“It’s absolutely delicious!” Cici went on, her voice slightly slurred. She’d acted especially upset by the incident and evidently decided to self-medicate. “But, I’d probably turn it into a hot mess even one of the dogs running around here wouldn’t eat.” She gestured to the floor-to-ceiling windows looking out at the patio and backyard where Toby and Anubis continued to patrol.
The other women sitting and standing around the—Elena didn’t even know what exactly to call this room full of chairs, couches, and low tables but no TV or dining set—laughed at Cici’s comment. But Elena smiled and shook her head. She gently touched the other woman’s arm. “It’s so simple to put together and you barely even have to turn the stove on. I promise you’d have no trouble at all.”
Cici rolled her eyes. “You have no idea. How about I just have you over some time to make it? I can’t cook, but I can open a mean bottle of wine.” She raised her own Tequila Sour. “Or I’ll just have you over when Camden’s there and he can make up another batch of these.”
When Camden’s there?Elena wondered at that. Had she just met Camden because of the man in the back yard, or were the Bennetts using Watchdog Security? Made sense, since Roger Bennett was talking about running for office. It made Elena sad to think the family had received any threats. She liked Cici, who’d started up a conversation with her right away in the kitchen earlier. And the twins seemed like nice kids, the girl even offering to play with Tina once they all came in. As for Mr. Bennett, it was odd to see someone in real life who played so many different characters on TV. She half-expected him to behave like one of them, but of course he was a real person and seemed genuinely friendly when Cici introduced them.
Cici leaned in. “Judging by the way he watches you every time he walks by, I’d say Camden wouldn’t mind. Do you know him already?”
Elena broke into a grin even as she felt her cheeks heat. “Yes, actually. He saved my daughter’s life.”
Cici’s eyes widened to the size of dinner plates as she gripped Elena’s arm and leaned back. A few women looked over. “Saved herlife? Oh, my God, after what I just witnessed, you have to tell me that story!”
Heads swiveled. Whoever wasn’t already looking at the two of them immediately snapped to attention, much to Elena’s embarrassment.
She fidgeted with the hem of her dress. “Well, I was living in a horrible little town in Nebraska called Ross. And I worked for this monster named—”
“Wait, wait, let me go grab Roger. I want him to hear this.” Before Elena could stop her, Cici jumped up and jogged out to the patio where a small group of people had gathered around Roger in the outdoor kitchen. One of them was Camden. Elena watched through the windows, mortified as Cici approached her husband. Her drink sloshed around as she gestured wildly and pointed back inside. Camden first looked curious, then alert, then pissed. To Elena’s dread, he followed the Bennetts back inside. Jake stared hard after Camden.
Oh, shit. What did I do? Elena’s stomach flip-flopped and she regretted the tequila as it threatened to make a reappearance. She lost sight of them as they came in. When they reappeared in the wide arch of the doorway, Camden had regained his composure. He looked right at Elena, his expression unreadable but definitely not pleased. Roger had his arm around his wife, steadying her as she walked. His mood was just as unreadable as Camden’s but in the opposite way—his smile looked forced.
“Okay, okay, start over, Elena.” Cici dropped onto the couch next to her. Roger and Camden stood behind them. Elena felt Camden’s hand land on her shoulder. She flinched and waited for a painful squeeze, something to let her know she’d fucked up royally. Instead, she was surprised by a gentle caress, his fingers stroking down her shoulder to her upper arm then back, over and over, and she relaxed under his touch.Maybe I’m misreading everything, she thought. She glanced up at him. His eyes softened, then turned wary as he looked at Cici.
The room went silent. All eyes were on Elena. “I’m sorry, I don’t know how much I can actually say.” She touched her new friend’s arm. “There’s an ongoing trial and I don’t want to ruin Rachael’s chances at justice by revealing something I shouldn’t. But the important thing is, Camden was there when Tina and I needed him, and he literally saved my daughter’s life.”
Camden’s hand froze on her shoulder. Elena glanced up to see his expression hadn’t changed, and yet he held his breath. When their eyes met, something flashed deep in those amber-colored depths.
Cici gripped Roger’s hand. Elena watched as sudden tears sprang to the woman’s eyes. “He saved a little girl, Roger. We might be okay after all.”
Roger laughed without any real humor behind it. When she started to say something, he interrupted her with, “That had nothing to do with us earlier. You look hungry. Why don’t we see if there are any burgers left, huh?” He pulled his wife up and practically carried her out of the room.
Camden whispered, “Excuse me,” and left the room, heading deeper into the house.
The other women, some Elena had only seen on the big screen, returned to their quiet conversations. Confused and mortified, Elena excused herself to no one in particular and went off to find Camden.
* * *
She found him in a room lined with full bookshelves and worn leather chairs. He stood with his back to the door, head bowed, gripping the back of a chair like a drowning man.
“Camden?” she called tentatively.
He straightened and turned. Anguish burned in his eyes. He closed the gap between them in three strides and pulled Elena to his chest. He nuzzled his face in her hair and took a deep, ragged breath. “Those words,” he whispered.
“What words?” Elena pressed her cheek against his chest and felt his heart pounding. “I’m sorry if I said something I shouldn’t have about what happened in Nebraska.”
He shook his head. “No, baby, not that. What you said…that I was there when you and Tina needed me. You have no idea.” He pulled back and looked down into her eyes. He searched her, sought to look inside, to know all of her. The passion she saw in his eyes was almost too much. And yet, she wanted it. Wanted to be seen like that, to be known. Desired.
“It’s true,” she said. “You saved her. Saved us. If anything had happened to Tina, it would’ve killed me. But it didn’t because you were there when we needed you.”
While she spoke, Elena watched the storm raging in Camden’s eyes. He was fighting what she said and at the same time, clinging to it. He took her face in his hands and gently stroked her cheeks with his thumbs. Heat built up inside her. She wanted another kiss. But Camden just studied her face, his gaze roaming from her eyes to her cheeks to her lips where he paused. Elena sucked in her lower lip and bit it, watching as Camden’s lips parted and his eyes softened, some of the storm abating. She gripped the nape of his neck and he groaned. Elena stood on her tiptoes as she pulled his face down to hers.
He paused just as their lips touched. “Elena,” he whispered. “Thank you.” The brush of his lips, the soft vibration of her name, and then he took her mouth. Rough, hot, demanding. Their arms tightened around each other. She wanted to crawl inside him, to take him inside of her. Her whimper drew another groan from him.
Camden slid his hands down her back, gripped her bottom, and lifted her. Her legs automatically went around his waist and he carried her back to the chair. He sat down and positioned her on his lap. His erection pressed against her panties and found the wet heat there. Elena glided against him, acutely aware they could be found at any moment but past caring. It had been years since she’d been held and kissed, and never like this—with so much raw hunger and need. Years since she’d wanted any sort of attention from a man, but here she was, throwing herself at a man who was the polar opposite of her husband. And all she wanted was more.
Camden’s lips never left hers as he undid her hair, then buried his fingers in it. He pressed back against Elena, grinding and growling, his tongue teasing hers, thrusting into her mouth then pulling back so she could explore his mouth with her tongue. Then he abruptly cupped her cheeks and gently pulled her face away. He dropped his head back against the seat and rolled his eyes as he groaned. “I can’t be doing this right now.”
Elena’s heart plummeted into her stomach. Camden was pissed at her after all. “I’m sorry. I said the wrong thing to Cici and I messed everything up.”
