Kiss Cam (With A Kiss Book 1)

by Anie Michaels

  Hadley was in the corner and Justin looked as though he would eat her up given the chance. Her back was to a wall and his arm rested next to her face, his own face a hairbreadth from hers. Justin and Hadley were in relationship purgatory, as I liked to call it. They both wanted each other—Justin a little more forthright with his feelings than Hadley—but they couldn’t seem to get on the same page. From what Cam had told me, Justin wasn’t usually an all or nothing kind of guy. He liked to play the field and enjoyed being single, and she was the same way. But when it came to Hadley, he was desperate to claim her, to snatch her up and make sure no one else got even a whiff of her. He’d pee a circle around her if he thought it would work.

  She needed time and he needed to prove that she wasn’t just a challenge, that he wanted her for more than only her body, and that she wasn’t a trophy to him.

  “I’ve been looking all over for you.” I heard his voice and, like always, something inside me shifted back into place. It was incredibly inconvenient for my independent heart, but when Cam was around, I became whole again. I turned toward the sound of his voice and when I saw him, I tried really hard not to drool.

  He was clean-shaven with a brand-new haircut, and he was wearing the sexiest tuxedo I’d ever seen.

  I was an event planner. If I’d seen one man in a tux, I’d seen a million. But Camden Rogers in a tuxedo was a wet dream. Put his image in the middle of a magazine and I would gladly wallpaper my room with it. The lines of the tux made his shoulders look even broader than normal and I wouldn’t have thought that was possible. He’d skipped the traditional bow tie and opted for a long tie, and it just so happened to be the exact same forest green as my dress.

  “Well, you’ve found me.” My words came out like a breathy whisper and I knew I was already blushing, but there was no hiding my immediate and complete attraction and arousal. I wanted to take his tie off him and let him use it on me.

  His eyes darted down to my wrist where he saw the extravagant bracelet he’d given to me earlier. Two months ago, had he given me the same bracelet, it would have made me run. I would have convinced myself it was a sign of our differences and I would have bailed. But that morning when I saw his expression, the emotions behind his words, as he explained why he’d bought it, well, I never wanted to take it off.

  And it was sparkly as fuck.

  He took two more steps toward me, his hand coming to my hip and his mouth landing on the shell of my ear. “You. Look. Edible.” I felt his grip tighten on my hip. Electricity coursed through me and I wavered on my feet. I leaned my cheek into him, and the smoothness of his face lit me up inside. I was used to scruffy Camden. And while I liked the feeling of his beard, I couldn’t ignore the need to feel his smooth skin between my thighs.

  “How’d you get a tie that matched my dress exactly?”

  “Hadley.”

  “Ahh. Well, you look pretty delectable yourself, Mr. Rogers.”

  He smiled and then looked around the ballroom. “Riley, this is spectacular. You should be really proud of yourself.”

  I took a moment to take in the view as a party guest. It was pretty impressive. I gave a one-shoulder shrug. “It’ll do.” He laughed and kissed my temple at the same time, sending swarms of butterflies soaring in my belly. I slid my hand around his waist, coveting the softness of the expensive fabric of his tux. Everything about him felt good and right. Raising my chin, I met his gaze, and I wanted to tell him I loved him, that I’d been falling for weeks, but I couldn’t push the words out. I didn’t want to tell him that in a room full of strangers.

  “Looks like those two are getting rather cozy with each other.” Following Camden’s gaze, my eyes landed back on Hadley and Justin.

  “Think he’s wearing her down at all?”

  “I don’t know. She seems like she’s only resisting him on principle, and he is picking up on that. He’s waiting for her to crack, to give him something—anything—but he won’t wait around forever.”

  “Well, regardless of what happens between them, can we agree not to let it affect our relationship at all?” Pressing in closer to him, I looked up, wondering how he felt about it all.

  He looked down and pressed a kiss against my forehead. “Never,” he whispered, his lips still warm against my skin.

