I should have raced out of me room and begged him not to hurt Sean, but I couldn’t bring meself to move. I was overdue for a good cry anyway so I curled up with me blankets and let meself have a good wail, determined that I would deal with everythin’ tomorrow.
Dalton
Part of my SEAL training was restraint. Just because I could break Sean’s face with my little pinky or cut out his heart with a spoon, didn’t mean I should. Still, it was difficult to step away from the idiot after I had kicked the back of his legs out from under him and made him eat dirt. It was actually Jack that had pulled me off him, of course, nothing could have stopped me if I hadn’t decided to let Jack lead me away.
I couldn’t stand the thought of Camille in her room crying over this asshat. I was equally proud that she stood up to him and pissed that she had shut me out.
After Jack helped Sean’s mother get the sniffling twit into her car, I offered my apologies to Kathryn. After all, I was staying in her home and had just fed dirt to the son of her best friend, the man she was trying to get back together with her daughter, so I was not going to win houseguest of the year.
“Don’t be frettin’ over it me darling,” Kathryn gave me a warm smile and handed me a cup of strong coffee. “I love me friend, Briona, but that whopper of a tale comin’ out of that lad’s mouth was too much. I wanted to give Sean the opportunity to apologize to Camille because Briona drones on and on about how much he misses her,” she explained as she leaned back into the couch pillows.
“It doesn’t look like his misses her, he seems like he missed the idea of her. The man doesn’t know her at all,” I replied looking at Jack. The shitting eating grin that spread across his face made me wince.
“What?” I asked, not really wanting to know. Whenever Synclair smiled at me like that, I knew I was going to be ducking a swinging bat or some bit of life advice that she wanted to bestow on me.
“Well, you’ve only been here a day Dalt, are you saying you know Camille better than Sean, the man she grew up with?”
Ohhhhh! Now I get it, this was the old, let’s force Dalton to own up to the fact that he has been doing nothing but trying to figure out Camille, play. Jack, the dirty rat, was trying to trick me into making some huge realization about my own feelings. Well, Hell. To. The. No. There would be no dragging out the feelings card with me, nope, nope, nope.
“I don’t. Just an easy observation of an asshole trying to justify his asshole behavior,” I answered hating the way that Jack was grinning at his wife and then back at me.
“Oh well, maybe Sean has the right of it, maybe they can make a go of it? Your brothers both got their second chances with Synclair and Sara, who’s to say that Sean isn’t due one from Cami,” Kathryn said winking at a very amused looking Jack!
“Why?” I thundered, my voice raised in shock, “Why? Because Camille is not frigid, far from it, I’ve kissed her twice and both times she went up like a blazing inferno and I assure you she was turned on! He doesn’t get a second chance because he doesn’t get who she is and what she needs,” I knew I was shouting, but I just couldn’t get myself to shut up. Sean gets a second chance? How could Jack and Kathryn even compare that twit to Reece or Lucas?
“And I suppose you know what she needs and wants,” Jack challenged, his arms crossed over his chest in a defensive stance. Oh, papa bear’s angry, well awesome Yogi, me too!
“Yeah, I do, I know that Camille doesn’t want to run a bar, work for Walt, or marry a guy like Sean fucking Walsh. Did you miss her admission at the table when she spoke about getting her degree in architecture? That’s why her gazebo design was spot on because she designed it. Did you see her face when she talked about the house she designed? That was her dream Jack, and that asshole called it chicken scratch. No, she doesn’t need some asshole telling her that she’s broken, she needs someone to inspire her, to kiss her breathless, to have her back and support her in whatever dreams she has, she needs a man who is willing to fight all her demons with her and if that includes fighting her until she sees how amazing she is, then he needs to do that too.” I finished and looked at the smiling faces of Camille’s parents.
“I guess you do know Camille. And all that in such a short time, I wonder if you know of such a man. Someone who is persistent, affectionate, caring and who is willing to stand toe to toe with me stubborn but wonderful daughter, do you know of such a man Dalton?” Kathryn asked, her eyes refusing to let mine go.
