He scowled. “Excuse me?”
“You told Fyfe that I was your girlfriend and that we’re serious? We’ve been on six dates.”
Cameron’s frown only deepened. “Maybe we could have this discussion inside.”
“No, we can’t. I just came here to tell you I need some space.”
“Look, Eilidh …” Cameron stepped outside, reaching for me, but I physically retreated. His expression darkened. “It seems fairly coincidental that your friend acted like a jealous arsehole today when I told him we were dating and now you need some space.”
“Don’t call Fyfe an arsehole,” I defended him, even though he was being an arsehole. Only I was allowed to call Fyfe an arsehole! “And you’re missing the point. Cameron, I’ve knownyou a few weeks. We’ve been on a few dates. Calling me your girlfriend, staking a claim … no. This is all going too fast for me. Sorry.”
Something ugly clouded his expression. “You think you’re so special you can have this discussion without caring how I feel about it? I mean, there’s a way to tell a man you need space, and this is not it.”
I huffed incredulously. “It is if he’s lying to people about the status of our relationship. I’ve had enough people lie about who I am and what I’m doing and who I’m seeing. I don’t need that bullshit from you. Forget the space, Cameron. This isn’t happening, full stop.”
As I turned to leave, I found myself hauled backward and spun, crashing into his chest as pain burned up my arm. He grasped my biceps so tightly and his face was a mask of fury. “Don’t walk away from me!”
The shocking transformation from placid doctor to aggressor stunned me for a second.
Only for a second, though. “Get your fucking hand off me before I scream bloody murder.”
Cameron released me just as quickly as he’d grabbed me, and I didn’t wait around. I ran toward my SUV.
“We’ll talk about this later, Eilidh!” he called after me. Calmly. “I’ll call you tomorrow.”
Holy crap. My entire body shook as I reversed out of his driveway and headed for home.
He had a screw loose.
Bloody hell, I knew how to pick them.
Instead of returningto the annex, I let myself into my parents’ house. Dad’s office was at the front and I noted him in there, working on a 3D digital model. He had his concentration face on and I knew if he was working late, it meant he was on deadline. With a sigh, I strolled into the open-plan living space and found it empty.
Muffled music drifted from downstairs and the sound of Lord Huron told me Mor was home. Lewis had given her a bunch of music to listen to, and it turns out she had more in common with his music tastes than mine.
Suspecting where I’d find my mum, I made two cups of chamomile tea to calm my nerves and wandered upstairs. After knocking on my parents’ bedroom door, I heard Mum call “Come in.”
Inside, I found her in bed on top of the duvet, a paperback in her hand and an empty mug of tea at her side.
She smiled affectionately, her dimples appearing. When I was a kid, I remember asking Santa for dimples like my mum’s for Christmas. Obviously, that was disappointing Christmas morning. Until I saw the electric scooter wrapped in a big pink bow.
Handing Mum a fresh cup, I rounded the bed and got in beside her. She dropped her paperback to slide her arm around me, drawing me into her side.
“You okay?”
Instead of answering right away, I asked, “Why are you in here?”
“Mor is in a mood. Your dad is stressed. And I needed some space from them both. Now, what’s up with you? You look a bit peaky.”
With a heavy exhale, I spent the next twenty minutes telling her everything. About my relationship with Fyfe, confessing mylove, his rejection, Cameron, what Fyfe told me this evening, and then Cameron’s disturbing behavior.
“Before I say anything else, you need to tell your father about Cameron. And tell Uncle Mac and Walker.” Uncle Mac gave up his security job, but he used to be head of security at Uncle Lachlan’s estate before Walker took over.
“I doubt he’s dangerous.”
“When people fixate on us, they’re dangerous.”
I turned to look at Mum’s pretty face. Once upon a time, we’d all reaped the consequences of a man fixating on her. I nodded solemnly. “I’ll tell Dad. And Uncle Mac and Walker.”
