by Bowie, Emily
We hang up, and I toss my phone to the passenger seat just as I see police lights turn on behind me.
As much as my dad likes to lecture me about how much better these old trucks are, I would have never been pulled over in one of my new ones.
Pulling over, I roll down my window, ready to get my ticket for talking on my phone.
CHAPTER 27
If this was Rhett’s house, I would have picked up what looked like the most expensive, breakable item and tossed it down the stairs at him. Taking a deep breath, I try to rein in my temper, knowing this is neither of our houses.
Going right to my phone, I dial my best friend, needing to hear her voice, to tell me being here is a good idea. She’s always my voice of reason, the practical one. It rings and rings till I hang up.
Next, I call Mindy, my assistant, to check in with her. “How’s Texas?” she asks right away.
“How was letting Rhett kidnap me a good idea?” I ask her.
“Camilla, the media was all over your hospital stay and Kellie gave the go-ahead for you.”
“Since when do either of them control what I do?” I can feel my anxiousness start to rise.
“Camilla, I talked to you, and you said it was okay. But I felt you weren’t quite yourself, so I checked in with Kellie to be sure.”
I hate hearing the worried tone of her voice. I hadn’t realized I also gave the okay to do this.
“It’s fine, Mindy. And this small town is quaint. I should be rested in no time. When’s my next engagement?”
“One week. Let me know when to have the plane ready to pick you up.”
We hang up shortly after discussing what the first week of me being back is going to look like. I sit on the bed, hoping Rhett plans on coming back, but I know better. There’s a reason no one gets too close to him. As soon as he feels like someone is, he pushes them away.
Slowly, I open the bedroom door, looking to see if anyone is around. The house is silent except for soft music coming from downstairs. Rounding the corner, I see Shay sitting in her living room with a mug in her hand. “Hi,” I greet her, taking a seat on the opposite couch from her.
“Rhett hasn’t even been gone for an hour and he’s sending you flowers.” She nods to the small coffee table between us with a beautiful array of flowers.
Leaning over, I pluck the card that has my name scribbled on it and nothing else. Just like all the times before. I want to ask her how she knows but think twice about it. She would know her brother’s writing.
“He works fast,” I say more to myself than anything, wondering why he wouldn’t hand-deliver them to me himself.
“How long have you two been together?” she asks, turning toward me.
“Not too long,” I try to answer as honestly as possible, hating the idea of lying to his family. “Does he normally have a certain time he brings his girlfriend home?”
She chuckles, taking another sip from her colorful mug. “Yeah, never.”
“And here I thought he was a lady’s man.” I smirk, trying to downplay it all.
“I have a feeling we both know Rhett’s always been a player, but you two are different. He’s different around you.”
I wish that didn’t bring a smile to my face, but it does. How can a man who gets under my skin so much bring out all these other feelings?
“Where is the man of the hour?” I ask, noticing he doesn’t seem to be around. I should be pissed he left me without saying a word, but I feel relieved. I don’t think I could face him right now.
“He went to the ranch.”
“The same ranch he can’t breathe at.” It’s not a question but more of a statement, proving to me that Rhett will go to all lengths to push his feelings away along with anyone who’s ever gotten close to him.
“Does he run away from everything?” I regret asking it as soon as I open my big mouth, unsure how protective Shay is of her brother.
Her laugh is warm as she answers me. “He did run to Nashville and didn’t return home for almost a decade.”
Silence fills the room as I lean back, closing my eyes and feeling eerily comfortable in a stranger’s home. It’s only been a couple days and I can’t remember the last time I had this much downtime.
“Are you two coming out Saturday for Sloan’s birthday party?” Shay breaks my train of thought.
I shrug. “Rhett hasn’t mentioned anything about it.” Or anything else about his family, I add silently to myself.
“Want to head out to go shopping? My parents have the boys right now, and a new boutique just opened up in town.”
