Have me?
What does that mean?
I can’t think because Cam is walking and I’m struggling to not look at his ass.
I lose the battle.
But I only look for a second.
An SUV with the engine still running sits parked next to the building. Not your normal cop SUV. A damn Range Rover with blacked out rims, windows and a bumper that could take out a tank.
He opens the passenger door and I’m assaulted with the scent of cologne and leather. So intoxicating. So erotic. So…panty melting that I glance in the back seat wondering if I stripped naked and laid down across it, would it be enough to convince Cam to handcuff me to the door and have his way with me.
I really need to stop reading them damn dirty books….
I stare out the window at the white scenery to avoid looking at Cam. We’re not even out of the parking lot though when his voice has me turning in my seat to face him.
“You’re…different.”
“What do you mean?”
His eyes flit from the road to my top hat.
I pull it off and try to smooth my hair. “It’s a long story.”
“I bet you have a lot of good stories considering your line of work.” He winks, like he knows some big secret.
I’m sure Jake told him I was a writer. No doubt he Googled the title of my book the moment I left. Which is probably how he figured out my name. I want to tell Cam that there’s nothing very suggestive about a writer having a lot of good “stories.” But I don’t want to sound like an asshole.
“Yeah. I guess I do.” I shrug my shoulders and look back out at the passing city.
Cam’s phone rings and as much as I want to eavesdrop on his conversation, I can’t get the idea that something isn’t quite right about all of this out of my head. Why would Jake save me? Why is he anxious to have me? Why would he allow me back into his house after so rudely kicking me out? Is he cooking breakfast because he feels guilty for denying me dinner?
“Jake’s going to be pissed about this, Lance,” Cam says on a laugh. As if Jake’s anger brings him joy. Since Jake’s anger has a similar effect on me, I tune in to the conversation. Of course, it ends the moment I do.
“What’s Jake going to be pissed about?”
“The FAA has grounded all flights out of Chicago.”
Good. Maybe I’ll be able to reschedule my flight without having to pay for it. Which means I won’t have to rob a liquor store on my way out of town.
“Was Jake going somewhere?” I feign nonchalance.
Cam shoots me a disbelieving look and an eye-roll. “Nah. He rented donkeys for the two of you.” What? “We expected cancellations with commercial flights, but they just announced that no plane would be cleared for departure. Which means even the almighty Jake Swagger can’t get permission to put his bird in the air.”
“He has a plane?”
He gives me another sideways glance. “You feeling okay?”
Am I?
I’m a little cold. A lot of tired. And I’m starting to get the sniffles. “I’m fine.” He doesn’t need all of that other information.
Cam’s on the phone again. Something about a generator that needs to be replaced ASAP. Boring. But I listen. Did you know backup generators can have backup generators? Wonder what happens when the backup to the backup goes out?
We pull up at Jake’s apartment building and Alfred is all smiles. Until he opens the door and sees me. Undeterred by his scowl, I’m give him my best pageant grin as I slide out of the car.
“Good morning, Alfred. So great to see you again. By the way, this hat is bitchin’. I’ve gotten so many compliments on it.”
Cam laughs as he steps beside me, twirling his key ring on his finger as he pulls open the door. Alfred just grunts a response and begrudgingly holds open the door to the building for us. He doesn’t follow us to the elevator this time. Instead, he moves behind the podium and snatches up the phone. As Cam and I continue down the hall, I hear him say, “They’re on their way up now, sir.”
“Never known Alfred to frown at anybody.” Cam lifts a brow at me as we step into the elevator. Then, as if he just thought of something, he gives me a wolfish grin. “You two got history or something?”
“Or something.”
In the elevator, I press my nose to the wall and hum as we shoot like a rocket to the thirtieth floor. Cam says nothing, but I see him smile as we step into the foyer.
My gut churns and twists. I think I may vomit. Not from fear like a normal person. From excitement. Like the crazy person I am. Okay, and maybe a little bit of fear.