Tempting Cameron

by Karen Erickson

  “I don’t see anyone.” Chloe smiled down at Kendall.

  Kendall screwed up her face, scanning the front quad with an assessing eye. “Right there!” She pointed, her voice full of glee. “He’s still looking at you, Miss Dawson.”

  Chloe followed where Kendall pointed, her heart lodging in her throat when she saw him.

  Cameron leaned against the brick front of the school, his hands in the front pockets of his dark jeans, wearing a charcoal gray pullover sweatshirt and a faint crooked smile. His gaze locked upon her, he pushed away from the building, and started toward her.

  And all she could do was stand there and gape at him in disbelief.

  “He’s coming right for you, Miss Dawson!” Kendall shook Chloe’s hand, getting her attention. “Do you know him?”

  Chloe nodded, her eyes never leaving him. He looked amazing. Tall and broad and handsome, his eyes never leaving her either as he approached, that crooked smile still curving his beautiful mouth. The breeze blew his overly long golden brown hair across his forehead, giving him a boyish air she found desperately appealing. “Yes, I know him.”

  He stopped a few feet away from her. Had to, since she’d come to a complete stop and was surrounded by children. “Hey.”

  She loved those easy heys he always offered her in greeting. “Hi. What are you doing here?”

  “I’m home,” he said simply, his choice of words thrilling her completely. “And you look busy.” He flicked his chin, indicating her students.

  Who had all grown very still, every single one of them watching Cameron, then looking at their teacher with confusion in their eyes.

  “I have bus duty.” Oh, she felt silly, inept. She should’ve rushed to him, kissed him by now, but the kids were tangled around her like twelve puppies on different leashes, every single one of them twisted around one another. “Um, can you give me a minute?”

  Chuckling, he stepped back, offering her pack a bit more space. “By all means.”

  “Omigod,” she whispered under her breath, her heart racing. “Come on, let’s get on the bus!” She herded the children toward the two waiting buses as quickly as she could, corralling the rest of the kids who needed her assistance. All the while she sensed his presence, felt his eyes on her as if he physically touched her.

  “Let me take over.” Ali appeared out of nowhere, a helpful smile on her face.

  “What? Oh Ali, what about your students?” She guided another little one onto the bus, smiling tremulously at Candy, the bus-driver-slash-librarian.

  “They’re all where they need to be. And I think you might have other plans?” Ali tilted her head in Cam’s direction. “Go to him, Chloe. He looks like he’s dying to touch you.”

  Chloe hugged her friend. “Thank you,” she whispered as she pulled away.

  Turning, she faced Cam, inhaling deeply for strength. Nerves clamored in her belly as she approached him, dissipating slowly as she saw the way his gaze lit with unmistakable joy.

  “Hey.” She stopped directly in front of him, so close she could smell him, feel his body heat radiating toward her. “You didn’t tell me you were coming home.”

  “I wanted it to be a surprise.” He held out his arms. “Surprise.”

  Glancing around, she saw fellow teachers watching them, more than a few parents, too. Most of them long-time Lone Pine Lake residents, who no doubt knew bits of her and Cameron’s story. They were probably just as surprised as she was at his return.

  “Definitely a surprise.” She wanted to hug him. Kiss him with all the unrestrained passion and happiness she felt bubbling up inside her, but she couldn’t do it here. In front of everyone.

  What would they think?

  Cam snagged her hand, not giving her a moment to think. One minute she was standing there and the next she was in his arms, his mouth sealed over hers, his hand cupping the side of her face. It was a quick kiss, nothing scandalous about it, but it was full of so much tempered passion that when he finally released her, her head was a little woozy.

  She stumbled, Cam reaching out to steady her, and she laughed. “I need to go back to my classroom and lock up.”

  “Let’s go.” With a smile, he eagerly took her hand and pulled her in for another quick kiss. “I can’t wait to get you alone,” he murmured.