It would be nice to have someone other than Rhett to talk to here, so I nod, curious what type of shopping exists in towns this far off the map.
*
Walking into the house, I see Camilla and Shay sitting comfortably on the couch. I get one look before Camilla turns her head, ignoring me, while Shay gives me a grim nod. Camilla’s mad; I can practically see her vibrate in her seat.
Heading to the kitchen, I grab a drink. My throat is itchy from so many animals near me. When I come back to the family room, Camilla stands up and heads for the stairs.
“Did you girls have fun today?” I ask her as she comes toward me. Shay kept me updated that they were going shopping while I hung out with my brothers. Neither of them understands what I’m going through and told me to man up. It was the hard truth I needed to hear.
“Thanks for today.” Camilla looks to Shay before passing me, heading up the stairs.
I look to Shay, who is shaking her head at me. Because I seem to like punishment, I follow her up the stairs. Camilla is fluffing the pillows before throwing one on the floor. I stand in the doorway, watching her take her frustrations out on the bedding.
“What did that pillow ever do to you?” I try to make a joke.
Her hair whips around before her body has a chance to catch up. Those dark eyes narrow on me, her fingers flexing.
“You’re an asshole,” she bluntly says.
I nod slowly. “I’m sorry.” Scratching my head, I try to go for honesty. “I’m not good at this.”
“You’re sorry?” She crosses her arms over her chest, looking angrier than before.
“Come on, you were thinking of doing the same thing.” I could see it in her expression. She is as scared as me. We’re two of the same person; sometimes I think it’s one of the reasons why we fight so much.
She holds up a finger to stop me. “I was thinking of the same? That’s your reasoning?” She pauses, staring me down as her chest rises and falls. “Was I an asshole to you to deserve this?”
I think about it. “No, but I am trying.”
“You’re trying? Bullshit. You freaked out and took it out on me. You know why? You never take responsibility for your actions. It’s always someone else’s fault.” She goes to the closet and tosses a blanket on the floor next to the pillow.
“If you don’t like it—” She looks to the bedding on the floor. “—go sleep in the barn.”
“Camilla, we need to talk this out. What do you want me to do?” I ask her, hoping she gives me some direction.
“I want you to sleep on the fucking floor,” she responds, full of fire as she pulls back her covers, hopping in fully clothed. She turns her back to me and huffs.
“Do you forgive me?” I pry, and she turns around to face me.
“You have done nothing to earn my forgiveness, so no.”
*
Turning my back to him, I allow the tears to fall. I had been trying so hard to keep it in today and not let him bother me. I just thought we turned a corner with each other. We felt different, and I liked it.
I cry silently, letting it all out. It’s been years since I’ve allowed myself to do this. I’ve felt so much pressure on myself, and now that Rhett has taken me away to where there is no pressure, I feel overwhelmed.
I have to remind myself to take a step back. Rhett and I are not real. He needs to keep me to keep him from messing up his caree
r. I’m just another one of his people; I’m nothing more. If I can remember this, I might come out unscratched and my heart intact.
CHAPTER 28
Camilla has been actively ignoring me. She and Shay seem to have become new best friends. I feel horrible, how I acted. I’m honestly trying, and I still seem to mess things up. This is why I never did relationships. I was never good at them. This is the first time I wish I had more swagger when it came to Camilla. Instead, I keep pushing her away. What makes me feel like more of an asshole is when I get home, she has allergy medicine on the bedside table for me with some fancy eye drops that help with scratchy, red eyes.
I’m starting to think Camilla has zero flaws. She makes it easy to fall for her. Trying to be on my best behavior and to mend the fence between us, I come groveling with coffee that is better than Starbucks, knowing how much she likes her fancy drinks.
“Good morning.” I slip into our room where she is placing her clothing on our made bed. It looks like she has three different outfits lying flat on the covers. For a second, my heart spikes thinking she’s packing to leave.
