“I like that you’re different,” he says. “Who wants to be like everybody else?”
His hand lands gently on my thigh. I squirm, but he keeps his hand there, and the gesture is comforting.
“Did something happen?” he asks me. “You seem upset about something more than the fundraiser.”
I wave my hand in the air. “Nothing worth talking about.”
“You’re worth talking about, Savannah.” Cam’s eyes narrow. “If something upset you, you can tell me.”
I bite back the truth about what happened earlier tonight and force a smile on my face. “I appreciate that, Cam. But I’m okay. And we should go,” I add as I see the time on the dash.
Cam puts both hands on the wheel and backs out of the space.
I turn and look out the window, and the banquet hall comes into view far too quickly. A valet attendant comes to collect the keys when we pull up, and Cam escorts me inside the heavy wooden doors and over to the coat check.
I feel naked as soon as I hand over my coat.
His lips brush my cheek. “You look stunning.”
I shiver at his touch, and then glance at his grey suit, one I’ve never seen. “You look very handsome, Cam.” My compliment comes out shaky, but I manage to say it without stammering, so I’ll take that as a win.
“Thank you.” He puts his hand on my lower back. “I think the raffle is this way, so that’s where the crowd is going to be.”
He leads me to the main room of the hall, and I bite back a gasp.
It’s beautifully decorated in silver and gold lighting, with lights strung across the walls. The place is packed with wall-to-wall people.
“Super crowded, huh?” Cam’s voice is low and steady in my ear, and his hand hasn’t left my back. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this, okay?”
I manage a nod and follow him to the bar where two women immediately start staring at us. Really, they’re staring at Cam.
Not having been in this position before, I relish every moment of their envy.
Within seconds, the two women have attached themselves to Cam’s side. He keeps his hand firmly on my arm as they introduce themselves as business owners of a jewelry store in Minneapolis. After a few minutes of them flirting with Cam and glaring at me, Cam turns away from them and leads me to a private corner.
The bar area is huge, and everyone who doesn’t have a stool is packed up against the adjoining wall.
“Do you want a drink?” Cam asks me. “I’ll drive us home, so I’m just going to have a soda.”
“A vodka, please.” Celie always swears that vodka is the fastest drink to relax you.
He leans in closer. “Straight?”
I nod and turn away from his surprised eyes to scan the crowd.
As Cam pushes to the front of the crowd to order our drinks, I stay safely in the corner and wait for him to return.
“Savannah McMann! How the hell are you?”
I look up sharply. I know that voice anywhere. It’s my Uncle Fred, Daddy’s brother. They sound exactly the same.
Uncle Fred kisses me on the cheek and I wince at the smell of beer all over him. Fred drinks like a fish. All the brothers do but Daddy. They just followed their father right down the line. I didn’t think a fundraiser was his style, however. When I say so, he laughs uproariously. “I know. Isn’t it great?” He grabs my shoulder and shakes me, hard. I look up for Cam, and see he’s still waiting on the drinks.
I smile awkwardly as Fred explains that he got in through a construction job. “Took the guy out and got him drunk and laid.” Fred chuckles.
Fantastic. Just what I want to hear about.
“Ever since then, he’s calling me all the time, inviting me to these ritzy parties and paying my way. Ain’t it great?” He grabs my shoulder again. I step backward and glance up to see Cam heading toward me.
