“Is this a private party or can anyone join?” I asked trying to interject some humor into the situation.
Camille stood up and spun around so fast I was amazed she hadn’t slipped, I put a hand out to steady her but she pulled out of my grasp. That was when I saw those big eyes of her’s filled with tears. I’m talking big, fat, someone stole my puppy tears.
“Hey,” I whispered trying to gather her into my arms for a hug without falling on my ass, “it’s going to be okay Camille. You’re not alone.” I soothed as I stroked her wet hair and cringed when I felt the trembles roll through her.
She pulled back from the embrace and wiped the tears off her cheeks. Damn, even with her hair plastered against her head, eyes red, cheeks flushed and quivering lips a light shade of blue, the woman was a knockout.
“I’m not c-coming down, Dalton! I’m not going to have those men lose out on wages they need because me evil step-brother wants to gut check me,” she told me as she put more distance between us.
“Jesus, Camille is this worth it? Those guys down there are biting their nails with worry, they all want you to come down.”
She shook her head no, just like I had expected she would, “You don’t get it! Dalton, these men weren’t born with silver spoons in their mouths! They have babies, and kids they’re trying to put through school, and daughters who are getting married, and sick mothers who need nursing care! These men rely on those bonus wages just to make it through the month. I can’t have it on me conscience Dalton, I know you’re bigger than me, but I’m asking you please to let me be! Please don’t take me down.” It was the please that got to me. I had a chance to be a friend or be like everyone else and tell her what to do.
At that moment I wanted Camille to win, I wanted her to know what it felt like to be her own hero. “Okay, I won’t drag you off this cold, wet, dark, roof as long as you let me help you and when it’s done, you let me kiss you.”
Sad eyes narrowed and suspicion clouded them as she looked me over. I didn’t budge, I didn’t blink, I was dead serious. If I was going to sit up here in the rain and shingle a roof, I was going to start breaking Camille out of her shell. And I was starting with those plump, heart-shaped lips of hers.
“You can’t help me, Dalton, it’s against the rules,” she said with a shrug of her shoulders.
Now I really smiled big, “Actually he said no one from the crew could help you, I’m not from his team, I’m not even from this country and that means I can and will help you.”
“And the kiss?” she asked almost timidly. I wasn’t sure if she was more worried that I wanted to kiss her or that I might be joking about kissing her.
I put my hands on her shoulders and laid my forehead against hers, “the kiss is non-negotiable Camille and I will collect. Do we have a deal, Ms. Patrick?” I asked leaving off the McDougall part of her name on purpose.
Her eyes warm chocolate eyes seemed to brighten and a small smile played at her cold lips. “Okay Dalton, you have a deal as long as you promise me one thing.”
Letting out a breath I didn’t even know I had been holding I cocked my head to the side and nodded.
“No matter what, you don’t fall in love with me. I don’t want love Dalton and you are frighteningly handsome, definitely charming, and far more experienced in all things sexual than I am, but I can’t love you. It would hurt too much when it was over,” her brown eyes pleaded with me, but I wasn’t sure for what. I gulped down the lump in my throat and smiled.
“Don’t worry Camille, the last thing I’m looking for is love,” I told her with a bright smile. She nodded her head and handed me a shingle before turning back to sit on the roof.
This was good! This was an understanding, this was exactly what I wanted. I didn’t have to worry about Camille getting too attached because she had already decried this was a love-free zone. Except for some reason that didn’t make be feel better, relieved or even happy, for some reason the idea of Camille not wanting to let herself love me made my chest hurt in an odd way that I had never experienced.
“Well, are ya helpin’ me Dalton or are ya just goin’ to stand around all night and look pretty?” Camille teased as she threw a broken shingle at me.
Shaking off my thoughts I grabbed a stack of shingles from the rain-soaked box and got to work. After all, I had a kiss to win and for some reason that made me happier than I had been in a long time.
