“This place.” He tossed aside the newspaper and flung an arm over the back of the sofa. “I saw a set I’d like to buy, and I want to get your opinion.”
Simone settled closer to his side and glanced around the room. “Hmm…good idea.”
He cleared his throat loudly.
“I just mean that you could use an update,” she said quickly.
He chuckled. “Yeah, I know. When I lived with a roommate, all the furniture belonged to him, and my parents gave me all this when they downsized so I’d have something to sit on when I moved in. It’s time to finally get new pieces, and since you’re here…”
“You figured you could use my expertise.”
“Expertise? Ha.”
Cameron rose from the seat, taking the comfortable heat of his body with him.
“Don’t be difficult, Cam. You know you need my expertise. My mother designs furniture, after all. Her eye for design and layout rubbed off on me.”
“I guess we’ll see, won’t we?”
Simone was excited that he actually wanted to get her opinion on the furniture he was going to decorate his house with and would not let his smart aleck comments quell her excitement. “When are we leaving?” she asked.
“In thirty minutes.” Cameron picked up the empty mugs and her plate and went into the kitchen.
“Thirty minutes! You know I need thirty minutes to take a shower.”
“You’re going to have to cut that short today, sweetheart.”
“I have to get clean, Cam.” She followed and stood at the window of the kitchen, watching him put the dishes in the dishwasher.
“Do you have more dirt on your body than everybody else? Ten minutes, max, is all you need.”
“You’re insane.”
“If you take longer than ten minutes, I’m leaving you.”
“You can’t. You said you need my help.”
“Watch me.”
“You’re awful.” Simone crossed her arms over her chest.
Cameron sauntered out of the kitchen and came to stand in front of her. “Look at you pouting. You act that way because you’ve gotten your way your whole life.” His gaze lowered to her breasts, where the nipples protruded at the front of his shirt. “If you want more time, you’re going to have to pay for it.”
Her ears perked up. “Oh, really?” Simone stuck out her breasts even more.
“Mmm-hmm.” He lifted the tail of the shirt and palmed her waist, pulling her close enough to encounter the semi-erect bulge at the front of his pants.
“So how do you expect me to pay for those extra twenty minutes?” Simone whispered, her loins tingling in response to the close contact.
“You’ll have to pay for them on your back,” he replied with a wolfish grin.
“Cam!”
“Cam!” he mocked. He kissed her neck and sucked gently on the skin. “It’s your fault for looking so sexy in my clothes. How am I supposed to be good with you walking around like this, hmm? No bra. Skin so soft. Smelling good.”
Simone rested her forehead against his chest and inhaled the manly scent of his skin. He paid her compliments all the time. Spontaneous and unprovoked words of affection, even when she didn’t feel she looked her best, like today, with her hair uncombed, no makeup, and not a designer label in sight. She would have to think of a way to make him feel good, too. To demonstrate how deeply she cared for and appreciated him.
He plucked an earlobe into her mouth.
“Cam,” Simone moaned, arching her throat and lifting her arms around his neck.
He drew a sharp breath. “I love the way you say my name.” He ran his hands slowly down her back and grabbed her ass.
Her heart soared as he lifted her from the floor, and her legs quickly and automatically wrapped around his waist.
An energetic kiss ensued when she closed her mouth over his—a kiss that had Simone grinding against him and left them both groaning and breathless.
Cameron looked at her with slits for eyes. “Sex first, then furniture, then groceries. Sound like a plan?”
“Best plan I’ve ever heard.”
Letting out a deep, throaty laugh, he proceeded to climb the stairs with her still wrapped around him.
Chapter 16
With her hand tucked securely in Cameron’s, Simone strolled through the ginormous furniture outlet. In the month since they’d been seeing each other regularly, they’d fallen into a routine that fit their opposing schedules. When they could, they spent mornings and weekdays together. Simone scheduled her appointments as late in the day as she could, so she could leave his loft as late as possible before starting the day.
Some nights they ate dinner together before he went to work, and she stayed behind to catch up on foundation business—sending emails, setting appointments, and reviewing financials. By the time he got off in the wee hours of the morning, she was asleep, but when he climbed into the bed, the movement always woke her up. She would pout and complain because she hated her sleep being disturbed. Then he’d brush the hair from the back of her neck and shush her with delicate kisses until she snuggled into his warm embrace and fell back asleep.
Shopping was another one of the routine tasks they did together. He was very particular about the ingredients he used in the meals he prepared, and she’d seen him argue quite passionately about produce at the farmer’s market. It turned her on that a man so rugged and outdoorsy had such a caring side, where he insisted on feeding the people he cared about only the best available.
They’d even developed a comfortable rhythm in the kitchen, where they took turns being executive chef and sous chef, exploring new dishes and experimenting with textures and flavors. He showed her proper knife technique and offered tips and shortcuts on processes in the kitchen. His constant encouragement and patience gave her the confidence to try new recipes and branch out from the basics.
“You’re back.” A salesman wearing a gray suit approached with a big smile and his hand extended.
Cameron shook his hand. “I brought my lady with me this time to get her opinion.”
