Camden's Redemption (Gloves Off #4)(13)

She smiled and grabbed her purse. “Thanks. I’ll take that as a compliment.”

I opened the door for her and we started down the hall, side by side. I wanted to put my arm around her, so every cocksucker who looked her way would think she was mine. Brooklyn wasn’t just any normal woman. I could see her fighting me if I tried to stake a claim. I was almost tempted to try it. But it was too soon.

Once the elevator door closed, I smiled when she lowered her head and licked her lips. One day soon, I was going to have those lips between my teeth. Testing her was going to be fun. She may just want to be friends, but I heard her breath hitch when I’d moved closer. She wanted me, even if she was too afraid to admit it. I hadn’t felt that attraction from anyone in months.

“Are you driving or do you want me to?” she asked.

I pulled out my keys. “I’ll drive. I need to get used to driving around the city if I’m going to live here.”

“I thought you weren’t going to stay for long.”

I shrugged. “I haven’t decided yet.”

The restaurant was twenty minutes away and it took all I had not to look over at her; at the smooth skin of her thighs. Fuck, it’d been way too long.

“Are you okay?” she asked. “You look tense.”

I chuckled. “You have no idea. Is that it up there?” I asked, nodding toward a building we were slowly approaching.

“Yep. It’s not crowded yet, but it will be soon. A lot of our football players like to eat there.”

“What, like Cooper Davis?” Cooper used to play for one of the California teams but got traded to the Carolina Cougars. He and Mason didn’t exactly get along since Mason’s wife used to date him. He was one hell of a football player though.

“Yeah, he’s in there a lot with the guys and his wife. They’re good friends with the owner.”

I parked the Jeep and we got out. The owner was also good friends with Mason. “Do you know a guy named Mason Bradley?”

She stopped at the door and her hand froze on the handle. “No, but I heard of him. I know he’s from around here. Wasn’t he an MMA fighter turned detective?”

I placed my hand on hers and opened the door. “That’s him. He’s the one who told me to come here. I just thought you might know him since you all seem to know the same people.”

“Very interesting,” she said.

When we walked in, there was a young hostess who looked up from her notebook and smiled. “Good evening. Just two tonight?”

“Yes, please,” Brooklyn replied

“All right, you can follow me.” The young girl fetched two menus and we followed her to the back to a secluded corner. “Will this do?”

Brooklyn lifted her brows and I nodded. About a minute later, another woman walked by and stopped when she noticed us. “Well, if it isn’t Brooklyn Avery. I haven’t seen you in forever. How you holding up?”

Brooklyn looked up and grinned wide. “Oh my God, Becca. It’s so good to see you. I got away for a while, but I’m back now. Things are slowly getting back to normal.” Becca glanced down at me and then back to Brooklyn. “Where are my manners? Becca, I’d like you to meet my friend, Cam. Cam this is Becca.”

Becca held out her hand and smiled. “Hi, Cam. I was a friend of Brooklyn’s sister. We all grew up together.”

“Was a friend?” I asked curiously. In that moment, everything shifted. Becca’s smile faded and so did Brooklyn’s.

Sheepishly, Becca glanced down at Brooklyn. “I take it your friend doesn’t know about Braylen?”

I could see the pain in Brooklyn’s eyes. It was something she didn’t want me to know. Brooklyn bit her lip to keep it from trembling but it didn’t help.

“I am so sorry,” Becca apologized. “I shouldn’t have opened my big mouth.”

Brooklyn shook her head. “No, it’s okay.” She addressed me, “Will you excuse me for a minute?” She shot up from the table and rushed off through the restaurant.

I started to get up and go after her, but Becca stopped me with a hand to my shoulder. “Let me go. If she hasn’t told you yet, this isn’t the right time or place. Just give me a minute.”

I sat back down and nodded. It appeared I wasn’t the only one with a troubled past.





I KNEW THERE was a chance I’d run into someone I knew, but I didn’t think it would be Becca, my sister’s best friend. Growing up, we were always together until college when I went my separate way. Now Camden knew something was wrong. It was strange how I knew so much about him and yet he knew nothing about me. It felt like the scale was tipping and I didn’t like it. The door to the bathroom opened and I saw a flash of red hair.

“B, you okay?” she asked softly.

Taking a deep breath, I swiped a finger underneath my eyes and turned around. “I’m fine. Today’s just been trying my nerves. My parents are in town, I’m working to keep my friend from being murdered, and I have a feeling my ex is going to be a problem.”

“Whoa, what? Are you on a mission right now?”

I nodded. “I am. My friend out there has a price on his head. And he’s not exactly the type of guy who wants to stay hidden.”

“He’s cute. I think he likes you.”