Hot Commodity (Banks / Kincaid Family #1)(34)

But he shifted anyway. She was pleasantly surprised, however, when he caught her around the waist and rolled until she was on top of him. It felt strange to be nestled against another human this way. But it was so wonderful and warm she decided she’d get used to it.

Not wanting to break the contact, she fell asleep with her head pillowed on Cameron’s shoulder.





Nine



Olivia drifted blissfully through a delicious dream. Tanning on a sunny beach, she could feel the warmth of the sun soaking into her skin. Her body hummed in delight. It was so toasty she wanted to snuggle deeper into her bathing towel that felt as soft as a hairy, male chest.

Smiling, she felt the breeze on her face, like warm breath. Her ears strained to hear the waves and the seagulls. But the only sound that reached her was a thunderous pounding, like a fist on a door.

"Olivia!" Her mother’s voice boomed through her consciousness.

Her eyes flew open; she sprang out of bed, reaching for her nightgown before she was even fully awake. "Oh, my God!" she gulped and glanced back at the bed where Cameron Banks slept on, nude and hogging way more than half the mattress.

"Cameron," she hissed as she slithered into the nightgown, not even bothering to look for underwear.

Unaffected by the pounding that came at the door again, he only murmured something unintelligible and rolled over in his sleep, putting his back to her.

"Cameron!" She reached over to shake him violently. "Get up!"

His eyes flew open wide. "What? What!" He sprang to a sitting position.

In his haste, he banged his forehead against hers. It knocked her back a step and caused Cameron to fall down against the pillows. They each rubbed their sore spots and straightened.

"Oh, yeah." His voice gave a gravelly croak as he winced. "That made my hangover feel real good." He closed eyes after checking his fingers for blood.

"You need to get up," Olivia said, jumping back into action. She hurried to him and grabbed his arm, physically tugging. "Vivian’s at the door."

Cameron groaned, the news probably adding to his headache. "Here, how about I hide?" he offered and threw the sheets over his head so none of

his body showed, except for the obvious outline he made under the covers.

Olivia growled and ripped the sheet off his head to glare at him. "Get up. Now!" When he didn’t budge, she spun away and started scurrying for his clothes, tossing them at him as she found each article.

Cameron merely lay there, pushing his pants off his face when they slapped him in the cheek. "Livy," he whined. "I think it’s physically impossible for me to move right now."

Outside the door, Vivian Donavon’s voice railed at an employee who obviously had the nerve to argue with her. "I paid for this room! Open the goddamn door."

Olivia heard a key in the lock and gasped. The bitch had known Cameron was in here last night when she’d talked to her through the door. She wouldn’t be in such a hurry to get in if she thought nothing was up.

With no time to think about that, Olivia spun desperately toward Cameron. "Please."

He looked up at her with eyes that seemed to see right into her soul. Without another word, he nodded and gathered his clothes in one swipe. Jumping out of bed, he started for the bathroom.

But it was already too late.

He’d just made it to the lavatory when the entrance of the suite swung open. Vivian shoved a quivering bellhop aside and stormed inside like a raging bull. Nolan skittered in behind her, looking excited. When Vivian saw Olivia partially blocking the view of Cameron, who was now frozen in the bathroom exit and wrapped toga-style in the bed sheets, she sent her daughter a gloatingly triumphant, approving smile.

Olivia’s vision dimmed. Her mother was happy. But of course she was happy. This was exactly what she’d wanted to see. She’d whored her own daughter out to the richest prospect, and Olivia had fallen right into her web. She suddenly felt light headed and feared she might pass out.

This was it. It was all hitting the fan. Vivian shoved her aside so she could glare dauntingly at Cameron, her hands on her hips and her feet braced apart like a gunslinger at a standoff. The performance actually appeared real, too.

The employee, with a master key clutched in his hand, looked scared spitless. He backed from the room and quickly shut the door, leaving the four alone inside. Nolan crossed his arms and legs as he leaned across the closed portal, looking perfectly at home as he prepared to watch the show.

Vivian frowned. "What in the hell are you doing in my daughter’s bed?"

Cameron, brave man that he was—or foolish, Olivia couldn’t decide which—didn’t cower. "Morning, Mrs. Roark," he greeted Vivian pleasantly. Then he yawned and scratched at the five o’clock shadow on his jaw. "And Mr. Roark, I assume." He nodded toward Nolan.

"Banks," Vivian growled.

"Hmm?" He glanced her way. "Oh, right. What am I doing in your daughter’s bed? Well, actually, ma’am, I’m technically not in her bed. I’m standing in this fine doorway here."

"Just answer my question!" Her roar caused Olivia to jump and Cameron to wince and grab his no-doubt pounding head.

"Heard ya," he muttered and scrubbed furiously at a spot on his temple as if he could scratch the pain away.