My lady. That was the first time he’d used that term to describe her, and Simone blushed with pleasure.
“Hello, I’m Brent.” The man’s voice blasted across the short distance and with an engaging smile attached.
“Simone.” She smiled back.
“Come on, let’s go check out your furniture,” Brent said, jerking his head toward the back of the store.
The showroom contained contemporary and traditional pieces bearing huge signs with the regular prices slashed through, and the low prices big, bright, and bold. Simone had come to learn that Cameron was very conservative when it came to spending money. He’d lived with a roommate for years to save for the ideal home in a hot and trendy part of town. Now that he was ready to get furniture, it made sense that he was taking his time, trying to find the perfect collection for the place he called home.
“How’s your daughter doing?” Cameron asked Brent, as they followed.
Simone eyed the different furniture groupings, making mental notes as they walked along.
“We have a few more surgeries before the doctors think she’ll completely recover, but you know how it is. Everything costs so damn much.” He glanced at Simone over his shoulder. “Pardon my language.”
“It’s okay. If you don’t mind my asking, what’s wrong with your daughter?”
“A few years ago, she was burned pretty badly in a fire in a newly built home my wife and I bought. The investigators said it was faulty wiring, and we’ve been fighting with the builder for the past couple of years to get them to pay. They refuse to admit any wrongdoing. Our insurance covers most of the medical bills, but not all, and my daughter’s being treated by a specialist in Texas. The flights back and forth, the hotel stays, everything—it’s adding up.” He swallowed and let out a puff of air. “All I care about is making sure my kid feels better, you know?”
Simone nodded her understanding. “I work for a foundati
on that may be able to help. Do you have a card?” she asked.
Brent stopped walking and glanced between her and Cameron. “Really? I sure do.” He pulled a card from inside his jacket and handed it to her.
“I can’t promise anything. You’d have to fit within program guidelines, but I can certainly look into it and have someone get back to you.”
His face lit up with hope. “Thank you, I appreciate that so much. You have no idea.”
“I’m not promising you anything,” Simone said cautiously.
“I understand, I understand. I appreciate you even trying.” Brent grinned. “All right, you came here to talk furniture. Let’s do that.” He pointed at a set. “This is the one you were interested in, right?” he asked Cameron.
“This is it,” Cameron confirmed.
Simone pursed her lips at the collection of heavy chairs in dark leather and tables in mahogany wood. “It’s nice…”
“But?” Both men said.
“You have a lot of space to fill,” she said to Cameron. “And…I think your place could use a little warmth and light. How about…” She turned in a semicircle, scanning the open space. Pointing, she said, “Those pillows. You can take the two leather sofas, but soften them with that purple chaise lounge over there. After all, purple is your favorite color. Then…” She tapped her lips and turned again, her gaze flicking over various pieces. “When we came in, I saw a tan loveseat that would look nice with that chocolate chair and a few pillows. Add another table and some furnishings, and you have two sitting areas. One near the window and near your office alcove in front of the fireplace.” She placed both hands on her hips and waited for feedback.
“Actually, she makes a good point.” Brent looked back and forth at the various options Simone pointed out.
“Would it be a problem for me to mix and match like that?” Cameron asked.
“Not at all. We can make it work.”
“And it creates a more eclectic look, which is perfect for the loft,” Simone added.
Cameron nodded slowly. “I think you’re right.” A broad grin spread across his face.
Simone eased over and slipped an arm around his waist. “Lucky you, I was available to lend my expertise.”
“Yes, lucky me.” He dropped a kiss to her mouth. “All right, Brent. Thanks a lot.”
“Are we getting the furniture today?” Brent asked hopefully.
“I need to pick out a few more things, find some accent pieces. And I need to get rid of the furniture I have now. I’ll sell it or give it away or something. So…I’ll give you a call in a few weeks?”
“Sounds good. I’ll make a note of everything you liked here.”
Hand in hand, Cameron and Simone scoured the showroom. They didn’t find other pieces he could use, so they took a trip to two more stores, choosing light fixtures and accent tables.
By the time they finished, Simone was exhausted but oddly exhilarated. Normally, she would have had a designer or her assistant handle shopping details, but spending the day with Cameron made her feel like she was part of a couple.
Every time he used the word “we” in reference to the choices for his loft, her insides did a happy dance. And even though she was doing things she wouldn’t normally, with a man she never thought she’d be so content with, for the first time in a long time she felt she might be on the right track.
Chapter 17
Cameron took a good look at his reflection in the full-length mirror in his bedroom. The tuxedo fit perfectly. But of course it did. It was Italian and custom made for him, all of which had been paid for by Simone. The tailor she chose sent over the tux, along with a pair of black Italian-made shoes.
This wasn’t the first time Simone had plunked down a heap of money for a gift, but it was certainly the most money she’d spent so far. The gold money clip and high-end wireless headphones were nothing compared to this entire ensemble.
He rolled his neck, trying to release the tension and unease he felt about the fact that his woman had paid for his clothes. Thousands of dollars, no less.
“Shake it off, Cam.”
