quickly texted back.

Your sister’s house looking at honeymoon pictures.

“Who was it?” Jane asked.

“Ali,” Chloe lied, keeping her anxious gaze on the phone.

“You two have plans tonight?”

“Maybe.” The message came seconds later.

Meet me at Mitchell’s in thirty minutes.

Excitement buzzed through her as she quickly typed: Why?

Taking out my dad’s boat and I want you with me. Wear your swimsuit.

Excitement bubbling within her, Chloe glanced out the window, saw Jane’s three children playing in the backyard with Jane’s new husband. They were happy, seemingly well adjusted now that their mom was married to Chris. Chloe liked him. He was solid, dependable, and when he looked at Jane, his love for her was written all over his face.

Chloe wanted a love like that. Not with Cam, she told herself quickly. Never with Cam.

Okay, maybe a little bit she wanted it with Cam.

“Want to stay for dinner? Mindy and the kids are coming over later.” Jane shook her head as she opened the refrigerator door and peeked inside. “Easing back into cooking meals every day hasn’t been fun. I was spoiled on my honeymoon.”

Chris chose that moment to walk in the house, an easy grin on his face. “I’ll make dinner.”

Jane flashed him a smile in return, pressing her head against his chest when he came to where she sat and gave her a quick hug, kissing her forehead. “And I won’t refuse your offer.”

“Not a surprise,” he said, glancing at Chloe. “You staying for dinner?”

“I’m afraid I can’t.” She needed to go see Cam.

“Another time, then. We’ll have a big family barbecue next time I’m off shift and invite everyone,” Chris suggested.

“That sounds great. Let me know when.” Chloe stood and went to her friend, kissing her on the cheek. “I’d love to stay but I can’t tonight. How about sometime next week?”

“Sure.” Jane looked startled at Chloe’s abrupt pending departure. “I haven’t seen you much since I’ve been back.”

“It’s only been what, a week? You’ve been busy! I bet the kids were glad to have you guys home.”

“Yeah, they were.” Jane studied her, her gaze narrowed. “And I hardly saw you at the barbecue on the Fourth. You disappeared for a while. I went looking for you.”

Everyone had gone looking for them. They’d hid in an excellent spot. “I was there, watching the fireworks. There were so many people around, it’s easy to lose sight of each other, you know?”

“Uh, huh.” Jane sounded like she didn’t believe her. Chloe couldn’t worry about it, though.

She had a date with Cameron to get to.

…

Cam hopped into his dad’s old fishing boat, tossing the giant backpack he’d brought into the bow. Inside he’d packed a couple of water bottles, towels, and a thin blanket.

Pretty much the same things he’d pack when he used to take Melanie on his dad’s boat. When they would go as far out as they could, closer to the dam where hardly anyone went. Where the water was deep and cool and the sun settled along the horizon, bleeding pink and gold across the sky until it finally disappeared behind the mountains.

It was a favorite spot, tainted by memories of a shitty girlfriend who’d broken his stupid teenage heart.

He wanted to erase the memory of taking Melanie out on the boat and replace it with Chloe. She was helping him erase all those other old memories, too, creating fresh and exciting new ones.

Like the night they’d grabbed a couple of ice creams at Mitchell’s store and spoon-fed each other in the back of his old truck. It had been one of the most erotic experiences he’d ever had. Licking the ice cream from her spoon as she fed him, his gaze had never strayed from hers. The hitch in her breathing when he’d leaned in and licked the melting creamy substance from her lips, their tongues cool and sweet as they slid against each other…

Yeah, he could break out in a sweat just thinking about it. And what made it worse—or better, depending on his mood—was the fact that it was mostly innocent, the time he spent with Chloe. He’d hardly touched her, certainly had never dived under her shirt or slipped an eager hand inside her panties.

Not that he wasn’t tempted, because holy hell, he was tempted daily, hourly, every minute, every second he was with her. All this innocent handholding and secret kissing sessions also meant they spent a lot of time with each other actually talking.

She was smart. Funny. Interesting. Quirky and shy one minute, sly and daring the next, she was a constant contradiction. He wanted to know more. Chloe was a mystery he wanted to solve.