“Dalton, why don’t ya get some sleep, you’ve had a long day with the plane ride and dinner and everything. Why don’t we go over the lumber and supplies you asked for tomorrow over a hot breakfast,” Jack suggested, saving me from having to answer Kathryn’s probing question.
Unable to speak, I nodded and stumbled back up the stairs to the guest room down the hall. What the hell had just happened downstairs? Had I just described myself as the man for Camille? When the hell did that happen? The plan was supposed to be to draw her out of her shell so that she could pick a man that would be good for her, not me. Most definitely, absolutely, positively, with one hundred and sixty-five percent clarity, that man is not me. I’m not a settling down guy, I’m the fun guy! Dammit!
Flopping on the soft quilts covering the soft queen sized bed, I pulled out my phone and dialed my lifeline.
“This better be good Dalt, it’s six in the damn morning!” Came a cranky voice.
“Well, put the coffee on and get the brothers, I need advice,” I rubbed my hands up and down my face as I waited for Reece to wake up.
“Advice on what Dalt? Seriously, if this is about the gazebo, I’m sure whatever you build will be amazing.” Reece replied as he rudely yawned in my ear.
Frustrated I snapped, “I’m not talking about the fucking gazebo, I could build it my sleep, I need advice on a woman,” I didn’t want to say her name, and I hated what was about to happen.
I heard Reece gasp, then he covered the phone and was talking in tones I couldn’t hear.
“He needs advice? On what?” whispered a familiar female voice. Shit, I was hoping we could leave Synclair out of this conversation. But I guess when you call someone and wake them up at seven in the morning, when they’re peacefully sleeping next to the cousin of the woman you want to fuck so hard your headboard shatters, you don’t get to decide who’s in on the conversation.
“Dalton, do I need to kill you?” I heard her growl. Shit! Synclair had already warned me not to sleep with Camille. I wondered if someone could get killed across a phone line because I was pretty sure Synclair was contemplating it.
“No, no one’s killing Dalt because Dalt would not be stupid enough to have sex with my fiance’s cousin three weeks before my wedding, sweetheart. He doesn’t have that kind of death wish,” I cringed at Reece’s words.
“Reece, can you help me or not? I know, I’m known for being the charming, ladies man but I’m out of my depth here,” I was about to hang up on him when I heard him tell Synclair to go back to sleep.
“Hang on Dalt, I’m going to get Matt and Lucas, and we’ll figure it out.” I sighed in relief, it was good to have brothers to rely on, I knew they could help give me some perspective.
“Sorry Dalt, Lucas, and Sara aren’t answering the door, they must be heavy sleepers,” Reece explained while I waited on the phone.
“Dalt, you didn’t fuck Synclair’s cousin did you?”
“No, Jesus, I’ve only been here for a day, Reece.”
“Do you want to?” I knew the question was coming and I knew I could lie. It wasn’t like Reece was standing here in front of me to see the Pinnochio nose I’d be sprouting.
“Truth?” I asked trying to stall until I could figure out what to say.
“Of course,” Reece responded in a whispered tone.
Sighing, I hung my head and faced the truth, “Fuck yes, Reece I want her on top, under me, against the wall, bent over the table, in the shower, in the moonlight, under the bright sun, in a bed, in a car, over and over agai
n, and I still don’t think it would be enough to get that hellion out of my fucking system.”
I waited for a moment, hearing nothing I checked the phone and then I heard a loud, panicked yell followed by hard pounding, “Lucas wake the fuck up now,” Reece bellowed.
I smiled, you gotta love family, they always know when you’re about to really fuck up.
Cami
A loud and soon to be dead object was ringing, causing so much noise that it woke me from a perfectly, dead on sleep. Grumbling, I reached for me nightstand to grab me cell phone, so that I could chuck it against the wall to make it stop wailing.
As soon as I felt it in my hands, I went to toss it when I glanced at the time. It read half-past eight! Oh god, oh Mary mother of Jesus help me! I was late for work at Walt’s construction site. The offending wail was one of my co-workers calling me.
