by Palmer Jones
This was one huge leap of faith. But she wanted to confide in him. To finally have someone know her completely. Lying to him would end their short relationship. He might not like the answer, but the one thing she could give him was honesty. “Can you keep a secret?”
He held up two fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
Where to start? “I have a hard time concentrating on more than one job at a time. I know that sounds crazy, but I have my own work I need to do. It’s been almost impossible to do my work right now, so I’ve focused on helping you. I know you don’t need it, but here I am anyway. Offering my services.”
“What are your services exactly?” His eyebrows drew down tight.
Addie laughed and patted him on the chest. “Not like escort services. Unless you’d change your mind about sleeping with me. I might make an exception.”
“My mind is made up. Stick to your story. What services?”
“Fine,” she grumbled. She’d find a way to lure Cameron out of his shell, and his pants, another time. “Services like the ones I’ve done for you and your dad.” She motioned around them. “Like with the cameras.”
“You hack into systems as your job? I thought you worked at the perfume counter.”
“I did. Great discount, but I couldn’t let Brian know what I did for a living.”
He caught her hand as it began to fiddle with his top button. A completely subconscious move. He looked too delicious. She had to try.
She smiled. “Since your mom gave me free access to use the computer in the family room, I’ve been able to do these camera searches.”
“But you can’t do your other job. Why? What do you do?”
Why was it so hard to tell him the truth?
“I work for this group. We get assigned various types of jobs.”
“So does a pizza deliverer.”
She cocked her hip out to the side and tilted her head. “Funny.”
“You’re the one giving unnecessarily vague answers.”
“I don’t want to involve you more than I need to.” His lips pressed together with annoyance, but he motioned for her to continue. “I receive a job. The work is either for a government, maybe the United States, maybe not, or a private citizen. The payouts are quite large, so not many private citizens are capable of hiring our group.” She crossed her arms. Time to rip off the bandage. “We hack into computer systems and expose criminals. I gather the data and provide it to my boss. Sometimes we’re operating in real time, leading to an arrest as we’re in the system and sending in the information.” She remembered her last banking job. “There have been times when we’re attacked back, either through the computer, or they try to find us, and we’re the ones scrambling from being caught.”
His face hardened. “Why would a government use you and not their own IT people? Or even law enforcement?”
“We’re the best.” She ran a hand over his arm, enjoying the connection now that she had one and the freedom to touch him. She still wanted time to see his tattoo again.
“Government jobs don’t pay as much as our skill set is worth.”
“How much worth are you talking about?” He asked with so much testiness in his voice, Addie dropped her hand from his arm.
“If I ever get to finish the one assigned to me now it’s two hundred thousand.”
His eyes closed. “You get paid two hundred thousand dollars to hack into computer systems, and you’re saying it’s not illegal.”
“I didn’t say it wasn’t illegal. I don’t obtain information for my own personal gain. I trust my organization. Plus, the price varies with the risk we take and the complexity of the job. This job is straightforward but risky. And it’s even harder because I’ve limited what I’ve done on your mom’s computer. I don’t want to get her involved in case my precautions fail. Besides, since I’ve started helping you with this case, my mind hasn’t been focused enough to figure out another way. I really need to go buy a new laptop and get to a different internet connection, not in your parent’s house, not at the library, but something secure. But I don’t have any money.”
Cameron blew out a breath. What was he thinking? Impossible to tell with darkness settling around them. Risking him pulling away, she moved close enough to slip her arms around his waist. She rose on her toes and kissed him. Like before, he broke it off with a jerk of his head.
“Right now, we need to get back and eat dinner. Mom won’t start without you there.” The emotionless tone in his voice hurt more than a slap in the face. “Give me my mom’s keys and climb in the truck. I’ll come back later to get her car. I think you’re up to four tickets now.”
“Four? I’ve only driven three times.”
He pointed at the car. “You parked in front of a fire hydrant. I need to move it before we leave.”
“Cameron…”
He held out his hand. “Keys.”
Great. She’d finally confided in someone and look where it’d gotten her. Back to Mr. Rules and Regulations.
She slapped the keys into the palm of his hand. It didn’t matter what he thought about her job. She’d go right on doing it after her court date. She’d probably move back home with Trevor, away from Hollywood and that lifestyle. She’d be free to work any time of day in the northern coast of California, hide away like a hermit and live off her earnings without fear of someone questioning her.
He held open her door, and she somehow tried to imagine how to slam it in his face. But since she would end up slamming it in her own face, she settled for crossing her arms and staring straight ahead.
He slid into the driver’s seat. “Buckle up, Addie.”
“Ugh! You’re such a jerk.”
He didn’t even flinch from the insult. “Because I follow the law?”
“Because you can’t see beyond your badge. Do you act this narrow-minded because of what happened with Jennifer or was it something you were born with?”
“I’m not discussing her.”
The longer he drove in silence, the more questions Addie had about his ex. He might have turned back into the stuck-up Cameron for the night, but she’d find a way to get him to talk. No way she’d trust him with the biggest secret of her life to accept him shutting her out.