“I brought you a vanilla latte.” Staying by the door, I dangle it, trying to make peace. Keeping my distance, I watch her as she inspects the items on the bed. Her back is still to me as I contemplate if it’s safe to walk in, not putting it past her to throw something at my head.
Looking over her shoulder, she eyes the cup up and down, clearly unimpressed. “I thought I saw a Starbucks in town,” she states, going back to whatever she’s doing.
“I can vouch that this coffee is better than Starbucks.”
She turns toward me. “I think you’re forgetting I grew up in a small town too, and nothing compares to Starbucks.”
“One sip,” I coax. “If Starbucks is better, then we’ll do anything you want.”
She takes the cup from my hands, smelling it like it’s some foreign food. “I wasn’t under the impression you wanted to hang out today. So I made other plans.” She shrugs, obviously still upset with me, before turning back to the clothes. Stepping forward, I look at the outfits on the bed, trying not to seem like I’m watching her too closely.
Almost instinctively, she places the cup to her lips. Surprise flashes through her eyes, realizing I may be right before her lips curl upward. Not wanting to lose my courage, and knowing she’s somewhat distracted by the coffee, I blurt out, “I’m sorry for how I treated you on that show you were on. They were looking for someone to shake things up, and I didn’t mean any of it. I thought you were breathtaking.”
Her eyebrow lifts. I can’t help but think back to that day, when our feud started. I want to put that all past us, and I feel like we can, but I’ve done some horrible things I’m not proud of. It feels good to get that off my chest. I watch her for any reaction, trying to get us to a better place. I’m tired of us fighting.
“Tastes like cardboard,” she complains, placing the paper cup on the dresser and ignoring my apology like I never said a word. She’s as stubborn as an ox, and I know I’m not much better.
“I guess it’s lady’s choice then,” I answer, taking a step deeper into the room, feeling that pull she has on me.
“We’re going to Sloan’s birthday party this weekend,” she states matter-of-factly.
I stare down at her, watching her, willing her eyes to connect with mine. “You’re here to rest,” I tell her firmly. I can feel my frustration begin to rise. She heightens all my emotions, making me feel crazy at times. “I picked you up from the hospital, because of exhaustion.” I throw her lie at her, hoping she will correct me and tell me the real reason.
“And now I’m rested and becoming stir crazy.” Her back straightens, and she has that determined look in her dark eyes. She’s ready for a fight and won’t back down.
“We’re not going,” I argue, wishing we could communicate better. I want to scream at her to tell me what’s wrong, so I can help her.
Stepping into me, she wields her body so she stands tall against me, prepared for a battle. “There is no ‘we’ last time I checked, and you made that very clear yesterday.”
“We are a ‘we’ until otherwise decided,” I spew, hating how my heart races thinking of the day she will no longer be in my space annoying me every day.
“Well, I just decided.” Her smile is forced as she glares at me.
This woman drives me crazy. I swear she purposely tries to fight with me.
“The fuck you do.” I close the gap so we are standing toe-to-toe, her breasts pushing into my chest, allowing me to feel her deep breaths. “We’re in this together, making us a couple in every sense of the term. We are emotionally tied together and have been intimate. That there is more than half of all marriages. We’re not done till I say we are.”
“Looks like I’m saying it for the two of us.” She smirks at me as I feel my breath heave.
Grasping the back of her head, I kiss her. I move her body how I want, showing her it’s not only me who wants to be in this thing we have together. She melts right into me, not fighting me at all.
*
I’m being driven crazy. Rhett refuses to see anything other than his way. He’s brazen and difficult. Then he does these sweet gestures with apologies, confusing me. I know he’s worried and trying to help me, but he refuses to think before he acts and see how his actions could affect me.
He catches me off guard by grabbing the back of my head and kissing me. Man, he can kiss. It reminds me that he’s not afraid of me and will make sure I’m protected. He may not be doing it how I want it, but he’s trying to show me it’s the only way he knows how.