  “I should probably get back to work.”

  “If you must.” His hand slid down my arm and captured my wrist where my bracelet was. His thumb ran over the diamonds and then his gaze met mine. “I think you’re seated next to me at dinner.”

  My eyes rolled in exasperation. “Your mom is so funny. I know she wants me to feel like a part of the party, but if my boss ever heard that I’d sat down to eat at an event, it would be my last one.”

  “Well, I’ll fight off anyone who tries to sit there regardless.”

  “Fine,” I said with a laugh. I reached up for a kiss, loving that he didn’t hesitate, that he wasn’t the least bit concerned about kissing someone wearing an earpiece who was obviously working the event.

  “Promise me you’ll at least give me one dance, though.”

  I pretended to think about his request, but then a smile broke out over my face because I absolutely could not wait to dance with him. Even if I was technically on the clock.

  The dinner progressed without any large issues. People enjoyed the food and I could see conversations happening throughout the room, against the backdrop of quiet classical and jazz music. I managed to sneak a few minutes to sit down at the Rogers’s table, only to have Meg rave about me to everyone there. She told everyone I was the event coordinator, but then she continued on to tell them all I was also Camden’s girlfriend. He rested his arm over the back of my chair, leaning in close to me, and I tried not to blush. Andrew sat next to Meg, smiling broadly the entire time she was boasting about me. Something about the situation sat funnily with me. It could have been Meg’s verbose bragging about me, or it could have been Andrew’s sudden lack of hatred toward me, but put together and combined, it was unsettling.

  I managed to get a few minutes at the table and then sneak away. As I walked away, Camden tugged on my arm and brought me back for a small kiss, making everyone at the table swoon and let out simultaneous awwwws.

  When the dinner portion of the event was coming to a close, the lights dimmed and a video began playing on the main stage about Angel House. The dim lights were perfect to disguise the wait staff clearing tables while the guests were being informed on where and what their donations would go toward. I’d seen the package before, and it was compelling. The foundation did a lot of good work for families that were victim to domestic abuse. Even though it may have been a meager amount, I was planning on donating toward the cause as well. One would have to be heartless to work on the project and not feel compelled to help. And that’s exactly what we were hoping the package would do for the guests—make them feel good about giving.

  The video ended and I saw a few women dabbing at tears in their eyes. The guilt of making them cry was far outweighed by the hope that those tears would transform into dollar signs. Six weeks of working on this project had given me a renewed sense of responsibility. This was good work. Sure, from the outside in, it looked like decorating and picking the right floral arrangements, the right food, but good work on my end equaled more help for those in need. That was a responsibility I took very seriously, and I hoped at the end of the night I could see great results for everyone involved.

  The lights went up and the announcement was made that dessert, coffee, and cocktails would be available downstairs, along with the silent auction. Guests stood and I watched as my team got to work.

  “Riley, Riley, come in, Riley.” I smiled at Jasper’s excited walkie lingo.

  “I’m here, Jasper. You only have to say my name once.”

  “Well, this is important. Indigo Ale is here and they are ready to set up.”

  Jasper’s excitement was now running through me. “Excellent timing. The top ballroom is ready for them
.”

  The next hour was a blur of commotion, excitement, and surprising panic. The silent auction was going well, fueled by full bellies and liquor, and the mood in the lower ballroom was jovial. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. I heard titters of people loving the silent auction packages, but also anticipation for the live auction coming later in the evening. I was glad people were excited for the live bidding, but I was also worried people would hold back from bidding on the silent auction.

  “How’s it going?” I asked Jenny, an intern who’d been assigned to help with the event. “Have we gotten a lot of bids?”

  “I think so. I’m only in charge of these four tables,” she said, gesturing around her, “but there has been a steady line of people dropping bids. I think it’s going really well so far.” She smiled brightly at me and I patted her shoulder.

  “Great job. Thanks for your help tonight.”

  “No problem. This is exciting.”

