by Renee Roman
She chuckled. “Okay. Cam it is.”
“You were saying?” Cam flicked her attention to the GPS.
“Thank you for taking care of the fee. I’ll pay you back as soon as we stop.”
“No need. I’m still working off the advance. Besides, it was minimal. Just make sure you hold on to the papers in case we need to follow up on it.”
Sarah chewed her lower lip. She probably should have asked more about her fees when she’d hired her. She remembered Cam telling her something about hourly, but she’d been so nervous, she hadn’t paid much attention. She didn’t see any harm in clarifying it now since they were stuck in the car together for a while and she hated when they fell into uneasy silence.
“So, how much do you charge for cases like mine again?”
“My standard fee is seventy-five dollars an hour, plus expenses.”
“Oh.” She blinked several times. She’d missed that detail. “I’ll need to give you more soon.”
“Let’s cross that bridge when we come to it.”
She looked down, refusing to meet Cam’s eyes. She really needed to pay more attention.
“Are you ready to get out of those lovely, confining clothes?”
“How did you know?” She smiled in relief.
Cam tipped her head in the direction of the back seat. “I know your bag isn’t stuffed with cash.”
“Ha. Hardly. I’m dying to get out of these as soon as possible.”
“Can’t say I blame you. There’s a nice restaurant not far from here. Quaint but not fancy, if you’d like to stop for an early dinner. I could go for a cup of coffee and a hot meal.”
“I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard in a while.”
After Sarah changed her clothes in the restroom, Cam took her bag to the car. When she returned, Cam asked for a quiet table. They ordered drinks and food. She hadn’t realized how hungry she was until they’d sat down.
Sarah buttered a thick slab of Italian bread. “What do you do when you’re not working?” Cam paused mid chew. Maybe she was being too personal. “You don’t have to answer. Sometimes my curiosity wins over etiquette.”
Cam swallowed and took a sip of wine. “No, no. You’re fine. I just…” She looked off for a moment. “I like to read. I try to work out a few times a week, but that’s more of a goal than what actually happens.”
“I imagine some days are long.”
“Nights are longer. And often boring as hell.” Cam smiled.
She knew she shouldn’t, but Sarah wanted to know more. “So no going out with friends? No wild nights on the town?”
“Ah. I see. You want to know if I ever let my hair down.”
Sarah shrugged. “Just making small talk.”
“Uh-huh.” Cam winked at her. She had all she could do to not choke on her food.
The rest of their dinner was filled with easy conversation. Cam talked about a missing person case she’d taken on involving a fourteen-year-old girl who’d disappeared off the face of the earth for more than two years. Cam had followed every lead on that one. Made phone calls. Found people to talk to…more than once. In the end, she’d reunited the teenager with her frantic family. They’d never given up. Never stopped looking for her. Never stopped hoping against all odds she’d be found. Cam said she’d had all she could do to keep from firing a shot between the pimp’s eyes when she caught up with him. The innocent young girl he’d lured into his car and driven halfway across the country had returned a used and abused adult who would never be the same. Sarah’s appreciation for Cam’s profession took on a new dimension.
The meal was simply delicious, and the half carafe of wine they shared the perfect accompaniment, aside from Cam. Over the last few hours, she’d gotten to see a different side of her, and Sarah liked this one. A lot.
“How was your fettuccine?” Cam asked
Sarah scooped the last of the sauce onto a wedge of bread, wanting to get every last bit. She chewed, rolled her eyes, and swallowed. “The best I’ve ever had.”
“I couldn’t tell.” Cam’s smile changed her looks from guarded to gorgeous in seconds. She drank some water, wiped her lips on the fine linen napkin, and picked up the wine, tipping it in her direction.
“Care to finish this off?” Cam had only drunk a short glass.
“I really shouldn’t.” She didn’t want the wine to influence her interactions. Not that it would, of course.
