The Real(55)

“Later, man,” Cameron answered as I put my attention back on him with no dignity intact. “He’s such a shit.”

“I’ll take your word for it.”

“The man is a thirty-five-year-old toddler.”

“He seems like a lot of fun.”

“He’s a dick. Enough about my brother, I miss you.” God, I was so gone. I waggled my brows. “All of me misses you.”

“I’ll be at your door the minute you get home. And next Thanksgiving,” Cameron added, melancholy, “we spend together. Okay? I feel like we’re teenagers sneaking around.”

“Okay.”

Heart overflowing, I twisted the new gold bracelet on my wrist. An early Christmas gift Cameron gave me before I left for my parents’ house.

“I love my bracelet.”

Cameron grinned. “It’s engraved. I was waiting for you to notice but you didn’t.”

I snapped it off and peered inside. It read: You’ve bewitched me body and soul.

It was a quote from Pride and Prejudice. My eyes glistened with happy tears.

“Now I love it even more. What do you want for Christmas?”

Cameron’s eyes closed briefly. “I’d say Santa came through early this year. I got what I wanted a few months ago.”

“Oh, and what’s that?”

“I’m looking at her.”

My eyes watered as he leaned into the phone, his eyes filled with affection. “Abbie—”

“Hey, Jezebel!” Oliver called from the top of the stairs. “You think you can ditch the new boy toy long enough to help Mom in the kitchen so we can eat today?”

I glared in my brother’s direction as Cameron chuckled. “Are your hands broken?”

I rolled my eyes and looked on at Cameron. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine, go feed Dr. Dick. I’ll see you tomorrow.”





King of Woo: Hey, beautiful, are you almost ready?

Me: Yes, I’ll be ready in five.

King of Woo: I’ll be there in four.

He was chaperoning the winter formal at the high school he coached for and had invited me as his date. I had to admit, I went a little overboard when I went shopping for my dress.

But the butterflies that raced through me weren’t one of a high school girl. These belonged to a woman who had kissed far too many gutter frogs and had finally met her sidewalk prince.

All of my fears were being put to rest daily. I was no longer a woman afraid. I was a woman in love.

I had that inexplicable connection with someone that had nothing to do with work, friendship, or family. The connection that makes your heart pound and keeps your throat dry in anticipation. I finally had the man you dressed up for.

I applied a coat of lipstick then stood back and admired my dress. I’d picked a floor-length, shimmering pale pink gown—his favorite on me—and curled my crimson hair in ribbons before I pinned them up.

True to his word, my doorbell rang four minutes later. On the other side, Cameron stood in a tuxedo—far too ostentatious for a school dance—his dark hair swept back, holding a delicate rose corsage for my wrist.

His eyes drifted from my heel-clad feet to the top of my twisted hair.

“Abbie . . .” He didn’t have to say any more than that. I felt touched inside and out.

“Thank you,” I whispered.

“Give me your hand,” he said, opening the clear box and sliding the small spray of roses onto my wrist.

“Do they even do corsages anymore?”

“We do,” he answered, guiding me into my coat.

I couldn’t help but think my invitation to the dance was due to the conversation we had on our weekend getaway.

When I saw the limousine parked at my curb, I glanced his way.

“You went to too much trouble,” I gently scolded as the driver opened the door for us.

After we were safely inside, he gave me a wicked grin, along with his ‘come-hither’ finger. His lap had become my favorite chair, and he seemed to think it appropriate for any occasion. I sat cradled in his arms, my glittering dress cascading down his long legs.

Though I’d told him he’d gone to too much trouble, I’d spent the day getting pampered at the spa a few streets over. I’d had every treatment available, and Bree had spent a few hours getting a massage while we caught up about all things wedding and I filled her in on the last few weeks with Cameron.

The minute we pulled away from the curb, Cameron’s eyes dipped to my exposed cleavage while he leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my neck.

“And how was your day?” I asked with a light laugh as his fingers roamed beneath my coat. He remained wordless as he kissed every inch of skin the fabric didn’t cover. Lips, tongue, fingers, he massaged my calf as he nibbled at the spot behind my ear.

“I missed you too,” I murmured as he continued his sweet assault, turning me into a puddle on his lap.

“Hey, Coach,” I said in an attempt to get his attention. In the rearview, I could see the crinkle form in the corner of the driver’s eyes as I softly tugged on Cameron’s jacket.

“That good, huh?”

My breaths came out heavier as his lips roamed.

Dangerous arousal spiked between us as his kiss drifted along with his hand to slide up my thigh while simultaneously pushing the button for the partition between us and the driver.