He’d been a jerk the moment he realized she was with Shane.
Blinking rapidly, she stared out the window, a gathering feeling in her chest making her feel suddenly light-headed as synapses fired in her brain, trying to make sense of what she’d seen, and . . .
Oh my God.
Was it possible that Cameron Winslow was jealous of seeing her with Shane?
No, that was impossible. They’d only buried a lifelong hatchet three days ago and hadn’t bumped into each other since. To be jealous, he’d have to have feelings for her, and that was impossible. The only feelings he’d ever had for her were feelings of wanting to torment her, not belong to her, not . . . not . . .
But her heart raced as she suddenly remembered the way he’d looked at her in her blue sweater on Monday morning on the sidewalk . . . the way he’d held her for an extra moment when she’d fallen into his arms on Tuesday night . . . the way his thumb had grazed hers oh-so-softly when he repeated the words, “and you’re not quite that exclusive yet.” The way he’d asked if he could visit The Five Sisters . . . the way he’d promised they’d still have that glass of wine another time . . . and just now, the way his eyes had flashed with anger when he realized she was with Shane . . . the way they’d raked over her body with such desperate hunger, making her suddenly feel things deep in her core that she’d been waiting a lifetime to feel.
Her heart clamored, and her breathing, already quick and shallow, froze as her mind scrambled to put all the pieces together. Three days simply wasn’t enough time to have developed such intense feelings for her which meant . . . which meant . . .
Oh God!
. . . he’d felt like this for some time.
“Margaret!” thundered Shane, making her jump.
She jerked her neck to face him.
“I’ve said your name four times!”
“Did you? Oh, I . . . I, uh . . .”
“You’re so distracted lately!” he said, rubbing his chin, no doubt remembering her head smashing into it on Monday. “Did you hear a word I said?”
“Yes,” she lied. “Of course I did. I’m sorry, Shane. I was . . .” thinking about Cameron Winslow and whether or not he might . . . might have . . .
Shane huffed at her, glancing at her once with exasperation before looking back at the road. His fingers were tight on the steering wheel, but his voice was gentler when he said softly, “So you agree? About us? Our future?”
“Our future,” she repeated.
Wait. What? Their future?
And in that moment Margaret knew beyond any trace of doubt that, biological clock be damned, her father’s wishes would never come true. She and Shane had no future whatsoever, and it was high time she let him know. Shane was a good man, an asset to Story Imports, and her father patently adored him. She needed to figure out a way to let Shane go without jeopardizing their working relationship or invoking her father’s wrath. Margaret cringed inside as warm, lovely thoughts of Cameron skittered away. She had quite a tightrope to walk, and she had no idea how to take the first step.
“We should talk a little more,” she said gently, hoping it would buy her some more time.
“Oh, of course.” His body relaxed, and he reached over, patting her hand gently. “Of course. There’s plenty of time to sort out the details. I just . . . well, I’m so glad we’re on the same page.”
She nodded weakly, glad that Shane seemed appeased, but dreading the awkward conversation they’d need to have very soon. Perhaps tonight, after he drove her home, she’d invite him up to her apartment and try to explain that they simply weren’t meant to be. Shane patted her hand one more time, reached for the radio, and tuned the channel to his favorite classical station.
Without meaning to, her thoughts shifted seamlessly back to Cameron, and she turned her head toward the window to conceal her smile from Shane as her heart fluttered with realization, leaping at the possibility of Cameron’s hidden feelings.
Little boys teased little girls they liked, didn’t they?
Maybe grown men teased grown women they liked too.
A tiny giggle passed from her lips, swallowed by the hum of the car engine, but Margaret felt something warm and new in her belly, and it felt like happiness.
Was it possible that all this time—throughout the many years they’d known each other—that Cameron had secretly liked Margaret just as much as she had secretly liked him?
“You’ve made me very happy, Margaret,” said Shane from beside her, his voice tender and soft. “Very happy indeed.”
Margaret gave him a polite smile as they pulled into the driveway at Forrester, ignoring the guilt she felt at the thought of breaking things off with Shane, but quietly giddy about the prospect of following the newly unearthed hope in her heart.
Chapter 5