“Hate to see it wasted, but I won’t force it.” Cam set the carafe down and signaled the waiter. “Could I have a double espresso please?” Cam glanced at her. “Would you like anything else?”
She eyed the wine and shook her head. “Oh, what the hell. I’m not driving.” She emptied the rest into her glass. The waiter returned with the brew and cleared their empty plates.
“I like the way you think.” Cam stirred a little sugar and a drop of cream into the espresso and inhaled deeply, her eyes closing in the process.
The look of total contentment was one Sarah hadn’t witnessed before either, and she wondered what Cam was thinking. “Out loud.”
Cam’s eyes popped open. “What?”
“You were miles away. I wanted to know what you were thinking, so I asked you to think out loud.”
“Oh.” Cam set the small demitasse cup down. “The simple things in life are sometimes the most enjoyable.”
“Like?”
“Like enjoying a fine meal with an intelligent, beautiful woman.” Their gazes met and the storm that brewed beneath the surface of Cam’s eyes revealed more to Sarah than the words she’d spoken.
Sarah’s breath froze in her chest. She had never considered herself beautiful, even though her parents had said so often enough. Everyone knew parents were biased. If the circumstances were different, she would have asked Cam to follow her home and spend the night. But that wasn’t their reality.
“Thank you for saying so. I’ve enjoyed our time, too.”
Pink flushed Cam’s cheeks. “That was totally inappropriate on my part.”
“Does that mean it was a lie?”
“Not at all. What I meant was it’s unprofessional for me to speak to you that way. You’re a client. I’m sorry.”
Sarah didn’t want her to be sorry, but it was best if they kept things to a strictly business basis and she hid her unwarranted disappointment. Finding her brother had to take precedence over any attraction she might have for Cam. She’d been startled by Cam’s admission there were personal feelings involved. She needed to ignore them. For the time being. That didn’t mean she was letting Cam off the hook.
“You never mix business with pleasure?”
“No, but then, I’ve never had a client as charming as you, so who knows what the future holds.” There was a hint of tease in Cam’s voice.
Sarah felt exposed when the heat traveled up her neck to her cheeks and she wished she’d left well enough alone. There was no going back now, but she hoped Cam’s playful demeanor was just that. Being playful and nothing more, though she also hoped it didn’t stop the lighthearted wordplay they’d been enjoying.
She picked up her wine and finished it off in one swallow. “I guess I asked for that.”
Cam sat back. “Well, now that we’re done teasing each other, should we continue our journey back?”
“Okay.” Sarah was sad their time together was coming to an end. Cam was delightful to be around. So much of her was a mystery, she had the impression she should be the one doing the investigating. It hadn’t gone unnoticed that Cam had been rather ambiguous. She would have liked to ask about her childhood. What had made her decide on her profession? Where she had grown up? Sarah couldn’t help but feel there were moments when they were flirting, at least on her part, but she couldn’t continue. She didn’t want Cam to think poorly of her.
Cam gestured for the check. When it arrived Sarah reached for it.
“This is on me.” Cam slid a credit card into the folder and handed it back.
“Ca
m, I can’t—” Sarah began.
“My treat. Not part of my fees. You were gracious enough to take the time to make this trip, and I think it’s only fair. I’m sure your boss wasn’t pleased with the last-minute notice.”
She swiped at a few errant crumbs. “My job ended yesterday, so I’m not missing any time.”
“What will you do now?”
“Work on my art until my union calls with another job. I could go rogue and pick up something on the side, but if they get wind of a move like that, they could revoke my membership. I’d end up with no health insurance and I can’t afford any more astronomical bills.”
“Are you okay? Are you sick?”
“Oh, not mine. My mom, she…” Sarah’s eyes filled, and Cam watched as she tried to blink the tears away. “She was really sick for a while, and insurance didn’t cover everything. I’m trying to pay them off, but it’s daunting.”
Cam moved forward and raised her hand as though she was about to comfort her, but something stopped her before that happened. Sarah wished she hadn’t changed her mind. She could do with a bit of consoling.
