“Too what?”
“Too…intimate or date-ish.”
“Date-ish?” I ask, smiling. There’s something so cute and adorable about the way she says things sometimes.
“Yeah, date-ish. I have a fondness for non-words. You got a problem with that?” she teases with mock bravado.
“No, ma’am,” I say, holding up my hands in surrender.
“Good, so, you know, something casual and fun. That’s it.”
“And what’s your father going to say about this?” I ask, leaning back in my chair and crossing my arms over my chest.
“Well, here’s the thing. He’ll be out of town for a couple days, going up North to check on a couple horses before those buyers come down. I thought we could do it then. He wouldn’t even have to know.”
“Hiding things from Daddy? Ooo, I like it. Sounds dirty. And forbidden.”
It makes me think of sneaking into her room in the middle of the night, when the house is still and she’s asleep. Waking her up with a kiss and peeling whatever she sleeps in off her body. Unless she sleeps in the nude…
I don’t mean to groan out loud. It just slips out.
“What’s the matter?”
“Oh, uh, nothing. Sorry. Just thinking. Um, that sounds fine. I’m sure Rus will be fine with it. I think everyone but her boyfriend saw him drooling over her.”
She laughs. “Yeah, I think so.” We both get quiet and she finally clears her throat and asks, “So how about Sunday night?”
“You know Sooty might be back by then, right?”
“Well, if he is, he’ll be in his apartment. What time does he usually turn in?”
I shrug. “I don’t know. I’m not usually here at night. I think he tries to finish up by six or so every evening.”
“That works. We could just come down about eight or so.”
“Okay, we’ll give it a shot.”
“Here’s the thing, though. Can you just tell Rusty that you want him to come hang out? Jenna doesn’t want him to think he’s being, like, set up or anything.”
“I can do that.”
“You think he’ll come?”
“For free beer? Oh, hell yeah. Rusty’s a cheap date.”
“How ‘bout you? Are you a cheap date?”
“I’m even cheaper than that. I’ve been known to work for kisses before.”
She leans back in her chair, too. A smile plays around the edges of her mouth. “Really?”
“No, I never work for kisses. But I’d be willing to make an exception.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE - Cami
I know why I’m so nervous. Somehow—and I’m still not sure whose willpower I’m using—I’ve managed to stay away from the stable for two whole days. Of course, it helped knowing that I had definite plans to see Trick tonight with Jenna and Rusty. Now, the time is at hand and I’m not sure my stomach can take it. I think it must’ve tied itself in at least a dozen knots already.
Daddy has been keeping me super busy, so that helped me stay put. I have no doubt he’s doing it on purpose, too. But he’s gone now. Left earlier this evening. Now, there’s no one to keep tabs on me. Or on the stable.
I turn away from the mirror when I hear the knock at my door. As I suspect, it’s Jenna. She’s wearing short shorts and a huge grin.
“Have I told you how freakin’ awesome you are? Because if not, I should totally be flogged.”
I put a finger to my chin in thought. “Might have to go with the flogging, as I don’t seem to remember hearing you go on and on about my awesomeness.”
“Well, it’ll have to wait. I might be doing some flogging of my own tonight. What what!”
“Just gonna jump right in there, huh?”
“If the temperature’s right, I just might.”
I roll my eyes heavenward.
“Don’t roll those eyes at me. I’m just doing what you’re too afraid to do.”
“And what’s that?”
“Go out there and get what I want.”
“Yeah, but only since Trevor was already heading in the let’s-see-other-people direction.”
“Cam, let me tell you something. I think I would’ve done it anyway. This guy…I don’t know. He does something to me. For days now I’ve been like ‘Trevor who?’”
“Suuuuure.”
“I’m serious. There’s something different about him. About the way he makes me feel.”
“And you know this after meeting him once for a few minutes?”
“Don’t be a hater. I know it sounds crazy, but can’t you just go with it? God, you’re such a Debbie Downer.”
“I’m sorry, Jen. I don’t mean to be. I’m just…”
“I know. I know exactly what you are. You’re nuts about Trick and you’re being a stubborn jackass. And now you’re making yourself miserable. Is that about it?”
I look at Jenna, standing in the center of my room in her Daisy Dukes with her hand on her hip and a smug look on her face, and I’ve never loved her more. She just doesn’t pull any punches.
“You know what? You’re right. But my situation is a bit more complicated than yours. At least give me that.”
“Daddy issues are not exclusive to you, Cami.”
“It’s not just about him. Well, not like you’re thinking. Trick really needs this job. I mean he needs it. What if I mess that up for him?”
“He’s a big boy. Maybe he thinks you’re worth the risk. If he doesn’t, then he’s not worth the risk.”
“Maybe I’m not.”
“Of course you are! Look at you.” Jenna walks over to me and puts her hands on my shoulders to turn me around toward the mirror. She stands behind me, a good bit taller than me. “You’re gorgeous. You’re smart. You’re sweet. You’re funny. You’ve got legs that go for miles and an ass I’d kill for. Any man in his right mind would risk death for you!”
“And I’m sure you’re not the least bit biased. Or jacked up on caffeine.”
“One Red Bull hardly counts as ‘jacked up’,” she says giving me a “look.”
“I guess we’d better get going then before it wears off.”