  Her heart fluttered. She couldn’t wait, either

  …

  The moment he pulled into her driveway, they both eagerly leapt out of the car like little kids. He chased her to the front door, chuckling when she could hardly slip the key into the lock, and when they finally burst into the house, he pushed her against the closed door and kissed her for long, delicious moments.

  She felt so good in his arms. Her curves pressed against him, her arms wound around him tightly. She slipped her hand across his cheek, murmured against his mouth, “I miss all your scruff.”

  “I’ll grow it back just for you.” He kissed her again. Hot, wet, deep. Plenty of tongue. Until she was clawing at the front of his sweatshirt and he was pushing the thin sweater from her shoulders. Revealing that her dress was sleeveless, a pretty little red and white floral print with delicate lace decorating the neck, the quintessential dress designed to appear demure but really drove him crazy with lust.

  He couldn’t wait to get her out of it.

  Cam did get her out of it. Pushing her into the bedroom, he undressed her, undressed himself, and had his way with her far too quickly. But she didn’t complain and neither did he, the two of them too eager for each other to linger.

  “You have any plans this weekend?” he asked hours later, long after the sun went down and the only light illuminating her bedroom was the bedside lamp on its lowest setting.

  She slowly shook her head, tracing her fingers over his chest. “Well, I was supposed to meet Ali for lunch, but I’m sure she’ll understand when I don’t call her.”

  “Perfect.” He kissed her forehead. “We’re not leaving this bed. And we’re going to remain naked for the next forty-eight hours.”

  “Cam,” she admonished, glancing up at him. “What about your family?”

  He shrugged. “If they’re lucky, we’ll go to my parents’ house for an hour. But that’s it.”

  “Your parents will want to see you.” She played with his chest hair and he closed his eyes, enjoying the sensation of her hands on him. “I’m sure they’ve missed you.”

  “I never come home. They’re more used to me not being around,” he murmured, keeping his eyes closed.

  “Your mom liked having you here this summer.”

  He pulled away from her so he could look into her face. “When did you talk to my mom?”

  “We’ve met for lunch a few times.” Chloe looked away, seemingly embarrassed. “We talk about you.”

  In the past, that sort of admission would’ve made him horrifically uncomfortable. Now, he was pleased that his mom and his…girlfriend got along.

  Cam swallowed hard. Girlfriend. That had a strange ring to it, almost not significant enough, what with the way he felt about her. She was so much more to him…

  “How long are you here for, Cam?” she asked when he didn’t say anything.

  He trailed his fingers down her soft cheek. “I don’t know.”

  She frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, I don’t have any immediate plans.” He gathered her close, needing her near. Even with a few inches parting them, he couldn’t stand it. “I thought I would stay here for a while.”

  “Where?”

  “I’d like to stay with you, if I could,” he said, nerves jumping like fish in his gut. “I know your place is small but I really don’t want to go back to that cavernous house Patrick owns. It’s too much.” And he didn’t want to be away from her.

  “You want to corrupt the town princess?” She smiled, reminding him what he used to call her.

  “Hmm, I want to make the town princess all mine,” he whispered, sliding over her so he had her pinned beneath him. “If sh
e’ll have me.”

  “What are you saying, Cam?” she asked breathlessly, her entire body trembling.

  What was he saying? He couldn’t stand the thought of them apart. She belonged to him whether she realized it or not. “I’m saying that I love you,” he admitted.

  She offered him a tremulous smile. “I love you, too.”

  “And I want to be with you.” He kissed her, his lips lingering. “Always.”

  Chloe blinked back tears and he groaned, feeling like a complete ass. “Aw, damn it, I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

  She laughed. “I’m crying because I’m happy.”

  “Your tears do me in.” They were his absolute weakness. Nothing worse than knowing he was responsible for her grief. “Sad ones, happy ones, I can hardly stand to see them.”

  “My sensitive, romantic Cam.” She kissed him and he drowned in her, her sweet taste hot and wet on his tongue. “Proving that you are a big ol’ softie after all, aren’t you?”

  She’d called him that the night of her car accident, at The Tree. “When it comes to you, I guess I am.”