And he wasn’t much of a mystery lover. Rarely had the compulsion to solve anyone or anything beyond what he photographed. Even then, he was more of an observer, always watching life go by and not ever really participating in it. He always felt like he was surviving, not living.

The realization rendered him completely still and he settled his ass on the bench seat at the front of the boat so hard, he rocked the vessel, making it bump against the barriers that flanked either side of the slip.

Spending time with Chloe made him feel like he was actually living again. Spending time in his hometown, surrounded by his family…that helped, too. Tremendously.

Glancing up, he saw her headed down the walkway from across the road, where she’d parked at Mitchell’s Landing. He watched her, appreciated the sway of her hips, the bounce in her step. She practically vibrated with excitement, even from this distance, and he liked how unrestrained she was. No games, no bullshit. She was simply Chloe.

She caught sight of him and waved, picked up her step. He hopped out of the boat and waited for her, ready to help her in when she approached. She had her sunglasses on top of her head, her hair was pulled into a high ponytail, and she wore a turquoise strapless dress that revealed thin, bright green straps that wound around her neck.

He hoped like hell it was a bikini.

“Hi.” The smile she gave him would’ve lit the entire sky, it was so bright. “This is your dad’s boat, huh?”

“Yep.” He wanted to kiss her. There were people milling around—employees of Mitchell’s, tourists bringing in their rental boats for the evening, a few locals who were also coming back from a day on the lake. And he still wanted to kiss her; it didn’t matter who saw. “You look pretty, Chloe.”

She basked in his compliments, her reaction always making him want to offer more. “Thanks. You said to wear my swimsuit.”

“I did.” She also usually did whatever he requested, no questions asked. He liked that, too. Felt rather possessive of her, which he knew was ridiculous, but every time he held her, kissed her, the word mine ran through his head.

Crazy.

“Do you need help with anything? I brought snacks.” She held up a small cooler and a grocery bag. “A couple of beers and some chips.”

“Mmm, that’s my girl.” Leaning in, he kissed her. A friendly, smacking kiss that wasn’t enough, so he kissed her again, slipped her a little tongue.

Left her breathless when he broke it off, which made him grin, encouraged by her reaction. That he could render her into that dreamy state every time his lips touched hers pleased him to no end.

“Omigod, I think Art saw you kiss me,” she whispered, her cheeks flushed.

He glanced to his right, saw Art Mitchell standing a few feet away outside the marina office, watching them with a puzzled expression on his face. He was the owner of the marina, a longstanding Lone Pine Lake citizen, and no doubt, he was confused by what he just saw.

But Cam realized he really didn’t give a crap.

“Don’t worry about it. Come on.” He took Chloe’s hand and helped her into the boat, then hopped on after her. “Relax. We’ll leave in a few.”

“Are you sure you don’t need any help?”

“Just sit there and look pretty.”

She looked away, casting her gaze out over the water, a little smile teasing the corners of her lips. He chastised himself as he prepared the boat. Needed to stop talking like a lovesick fool and worse, looking at her like a lovesick fool. Do it enough and he’d have himself convinced he was halfway in love with her.

So not going to happen. He wasn’t sticking around Lone Pine Lake, no matter how much he was enjoying himself. The end of the summer, he was out of here. His agent e-mailed him almost daily, asking when he was ready to go back to work. He needed to appease him and get on with his life.

But he also needed to spend a little more time with Chloe. He couldn’t let her go. Not yet.

Within minutes they were pulling away from the marina, Cam steering the boat with ease past the returning ones. As the late afternoon turned into early evening, most everyone brought their boats in. That was Cam’s favorite time to take his dad’s out. The lake was less crowded, the sun not as intense.

They ended up in a cove not far from the dam, a neatly tucked away alcove that not many people knew about beyond the locals. It was darker here, the trees that surrounded the shore thick, cutting off the sunlight. The water was a dark, calm greenish-blue and deceptively deep. A perfect fishing hole his dad had scouted out years ago, when Cam had been young and tagged along one early, early morning with his dad and Patrick.

It was one of his favorite spots in all of Lone Pine Lake.

“This is nice,” Chloe said after he threw the anchor into the water. “I don’t know if I’ve ever been here before.”

“My dad likes to fish in this spot.”