Cami
At half-past eleven I stood up from hammering down me last shingle and smiled. Me face was numb with the cold, and every inch of me was soaked from the rain, but I didn’t care. I felt amazing, for the first time in a long time I had truly done something wonderful, now the crew would get their wages and then some.
I turned to Dalton, who stood up as soon as I did, his green eyes were sparkling in the light from lot below, and I could tell he was as cold as I was. I had never had someone do what he had done for me, he could have walked away, gone back to the house or dragged me down off the roof, but he hadn’t. The man had spent the last few hours in silence helping me show that stupid wanker, Finn, that I was no silly woman to be fucked with. Of course, I had to take a happy moment and make it awkward, without thinking I threw me arms around his neck and kissed him with all the happy, gratitude I could. I felt him stiffen for a moment and then strong arms banded around me waist and lifted me in the air. I gasped at the strength in him as he slid his hot tongue inside me mouth. He tasted like coffee and mint and I could feel his heart thumping through his wet clothes. I wasn’t sure what to do with my tongue because I had never been a good kisser, at least that was what Sean had told me, but Dalton didn’t seem to mind. He coaxed my tongue to tangle with his, then he would suck me tongue and nibble me lips. Thank god I was already soaked so no one would see just how wet me panties were, they would surely have soaked straight through to me trousers.
Loud whistles and laughter brought me back to me senses. I shoved away from him, shocked by how I had just behaved and in front of the whole crew no less.
Dalton looked down at me, his eyes were dark with lust and he was panting as hard as I was. I instantly felt sorry, this wasn’t his fault, it was mine. I was the one that had practically molested the man on a rooftop.
“I’m sorry, I don’t know why I did that… I mean I never do that… just the idea of kissing makes me nervous and I’ve never… not even with Sean,” I babbled like an idiot.
He waved back at the fellas and then turned back to me and smiled, that smile that makes me toes curl, “First never apologize for kissing me, second are you saying you never kissed Sean?” This was a good question. However, I wasn’t sure I wanted to get into this discussion on the roof.
“Of course, we kissed, I just had a hard time initiating the kissin’ so Sean would do it. But after a bit he stopped trying to kiss me because I’m too stiff and just altogether awful at it,” I admitted quickly turning away as I started making my way toward the tie off anchor. His large hand gently stopped me and carefully turned me back toward him, I should have known I wouldn’t get out of this conversation that easily.
“I’ve kissed you, Camille! I kissed you on the way home from the airport and you aren’t a bad kisser at all,” Dalton told me. I searched his face to see if was lying but he looked truly sincere.
“Was that the first time you ever initiated a kiss on someone?” he asked in a deep husky voice that made me shiver.
I nodded while trying not to get lost in those green eyes. I didn’t know why I was admittin’ something like that to him. I didn’t know why I had kissed him in the first bloody place, and now I just wanted to go hide from the embarrassment of it all. I looked away suddenly realizing how my actions must look to the crew below and how inexperienced I must seem to a man that probably gets kissed by far more experienced and much hotter women than me.
Two fingers grasped me chin and pulled me face up to meet his. I tried not to look at his gaze, but he patiently waited until I had no choice but to look right
at him.
“I’m honored Camille. It was the most amazing kiss of my life,” he gripped me chin harder when I tried to turn away, me cheeks suddenly burning hot despite the cold. He opened his mouth to say something else when Daniel’s voice boomed across the rooftop completely ruining the moment.
“Well lad now that you’ve checked Cami’s tonsils for a good long while, how about you two get off this bloody roof so we can buy ya both a pint!” Daniel bellowed as the lads started their whistling and yelling again from down below.
Irritated that Daniel had ruined a nice moment, I turned to him and glared with me hands on me hips, “Don’t get started with me Daniel or you’ll find a nail between your eyes!” I blustered, but Daniel knew I’d never hurt him and the sturdy gaze he gave Dalton made me eyes roll. Seriously, Daniel was actually trying to give Dalton the parental glare? Now, after he let the man scale the rooftop with the intention to drag me arse down?
