The Real(34)

“I love waffles,” I said with a sigh.

It was clear we were both in the mood for waffles.

I stared down at him as he tugged off my pointy hat and ran his hands through my hair. His attentive fingers slid through my strands as he simultaneously rubbed my back.

“You’re really good at that.”

“At what?”

“Making me feel good.”

“Abbie, you are not a thong girl.”

“I know, and I’m proud of that fact. But I can’t say I haven’t been there. You know, chances are you were just a phase to them too.”

Surprise covered his features. “You’re taking up for them?”

“Absolutely. Maybe they used you for a night. We aren’t all shrinking violets. I’m willing to bet when most of them pulled on that thong, they weren’t thinking about their Sunday school lessons. They knew exactly what they were doing. It brought you to your knees, didn’t it?”

He pulled me tighter to him. “Yeah, it did.”

Max returned with two pints of punch and set one down in front of me. “Thank you,” I said as I turned to Cameron, who took a sip of his and shook his head before he took the glass out of my hand. “Uh, don’t touch that fucking glass. What is in this, Max?”

“It’s called the Kitchen Sink,” Max yelled. “Fuck if I know. After the first glass, it goes down like water.”

“You don’t say.” Cameron looked at me pointedly. “Don’t drink that.”

“Loosen the reins, Coach. We aren’t driving.” I took the punch from his hand and swore I exhaled fire.

“Whoa,” I said with wide eyes.

“Maybe just sip it?”

I nodded.

Max was oblivious as he scanned the crowd. “I asked Rachel to come. I’m going to look for her. She’s supposed to be dressed as a little devil.”

“She won’t show. You’ve been trying to get her for a year,” Cameron said.

“Oh, ye of little faith,” Max said, leaning in to make sure I heard him. “Don’t listen to him. She loves me.”

“I have no doubt,” I said honestly.

Cameron and Max had the watchful eye and attention of every long legged, big breasted woman in the bar. I caught a couple of them staring and smiled when I noticed a few of them had on thong leotards and wings. I squeezed Cameron a little tighter to me, and though he didn’t know why, he returned the affection and squeezed back. Jealous type or not, he didn’t want that, and I fell a little more for him because of it.

Max leaned in with a menacing expression. “I should warn you now, when this man drinks, he tends to love everyone.”

“Are you alluding to the time he almost kissed a man?” I asked.

Max’s jaw dropped an inch. “He told you?” he yelled over to Cameron. “You told her?!”

“Yep,” Cameron said as he looked at me with a mix of pride and amusement.

“Fuck, man, you threatened my life to keep a lid on that.” Max turned to me. “Oh, he must like you.”

“I’m not as wicked as I look.” Cameron’s fingers pressed into my hip.

“Cute,” Max said. “I’m off. If you see a pint-sized devil with an amazing ass, lasso her over this way if you don’t mind.”

“Will do,” Cameron and I both said in unison.

Max wandered off, and I questioned Cameron. “Why won’t she show?”

“Max is her boss,” he said. “She won’t cross the line.”

“He clearly isn’t in it just for sex,” I said, scanning the crowd for his little devil.

“How do you know?”

“If he’s been waiting for a year, he’s obviously in love with her,” I said with a shrug.

“I think so too. It’s a shitty situation. He can’t exactly fire her so he can date her.”

“That sucks. My brother can give him pointers. He’s slept with his whole surgical team,” I said dryly.

“And how’s that working out for him?” Cameron asked, taking a sip of his punch.

“He’s still breathing.”

“Are you two close?”

“He’s a good brother as far as brothers go. A little overprotective. I’m sure at one point he’ll try to threaten you. We still fight like we did when we were kids, and he still embarrasses the hell out of me.”

“In that case, I can’t wait to meet him.”

We shared a smile, and that was becoming routine for us.

“I’ll spare you that for now, while I still like you.”

I studied his face. “You’ve got a little green around your mouth.”

I wiped it away as he stared up at me. “When I met you, your face was a little lighter shade than this.”

“You noticed that?” Damned nightly facial mask. “Well, it was slob day.”

“Slob day?”

“Yeah, no makeup, no dieting. Just roll out of bed and brush your teeth kind of day.”

“Where do I sign up?”

“You could never be a slob, Cameron. You’re too pretty.”

“Yeah, but does this blazer make me look fat?”