“Mine was never much of a fisherman.” She wrinkled her nose and laughed. “Living right on the lake and he’d rather toss his line over the railing at Mitchell’s. Catch little trash fish so he could throw them back out.”

“How about you? Have you ever fished?”

Shaking her head, she laughed. “Not really.”

“Jane and Mindy used to go with us. But they’d always squeal and complain when Dad told them they had to take their fish off their own lines.” Cam chuckled, shook his head. “We stopped bringing them.”

“That’s funny. I can imagine what a pain Mindy and Jane would be to you guys,” she said softly, her eyes glowing as she watched him. She had this way of making it easy for him to recall long-stowed-away memories with fondness.

The moment he’d left Lone Pine Lake, he’d abandoned all those warm, happy thoughts. He’d been sullen, a grumpy, supposedly misunderstood teen with a chip on his shoulder. Believed his parents just didn’t understand him and what he wanted to do with his life. Knowing he would go absolutely nowhere in this nowhere town, he’d left.

And proved his parents wrong.

They were proud of him. He knew that, had heard it enough over the years to believe it. But he still felt like he had something to prove. What with Patrick a financial banking success and Mac the owner of his own business for the love of God, he still had to fight the feelings of inadequacy.

Chloe helped combat that, too. Her easy acceptance of him, the adoring gleam in her eyes that had irritated him when they were younger, now filled him with pride.

Filled him with lust.

“You should take your cover-up off,” he suggested casually, feeling anything but. Having her close always ratcheted the tension within him a few million degrees. The sneaking around bit aided that as well.

She sent him a look. “You just want to see me take my clothes off.”

His blood heated. Well, yeah, that was a given. But since he knew nothing like that was going down, he at least wanted to ogle her. “I figured you’d want to take a swim.”

“It looks cold.” She glanced down, leaned over the edge of the boat to trail her fingers in the water. “It is cold.”

“It’s refreshing,” he corrected, tugging his old T-shirt off and tossing it on the bow seat. “Come on. Jump in with me.”

Her eyes widened when they settled on his chest, her lips parting a little bit, as if she liked what she saw. Perfect. She needed to return the favor so he could do some ogling. He hadn’t seen her in a swimsuit yet and they lived by a lake, for Christ’s sake. “You’re going to jump in?”

He rolled his eyes, smiling. “Yeah.”

“I’m more of a wader.” She nibbled on her lower lip, contemplating him.

“You asked for an adventure, right?” Reaching for her hand, he tugged so she had no choice but to stand. “Take off the dress, Chloe.”

She pulled her hand from his and reached for the hem of her dress, stripping it off so she stood before him in a tiny two-piece that made his eyes bug out of his head. Bright green with white polka dots, it was sinfully sweet on Chloe’s bangin’ bod. Held around her neck with thin strings, tied on either hip with those same strings, Cameron was filled with the urge to untie it all…

And have his wicked way with her.

“Put your tongue back in your mouth,” she murmured, invading his heated thoughts.

He snapped his jaw shut. “You’re going to jump in with me?”

Nodding, she let him take her hand again. He led her to the front of the boat, where they stood on the bench seat, making the boat rock gently. “On the count of three,” he said, his gaze unerringly going to all those luscious curves. Her flared hips, her nipped-in waist, and those breasts that were the stuff of dreams.

His lusty, sex-filled dreams…

Clearing his throat, he counted down, squeezed her hand before he said three and they jumped in together, Chloe yelping as they flew over the calm lake. The water sucked them under, cold as she said, but it cooled his heated thoughts, the shock of the temperature wilting his burgeoning erection.

Thank God.

She popped out of the water with a shriek, coming for him as if she meant to do him bodily harm. “I think my lungs are frozen,” she sputtered, water streaming down her face, her hair slicked back. “It’s sooo cold.”

He dodged her, swimming out of reach, which frustrated her more. “You’ll be fine. Don’t be such a wimp.”

Letting loose an irritated growl, she slipped beneath the water, headed straight toward him. With a laugh, he took off. Keeping ahead of her by a few strokes, he took her around the boat, closer to shore, then farther out, until they were right at the entry of the cove and he finally let her catch him.

Her breath coming in quickened spurts, she looped her arms around his neck, pressed all that wet, soft skin against him. “You’re hard to catch.”

