Hot Commodity (Banks / Kincaid Family #1)(67)

In fact, he didn’t much like the idea of losing her at all. But he could only hurt Olivia if she stayed. Sienna had broken something inside him. He wasn’t suitable to be any woman’s husband any longer. It didn’t matter that he wanted Olivia to stay, didn’t matter that he’d secretly held off the annulment on purpose just to get a little more time with her. He was damaged goods. He’d always be haunted by the first woman he’d killed, the one he’d somehow driven to suicide.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Boston asked, opening the car door and sliding into the driver’s seat.

Cameron ignored him and continued to tap his fingers against the dash. Boston scowled at the action for a moment, and Cam expected him to make some dorky kind of comment like telling him to stop smudging fingerprints all over his car. But he didn’t. Instead, he cocked an inquisitive look Cameron’s way.

"Nervous about something?" he asked mildly. "Or did you just put too much vodka in your orange juice this morning?"

"How—" Cameron was about to ask how he knew about the screwdriver when he realized his cousin was probably just testing him. Not calling the man’s bluff, he frowned and drummed his fingers again until he realized he was only making himself look worse. Stilling his hand, he glanced out the window. "Go ahead and start the annulment papers today."

It was time. He’d already taken too much from Livy. But even as the words left his mouth, a dry, painful knot lodged in his chest.

Boston didn’t answer. He put the car into gear and pulled from the driveway.

Cameron glanced over. "I said—"

"I heard what you said," Boston snapped. He was quiet a moment before adding, "I’m not doing it."

Cameron blinked. "What?"

"I didn’t stutter. I’m not writing one damn document to help you get

rid of her."

"But...but you’re my lawyer," Cam sputtered. Boston had never denied him anything where his job was concerned. "You have to do what I say."

Boston lifted his eyebrows. "The hell if I do. I represent EarnNet, the business. An annulment has nothing to do with business. I’m not doing it."

"Why the hell not? You’ve always helped me out with personal legal work before."

"Maybe I don’t think you really want an annulment," Boston answered. He glanced Cameron’s way with a knowing look. "You’ve been married to her for nearly two months, and you’ve done everything short of murder to put off filing. I know you, Cam. You like having her in your house. In your bed."

Cameron turned away, muttering under his breath. He grumbled to himself about annoying friends, neither denying nor confirming Boston’s bold statement. Finally, he spun toward the driver’s seat. "She’s gotten under your skin, hasn’t she?" he accused. "Seeing her naked has really turned you into her personal—"

"No," Boston cut in steadily. "She’s gotten under your skin, pal. If she were under mine, I’d have finished those papers months ago and had you two separated by now so I could have her myself."

"So, what’s the deal then?"

"She’s good for you."

"Good for me?" Well, what about how awful he was for her? Didn’t Boston realize he was going to end up destroying her if she stayed with him? Didn’t he care?

Frowning, he said, "You know, I can always go to another lawyer. Hell, Helena will write me up an annulment today."

Boston wasn’t the only lawyer in the family. Boston’s sister, Helena, was a lawyer who actually specialized in divorce and family suits. He usually hated it when Cameron teased him and threatened to get advice from her. But this morning, he merely shrugged, obviously unconcerned by the threat. "Do whatever you want. I still refuse to have anything to do with your annulment from Livy."

"Oh, so it’s Livy now, is it?" Cameron sneered, jealous that his buddy was using the pet name he’d given her. No one else was supposed to use it. "See my wife naked in bed one time and you think you can start calling her Livy, huh?"

Boston shrugged as he pulled into the executive parking spot in front of EarnNet and cutting the engine. "Hell, if you don’t want her, I’ll definitely take her." He grinned at Cam with a wicked curve of his lips. "I’d even stoop as low as to accept your leftovers for a shot at Olivia."

"Screw you," Cameron muttered, so mad that he leaped out of the car and stormed away, slamming the door shut as he went.

*

Olivia had supper ready and on the table when Cameron made it home from work. She’d called Allison half a dozen times with all sorts of cooking questions and for the first time, she hadn’t burned one thing.

More than once, she’d heard Cameron’s mother comment that the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. At this point, Olivia was ready to try anything. She’d failed the whole sex thing. Cameron hadn’t made one move toward her since the moment she’d denied him after meeting his parents.

He still wanted her, she knew that. He looked at her like he wanted to gobble her whole. Yet he kept his distance.

Even last night, she’d awakened to feel him slipping into bed next to her, but he hadn’t tried anything. She faked sleep, waiting to see what he’d do next. But other than gently slipping the sheet down far enough to get a peek at her naked breasts and pouting nipples, he hadn’t touched her. He’d been gone by the time she woke up this morning.