  I smiled back at her, seeing a little bit of my younger self in her, and made a note to work with her in the future. I could always use an eager and bright woman on my team. Right as I was about to turn to check in on the other tables, a familiar hand came to my waist and slid around to my belly, pulling me back against an equally familiar chest.

  “Watching you work is really fucking sexy. You’re in charge and it does naughty things to me.” He whispered right against my ear and the air brushing over my neck was doing naughty things to me.

  “You’re going to have to control yourself for a few more hours, Cam.” There was a slightly apologetic tone to my words because, honestly, I was a little sorry. I wanted the event to go well, but I also wanted to sink into bed with him, and let him sink into me.

  “If you wanted me to behave myself, you should have worn a different dress.” His words did a good job of sending shivers down my spine and making goose bumps pop up all over my arms. “There has to be a utility closet somewhere in this building I can drag you into.” He said the last words against my neck, and my nipples tingled as they hardened. I was not wearing appropriate clothing to combat hard nipples, so I turned in his arm and pressed my chest up against his, not that it would make my nipples calm down, but at least it would hide them for a moment.

  Get it together, nipples.

  “We can’t, Cam. Not here.”

  “I know, but a guy can dream.”

  “When this is all over, you can take me home and do whatever you want to me.”

  “Oh, is that right?” He smirked as he said the words, his hand smoothing over the curve of my ass, taking a handful and giving it a squeeze.

  “Camden?” I watched as his eyes moved up away from mine and landed on something he wasn’t pleased to see. Or someone. I turned, finding the voice familiar, but couldn’t have prepared for what I would see when I turned around.

  “Sophia.” Camden’s voice was angry and irritated, and his arm tightened around me, even though I was fully turned toward her. “What are you doing here?”

  “Your father invited my whole family.” She said the words with forced innocence, batting her eyelashes. Her eyes fell to me, then to Cam’s hand around my waist.

  “My stepfather,” he corrected, anger thick in his voice.

  “Riley, we’ve got a situation in the kitchen.” Rachel’s voice in my earpiece made me jump, but before I could stop myself, I reached for the button and responded, “I’ll be there ASAP.” I realized my mistake almost immediately, and even if I hadn’t, Sophia made it clear she’d noticed what was going on. She looked at my earpiece and everything clicked.

  “You’re fucking the help?” She smiled as she said the words, her mouth pulling wickedly into an evil sneer. “Is that why you wouldn’t go out with me when I came to your office a few weeks ago? Because you’re slumming it?” She laughed then, a loud, obnoxious, irritating sound that matched every opinion I had of her.

  “I need to go,” I said to no one but myself.

  “No, wait,” Camden said, grabbing my wrist, keeping me from walking away. “Don’t listen to her, Riley. She’s just trying to start trouble.”

  “It doesn’t matter,” I said with forced coolness, which never sounds cool. It sounds like you’re pissed and trying to hide it. “I have to go.”

  “Let her go, Camden, sweetie. She has work she has to do.”

  I dared to shoot Sophia a withering look, but then continued through the ballroom, heading for the kitchen. My heart was pounding, threatening to beat right out of my chest, and my lungs were working overtime. Breaths dragged in and then shuddered back out. By the time I made it to the kitchen and out of sight of guests, I was barely holding back tears. I headed straight for the walk-in freezer, needing a moment to compose myself. The cold air wafted over me and for a moment it felt good against the hotness of my face, the red flush a product of warring emotions.

  Sophia represented everything I was insecure about in my relationship with Camden, and even though I hated her simply for being a bitch, I couldn’t ignore the fact that what she’d said in the ballroom validated every fear I’d already had. People, the kind of people Camden and his family surrounded themselves with, would never see me as anything other than the help. I would always just be the girl trying to claw her way out of lower class.

  The worst part of the whole situation was that I was pretty confident in myself before I met Camden. Insecurity wasn’t something I was terribly familiar with. I knew my place in my world and I blossomed within its confines. I reached for dreams within my grasp. I never wished for Camden, but once he was in front of me, I was tempted by him, tempted to open myself up to this kind of hurt just to be with him. And, fuck, it hurt.

