For a while, they walked along the beach without speaking, her painted toes disappearing in the sand, his soggy canvas boat shoes leaving large, deep footprints behind. When the silence stretching between them began to feel awkward, he returned them to their original subject.
“As for Romeo and Mia, you’re not wrong. Mia’s definitely smitten. But take it from someone who’s known Romeo for nearly a decade, he’s smitten too. He’s just better at hiding it because he refuses to admit it to himself.”
“I don’t understand.” The wind whipped a lock of hair across her face. A strand got stuck between her lips, and for a second, he fantasizedhewas that strand, sliding into the warm, wet wonder of her mouth. “If they’re both crazy about each other”—she pulled her hair behind her shoulder and he was able to focus again—“what’s holding them back?”
“Romeo,” he said with a frown. “He thinks Mia is the forever sort, and since he’s convinced himself all he wants out of life is to be the town bicycle, he won’t start anything with her that might end with her hurt.”
“Town bicycle?” Cami frowned. “Oh. I get it. Everyone gets to ride.” She shook her head. “Really? He doesn’t strike me as a lifetime bachelor.”
“I’m not convinced he is.” Or maybe it was more accurate to say Doc had started having his doubts about Romeo’s Hugh Hefner plan the moment one Miss Mia Ennis entered the picture.
When Cami glanced over at him, he shrugged and immediately regretted the move when it caused his already throbbing arm to grow teeth and start snapping and snarling like a rabid dog.
He must’ve groaned or winced or something, because her expression immediately melted into one of concern. “I have some prescription pain meds back in my purse that you’re welcome to use as long as they’re the kind that won’t make you stroke out or hemorrhage or whatever.” When he lifted an eyebrow, she wagged her finger. “Andno.I’m not a script junkie, so you can wipe that look right off your face. I only use the pills once a month when I have terrible menstrual cramps.”
The easy way she spoke about such personal information—truly, he was beginning to think Cami lacked any sort of filter—made it tough to keep his expression impassive. He must not have been totally successful, because she rolled her eyes.
“Please. You’re a doctor. I’m sure you’ve dealt with far worse than period pain over the years.”
“Sure.” He inclined his chin. “Although I read an article recently that said the pain some women experience is like that of a heart attack. Andthatwas a real eye-opener. I had no idea.”
“I’ve never had a heart attack, so I wouldn’t know.” She grimaced. “But I can assure you, once a month, for about thirty-six hours straight, if I don’t have the pain meds, I want to crawl in a hole and die.”
He winced. “That’s gotta suck.”
Her expression was one of resignation. “It’s life. And the key to happiness is to roll with the punches.”
“Is that the key to happiness? And here I thought it was staying away from assholes at all costs.”
“Impossible,” she scoffed. “There are too many of them to avoid altogether.”
“Especially in your line of work, I reckon.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You reallydohate lawyers, don’t you?”
He slid her a quick glance before admitting, “I used to think so. Now I’m not so sure.”
“Oh, be still my heart.” She pressed a hand to her chest. He had to force his eyes away from her ample cleavage. “Two compliments in the span of ten minutes. Careful, you might just turn a woman’s head.”
Camilla D’ Angelo’s smile was so wide and full of teeth that it made him wonder if it made her jaw hurt. And damned if he didn’t find himself grinning in return.
That is until her smile had him thinking about her mouth.
And her mouth had him thinking about her tongue.
And her tongue had him thinking about the kiss they’d shared the night before.
He’d been completely toasted by that point, so the recollection was fuzzy. But he seemed to recall the eager way she’d gripped his shoulders. The feel of her luscious breasts pressed against his chest. And the glittering invitation in her eyes as she’d stared up at him.
The moment his mouth had touched hers? He would swear he’d felt something deep inside him lock into place.
No, he silently insisted now.You were drunk and imagining things, hearing an echo from the past.
He ignored the small, quiet voice inside his head that called him a liar. He ignored it because the last time he’d felt that sensation, as if one of his missing puzzle pieces had snapped into its rightful spot, he’d ended up falling ass over teakettle in love.
And lord knows, I’ll never dothatagain.
Chapter 10