  He didn’t give her a chance to say anything more, too busy kissing her senseless and reminding her of just how much he needed her.

  Forever.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The entire McKenzie family was in attendance this evening, even Patrick and his family, who were in town for the celebration. It was a special night—James and Lydia McKenzie were celebrating forty years of wedded bliss together.

  It reminded Cam of a night not that long ago, when the family had gathered to celebrate Jane and Chris’s wedding. It was being held at the same reception hall and mostly the same crowd was in attendance.

  Which meant pretty much the whole town.

  Cam walked through the crowd holding Chloe’s hand, desperate to get out of there. Just because he was happy to be back didn’t mean he never suffered those moments of complete suffocation that came with being in this town for a prolonged period.

  Meaning, he was having a suffocating moment at this very minute and wished he could take Chloe home, where he could have her all to himself.

  “When are we going to tell them?” Her eyes wide, she licked her lips nervously.

  “Soon. Now, if you want.” He squeezed her hand for reassurance. She was nervous. And he couldn’t blame her.

  She nodded, pursed her lips to exhale loudly. “Let’s do it. I hope they’ll be happy.”

  “Happy? God, Chloe.” He drew her into his arms, kissed her to ease all that anxiety pouring off her. “Mom’s going to be beyond thrilled. So is my dad. The entire family will be, even Mac,” he said grudgingly. “Jane and Mindy will probably wet their pants.”

  Chloe made a face. “Gross.”

  He laughed, yanked on her hand so she had no choice but to follow him.

  “Cam.” Chloe whispered his name just before they got to the table.

  “Yeah?”

  She smiled. “I love you.”

  Unable to resist, he kissed her. “I love you, too, babe.”

  “You two are so sweet,” his mom said as they approached the table. “Makes me happy to see you together.”

  “I agree,” his dad said with a nod.

  Cam cleared his throat. For all his bravado, he was nervous. This was a big deal. Like the biggest deal of his life. “Mom, Dad, we have something to tell you.”

  Both their faces fell, his mom literally gripping the edge of the table as if she needed the support. “You’re going to have a baby, aren’t you?”

  “What? No.” Cam shook his head, laughing shakily. “No babies.” Yet.

  He’d given kids some secret thought. More than once he’d imagined Chloe lush and glowing, her belly full with his child.

  Yeah, that had him feeling all possessive and shivery. But he wanted Chloe to himself for a little bit before they started making babies.

  His mother visibly relaxed. “Oh. Well, not that it would be a bad thing. I love grandbabies; every one of them is a blessing and I’m sure the two of you would make beautiful ones together. Don’t you think, Jim?” She nudged her husband in the ribs, making him grunt.

  “Aren’t you jumping the gun a little bit, Lydia? The kids are still only dating, after all.”

  “See, that’s the thing.” Cam gripped Chloe’s left hand, holding it out so they could see the glittering diamond and platinum band that circled her ring finger. “She’s not jumping the gun. We’re married.”

  His parents gaped at them, his mom’s mouth hanging open for long, agonizing seconds before finally his dad stood, sputtering as he approached them. “When did this happen?” he asked as he engulfed Chloe in a big hug.

  “Last weekend,” Chloe admitted when she withdrew from his embrace. Tears streaked her cheeks as she looked at Lydia. “You’re not mad, are you?”

  Tears glittered in his mother’s eyes and she furiously shook her head. “Mad? Why would I be mad? I gained another daughter who makes my son happier than I’ve ever seen him.”

  Cam smiled, hugged his dad, then yelped when his mom pinched his ear before drawing him into her arms. “Rotten boy, running off with her alone and not giving her a proper wedding.”

  “She wanted to run away.” He rubbed his ear.

  “It was my idea,” Chloe admitted with a shaky smile, wiping her tears away. “I figured it was the only way I could get him to make it legal.”

  “Seriously?” He turned to his wife, surprised at her admission.

  She shrugged those pretty shoulders, the ones he always liked to kiss when they were bare and gleaming smooth in the light. Like the night he made her his in the most legal sense, when she wore that white, sleek strapless gown that had brought tears to his eyes when he saw her in it for the first time.