“A beer sounds great, but we’re both soaked,” Dalton said as he threaded his fingers with mine, all I could do was simply stare at our hands.
“Och, no worries, I’d say you and Michael are about the same size and we all keep extra clothes about because it’s Ireland, and the weather can be fierce.”
I guess this answer was acceptable and Dalton began to carefully walk toward the repaired ladder that Daniel was standing at the top of, only stopping to unclip our harnesses from the anchor bolt. I let him lead me to the ladder and I went to let go of his hand when it was my turn to follow Daniel down, but his grip tightened. He pulled me toward him and kissed me forehead with a look that told me we’d be discussin’ this later. Dalton let go of me hand and I climbed down as quickly as I could, then made a beeline for the work trailer. I knew my locker had jeans, a shirt and even a jumper for me to wear. Unfortunately, I didn’t have an extra set of knickers or a bra, so I’d have to go commando. I smiled as the lads clapped me on the back giving me their words of thanks. I turned before heading into the trailer and watched as Michael ran up to Dalton with a pile of clothes in his hands. The lads all milled around him and Dalton was smiling as they all clapped his shoulder and shook his hand.
Dalton
I waited for Cami to finishing dressing before I went to change myself. She came out of the trailer to a loud round applause from the crew. Dressed in her jeans, green turtleneck, and white sweater, she looked amazing. Her brown hair was tumbling in a sea of unruly curls that I just wanted rub between my fingers. Wait! No, I don’t, I do not want to run that silky, chocolate brown hair through my hands and I definitely don’t want to bury my nose in those locks when I know they smell like lilac. Ugh! What the hell is the matter with me? I was losing track of the purpose here!
My brothers had been no help last night, not with their wooing advice. My other brother Matt, the only one that I know for a fact has experience getting women to be comfortable. But then he is a male escort so it is sort of his job. Anyways, Matt would be the only one capable of good advice and he wasn’t home.
Still, I don’t think I did too bad today, I even got her to kiss me. Okay, maybe it was out of gratitude or just sheer happiness that the guys would get their bonus checks, but she still kissed me. Now, I just needed to get her comfortable kissing me and touching me, all without actually having sex. This because my brothers and Synclair would hurt me beyond measure, and of course there was that nagging voice that warned me that having sex with Camille would be more than casual, so NOOOOO sex.
I was so lost in my thoughts I didn’t hear the car drive up, but I did see the expression on Camille’s face go from elated to pissed.
“Camille, what is this nonsense? Your father just called me and told me you were on a roof in the dark? Girl have you no sense,” bellowed a tall, thin man with red and gray peppered hair and a pipe hanging out of his mouth, as he approached Camile as she stood on the steps of the trailer. I wasn’t sure but I think her eye actually twitched when he mentioned her father, Jack. The way he had spat the information at her, you could tell he didn’t consider her his daughter at all.
Obviously, this was Walt. I know I should refer to him as her step-father but from where I stood that title should be earned and judging from the hurt look on Camille’s face, the fucker was a cold day in hell from that happening.
I watched Camille square her shoulders and prepare to face off with him.
“I did what had to be done Da!” she replied. I noticed her hands trembled as she fisted them to her sides.
“What had to be done? Is that the tale yer goin’ to be weavin’? You stupid maggot, you haven’t got the sense God gave a bloody sow!” Walt yelled as he climbed the steps and grabbed her arm.
My first instinct was to break it and slap him upside the head, but I couldn’t hit a guy old enough to be my father. However, his asshat son that was watching everything with a huge grin on his face was totally within bounds. Camille’s answer pulled my attention from Finn.
“A bloody sow couldn’t have roofed in the dark, in the rain!” she answered back definatly.
Good girl! I winced as Walt walked up the steps and grabbed Camille’s arm in a bone crushing grip.
Now my first instinct was to break Walt’s hand off and slap him with it. However, I was taught to respect my elders, no matter how deserving they were of an ass whipping. Looking over to my right, I saw that asshat Finn smiling like he just got the final question on Jeopardy. Not having any reservations about beating Finn’s smirking ass to a pulp, I turned to walk in his direction.