“Daniel?” I asked after I had slapped me forehead and hit answer on the phone. Dumb! Of course, it was Daniel, it was his name on the caller screen, I definitely needed a strong cuppa.
“Are ya hurt?” came his vexed question.
“Uh no,” I answered not appreciating his frustrated tone one bit.
“Are ya dead?” Striving for calm, I chose not to point out the obvious fact that since I had just answered me phone, I couldn’t be dead.
“No.”
“Well, then get yer arse down to the site, we’re already two hours behind cause the roofing supplies were late and yer brother is raging like a bull with his testicles bound!” Daniel practically growled into me ear.
“Ugh, thanks for the visual Daniel and he’s me step-brother.” I reminded him. I wasn’t being a bitch, Finn literally made sure I regarded him as Finn, Mr. McDougall or step-brother Finn. See? You can’t make sad shite like this up!
“Alright, just please get down here right quick or I’m gonna dump him in the cement mixer,” Daniel warned his tone softening just a bit.
I liked Daniel, he was about fifty or so and had a lovely family. He also tried to look out for me at the job site. I’m not sure he liked working for Walt, and I know he despises Finn as the foreman, but he’s got a daughter gettin’ hitched next summer and despite everything Walt pays his people well.
“Don’t you threaten me with a good time Daniel, ya cheeky article,” I teased.
I promised Daniel I would be there as soon as possible and got busy grabbing my jeans, long sleeved turtle neck, and jumper. By the way, for those of you across the pond, a jumper is a sweater not a onesie that a baby wears. Yeesh, you have no idea how many snickers I got in America when I asked a Target checker where I could get a warm jumper for meself. I think the woman laughed so hard she peed her trousers.
Once I had yanked my hair back into a sloppy braid and put on my boots, I opened the door to me room ever so slowly. Why you ask? Well, it wasn’t because me cheeks blushed with embarrassment when I thought of what happened last night! Nor was it because a certain Greek god was staying in the guest room at the end of the hall and I was afraid to face him after heard me sobbin’ like a baby last night. Nope, it was because I’m a kind person, always sensitive to others, so I wanted to make sure I didn’t wake anyone at this early hour. What? Not buying it? Yep, me either.
Still, I knew I had to get downstairs and out the door before anyone saw me and I was forced to have a conversation about last night. I wasn’t worried about me parents, I knew they would pretend it had never happened, they would avoid that uncomfortable conversation altogether. No, I was worried about Dalton, touchy-feely let me pull out your chair and treat you like a lady, Hudson. The last thing I wanted was a conversation about feelings. It gave me shivers just thinking about it.
I made it down the stairs and practically gave myself a neck injury craning me neck to listen for sounds in the kitchen. It appeared luck was with me as I realized no one was downstairs yet. My parents were apparently still in bed, and Dalton must still be knocked out from the time change. Keeping my happy dance short, I grabbed me keys and jumped in my car and took off.
Just as I pulled out of the drive and was about to head toward the job site, I saw Dalton throw open the front door. He was standing in the open doorway, his lightened hair messed up from sleep, his eyes were wide, and he looked irritated as he stood there in a pair of blue jeans that were zipped but not buttoned. Oh, my!
Before he could use those full lips of his to form words, I hit the gas and took off. I needed space to get me head together. Last night I had realized just how pathetic I must look to everyone, the idea that Dalton might see me that way seemed to bother me the most. Still, in no time, everyone would be talking about Sean announcing to the world that I was frigid, soon the town would be talking about it all over again. I guess it wasn’t bad enough that five years ago Tara had gone round to everyone and told them the only reason her and Sean got together was because of me, “problem.” Now it seems I was due for round two of embarrassment and humiliation.
Keela, who worked with me at the pub and one of me closest friends, had suggested I find a man and just have sex. Kind of like ripping off a band-aid, maybe if I just did it then whatever was blocking me would be gone and I wouldn’t be frigid anymore.
Deciding to give the idea more thought, I pulled into the job site feeling like my day might just turn out okay. However, seeing me step-brother and boss, Finn, standing with his arms crossed looking like he just sucked on a lemon, made me realize just how crazy I was to think my day had any chance of improving, at least while the golden child over there, had a say in it.
