“Baby girl,” he husks, dipping his head so I can’t look away. “The title isn’t exactly the one I want to give you, but it’ll do for now.”
Frowning, I roll the words over in my head. What does he mean by that?
He chuckles like he knows I’m lost and presses another kiss to my lips. “Come on, I want to get my girl hot chocolate and then win her a teddy bear.”
Off-kilter, I accept his hand and allow him to pull me through the crowd.
Around us snow falls from the “sky.” Lang Field is one of very few baseball stadiums with a retractable roof so it can be enclosed in the winter and on rainy days. The designer of the event worked some kind of magic and made the ceiling look like a night sky filled with stars and falling snow. It doesn’t even feel like a baseball field.
We walk down the “cobblestone street” toward a stand selling a variety of drinks, and as Cam steps up to order hot chocolate, I dig my buzzing phone out of my pocket.
Addie: Sav, where’d you disappear to?
Josie: I literally turned away for one second, and you were gone!
Me: Shit, sorry. I saw Cam with another woman, and I don’t know what came over me.
I can’t explain the emotion that hit me when I saw the two of them. My stomach twisted into a painful knot, and then my legs were moving. I’d like to say it was because of the article. That I saw an opportunity to push the envelope. But I can’t lie to myself. For the first time in my life, I was overtaken by jealousy over a man. It felt like if I didn’t do something in that moment, I’d miss out on something wonderful.
A quick glance at Camden only reiterates that sensation.
And when he catches me staring and winks, my stomach flips in a way I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced either.
Addie: You like him. That’s what came over you.
Me: It’s for the article. I told you my plan for tonight.
Josie: And how’s that going for you? Did he freak out when he saw you? Ask why you would show up to his work function uninvited?
Um, no. I’m pretty sure he was about to invite me himself fifteen minutes before I spotted him. I’m in over my damn head.
I should probably text Sutton.
No. With a shake of my head, I push that thought out of my mind and refocus.
Me: No. He kissed me and told me he’s happy I’m here. We’re getting hot chocolate and then he’s gonna win a teddy bear for me.
Addie: Okay, why is that the cutest thing I’ve ever heard?
Josie: Sutton is so going to win this bet.
Me: She can’t, because that would mean I won’t have an article to write, which means I lose my job.
My heart pounds as I type out the words. I’m so fucked. What am I thinking, falling for a bachelor like Camden Snow? This is just a fling for him. Probably his usual MO. I’m hot, sure. That’s what he sees in me. He’s the type of guy who has stripper poles in his basement and throws erotic holiday parties. He’s not the guy a woman throws her career away for.
No man is.
And I’m not stupid enough to put a man ahead of my career.
Internal pep talk completed, I remind myself of the details of the plan that I laid out for the girls earlier. Then I lean into Camden, head tipped back, and smile sweetly. “You’re really gonna win me a teddy bear?”
The smile he gives me in return makes the skin around his eyes crinkle. “Yeah, baby. Let’s go get you a prize.”
It’s completely ridiculous how quickly he wins three items. He’s good at every game he tries. When he beats the first game, I select a bear as my prize. Then when he spots the Burberry scarves displayed with another grouping of prizes—seriously, what is wrong with the Langfields? Freaking Burberry scarves as carnival prizes?—he wins two.
When I notice the Burberry baby outfit hanging near them, I point it out. The opportunity is too perfect to pass up. “Aw, look how cute that baby outfit is.”
Camden presses his tongue to his cheek, eyeing the prize.
