“Figured out you didn’t have a ride home?”
Cam whirled around, saw Chloe standing there with her arms crossed in front of her chest. Heaven help him, the position of her arms pushed her breasts up, made them look like they could spill over the ruffled neckline of her tank top, and he gulped. Swore he saw a peek of white lace from her bra. Jesus. “Uh, yeah,” he said weakly.
Dropping her arms to her sides, she strode toward him, her sandaled feet crunching on the graveled parking lot. “I shouldn’t even be out here, making this offer.”
“What offer?” he asked. She drew even closer, the light floral scent of her reaching him first, nearly doing him in. Why did she have to smell so damn good?
“You need a ride home, right?” Her splayed hand came at him, shoved him directly in the center of his chest.
Cam took a staggering step backward, shocked that she’d pushed him. “I was going to walk.”
A snort escaped her. “Yeah, right. It would take you hours.”
It was his turn to snort. “I’ve trekked across the desert for hundreds of miles for days, months at a time. A little walk to my parents’ house won’t kill me.”
She remained silent for a moment, studying him, as if she needed to digest what he’d told her. Her eyes filled with sympathy and he hated that. He didn’t need her pity. “There are too many blind curves on the road,” she finally said. “And it’s so dark. A driver could hit you and you’d be done.”
He shrugged. He’d faced worse. “I’ll be fine. Besides, there’s a full moon. It’s not that dark.”
“Oh my God.” Rolling her eyes, she grabbed his hand, led him toward a dark-colored, American-made sedan. It figured she’d own a sensible vehicle. “I’m giving you a ride.”
“Who are you, my mother?” He let her lead him, enjoying the feel of her hand clasped in his more than he cared to admit. “I already told you, I don’t need a ride.”
She glanced over her shoulder, irritation written all over her face, hitting the keyless remote with her free hand to unlock the car. “Have you always been this stubborn?”
He laughed. “Hell, yeah. But you were always too far gone over me to notice my faults.”
Chloe went completely still, her back to him. She let go of his hand and slowly turned to face him. “What did you say?”
Her eyes were narrowed, her lips pressed together; she looked furious, but he went on with it anyway like a damn fool. “Everyone knows you had a major crush on me when we were in high school,” he continued. Maybe this would get her to leave him alone so he could spend his summer in peace. Alone and sullen and mulling over his future. “Hell, you were barely in high school, making eyes at me and following me around.”
Her jaw dropped open as she stared at him. She shook her head. “I never told anyone I had a crush on you.”
“You didn’t have to. It was pretty obvious, what with the way you were always there, like a little pest. Always in my business, I couldn’t shake you if I tried. And let me tell you, I tried. But you stuck around despite my trying to ditch you. Giving me those puppy dog eyes all the time. Like you’re doing right now.” He was being mean, but maybe it would help end what had to be a painful crush she nursed on him.
Because clearly she still had it. And it could go nowhere. He’d make sure of that. He refused to be responsible for showing Chloe a little fun and then leaving her sad and alone.
Though he was damn interested in a little taste of her. To spend some time with her. Just to know what it might be like, to have Chloe’s complete and total attention.
“And come on, everyone knew. Ask Mac. Ask Jane. Ask anyone,” he added, since she hadn’t said anything. He was exaggerating. He’d never discussed Chloe’s supposed crush on him with anyone. “I could’ve had you any way I wanted you. I bet I still could.”
For whatever reason, he wanted to poke at her, make her realize that flirting with him was a huge mistake. He would break her heart without even meaning to, so why not discourage it now when she wasn’t completely invested in his loser ass?
Besides, all this dating and flirting bullshit was one long, never-ending game.
And he was tired of playing it.
Her gaze narrowed, her eyes so dark they appeared black. Those puppy dog eyes were long gone. “No wonder no one wants you around here,” she said, her voice eerily calm. “You’re the meanest, most callous person I’ve ever had the displeasure to know.”
He watched wordlessly as she rounded the car and opened the driver’s side door. Shoving his hands in his pockets, he stepped away when she started the car, backing out of its slot and then exiting the parking lot. Never once looking in his direction.
Long after she was gone he stood there. Pissed at what he’d done, how he’d hurt her. But it was for the best. Maybe, finally, she’d forget about him once and for all.
Cam started walking, a chilly breeze coming out of nowhere and washing over him. He shivered, cursed yet again. He’d done her a favor.
And maybe someday, she’d realize it.
Chapter Three