“You aren’t responsible for your parents’ medical bills. Why are you paying them?”
“The only thing I have left from them is the house. I don’t want to chance losing it. They raised me to be responsible.” Sarah shrugged. “It’s the least I can do after all the sacrifices they made.” Her father had insisted she go to college, even though there was no money to pay for it. She’d gotten a few small scholarships and a student loan to cover what the income from her father’s odd jobs didn’t.
A fat tear dropped onto the front of her shirt, spreading like a telltale sign of her loss. Everything that had been thrown at her was becoming too much for her to deal with in such a short span of time. Cam’s soothing voice grounded her in the here and now.
“Let’s get out of here, shall we?”
Cam stood protectively in front of her, shielding her from the view of the other patrons while she got herself together. After dabbing her eyes and taking a steadying breath, she accepted Cam’s outstretched hand. The relief Sarah felt at her touch mystified her. This virtual stranger was the first person, aside from Lisa, who’d seen her vulnerable side. None of her parents’ friends had witnessed how devastated she was after they’d both died. She hadn’t let them see. What did it mean that she’d felt comfortable letting Cam see that part of her? It’s just a moment. She needed fresh air. Cam let her lead the way, placing her hand at the small of her back. The simple gesture sent a current to her core. Like the residual effects of shock therapy for psychiatric patients, its unfamiliar feeling was disorienting. Once outside, they silently walked to the passenger side and stood facing each other.
“I’m not usually so emotional. I’m sorry if I embarrassed you.”
Cam’s face softened. “You didn’t, and you never have to worry about embarrassing me.” She leaned closer. “In case you haven’t noticed, I really don’t give a shit what others think of me.” Cam took a step back, as if she needed the distance. “You, on the other hand, need to be kinder to yourself.”
“I’m not sure I know what you mean.”
“You’ve lost both parents in, what, two years?”
Sarah nodded.
“On top of that, you’re paying off debts that aren’t yours, and you suddenly have knowledge of a brother. Even without a surprise sibling, you have a lot on your plate. I can’t imagine how overwhelmed you must feel.”
Cam opened her door and she got in, sinking into the soft leather of the bucket seats. She was glad she wasn’t expected to deny how close she was to breaking down at any given moment, that she was fighting for control on a daily basis. She was grateful for Cam’s astute interpretation of her seesawing emotions.
From the driver’s seat, Cam reached behind her and produced an unopened bottle of water, handing it to her.
“I replenished our goods when we got gas.”
Sarah thanked her and cracked the seal, trying to wash away the taste of anxiety. She’d never been overly emotional. This was new territory for her. With her parents gone, she wasn’t going to get much pampering and she appreciated Cam stepping in. Even if it was temporary.
* * *
Cam did her best not to stare at Sarah while she was showing how much she was hurting. She was concerned about Sarah’s mental health, remembering how it felt to be alone in a world full of virtual strangers. She’d been bounced from one foster home to another. Some of it had been her own doing and those she never regretted. She would deliberately sabotage her placement when one or both of her caregivers began abusing her, either physically or emotionally. Other times, it was simply the way the system worked. There had been fosters she adored, albeit few and far between. Unfortunately, they were usually the ones who had committed to a particular amount of time, in most cases one year. Then she’d have to move on.
Tragedy had struck the one family she wanted to stay with indefinitely when the father had been killed in an automobile accident. The mother had been left with a child of their own and had cried a stream of tears when she told Cam she didn’t have any reserves left to give her. Of course, as devastated as she was by the news, Cam understood. The couple had been in their thirties, and none of them had been prepared for the unspeakable blow that rocked the small family unit.
Now, with Sarah experiencing a similar type of pain, she couldn’t help wanting to alleviate it. She was about to tell her how strong she was for not only dealing with her solo status, but also in having the courage to look for her brother, when she felt it hit.