The story of his life. “You’re pretty determined.” He slipped his arms around her waist, his fingers resting along the thin band of her bikini bottoms. Only had to slide a few inches and his hands could slip beneath them…

“I guess you were right,” she conceded reluctantly. “The water is refreshing.”

“Invigorating,” he agreed, his gaze zeroed in on her lips. They were wet, a droplet of water clung to the corner of them, and he leaned in, licked it away.

She gasped. “Cameron.”

He kissed her this time, tightened his arms around her, letting his fingers slip just beneath her bottoms so he was touching chilled, bare skin. “Chloe,” he whispered, unable to say anything else, he was so consumed with her.

They treaded water, kissing, hands wandering. He leaned into the water, floating on his back and taking her with him.

He wanted to break all the rules. Forget the sweet summer romance deal. There were too many curves on display in that little bikini, too much skin. All he could think about was how he could get his hands on all that flesh. How he could get inside the pretty little body and show her just what he could do for her.

Without a word he led her to the back of the boat, urging her to climb up the short ladder. She did so while he waited behind her, eyeing her sexy backside, the bottom curve of her cheeks exposed when her bottoms rode up, making his head spin.

Like a man obsessed, he climbed into the boat, grabbing the towels out of his backpack and handing one to her. She dried off, as did he, but he was impatient. Scrubbed the towel over his skin haphazardly before he tossed it aside and reached for her.

Drew her into his arms and kissed her, drowned in her.

Never wanted to let her go.

…

Chloe melted against Cam, their damp bodies plastered together, their mouths fused. He slid his hands along her sides, fingers toying with the ties that rested on her hips and she wanted him to undo them. Wanted to feel those masterful hands touch her in her most intimate places. Wanted to know what it was like to really make love to Cameron.

Her mind shouted stop but she ignored it. Let him lead her to the seat at the front of the boat where he pushed her down, then followed after her. She lay back on the thin bench cushion, her legs spread, Cam nestled in between them. He kissed the length of her neck, her throat, along her shoulder and her collarbone. His mouth was warm, his tongue wicked, and she shivered, her entire body trembling. He cupped her breast with a large, rough hand, impatiently tugging at her bikini top so he could shift the fabric out of his way.

And expose her for the very first time to his gaze.

Now this was the stuff of her adult dreams. Wet and aching for Cam, his hands all over her, his hard, hot body pressed into hers. She’d let him take her like this. Right here, on his dad’s boat in a secret cove on the lake. With the warm summer air caressing her skin and the melting sunset casting his harshly handsome features with gold.

“I want you, Chloe,” he whispered as he touched her with shaking hands. “I want you so damn bad it’s killing me.”

She wound her legs around his hips, ready for him. Beyond ready. “Yes. Take me, Cam,” she urged.

He reared up on his knees, reaching for his backpack, when suddenly a ringing sounded, startling them both.

They stared at each other, their breaths coming quick. “Yours or mine?” he finally rasped.

“Mine.” She scrambled for the bag she’d brought and yanked her phone out, saw who was calling, and tossed the phone back inside. Great.

“Who was it?”

Shaking her head, she reached for him. Wanted to forget. Wanted to focus on the two of them and no one else.

“Chloe. Who was it?” His voice was tight, his eyes dark. He didn’t look so aroused anymore.

“It was Mac,” she admitted, her voice small.

The mood was broken, just like that.

Clenching his jaw, he climbed off her, started pacing the boat, making it sway. “Maybe you should call him back and see what he wanted,” he snipped, surprising her.

“Maybe you should stop being so jealous,” she offered instead.

He turned on her, his eyes wild, his expression…angry. Like she’d never seen him before. “I’m not jealous.”

“You are so jealous it’s ridiculous.” She stood and thrust her face in his as best she could, considering he was a giant compared to her. “I don’t know how many times I have to explain to you that Mac is my friend. That’s. It.” She poked him in the chest for emphasis.

“He doesn’t act like your friend. More like a possessive boyfriend.” Cam shook his head. “Bastard has this way of getting under my skin and irritating the shit out of me at the worst possible moment,” Cam muttered, almost to himself. He rubbed his chest absently, as if her poke had hurt. Good. “It’s like he knows what I’m about to do and interrupts me every single time.”

