Total pages in book: 138
Estimated words: 128980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 128980 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 645(@200wpm)___ 516(@250wpm)___ 430(@300wpm)
There’s no escaping the condemnation on Camille’s mother’s face and for the first time in my life, it bothers me. For the first time in my life, I care what someone thinks of me. I really am a pussy. I step forward, all chivalrously, and extend my hand. “Pleasure to meet you, Ms. Logan.”
She eyes me with caution. “It’s Ms. Bell.” She raises an indignant nose and I die on the spot. I knew that. I knew she’d reverted back to her maiden name after Logan dumped her for a younger model. What’s gotten into me? I’m all nervous.
“Of course.” I mentally shoot my brains out and smile sincerely. Camille Logan is unearthing all kinds of chivalrous behavior from me. “Pleasure.”
Her hand finally puts me out of my twitchy misery and takes mine. “So you’re the man causing all this trouble?” she asks, a roving eye skating up and down my disheveled frame.
Again, I scoff, but only on the inside. There’s a man causing trouble all right, but it isn’t me. I pull myself together and release her hand, trying to stand tall when I feel like a midget before this woman who is a foot shorter than me. “I’m trying not to.” I take an out, not knowing what other angle to take. She’s one of the good guys. I don’t usually bow to anyone, but I have an overwhelming need to bow to this woman. She’s the epitome of everything I hate in a female, but she’s Cami’s mum. “I realize Cami’s father isn’t so keen—”
She snorts, interrupting me. “You could be Prince Harry and he still wouldn’t approve if he hadn’t set up the date, or wasn’t set to get some financial perk from it.” She looks at her daughter, a little twinkle in her eye. “Why don’t you get dressed, sweetie pie? I’ll take Jake into the lounge. We’ll have tea.”
I look down at Cami and see her frown as she drags her towel close, like she hadn’t realized she was half-naked until her mother pointed it out. “I thought you were going out.”
Ms. Bell purses her lips and flicks an eye to me. “It can wait.” She spins on her polished shoes and sashays out, and the moment her back disappears I stagger toward the wall, feeling a pressure like no other. The irony of it doesn’t escape me. Approval isn’t something I care for. Cami’s mother might have changed that.
“You okay?” Cami asks, her forehead creasing.
I need to pull myself together. “Yeah, I’m fine.” Pushing myself away from the wall, I approach her and slip my arm around her neck, pulling her into me. Then I go in for the kill. She needs to know how I feel. All her fears, the thoughts that I’d deserted her, hurt like fucking hell. I just have to say it. With spoken words. Loud and clear.
Yet when I open my mouth, nothing materializes. The words are there. They’re everywhere. “I…” My throat closes up, and I start to tremble under the weight of my intended confession.
“Jake?”
“I…”
“What’s the matter?”
“Shit, Camille.” I cup her cheeks with my big palms, leveling my face with hers. The wideness of her eyes kicks me into touch. She’s worried. “I love you,” I say, searching her blue eyes. “I love you so fucking much and I need you to know that.”
She moves back, making my hands drop from her face. She’s shocked, her eyes clouding over. I don’t know what I expected her to say or do, but I wasn’t prepared for this reaction. She looks ready to bolt.
After what feels like a lifetime—a torturous, painful lifetime—she finally speaks, her lovely lips trembling over her words. “I love you, too,” she blubbers, hiding her face in her hands.
Her reply brands itself on my heart and brings another small part of me back to life. I breathe out, not realizing I was holding my breath until that moment, and move in to claim her quaking body, lifting her from her feet and constricting her in my hold. She loves me, too, and I can only pray that it’s enough to see us through the dark days ahead.
I spend not nearly enough time holding her in my arms, reinforcing my declaration with the force of my squeeze, before detaching her from me. The light I catch in her eyes floors me. So bright and hopeful. I’m the reason for that, and it’s both deeply gratifying and equally guilt inducing. She doesn’t even really know me. But she will. Once this shit is all cleared up, I’ll take the steps I’ve been avoiding for so long. Just the thought of what needs to be done makes my heartbeat slow.
Dropping a kiss to her head, I walk her back to the shower and flip it on. “Get showered,” I order softly. Then I rip myself from the bathroom to join her mother.