Money was no object to Simone, and while he certainly wasn’t poor, he still had to get used to the idea of spending the kind of cash she did. His sister, Harper, tended to spend quite a bit of money, too, but her spending habits were nothing compared to Simone’s, a woman who rode around the city with a driver, employed a personal assistant, and spent an exorbitant amount on everything from clothes to cosmetics. Meanwhile, he had put off buying furniture for a whole year because he didn’t want to go into debt, and then the furniture he intended to buy, while high end, was marked down at an outlet store. He couldn’t imagine Simone ever walking into an outlet store and buying anything.
His most extravagant expenditures were his house, which he managed to get at a good price because it was a foreclosure, and his Lexus SUV, his dream car and a gift to himself for accomplishing his goal with his siblings of making Club Masquerade such a success.
Tonight he and Simone were on their way to the Fox Theatre where her mother was screening a documentary and having a fundraiser. The documentary provided an uncensored report about the outdated practice of child brides still prevalent in some parts of the world. Tonight’s fundraiser would bring attention to the devastating effects of this practice, and fund economic and education initiatives that would benefit the young girls. Simone wanted to go not only to support her mother, but because it was one of the projects she worked on at the Johnson Foundation.
The phone beside the bed rang. When he answered, Simone said, “I’m downstairs.”
“I’ll be down in a few.”
Cameron shook off the hesitation, left the loft, and met her downstairs. A limo idled in front of the building with Simone’s driver standing beside it. When Cameron appeared, the man opened the door and he climbed in. Within seconds, they were on their way.
Simone looked amazing in a shimmery gold one-shoulder dress that clasped her hourglass figure, and diamond earrings so long they touched her shoulders. He’d lost track of all the jewelry she owned. She seemed to own a piece to match every article of clothing in her closet.
She chose a simple hairstyle tonight, parted on one side and pulled back into a neat bun. She often complained about her hair—its thickness and the long hours her personal stylist spent washing and drying it. But he loved her hair. Especially when the raven strands spread out across his pillows in moments of unguarded laughter, or unbridled passion as his body plunged into hers, each thrust fighting to quench the unchecked desire she evoked every time she came near.
“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.
“Thinking about how beautiful you are and how lucky I am,” Cameron answered.
She smiled at the compliment, all dimples and pearly white teeth. “You deserve a kiss for that,” she said, and placed a gentle one on his mouth as a reward.
“Mmm. Thank you.” Cameron tugged the lapel of the tuxedo. “What do you think?”
“You look perfect, but there’s one thing missing.” She opened her hand and displayed two russet-brown cufflinks resting in her palm. “You can thank Adele for finding these. They’re Tateossian cufflinks. Eighteen karat gold and finished with dinosaur bone.”
Surely he didn’t hear her correctly. “Did you say dinosaur bone? You’re kidding, right?”
“No, it’s real dinosaur bone.”
Apparently, wearing the bones of a prehistoric animal was no big deal to her. Meanwhile, he was speechless.
Her cell phone rang and he stared at the cufflinks in his hand. How much did these things cost? Four hundred dollars? Five? He didn’t even want to know.
He removed the ones he wore and slipped the new cufflinks into the holes at his wrists. Simone spent the rest of the ride on the phone, talking to her mother about the list of guests, all of whom sounded very important.
At one point, she sent him an apologetic grimace and he smiled reassuringly, wordlessly lettin
g her know he understood. Even though Simone was there to support her mother, she planned to make full use of her time by networking with the donors on hand.
Fundraising was work. Work she enjoyed, but work nonetheless. Tonight he’d have a chance to see her in her element, and meet her mother and siblings.
Simone had warned him about the spectacle he could expect, but he was still ill-prepared for the flash of cameras and the people who constantly approached in an effort to get her attention. Cameron held back and let her work, blinded by the sea of jewelry, designer gowns, and tuxedos, and quietly grateful she had purchased the clothes for him, even if it did make him a little uncomfortable.
Eventually they made their way to the table where her sister Ella and brothers Reese and Stephan sat.
“Nice to meet you,” he said, greeting each of them with a shake of the hand.
They were all three friendly but cautious—quietly observing after each introduction.
Her mother sat at the head table with the filmmakers. Eventually, the director and producer spoke to the audience about their project, giving an explanation of why they chose this subject matter, the process, and obstacles they faced while filming. At the very end they introduced their benefactor—Sylvie Johnson—and thanked her for believing in the project.
With a glowing introduction, Sylvie took the stage to a round of applause. She was the epitome of style and elegance in a floor length, sleeveless gown littered with jewels, and even more in her ears, on her wrists, and around her neck. She only spoke for a few minutes about her work and support of projects other investors considered unmarketable, but when she finished, she received a standing ovation.
The meal of prime rib and truffled potatoes smelled and tasted delicious. But halfway through dinner, Cameron lost his appetite listening to the somber-faced girls discuss their plight on film. Not even the narrator’s explanation that these practices are often initiated as a form of protection or to ensure the girls’ economic security could get him to eat another bite.
At the end of the evening, the lights went up, and that’s when he finally met Simone’s people. The rich and very rich.
A Passionate Love Page 9