Camille’s reply to Walt stopped me.
“You didn’t even ask why I was on that roof at night in the rain! I can tell you it wasn’t fer shits and giggles, Finn wanted to short the crew their bonus because I was runnin’ late, full well knowin’ it was the supply truck’s fault that the crew got goin’ so late in the day!”
Her face, it was her face that really stopped me dead in her tracks. Walt was bascially reading her the riot act in front of everyone and he hadn’t even asked why she would do such a foolish thing, like climb up on a roof in the rain. Camille’s face looked pissed but I could tell it was all an act just to hide the pain she really felt. Her hands trembled as she fisted them at her sides, it was as if she didn’t even notice the bruising grip on her arm.
“That’s a load of bull and you know it, you put us all behind with your tardy behavior and then tried to sass my authority in front of the crew!” Finn shouted from the bottom of the steps.
I heard a low growl as Daniel took a menancing step toward the mouthy twit. I put a hand on Daniel’s forearm and shook my head. I didn’t want any of Camille’s crew to swing on Finn or Walt. They’d lose their jobs for sure and then Camille would feel responsible. Nope, if anyone was going to pop the little man in the kisser, it was going to be me.
Camille tugged out of Walt’s grip and marched down the steps getting right in Finn’s smug face.
“Will you ever stop acting the maggot?” she spat at him. Apparently, maggot was a huge insult in Ireland. Personally, I could think at least a dozen other insults that seemed far more disparaging, but hey… you say tomato and I say toe-mato!
“You hung the lads’ wages over me head simply to put me in my place, you can’t be treatin’ good workers like that Finn, you can’t toy with their livelihoods!” she poked him in chest for good measure. I did enjoy the fact that he winced each time she jabbed him, it just made me like her that much more.
“This behavior is goin’ to stop right now Camille Patrick,” Walt yelled as he came down the stairs behind her. I tried not to cringe when he used her full name without adding on the McDougall at the end. By the hurt look on Camille’s face, it hadn’t gotten past her either.
At this point I looked around and was impressed how the crew was throwing death glares at both Finn and Walt, it was clear where their loyalty was and it wasn’t with Evil Howdy Doody or his son.
“If you had fallen off that roof it would have cost thousands of dollars in medical bills
that I’m sure your Ma would insist I pay, not to mention having to explain to the client why my fool of an employee was on a roof in dark of night.” Walt spat at her.
Okay, now I’m pissed, I don’t care how old the man is, I was totally on board for gut checking him. However, Camille didn’t need my help, her face went from a flash of pain to white-hot pissed. When Camille turned around to face Walt, her face was pale and her expression was blank. I actually felt kind of bad for the old guy, because if Camille was anything like Synclair when she was angry, shit was about to get ugly.
“Yer only worry is what the client would think, Da?” the woman practically growled. I watched Walt’s expression falter just a bit and wondered what that was all about.
“You know good and well that I am the one that speaks with all the clients! It’s me they have a relationship with! You think I would let a relationship with a client suffer because of that gobshite?” she demanded while using her thumb to gesture over her shoulder at a red faced Finn.
“You work for me, you are my employee, the only relationship you have with my clients is the one I tell you to have, yer lucky I don’t fire you here and now! if you’re Ma hadn’t begged me to keep you on, I would have let you go long past!”
Camille reared back like he had slapped her and then narrowed her eyes.
“So yer sayin’ that I am just an employee to ya, is that right? That the only reason I’m here is because me Ma begged you to give me a job, is that what you’re sayin’ Walt?” I think everyone noticed that she had gone from Da to Walt and seemed to be daring him to tell her she meant nothing to him. My heart broke just a little when I caught her bottom lip trembling just a bit. Jesus, I’d been here less than 48 hours and I was already trying to figure out a way to smuggle her home in my suitcase. No one should be treated the way these people treated Camille.
Lucky Charms: A Hudson Family Series- Book 3- Dalton and Cami Page 11