Saying the serenity prayer in my head and reminding meself that murder, especially with witnesses, was still illegal, I got out of the car to face the firing squad that was Finn McDougall.
“Yer late,” he spat me, his head bobbled so much that his bright yellow hardhat almost fell off his stupid, block head.
“Yer observant,” I retorted, “I got held up! I’m here now and it won’t be happin’ again,” I added, in fact it had never happened. I was always to the site on time, usually I was early and brought the lads warm muffins from me mum to help with the cold.
His dead, beady eyes looked me over and for a moment, a look of desire flashed in his eyes. Uncomfortable with his stare I went to walk past him, but he grabbed my arm to stop me. I really wished he hadn’t done that, in the past twenty-four hours I had been manhandled by Dalton, Sean and now this wanker.
“Let go of me arm Finn, or I’ll break it,” I told him making sure my glare said I was deadly serious. I was too, Sean was a shitty person, but he was in my past now, Dalton was annoying, but he too would be gone soon, but this little gobshite was going to be in my life for as long as Walt was and for some reason this morning I was just not havin’ it. There was no way I was goin’ to let him get away with putting his veiny, pale hands all over my person.
He threw me arm away from him and sneered, “Don’t tempt me Cami, I will fire your arse.”
I laughed. No, I outright roared like a madwoman in a padded cell. Noticing the crew had started to gather around I leaned in so that only he could hear me while trying not to inhale that god awful Old Spice cologne he wore, “Good ahead Finn, I dare ya, and then when the clients ask you how to open up their kitchen space or design a room that gives the best lighting, let’s see you answer them.” I hissed and then turned and walked off.
It was a bold move, we never discussed the fact that both Walt and Finn brought me with them to see clients about new job orders. Walt and Finn would sit there while I listened to the client, figured out what they wanted and would sell the project to them. Hell, I don’t think Finn could draw his way out of paper bag if you have him directions and a bloody compass. Still, I had never brought it up but it had always bothered me. Especially when Walt would bring me a client’s idea for something, then I would stay up late drafting blueprints and then Walt would send Finn to the client to show them, of course letting Finn take credit for my work.
It felt good to get one up on Finn, I just
wondered how long it would be until he figured out a way to make me pay that moment.
“Well, since everyone is taking their own sweet time today, you can all thank Cami for running you all behind with her tardiness. That means with the rain comin’, in about an hour, that we won’t finish the roofing today. That will put us behind for tomorrow and you know that means.” Finn announced to the crew as he smiled cruelly at me.
Right here, in this moment, is proof that Finn is the kind of person that kicks puppies and tears the heads off dolls, I didn’t know much about his time before he came to Dublin, but I’m sure it involved getting stuffed in lockers at school and a sick fascination with ripping the wings off flies.
“None of you get your weekly bonus.” Finn delivered this blow with a look of feigned sympathy. I looked around as the lads cried out in protest.
Now, I felt like an ass, really and truly. These men relied on these weekly bonuses as part of their wages, to deny them this because he was pissed off at me wasn’t right. Seeing how pleased Finn was with himself, I decided I had to fix this.
“And what if the job gets completed today?” I asked him, daring him to admit this was just his way of taking me down a peg or two.
He looked at me carefully, I could almost see the wheels in his evil head turning as he tried to construct a way to really make me suffer. The arsehole.
“Yer tellin’ me that you will guarantee the roofin’ on all three of these buildings will be done by the end of today?” Finn smiled at me and I wanted to gag. He was standing there with his beady eyes narrowed, all that was missing was the evil handwringing, pitch fork, and cackling and he would be a proper devil.
“Yes,” I answered quickly. The truth was with the rain coming in an hour, I wasn’t sure I and the crew could get one building done let alone three, but I wasn’t about to let Finn know that.
“Cami…” Daniel began, but I silenced him with one hand up. I wasn’t about to lose their bonuses, not because Finn wanted to put me in my place.
Lucky Charms: A Hudson Family Series- Book 3- Dalton and Cami Page 8