Cameron (Wild Men Book 7)

by Melissa Belle

  “I can hold onto them for us,” he offers as he pockets them quickly.

  “That’s best.” Craig nods at him. “Savannah despises parties. She can barely handle our team holiday party most years. But you do well with Cam, Savannah. Why do you think I picked him?”

  I glare at Craig who’s clueless to Cam grinning next to me.

  “Maybe you’ll even like people one of these days.” Craig turns to leave. “But even if you don’t, make sure you show up to the fundraiser tonight. It’s at the inn on Main Street.”

  He’s gone before I can argue with him further.

  I slump down against the couch cushions, no longer hungry. But Cam fills a plate with food and hands it to me.

  “Don’t starve because of something that’s hours away,” he says. “I’ll pick you up at eight-thirty. Does that work?”

  I shrug.

  He leans in close to me, so close I can smell his aftershave. “We can talk about us then.”

  I turn my head to meet his determined gaze. “What if the timing isn’t right for that?”

  “Then we’ll find a time that is.” He reaches for a scallion pancake. “I want to know everything about you, Savannah. I especially want to know the reasons why you push me away, even though I know you like me.”

  I bite my lip as he raises his eyebrows.

  “And tonight will be our first date,” he says confidently as he takes a huge bite of his pancake.

  I stare at him until he breaks into a chuckle. “You’re cute when you’re not sure what to say,” he says. “Don’t worry—we’ll have fun.”

  “No!” I say too loudly. I glance back at my open door and lower my voice to a near whisper. “Tonight is NOT a date, Cam. It’s a business function. One I’m being forced to attend. We can’t combine a business event with dating.”

  “Call it whatever you want to,” Cam says as he swallows his bite of food. “But you know the truth, Savannah. It’s a date.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  The rest of my workday goes by in a blur, and before I know it, I’m at the dance studio. Our troupe of eight warms up together, and then we drive to Apollo’s Restaurant in Clarissa’s van.

  We’re just pulling into the parking lot when my phone chimes with a text.

  I open the screen and glance at the message. It’s from a number I don’t recognize.

  Hello Vannah,

  I hope this text finds you well. How about coming to the game this year? We could get together after. I’d love to see my favorite daughter.

  I clutch the phone so hard I can see my fingers turning white.

  Daddy.

  My father’s had my number for the last six years. He never once contacted me. I tried his phone after he left, and it had already been disconnected.

  “Savannah?”

  I tear my gaze off my phone and look up into the worried eyes of Marcia, a fellow dancer.

  “Are you all right?” she asks me. “You look like you’ve heard from a ghost.”

  That’s because I have.

  I take a deep breath and assure her I’m fine. Even though I’m so far from fine it’s ridiculous.

  We climb out of the van, and Clarissa leads us to the restrooms in the back so we can change. I take the cover off the coat hanger to reveal my sequined, silky, lavender halter top and long skirt. With belly dance, the lines are important, especially showing off your hips and torso as you move. We’re all wearing the same colors, but we each chose our own patterns for the costumes.

  As soon as the music starts, we make our entrance onstage. I follow Marcia’s lead, who’s right in front of me. Like every time I dance, I relax into the music. I start to forget about my father’s text, and I focus on the moment.

  Hip sway, figure eight, rib slide, turn. I was so scared of forgetting my routine, but the first two go perfectly. I’m enjoying performing more than I’d thought.

  As we’re shimmying in one long line winding amongst the tables, I feel a hand grab my ass.

  I snap my head around and make eye contact with a drunk old man. And his hand is still clearly stuck to my ass.

  “Back off,” I say to him in a low voice.

  He winks at me and licks his lips.

  I step backward enough that he’s forced to release his hold on me. Then I pick up his drink and dump it on his head.

  “Don’t ever touch me again,” I say, my voice sounding surprisingly calm to my ears.

  I keep dancing past him, but I’ve lost all sense of focus. I barely make it up to the stage for our final bows. Once we’re back in the van, Clarissa turns to me.

  “That almost never happens,” she says. “I’ve never seen that man in here before.”