16
Three quick knocks at his door had Lacy scrambling from her mid-day nap and trotting to the door. Cameron set down one of the case files on the coffee table and followed behind her. He reached for the knob as he stepped around her, but her tail wagged at an incredible speed.
He ended up tripping over his own feet to avoid her. His shoulder slammed into the wall. A picture fell off the wall, but he dropped to his knees and caught it a second before it hit the floor.
The door opened. Addie sank to her knees right next to him.
“Are you okay? It sounded like half the house was about to come down.” She took the picture frame from him and set it to the side.
He rotated his arm, his ego as bruised as his shoulder. “Lacy was a little excited, and we collided.” Lacy jumped, two paws landing on the front of Addie. “No jump. Down!”
“She’s fine.” She scratched her behind the ears and made kissy faces at the slobbering menace.
He stood, taking his time to look over her outfit. She dressed in tight exercise pants in a lime green zebra pattern with a black shirt. Her long hair in a high ponytail. “Did you run here?”
Her lips tilted to one side, but she kept rubbing Lacy. “Someone told me I’d get a ticket for driving with a suspended license.”
“That someone sounds like a smart man.”
“Smart ass most of the time.”
He smiled despite the insult. “It came with the badge.”
“I’d hate to see what happens when you’re elected Sheriff.”
“It just gets bigger.”
She rose from the floor. “I feel sorry for your town, then.”
He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms. “I was talking about the badge getting bigger, Addie.”
/>
Mimicking his stance, she lowered her voice in a horrible imitation. “Are you sure about that?”
He smirked. “No, I’m not. I appreciate you not driving. You know, I’m still shocked that you run so well. My parents’ house is a good two miles from here, and you’re not even out of breath.”
She scrunched her nose into a cute wrinkle. “After everything you’ve learned about me, the computer hacking and”—she fluttered her hands in the air between them—“the fake job. The money. The only time you’ve been shocked, is finding out I’m a decent runner?”
“The computer stuff isn’t a surprise. Don’t forget. I remember the geeky ‘Addie’ from before.”
“Geeky Addie is long gone.”
His eyes met hers. “I don’t think geeky Addie ever went away. You just covered her up with that other woman.”
No emotion registered on her face. “I feel like I should be offended by that.”
Cameron reached out and grabbed her, bringing their bodies together and surprising a smile from her. He had no business giving in and touching her. Yesterday's revelation had shattered his nice, neat world. The rest of the night, he’d played out every dangerous scenario she could possibly face until giving up on sleep at four this morning.
She held onto his shoulders.
“There’s more to you than only a geek or a flirt. You should let the world see this Addie.” His free hand skimmed down her hip, touching her possessively. If she were his girlfriend, he wouldn’t have a prayer in accomplishing anything. He’d be too busy wanting his hands on her every chance he got.
Addie tilted her chin up. “Sometimes, when you look at me, it reminds me of how you looked playing football.”
“How so?”
“Intense.” Her fingers stroked along the back of his neck, making his thirst for her even stronger. “I used to watch you in those scrimmage games. Incredibly focused on the ball. A darker side. That thirst for blood reappeared with Brian. I think we’re both a little different than how people perceive us.”
“I agree. Being the dumb kid in high school with something to prove is a little different than who I am now. You, on the other hand, are wonderful this way, without the plastic coverings.”
“The plastic coverings, as you call them, make everything look a little nicer. This is the most I’ve ever gone talking to someone without makeup since I was in high school.”
“You don’t need makeup. You’re beautiful this way.”
She lowered her lashes, looking at his shirt. “With my job…” She trailed off, leaving only the sound of their breath. He hadn’t pinpointed what had bothered him more. The fact that she didn’t know for who or for what reason she hacked into computer systems, that the lure of the money drove her to commit crimes, or, worse, that she’d mentioned that what she did put her in danger. Based on her description, dangerous people had threatened her in the past. Who had been there for her?
Instead of working with law enforcement, she worked outside the lines and unprotected.
He’d known women in law enforcement his entire life. A woman that chose that profession knew the risks and knew how to defend herself. Addie wasn’t law enforcement. Unless she had a chance to use her speed and run away from an attacker, she'd end up defenseless. She had no business trying to catch criminals.
And by next week, he wouldn’t be there to rescue her. That angered him more than anything.
She rubbed his arm. “Are you still mad at me for mentioning things to Dexter last night?” Her lighthearted tone had disappeared. “I know you didn’t want the town to know about us, not that there is much of an 'us'—”
He silenced her with his lips. He’d never contemplated another woman hurt before. Not like that.
Her lips returned each kiss, scribbling right over his rational thoughts as to why they shouldn’t do this. In his house.
Wrapping his arms around her, he held her as close as possible. Right now, she was safe. Here. With him.
Lacy whined and jumped up, placing two paws on Addie’s back and threatening to push them all off balance.
“Down.” He pushed the dog away. “Dumb dog.”
