“Alesha?” She lowered her fork to her plate.
“Maybe.” At her perplexed look, he asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.” She wasn’t sure if she was comfortable with her best friend discussing her with him.
“We were just engaged in friendly conversation at dinner last night, during which you happened to be one topic.” He read her thoughts. “We weren’t gossiping about you, Angela.”
She smiled and chided herself for making a molehill into a mountain. “I believe you.”
“That’s good.” He nodded, satisfied. “I wish you had been there. We had a great time.” He paused and chuckled. “That is, until D.J. took it upon himself to spit up on me.”
“He didn’t!” Angela grinned in amusement.
“He did,” he said wryly.
“Oh, I hate that I missed that.” She giggled. “I’ll bet your expression was priceless.” She finally brought her forkful of spaghetti to her mouth and moaned in appreciation. After swallowing, she asked, “Aren’t you going to try your food?”
“I am.” Cam picked up his own fork. “I was just enjoying the beautiful view.”
“I haven’t been here before.” She twirled more spaghetti around her fork. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”
Piercing eyes met and held hers. “I wasn’t talking about the restaurant.”
“Oh.” She nervously smoothed her bangs to one side. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” She suddenly felt that familiar heat begin to engulf her body that manifested whenever she was in his presence. “You have no idea how gorgeous you are, do you?”
“How am I supposed to answer that?”
“You’re not.” His breathtaking dimples made an appearance. “It was a rhetorical question.”
“I’ll bet you’re a force to behold in the courtroom.”
He shrugged. “I do all right.”
“I’m sure you do.” Her fingers toyed with the stem of her wineglass, but she didn’t drink the wine. “Why did you choose corporate law instead of criminal?”
“I thought about criminal long and hard—both sides. If I became a defense attorney, I’d run the risk of defending someone who was guilty, and I hate being lied to.”
“Doesn’t everyone?” Cam’s eyes narrowed at her bitter tone, but he didn’t make any mention of it, thankfully.
“If I went the prosecutorial route, I’d run the risk of inadvertently sending someone innocent to prison, and I couldn’t live with that.”
“That would be terrible,” Angela agreed.
“So I decided on corporate, and I love it. The constant finagling really appeals to me.”
“How long have you been in private practice?”
“Eight years. It took more hard work than I care to remember, but I finally built my baby into one of the biggest firms in the state,” he said proudly.
“Now you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.”
“Yeah.” He stared deeply into her eyes. “All I need is someone to share them with.” What did he expect her to say to that?
She took the easy way out and changed to a safer subject. “I’ll definitely have to come back here. I love the ambience, and the food is fabulous.”
“I thought we’d move up from the karaoke bar.” Cam finally cut into his lasagna, and she heaved a sigh of relief that he wasn’t going to press her to respond to his previous statement.
“I had a marvelous time there, but I have to admit, I’m enjoying the cuisine here much better.” She chewed a mouthful of spaghetti and swallowed before stating, “I make a mean spaghetti and meatballs, but this takes the cake.” She paused and then said, “I’ll bet you’re thinking that all I do is eat.”
“Not at all,” he replied after swallowing a bite of lasagna. “It’s a pleasure to be with a woman who doesn’t pick at her food because she’s afraid of gaining an ounce.”
“I work out a lot.” She laughed and added, “I really have to because of my lifelong love affair with food.”
“Well, your routine definitely works because you have the perfect figure.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t go that far.”
“I would.” Appreciative eyes raked up and down from her head to her waist. “You have a body that curves and I’m sure caresses in all the right places.” She coughed loudly at his erotic assertion, and he laughed. “Are you okay?”
“Fine.” She took a much-needed sip of her water and then tried to steer the conversation to safer territory. “How’s your food?”
“Great.” He didn’t seem the least bit interested in dinner, but rather was intent upon eating her up with his ravenous eyes.
“Mind if I taste your lasagna?”
“Nope, help yourself.” He laughed because she was already spearing a forkful and bringing it to her mouth. “How is it?”
“Oh, God, that’s wonderful!”
“Have some more,” he offered, and his laugh intensified because she was already in the midst of procuring another bite.
“Don’t mind if I do.” She rolled her eyes heavenward. “I’ll definitely have to come back here.”
“We’ll make a point of it.” He implied she would be coming with him, and she rather liked that implication.
“Here, try some of mine.” She twirled some spaghetti and offered it to him. He took it, his eyes never leaving hers, chewed slowly and then swallowed. Her hand remained suspended for several seconds before she swallowed hard and lowered her fork to her plate. Lord, it was sexy feeding him.
“Mmm.” His eyes darted to her slightly parted lips before returning to stare into hers. “Delicious.”
She shivered from desire and fought an urge to push their plates aside, climb across the table and fasten her hungry mouth to his tempting one. What was the matter with her?
“What are you thinking, Angela?” She had a feeling he knew exactly what forbidden thoughts were racing through her mind.
“Nothing.” She choked out the single word.
He leaned forward and whispered, “You can tell me.”
