CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CAMERONRUBBEDHISpalms over his eyes and gave himself one more little shake. Thank God this night was almost over. He watched two big black cars drive away from the side exit of the Opera House. He had gotten through the event, but just barely.
What the hell was wrong with him? He had stupidly let Jackson come along to give her what she wanted. To please her. Insteadof following his instincts and keeping her away from all potential danger.
Thank God the rest of the job had gone smooth and easy. Security was already tight at this event. The politician who had hired them wasn’t the only high-profile guest, and even getting Jackson a ticket had been a stretch. They needed to figure out how the hell that guy had slipped in.
He couldn’t shake the mistake,even long after he left Jackson perched on a stool at one of the cocktail tables. This was why he kept his dick in his pants when it came to business. His grandfather never would have let a woman cloud his judgment. So why he still couldn’t get Jackson out of his mind, even after he’d screwed up, was too much to process as he walked back into the Bennelong Room.
The lights were dim in thegrand, cathedral-like space, and the wooden walls glowed in a warm yellow hue. The bar was a raised area in the middle, and he stopped there to survey the scene. The place usually served as a restaurant, but the dining tables were gone, replaced with a few cocktail tables and a wooden dance floor in the middle. A handful of couples danced, and the rest clumped together in groups, deep in conversation.
He found Jackson immediately. She was standing right where he’d seen her last, at a round cocktail table, and from this angle he got an eyeful down the front of her dress. Unfortunately, Cameron wasn’t the only one who was enjoying the view. A man set a drink in front of her, and that guy’s gaze dipped down more than once.
He started down the stairs and headed straight for her. Her eyesmet his as he approached, and she held his gaze for one long, drawn-out moment before she looked back at the wanker who was talking away, his back to Cameron.
“Sounds to me like your date forgot about you,” the guy continued. “I’d be happy to take you out on the dance floor if he has something better to do. But to tell you the truth, I can’t think of a single excuse for a man not to show abeautiful woman like you a good time tonight.”
Cameron stopped within range of a good jab. “Is that so?”
The guy turned around, and his eyes flared open. Cameron didn’t love to use his size to intimidate, but this asshole was asking for it.
“Sorry, mate,” the guy mumbled and backed away, leaving Cameron alone with Jackson.
“Was I interrupting something?” he growled. Real charming.He had to pull himself together. Had he really sunk as low as petty jealousy?
But Jackson just rolled her eyes. “He’s harmless. He just wanted to dance.”
“What he wanted was to get a look down your dress,” he said drily.
Jackson sighed, and Cameron bit back a curse. He wasn’t going to mess this night up. Not with Jackson standing in front of him in the sexiest dress he had ever seen.She could have worn some uptight business suit tonight. Instead, she’d worn that dress knowing they’d go to this event together. Knowing he’d see her in it.
“Are you off the clock?” she asked.
Cameron nodded and looked out at the dance floor. A man a little older than him was holding a beautiful woman in a long red dress. His hands rested on her hips as they moved slowly to the music.He leaned down and whispered something in her ear, and the woman turned to him and smiled like he was the only thing that mattered in the world.
It had been a shitty night, and all Cameron wanted was to hold Jackson like that right now. He wanted to breathe in her scent and feel her breasts against his chest. Hell, he wanted a lot more than that, but at this point, he was desperate enoughto settle for a dance. And he hated dancing. This was only more evidence of how screwed up in the head he was over this woman.
“I’m so sorry I was in the way tonight,” she said.
He frowned. “It’s my job to deal with any circumstances that arise.”
She was quiet. Cameron took a steadying breath and turned to Jackson. She was watching the other couples, too.
“You wanna dance?” hesaid roughly.
Jackson studied him for a moment. “Are you asking me?”
“Yes, I’m asking you.”
Smooth, asshole.
“Sorry,” he mumbled.
She glanced around the room, and he followed her gaze. It was a discreet crowd, used to attention, used to blocking out everyone else around them. Perfect. He took a step closer and ran his hand down the smooth, bare skin of her arm.
“We’re surroundedby people with royal titles and Academy Awards. No one here gives a shit about you and me.” He shoved his hands in his pockets. “If you want to dance, let’s do it.”
The corners of Jackson’s mouth turned up. “You really are a charmer, Cameron Blackmore.”