Addie's lips parted, her eyes defensive. “She’s not dumb, just trying to get some love.”
“Funny, so was I.”
Addie giggled and buried her face in his shoulder. A second later, her teeth grazed over the column of his neck that sent a shock to his feet. He patted her hip.
“Before I forget, I had a call from my mom earlier. She can’t go to this benefit thing tomorrow night. Do you want to go with me?”
She straightened. “Like get dressed up and go somewhere.”
“Yes.”
“Like a…date?”
“Yes.”
“A date where everyone in town will know we’re together?” At his nod, she beamed a smile. “I’d love to go.”
“Good.”
Her body sagged against his. “You didn’t answer my question.” She pressed a kiss to his jawline, nibbling her way across until her teeth grazed over his earlobe.
His hands remained glued to her hips. A purely physical reaction, no matter how intense, he could resist. Realizing that every facet of Addie, not only her body, brought out something primal and possessive in him made distancing himself damn near impossible.
“Are you still mad at me, Cam? About what I told you I did for a living.”
He stepped away, hating the confusion in her eyes. “I’m not mad, exactly.” Irrationally overprotective was another way to describe it but admitting to that would confuse the situation even further.
Cameron led her into the living room, avoiding the kitchen at all costs. Every second he’d spent at his house the past five days he’d spent working the theft cases and looking for clues. The quick fix meals and lack of time had left the kitchen resembling more like a nuclear waste site than anywhere he wanted Addie to see.
Addie slipped her hand into his in a natural, carefree way. How was this so simple for her? He’d not felt like this since well before Jennifer had skewered his heart. Going through that pain again, once Addie left, didn’t give him much motivation to fall for her even more. Not that he had any hope of avoiding it. Then, there was Trevor. Her brother had called twice since Brian left, checking on her and asking Cameron to make sure she was alright. He was supposed to play the big brother role since he wasn’t there to do it.
He had to get his mind back into the friend-zone. “I already finished the pot of coffee from this morning, but I’d be happy to put some more on for you.”
“Not after my run, but I’ll take a glass of water.” She sat on the edge of the sofa. She clasped her hands together, and her left leg bounced. If that kiss had affected her as much as it did him, he didn’t blame the excess energy. Just kissing her left his blood humming.
Distance. They needed some distance to remember the situation. When he returned with the bottle of water, Addie shifted on the sofa, acting as though she expected him to sit near her instead of the other end.
The distance he needed was more like a few feet, not sitting beside her, his hip pressing against hers. She hadn’t used her typical perfume. Or worn makeup. Her delicate throat moved as she took a long drink. The thought of someone harming her came flooding back. Would she consider changing jobs to something safer if he explained how dangerous it could get?
She set the water down on the table, turning to face him as she caught her bottom lip between her teeth. “Tell me about Jennifer.”
“Did you come here to ask me that?”
She tucked her chin and cut her eyes up at him. “Partly. I also wanted to stress the importance of you keeping my job a secret.”
He crossed his arms. “About your job—”
“No.” She poked her finger at his bicep. “You don’t get to change the subject. You can put on your badge and argue your merits of what’s illegal and legal another time. You avoided me last night, but I won’t let you put me off today. If we’re”�
��she motioned back and forth—“doing this, whatever this is, I want to know who Jennifer is.”
He mimicked her movement. “This shouldn’t even be happening.”
“Well, it is. Get used to it.”
“It did happen. Past tense. I will make sure it doesn’t happen again.” Damn, he sounded more confident than he felt. The thought of never touching or holding her again, kissing her sweet lips, brought a sour taste to his mouth.
An eerie smile spread across her lips.
Shit.
“Addie? Why are you looking at me like that?”
She lifted one shoulder. “Since I’ve never been one to play by the rules…” In one graceful motion, she straddled him.
Double shit.
“I’ll make sure we kiss so many times in public, your mama will start picking out wedding china.”
He swallowed, afraid to call her bluff. Afraid she wasn’t bluffing. He ran his hands along the outside of her toned thighs. He’d never survive.
“I like you, Cameron. I understand you have some hang-ups about my job, but,” she said, her eyes trailing down his chest and back up, “I have barely a week left. I plan on touching you an awful lot before I leave. But the playing field isn’t even. You know all about my job and Brian, and I know nothing about Jennifer. It’s like I’m naked and you still have your clothes on.”
He scrubbed his hands over his head hard enough to try and gain some sense. “No. It’s nothing like that.” She very much still had on her clothes.
She tugged the bottom of his shirt free, inching her fingers underneath the edge and along the smooth skin of his stomach until she revealed the bottom of his tattoo. Her nails scrapped along his ribcage, over the tribal design. “I’ve wanted to touch this for years.” Her chest rose with a deep breath. “I’ve wanted you for years.”
Her lips slanted over his, drawing out each deep kiss and tugging him closer to the edge as she moved her body against his.
Everything inside him fired to life. He jerked his head away. “You play dirty.”
“I can play dirtier to get my way.” Her breathless voice almost had him daring her to show him.