She’d like to tell him. No, scratch that. She’d like to show him. Oh nuts! This man was absolutely too handsome, too likable and too dangerous to her resolve to remain emotionally unattached.
“I was just thinking that I like you.” His smile informed her he knew that hadn’t been all she had been thinking. “You’re a nice man.”
“I’m glad you feel that way because that means you’ll be amenable to more dates with me.” He reached across and covered her hand with his and confessed, “I like you, too, very much.”
Glancing into his mesmerizing eyes, suddenly food was the furthest thing from her mind. After a long, intense silence, she blinked and withdrew her hand from his.
“As a Southerner, I learned an early appreciation for food.” She tried to dispel the sexual tension between them.
“You’re from South Carolina, right?”
“Right.”
“Any family there?”
“Some.” When she didn’t elaborate, she was aware of him studying her guarded expression.
“I’m from Atlanta, where my mom’s family still lives.” She could have kissed him for not pressuring her to talk about her dysfunctional family. He really was an intuitive, thoughtful man. “I have a huge family.”
“Did you call your mom about your accident?” She seized the opportunity to steer clear of her troubled childhood.
“Not yet.”
“Cam...” she scolded.
“I’ve been trying to get my strength back so that I can withstand the lecture she’s going to give me about the dangers of fast cars and for not calling her the second the accident happened.” He sighed at the thought. “I’m going to call her in a day or so.” At her raised
eyebrow, he placed a hand over his heart. “I promise.”
“At least when you do call, you can honestly tell her you’re okay.”
“The best news I’m going to tell her is that I’ve met a wonderful woman.” His statement both warmed her heart and sent shivers of apprehension down her spine.
“You don’t know enough about me to come to that conclusion.”
“That’s not true,” he quickly contradicted. “I know I feel completely at ease when I’m with you, and you make me happy. That’s more than enough.”
“I feel the same way,” she admitted.
“That’s perfect.” His response was designed to put her at ease. It didn’t.
“Is it?”
“Absolutely,” he said. She was surprised at his next statement, a change of subject. “I would think as a nurse, you’d be lecturing me on bringing you to a restaurant loaded with saturated fat and tons of carbohydrates,” he teased.
“I’ll forgive you.” She laughed. “Don’t get me wrong, I believe in eating right, but I have to indulge myself from time to time.”
“Is that right?” His expression turned absolutely decadent. “I’ll have to make sure I’m around during your indulgent times. I’d love to indulge in sin with you any time you’re ready.” He smiled at her wickedly, informing her he knew exactly the havoc he was wreaking on her equilibrium.
She shook her head at him and chuckled softly. “You are a mess, Cameron.”
“I could be your mess.” He leaned forward and covered her hand with his. “Would you like that?” Her breath caught in her throat as she stared into his serious eyes.
“I...I’m not sure,” she slowly answered.
“No pressure.” He released her hand and took a drink of his wine before asking, “What are you going to have for dessert?” She blinked. He had a knack for keeping her off balance.
“You’re trying to make me gain five pounds tonight, aren’t you?”
“I just want you to have whatever you want tonight.” He stared at her beguilingly. “What do you want tonight, Angela?” She wasn’t going to touch that question with a ten-foot pole.
“I think I’ll try the tiramisu.” His slow, knowing smile warmed her insides until she felt ready to ignite.
“Tiramisu it is.”
She exhaled jerkily but remained silent. What she had expected to be a casual date had suddenly changed into something more. What was it about this man that made her uncharacteristically needy?
Staring into Cam’s mesmerizing eyes, she knew she was very close to doing the one thing she had promised herself not to do—fall for him, and after just two dates. Oh darn!
Chapter 5
When Cam and Angela left the restaurant, neither was ready for the night to end, and they decided to go dancing. They drove a short distance to Eighteenth Street and pulled up outside of a very exclusive club. Cam walked around the car and took her hand after handing his keys to the valet. Being a Saturday night, it was insanely crowded.
“This place is impossible to get into, Cam.” Angela eyed the long line of people waiting to be admitted. “Are you sure you don’t want to go somewhere else?”
“We’ll get in,” he stated confidently, strolling past the throng of people.
The doorman smiled as they approached. “Hi, Mr. Stewart.”
“Hi, Dan.” Cam patted the man on the back. “It’s busy tonight.”
“The more the merrier.”
“Absolutely,” Cam agreed, ushering a completely impressed Angela in without any hesitation.
The hostess immediately walked up to them when they entered. “Mr. Stewart, your usual table?”
“Yes, thanks, Mary.” Cam placed a hand on Angela’s back as they followed Mary across the crowded room and up the stairs to a remarkably secluded balcony overlooking the dance floor.
“You must come here a lot to have your own table.”
“Some.” He shrugged noncommittally.
“What can I get you to drink?” Mary asked.
Cam glanced at Angela. “May I order for you?”
“Of course.”
“Champagne, Mary. The best.”
“Yes, sir.” Mary nodded obligingly and left.