  Yeah, he’d cried when he married her. Yet another reason he was glad no family was around to witness that particular moment.

  “You don’t like to be pressured, Cam,” she said softly, her smile sweet. “I figured a big wedding might send you into panic mode.”

  “She understands you,” his mother said with a nod of approval.

  “She definitely does,” he said, his gaze meeting Chloe’s. “She also knows I hate it when she cries.”

  “I’m not crying anymore,” she protested.

  “She deserves a party.” His mom smiled, crossed her arms in front of her. “Chloe dear, don’t you want a party?”

  “I don’t want to take away from your party,” Chloe said, glancing around, afraid someone might overhear. “This is your night to celebrate.”

  “Nonsense. Let’s go grab that DJ’s mic and make your announcement.” His dad looked pointedly at him and Cam had no choice but to follow.

  “Cam?”

  He turned to see Chloe standing there, still looking nervous. “You don’t mind telling everyone, do you?”

  “Baby. Just because I ran off and married you in the middle of the night doesn’t mean I want to keep this a secret forever.” He grabbed her, hauled her into his arms, and kissed her so soundly she clutched his shoulders for support. “I love you. And I want the entire damn town to know it.”

  …

  Chloe smiled, those tears appearing again, and Cameron gently wiped them away, his thumb lingering on her cheek. How she loved this man, her husband. She was the luckiest woman in the entire world.

  And everyone seemed to be in agreement, because the surprised cheer that went up when her new father-in-law announced their marriage probably could’ve been heard clear across the lake. They were then embraced and congratulated by just about every single person in attendance, her mother standing at their side, since Chloe had been grabbed and brought to the front of the dance floor when the McKenzies had made the announcement.

  It was when the dancing started that she and Cam had finally snuck out. His sisters and Ali had demanded a coffee meeting tomorrow morning, wanting all the details.

  Not that Chloe would give them all the details, only the general
ones. Some moments were meant to be kept private. Like when Cameron first saw her before she walked down the aisle toward him. The little chapel they found in Lake Tahoe had been perfect, small and quaint, the glow of candles scattered throughout providing the only light. The ceremony simple, charged with emotion because not only had she cried, but so had he.

  She leaned her head on his shoulder as they drove home in his truck and he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “You okay?”

  “Yes.” She sighed blissfully. Had she ever been this content? “Though I think your sisters are going to kill me tomorrow. Ali, too. They wanted their chance at being bridesmaids and I deprived them.”

  He chuckled, pulled into their driveway. “Be strong. Bargain with them. Let them plan the reception. That’ll keep them so busy they’ll leave you alone.”

  “You don’t mind having a party?”

  Cam shut off the engine and turned to look at her. “It’ll make our families happy.”

  “But will it make you happy?”

  “Yeah,” he admitted softly, a little smile curling that mouth she adored so much. “I like showing off my beautiful bride.”

  Her heart fluttered. “You make me so happy,” she said softly.

  “Do I, Mrs. McKenzie?” That low, velvety voice was full of wicked intent, and she gasped with surprise when he pulled her into his arms.

  “Yes.” She rested her hands on his chest, curled her fingers into his dress shirt. He was so handsome, she still couldn’t get over it. Would she ever? “I don’t think I’ll grow tired of hearing you call me that any time soon.”

  “Good.” He smiled against her mouth. “Because I’m going to be calling you Mrs. McKenzie for many, many years to come.”

  “Promise?” she asked minutes later, still breathless from the kiss he gave her.

  “Most definitely.”

  Acknowledgments

  To my family for putting up with me sitting at my desk all. The. Time. To my editor Stacy Abrams for her love of my work and her continued support. To Red Garnier for being the best CP a girl could ever ask for. She described us as an old married couple and I sort of love that. To Kelley Vitollo for her e-mails that make me laugh—our paths are rather similar, aren’t they? To Jessica for being the best publicist ever—your help during my recent major deadline crunch made my life a lot easier.