She couldn’t recall Mac interrupting them before. Oh wait, at Jane’s wedding reception when Cam asked her to dance, but that felt like a lifetime ago. “What exactly are you talking about?”

“My entire life.” He kept his back to her but she knew he was still angry. “Everyone adored Patrick because he was the perfect oldest child. The heir apparent and all that shit. And then there was Mac. The baby. The cute one everyone indulged. I won’t even bother mentioning my sisters. And then there was me. Classic middle child, I was screaming for attention so I chased after it any way possible, including getting in trouble. I was such a pain in the ass, I’m sure they were relieved when I finally left.”

“Better than being the afterthought,” Chloe said softly, not about to feel sorry for Cam. He had no idea how much his family loved him. Needed him.

He’d been too busy ignoring them to realize.

He turned to face her. “Is that what you think of yourself?”

She shrugged, not really wanting to discuss her issues, but it was too late now. “My sisters are so much older than me. I was barely out of elementary school and they were both gone to college. Never to return until they absolutely had to. I always felt like I was some sort of accident. Like, my parents’ last chance to try for a boy and they thought they might get lucky. Instead, they had me.”

His face softened, lost some of that angry edge. “I really doubt that, Chloe.”

“Just like I doubt what you think, too. Everyone loves you, especially your family. You’re the adored brother, the favorite uncle, the one who left, traveled the world and really lived your life. You share only a small part of yourself and leave everyone wanting more.” She’d always wanted more from Cam. Still, she wanted more. “I stayed here like a coward. It’s safer. But boring.”

He sat beside her, nudged her wet hair away from her shoulder so he could lean in and press a kiss there. His lips were cool, soft, sending shivers trembling throughout her already achy, needy body. “You’re definitely not boring.”

“And you’re not underappreciated.” She touched his bristly cheek. “I always thought you had such tremendous bravado and strength. But you’re just as insecure as the rest of us, aren’t you?”

He furrowed his brows. “I’m not perfect, that’s for damn sure.” Pausing, he exhaled sharply, as if gathering strength. “Something happened to me there. In Afghanistan.”

She frowned. “What do you mean? What happened?” Her heart raced, scared to hear what he was about to reveal.

“I was hurt. Riding with a special ops group across the desert, we ran over a bomb and it sent the vehicle flying, threw me out of the truck. I landed more than three hundred feet away from the car.” His gaze got a faraway look, like he was reliving the accident. “Everyone died but me.”

Shock coursed through her, chilling her blood to ice, but she did her best to keep her reaction calm. Neutral. Tentatively, she stroked his cheek, tried to bring him back to her. “How badly were you hurt?”

His turbulent gaze met hers. “Broke my leg, screwed up my knee. Scratched and bruised to hell, kinda like you were from your accident.”

Nothing like what happened to her. It was a stupid car wreck she couldn’t remember. Cam had suffered through a bomb that might’ve blasted him into bits. He could’ve been killed. The idea of losing him… “Why did I never hear about this?”

He shrugged those broad, capable shoulders. “I didn’t tell anyone. I thought…I don’t know. I just wanted you to know.”

Surprise rendered her speechless. She struggled to find words, too shocked that he’d never told his family, the people who loved him more than anyone else in the world, what happened to him. She glanced down at his legs, noted the scar peeking out from beneath his board shorts. Reaching toward him, she touched him there, traced the length of the long, jagged scar. She couldn’t believe she never noticed before. “Is this the wound?”

“Surgery scar,” he said, his voice tight.

She dropped her hand. “Why didn’t you tell anyone about this?”

“I didn’t want to burden them with my troubles.”

“So you kept them bottled inside you instead.” She drew him into her, wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight. “Oh, Cam.”

He slipped his arms around her, pressed his face against her neck where he remained for long, silent minutes. He tightened his grip on her, holding her so close she could scarcely breathe.

But she didn’t mind. He needed it, needed her. Needed to unload that burden he’d held on to for who knew how long. She stroked her hand over his drying hair, loving how it clung to her fingers, and she realized she was too far gone now to ever turn back.

She was hopelessly, irrevocably in love with Cameron McKenzie.