“Champagne,” Angela echoed. “You’re going to spoil me.”
Cam winked. “That’s the plan.”
In no time, their champagne was delivered. The waiter poured them each a glass before replacing the bottle in its bucket and leaving.
“To long-overdue beginnings.” Cam touched his glass to Angela’s. She’d barely taken a sip and placed her full glass on the table when Cam reached for her hand and suggested, “Let’s dance.”
“Let’s.” She took his proffered hand and stood.
Cam stopped once they were in the middle of the massive throng of people occupying the dance floor. They started to dance amid the laughing, jumping crowd, and Angela felt free and uninhibited. Unfortunately, after a couple of fast songs, the band decided to change the tempo to slow, seductive and romantic. Without hesitation, Cam pulled her into his arms until her soft contour was plastered against his unbending length.
“Relax.” Cam smiled down at her. “I promise I won’t bite—not unless you want me to.” He chuckled at her quickly indrawn breath, and he leaned closer and seductively asked, “Do you want me to?” She wisely didn’t answer that question.
“Did you plan this?” she asked instead.
“What?”
“The sudden change in music selection.”
“How would I have anything to do with what music the band plays?” She wasn’t buying his innocent facade for a second.
“I don’t know, but you seem to be well-known here and carry a lot of sway.” Tilting her head thoughtfully, she asked, “Why is that?”
“Okay.” He grinned and admitted, “You’ve got me. I’m part owner.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “Are you kidding?”
“No. I bought into the club a couple of years ago.”
“No wonder we’ve been getting such preferential treatment.”
“Is that a bad thing?” he teased.
“No, it’s...” She shook her head in awe. “You’re just full of surprises.”
“Oh, babe, you have no idea, but one day you will,” he promised mysteriously.
“What does that mean?”
“You’ll see.” He pulled her closer and ordered, “Now be quiet and just feel me.”
Dear Lord, how could she not feel him when he had her pressed tightly against his rock-hard body? She had to admit, they fit perfectly together. Cam’s hands rested possessively on her lower back, keeping her exactly where he wanted her. When his thumb slid back and forth along her spine, Angela groaned inwardly and gave in to the impulse to twine both arms around his neck, allowing them to move impossibly closer as her heart pounded fiercely against her chest.
“Are you feeling me yet, Angela?” At his soft yet potent question, her head rose from his shoulder and she stared into his confident eyes.
“Yes.” She sighed, and he smiled as if pleased with her truthful answer.
“Good.” He lightly brushed his lips against hers, making her long for more.
Unable to withstand the blatant desire evident in his hungry stare, she laid her head back on his shoulder and did as he ordered—just felt.
* * *
When they arrived back at her house in the wee hours of the morning, he walked her to her front door, but neither made a move to go inside. The beautiful starry sky was the perfect backdrop to what had been a perfect date.
“Thank you for a wonderful evening.”
Cam outlined her bottom lip with a finger. “It doesn’t have to be over with yet.”
“Cam...
”
“What?”
“I have to be at work early tomorrow.”
“That still leaves us hours to...” he paused before suggestively ending “...spend together.”
“I don’t think so, Cam.”
“Why not? You want to.”
She couldn’t deny his confident assertion, so she didn’t try to. “What I want isn’t always good for me.”
“I promise I’m the exception to that rule.”
He might well be. However, did she want to risk finding out? She had lousy taste in men, but could her luck be changing with Cam? He wasn’t like anyone she had ever met; however, if she let him get too close and things blew up as usual, she had the feeling he would hurt her more than anyone ever had, and that was what she was trying so hard to avoid.
“Angela.” He stared into her wary eyes. “Why are you so afraid?”
“Because I’ve had terrible luck in the relationship department,” she confessed after a long silence, and received a tender look in return for her honesty. “Horrible luck.”
“Had is the operative word,” he stressed. “I’m not like anyone you’ve ever dated before, Angela.”
Amusement lit her eyes at his statement. “Very arrogant, aren’t you?”
“I prefer the term confident.” He smiled and ran a soothing hand down her arm. “You were simply dating the wrong men for you. In fact, I’ll venture to say they weren’t men at all, but rather boys.”
“I can’t argue with you there.”
“Tell me about them.” She stared into his kind eyes and realized she wanted to tell him. This wasn’t a conversation she’d intended on having on her doorstep, but he had asked.
“I’ll spare you the gory details and make it short and sweet, even though the reality was anything but. One was a boyfriend in college. I came into some money and he professed his undying love for me, proposed and we got engaged. He was more than halfway through my inheritance before I realized he was just using me. I shut down the gravy train and kicked him to the curb.” She spoke in a clinically detached voice, but they both knew the incident had scarred her. “The second was an intern at the hospital—who, I found out just in the nick of time before he ruined my career, was a junkie more interested in using my access to the medication cabinet to frame me for his thefts than in me.” She smiled cynically, squared her shoulders and promised in a hard voice, “I don’t intend to ever be used again.”
Take Me in Your Arms Page 6