His lips sweep down to toward my stomach as he pulls off my shirt, kissing his way up till he pushes my lacy cup down so he can lick and suck on my nipple. I’m putty in his hands now. Not only can he push my buttons to make me angry, but he has the opposite effect on my body. I’m immediately wet because of him. He already knows my body better than I do.
I arch my back, closing my eyes, feeling his fingers pinch at my other nipple. My breast is half out of my bra, aching for him.
“I hate fighting with you,” he confesses, switching sides. “I’m trying here.”
My hands go under his shirt, feeling his abs, before they begin to work on his belt. It quickly becomes unclasped as I free his cock from his pants. It’s hard, feeling smooth to my touch. I can’t help smiling as I realize he’s completely bare down there, taking my advice while he continues to grow a beard on his face.
“I couldn’t have you disappointed.” His fingers unclasp my bra as he looks at me, reading my thoughts.
I wish he wasn’t so handsome with that smile on his face. I have to admit there is something about Three Rivers that relaxes him. He’s never this carefree in the city.
“I’m sorry for being an asshole,” he breathes out with a half-smile. “All of the times.”
He looks so damn sincere I believe him. My heart wants to jump out into his. I have a feeling Rhett Steele will break me before we’re done; he has that much power, and he doesn’t even realize it. That’s the scariest part of this pull he has on me. In the end, he may not even realize what he’s done until it’s too late.
His fingers catch my chin. “Please tell me you believe me.”
I want to say yes, because I do, but I can’t. I’m still holding myself back as much as I can. If he keeps confessing all of his sins to me, I might let myself fall in love with him. Instead, I drop to my knees, placing a kiss on the top of his crown before my tongue swirls his tip, taking him till he hits the back of my throat.
My hand squeezes and jerks his base that won’t fit as I suck and twirl my tongue, making him groan out. His fingers glide into my hair, helping guide me as he keeps saying too many sweet things.
“Fuck, Camilla, you’re perfect.” I take him in deeper, hoping to make him quiet. “I have always wanted the world to see us together, because I think we can be explosive together. You’re the only person to make me want to be a bet
ter person.” He groans more as I suck harder.
His hands start trying to push me away as I feel him get closer to orgasming, making me suck as hard as I can as I drag my lips up and down his length till he pulls himself out of my mouth, making a pop sound.
“When I come, it’ll be in you.” He picks me up before I can stand, placing me on our bed over my clothes. His hands are pulling my pants off faster than I can shimmy out of them. It takes less than three seconds to sheath himself with a condom before he’s pushing into me. “I love how wet you get for me.”
Our bodies thrust together, his lips going to my neck—his favorite place to be. His hand holds himself up while his other finds my nipple again. I’m on sensory overload. Rhett Steele is the perfect lover.
My body vibrates everywhere as my orgasm starts to build. Rhett thrusts deep, taking my lips and kissing me like I’m his. It’s deep and soft, the complete opposite of our movements.
“Fuck, Camilla I think I’m falling in love with you,” he confesses.
My hands go to his shoulders, holding on hard, hiding my face from his as I hold back the tears. I think I love him too. That fact alone tips our dynamic, making him far too powerful over me.
Our orgasms hit at the same time. I have to bite down on his shoulder to keep from screaming out his name.
We lie there, with him still in me, silent. Our labored breaths the only thing to be heard.
Did Rhett mean what he said? Is this all just part of the plan? Does he regret saying it? Should I say something? Maybe I can pretend I didn’t hear him.
Pulling himself up, he places a finger to my lips. “Don’t ruin it by saying anything.” His deep voice is low and husky. Removing his finger, he replaces it with a soft kiss. “I’m willing to fight for you, Camilla, and show you I mean it.” His grin curves his lips upward and he’s back to confident Rhett.
CHAPTER 29
Leaving the house has me smiling, knowing that I won. I still drank the cup of coffee he brought me, get to go to Sloan’s birthday, and do something fun with Rhett. Not that I would tell him that.
