Camden's Redemption (Gloves Off #4)(30)

I looked up at the sky and the clouds were thick, the smell of rain hanging in the air. “Ah, we’ll be fine. You’re not scared of getting wet, are you?”

His lips tilted into a mischievous smirk. “Not at all. Lead the way.”

We started for the woods and when his hand grasped mine, I felt the electricity surge through my veins. I never felt that with Blake. Everything was quiet, except for the twigs and leaves crunching beneath our feet. I loved the woods and the sound of the wind whistling through the trees. It was the only place that could calm me after my sister’s death.

“Can I ask you something?” Camden said in all seriousness. His concerned stare made me pause.

“Of course. What’s on your mind?”

Backing me against a tree, he pressed his body into mine. My breath hitched as I looked up into his concerned blue gaze. “Would you be here with me if you knew the things I’d done?”

“Cam, that’s not exactly a question you want to ask a woman when you’re out in the middle of the woods,” I teased.

He smiled, but then it disappeared. “I would never hurt you, Brooklyn. But I have hurt other women before. I’m not proud of it, but I’ll admit, at the time I was.”

I already knew basically everything he’d done. He was a player and he would probably go back to that lifestyle once he was back in California. His reputation among the women was that he was a major *, but worth it in the bedroom.

“Why are you telling me this now?” I wondered.

He brushed the hair off my forehead and looked down at my lips. “Because I want you to know who I am. Who I really am. I don’t want to lie to you anymore.”

Before he could say another word, twigs snapped and my body went on alert. Placing my finger to Camden’s lips, he narrowed his gaze in confusion. “Someone’s out here,” I whispered.

There were always animals scurrying about, but these heavy footed sounds weren’t from any animal around here. The tree Camden held me against was thick in diameter so whoever was coming wouldn’t see us behind the large trunk. Camden started to tilt his head to the side to look, but I pinched his arm.

“Don’t do that,” I hissed. I started to reach for my gun and then realized I didn’t have it with me. Much to my dismay, Camden noticed the movement. Shit.

The footsteps moved closer and my palms grew damp with sweat. Camden was on edge too and poised to fight. Another crunch of leaves, the footsteps moving closer. I held onto Camden’s arm, he was coiled tight. Luckily, the sound of the intruder’s voice erased all fears.

“Hiding behind a tree, eh?”

Breathing a sigh of relief, I leaned my head against the tree and laughed. Camden backed away and let me out of his hold. “Do you know this guy?” he asked, narrowing his gaze at the man before him.

“Know him?” I joked, coming out from behind the tree. “There’s no mistaking that voice. How are you?” I asked, closing the distance. Smiling, I folded my arms around his neck and hugged him quickly since he was all sweaty.

Luke stood there in his motocross jersey and boots with his disheveled, blond hair in disarray from riding. By the mischievous smile on his face, he thought he caught me in a scandal. Rolling my eyes, I met Camden’s gaze and nodded over to Luke.

“This is my neighbor, Luke Collins, and one of my oldest friends from high school. He owns the land on the other side of mine. Luke,” I said, “I’d like you to meet my friend, Cam.”

He extended his hand to Camden and smiled. “Nice to meet you. I’ve been trying to get Brooke to sell me her land for years. Unfortunately, she’s still as stubborn as she was in high school.”

I chuckled and crossed my arms over my chest. “There’s a reason I don’t sell it, jackass. I don’t want to hear your dirt bikes twenty-four hours a day. What are you doing out this way anyway?”

“My bike broke down about a quarter mile into the woods.”

“Ah, so you were on my land,” I quipped.

Luke winked and bumped me playfully in the shoulder. “I didn’t think you’d mind. Besides, Jason told me you had business out of town. I didn’t know you were back.” Eyes wide, I glanced toward Camden and shook my head. It only took him a second to understand. “And while I was trying to fix my bike, I heard voices, so I came to investigate the trespassers.”

Thunder rolled over head and the sound of the rain hitting the tree tops pitter-pattered along the leaves. “I guess that’s our cue to head back,” I said as the rain filtered through the trees. It was warm as it hit my skin. “Do you need us to help you with your bike?”

Luke shook his head. “Nah, I’ll be fine. I’ll get it back home. You need to come by and check out my new track though. I had it redone. Maybe I’ll even let you test drive my new bike.”

“You got another one? Please tell me it’s a KTM.”

He winked. “You know it.” Now the rain was coming down harder. “Give me a call sometime. I know my team would love to see you again. Chris keeps hounding me about a rematch race.”

The thought made me laugh. “I bet he is.”

Luke nodded at Camden and smiled at me. “See ya later, Brooke.”

I waved at him and then we started on our way. Camden looked back once and then glanced down at me, his jaw tense. “Let me guess . . . you dated him.”