He set his jaw and lifted a hand to motion for the bartender.One more drink, to keep me from committing murder.But his hand dropped just asquickly.
The Viking was sitting at the other end of the bar, his eyes unmistakably fixed on Cam. He raised a single eyebrow and nodded to the seat next to him, a challenge and an invitation all rolled intoone.
Cam was transfixed by the way the light played over the man’s hair, bringing out flecks of gold, glints of copper. Then the guy smiled - a teasing, lopsided grin - and Cam’s stomach inverted. Did he know who Cam was? Had he focused on Cam because of his name, or the tragic legend of his family? In that moment, Cam couldn’t find it in him to care. The man’s eyes - Cam still couldn’t see the color, dammit - were curious, hot, and fixed on Cam. For that look, Cam would be anyone the Viking wanted - Superman, Clark Kent, or anyone inbetween.
The man smiled again, wide and predatory, and every instinct in Cam’s body jumped to life, but he had no interest in running away. He couldn’t wait to getcloser.
He turned to Lydia again. “I’m sorry, it’simpossible.”
Nothingthey could say would get him to fly to St. Brigitte, and Drew knew it. Heknewit, damnhim.
Drew was glaring daggers at him, but Cam wouldn’t,couldn’t, back down. Instead, he held Drew’s angry glare for a minute, letting his own eyes go flat and cold. He would not be manipulated or pushed around, and Drew needed to understandthat.
A second later, Drew ground his teeth together and looked away.If that PBS nature special on wolves was right, I’m pretty sure Drew’s now mybitch.
He gave Lydia an apologetic glance. “I’m really verysorry.”
Lydia nodded, seeming resigned. “Alright. Well, I’ll leave you both on the guest list, just in case.” She glanced back and forth between him and Drew,confused.
Whatever. Let Drew figure his way out of thisone.
“If you’ll excuse me, I see someone I need to speak to,” Cam said, before kissing Lydia on thecheek.
He stalked toward the far end of the bar, his gaze locked on the man who was -holy shit- waiting for him. His heart lurched into a disjointed quick-step, and lines of poetry, actualpoetry,leaped into his head.Jesus, he was a handsomeman.
And that was before the man smiled at him like they’d known one another for years and slid out the stool next tohis.
“Well, Camden Seaver,” the man said, sending an honest-to-God shiver down Cam’s spine. “Looked like you handed that guy his ass.” He nodded in Drew’s direction without breaking eye contact. “Remind me not to piss youoff.”
Cam laughed out loud before he’d even fully processed the man’s words, and then stopped, stunned. When was the last time he’d laughed like that? He honestly couldn’t remember. The vise he’d felt clamped around his chest all night loosened and droppedaway.
“Let me get you a drink,” the mansaid.
His eyes were green. Bright, brightgreen.
And just like before, all Cam could think wasYes.Finally.Yes.