  I could handle Sophia being at the event, but I couldn’t handle hearing they’d seen each other knowing Camden hadn’t mentioned anything to me about it. I’d never felt unstable before, and Camden had pulled the floor out from under me.

  I let the tears fall, wiping them away quickly, and when I had my emotions under control, I walked back into the kitchen to find Rachel. I sucked it up and got back to work.

  When I found Rachel, she was too engrossed in whatever issue she was dealing with to notice I was a mess.

  “Oh my goodness, I’m so glad you’re here. We have a problem.”

  “Lay it on me,” I said with a sigh. As soon as she started talking, Jasper came to stand next to her, our little triad ready to take on whatever obstacle stood in our way.

  “The Renegades player who was supposed to be in the live auction just called and said he had a family emergency and can’t make it.”

  “Damn,” I whispered. The Renegades had generously offered to auction off a tour of the locker rooms at the arena, accompanied by one of their top players, and then tickets to a playoff game in one of their suites. It was an incredible package and I thought it would bring in one of the highest bids of the evening. “That’s a big loss.”

  “Well, his agent said the Renegades were still willing to offer the experience, they just can’t get a player here tonight. They’re still up for everything, there’s just no one here to offer the experience.”

  “It’s not as great of an experience without a player here to offer it.”

  “What about your boy toy?” Jasper asked.

  “Who?”

  “Your boyfriend. The mayor’s handsome son would be a suitable escort for the Renegades experience. He’s hot and he knows a lot about basketball. He’d be great.”

  The emotional roller coaster was real. One minute I was feeling insignificant and unworthy of Cam, and the next I was ready to claw the eyes out of any woman who would dare try to go on a date with him. He was mine. Well, I wanted him to be mine, but after what Sophia had said a few minutes before, I wasn’t sure he and I were on the same page anymore. But, the success of this fundraiser was hanging in the balance. That particular experience was our biggest ticket item, and it would definitely sell better with a hot man attached to it.

  “You guys want me to auc
tion off a date with my boyfriend?”

  “Oh, Riley, he’d be perfect!” Rachel’s eyes were wide with hope.

  “This sucks,” I whispered, my gaze falling to the floor.

  “Is everything all right?” Jasper’s voice was softer than usual, and I felt his hand on my shoulder.

  “No,” I said quietly as I shook my head. “But there’s nothing I can do about it right now.” I sucked in a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh. “I’ll ask him.”

  “I can do it if you want me to,” Rachel added sweetly.

  “No, it’s fine. He’ll probably say no to anyone but me anyway. Hell, he might even say no to me.”

  “If you need anything….” Jasper trailed off, but I knew he was trying to be supportive, and I appreciated it.

  “Thanks. Any other issues we should sort out while we’re here? There’s only about an hour until the live auction starts.”

  “Everything is good on my end,” Jasper stated.

  “That was my only issue. Everything is running smoothly, I think. It’s a great event, Riley.” Rachel’s voice was kind and I could see the sincerity in her eyes, but also the concern. She knew something was up and I couldn’t have that.

  “Thanks. It was a team effort though. We just have to get through the next few hours and everything will be all right. Keep me posted,” I said as I tapped my earpiece.

  “You got it,” Jasper said with a smile.

  “Hang in there,” Rachel said.

  I gave them a weak smile and then turned, took in a deep breath, and walked back into the ballroom with my head held high.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Camden

  “What the fuck is your problem, Sophia? You think being rude to my girlfriend is going to make me change my mind about you?”

  She had the nerve to laugh and it made my blood begin to boil. “You can’t seriously be upset about her. She’s nothing, Camden. I understand the need to sow your wild oats, to pretend you’re interested in the girl to fulfill some need to feel better about yourself, but there’s no need to ruin the good things between us for some nobody.”