The bright white flash took all thought away. She heard Sarah curse before she could see again, and she pulled over as soon as it was safe. Once the car was in park, she grabbed her head, knowing this would be another debilitating episode. Her stomach roiled.
“Cam. Cam. What’s wrong?” Sarah sounded like she was panicking.
The knife of pain subsided long enough for her to talk. “Head.” She swallowed the acidic bile burning in her throat. “Migraine is coming.”
“Oh my God.”
She heard Sarah’s door open, then hers. “Let me help you.”
Sarah’s hand slid along her back while the other grasped her elbow. She kept her eyes to slits. The corona of the bright setting sun was like ice picks in her orbits. She didn’t want to vomit in front of Sarah, but with this much pain, it might not be a choice. They rounded the car and she dropped onto the passenger seat, leaning against the headrest. It took a few long minutes to find the strength to talk.
“Thank you.”
“Is there something you can take? Ibuprofen or such?” Compassion laced Sarah’s tone.
Cam nodded, and a fresh wave of pain washed over her. She hadn’t meant to moan out loud.
“That’s it. We’re heading to the nearest hospital.”
She grabbed for Sarah. “No. Nothing they can do.” She took a breath before going on. “In the trunk. My medicine is in the bag.”
Sarah huffed. Cam heard her rummaging around for a minute before returning to her side.
“Is this it?”
Cam opened one eye and glanced at the bottle Sarah held up for her. “Yes.”
“How many?”
“One. For now.”
Sarah pressed a tablet into one hand and a bottle in the other. She threw the pill into her mouth and took a drink. The only thing left to do was wait for it to take effect. There was one other problem though, and she wasn’t sure how Sarah would take the news.
“Just give me a minute to adjust the mirrors and get my bearings in this beast,” Sarah said. Cam heard the whirl of the side mirrors and the seat sliding along its track. “Shit. There’s a lot of controls on this thing.”
Cam would have laughed if she didn’t feel like her head was going to explode.
“Okay. I think I’m ready.”
Sarah rubbed her thigh. She closed her hand around Sarah’s wrist. “There’s one more problem.”
> “What?”
“The motion of the car is going to make me sicker. We need to find a hotel as soon as possible. I have to lie down.” She hated Sarah seeing her like this, but it couldn’t be helped. When Sarah remained silent, she went on. “I’ll pay for a separate room for you. Or you can drop me off and drive home. Maggie can pick me up when I’m better.” She cocked one eye open, needing to see Sarah and focus on something other than the explosion in her head.
Sarah sat back, looking pissed as she pursed her lips. “Just because I’m not warm and fuzzy all the time doesn’t mean I’m going to abandon you.” She glanced around the road they were on. “I have no idea where we are, and I don’t remember seeing any signs for hotels on the way here.”
Cam closed her eyes as another knife of pain sliced through her head. When it receded enough for her to think she pointed to the GPS. “Just scroll the menu until you see hotels and pick one.” Time stood still, and it felt like an eternity before Sarah spoke.
“Okay. I have one. It’s only a few blocks away. You need to buckle up.”
She held her breath. The thought of moving and turning her head filled her with dread. She’d rather take her chances if they got in a crash. At least it would ease the pain she was experiencing.
“I can’t. Just drive.”
Curiosity got the better of her when she felt movement around her. Through narrowed eyes, she was just in time to see Sarah leaning across her to grab the seat belt near her head. Her breasts pressed against Cam’s chest. The moan she couldn’t stop had nothing to do with her migraine. The firm mounds came dangerously close to her mouth before Sarah yanked and grunted, pulling the belt free and backing away. A resounding click locked it in place. Sarah gently snugged it against her and then settled back in the driver’s seat, looking satisfied. It was the first time she looked happy since before leaving the restaurant. Cam didn’t try to hide the smile that forced her cheeks to move.
“Are you happy now?”
“With you buckled in? Absolutely. That you’re in pain? Not even a little.” Sarah turned the key and the engine roared to life. “Hang in there for just a few more minutes.”