  I tell her it’s okay, but her words just make me feel worse. So I happened to rendezvous with the only asshole they’ve seen?

  As I drive home, I blink back the tears and try to forget about tonight. Between my father’s unexpected message and the man in the audience, I’m a mess.

  I pull into my driveway and consider calling Cam to cancel. But Craig’s counting on us, and I won’t leave Cam hanging at the fundraiser by himself.

  I tell myself to quit feeling badly and jump in the shower. I rinse off the bad energy as best I can, and then I spend forever getting dressed and even longer in front of the floor-length mirror in my bedroom. I decide on a long black skirt, white shirt, and black sweater. I pull my hair back in a tight ponytail and step back for one last look at myself.

  Ugh.

  I look drab and depressed. And for once, I’m not okay with that.

  So I take down my hair, peel off what I’m wearing, and go through my closet again. This time, I put on a purple and black dress. It’s made of a thin, comfortable fabric that shows off my figure and yet keeps all the important parts of me covered.

  The cool asymmetrical patterning on the sleeves was what really sold me on the dress, and when I put it on tonight, I still like the way it hangs on my body. I pair it with black ankle-high boots and a fancy purse that Mama insisted I buy in case I ever need to dress up. I pin my hair up in a bun with loose tendrils hanging down, and then I head for the living room.

  Molly and Mama both squeal when they see how my hair’s pinned up in what Mama calls a “fancy bun,” but I make it clear to them that this is a business event. Molly’s on Cam’s side that it’s a date, but I tell her she’s way off-base. She just smiles and tells me to make sure I let him drive.

  “You’ll need a couple of drinks to get through a party of that magnitude,” she explains. “I don’t like social events either, but you’re definitely the shyest one of us McMann sisters.”

  “Let’s not focus on my shortcomings right now,” I say.

  “It’s not a bad thing to be shy,” Molly says. “I just know how difficult this party must feel to you.”

  I open my mouth to tell her that the party is the least of my problems right now. But I shut it just as fast. I can’t tell Molly about Daddy’s text in front of Mama. It would upset her too much.

  “Isn’t that dress lovely?” Mama says approvingly.

  “Thanks, Mama.” I kiss her cheek.

  Molly and Mama get distracted and start laughing at a scene on the television.

  “We’ve seen this episode like four times already,” I say. “We never watch any new shows. I think Celie’s right—this house is stuck in a time warp.”

  Molly points at me with the remote. “You’re in a shitty mood. Why?”

  She can read me like a damn book. I never should have started teasing her.

  “I’m fine,” I lie. “I’ll see you later. Don’t wait up.”

  I’m waiting in the front room watching out the window for Cam’s truck when my phone rings.

  I glance down at the caller ID before answering.

  “What’s up, Cel?” I turn away from the window and grab my coat.

  “I need a favor.”

  “Wait. Cel…”

  “Yeah?”

  “I got a
…”

  The doorbell rings, and I whip around and head over to the door.

  When I open it, Cam’s smiling at me, and I forget what I was saying to Celie.

  His gaze zeroes in on me. The keys in his hand slip, and he has to grab them out of the air so they don’t fall down the steps. I smile and tell Celie I have to go.

  Cam’s mouth lifts at the corners as we halt on the top step, me with my coat still in my arms. “I like your hair.”

  “Oh. Thank you.”

  He reaches out and touches my hair lightly. “You look great.”

  “So are you in?” Celie says loudly through the phone.

  I start. “Um…” I have no idea what she just asked me.

  “Vannah! Are you in?” Celie says.

  I can’t do two things at once. And I can talk to Celie anytime, but this may be my only opportunity to connect with Cam before we’re at the fundraiser surrounded by strangers.

  Flustered, I say to Celie, “Yes, I’m in. Good-bye.”

  I pull the door closed and turn quickly, smacking right into Cam’s solid chest.

  “Hey. You okay?” He reaches out and wraps an arm around me before I can skid right off the front step.

  “Shit.” I burst into a nervous giggle. “I nearly toppled us both down the stairs. Sorry about that.”

  He’s wearing a long overcoat I’ve never seen before, and I’m sure whatever’s underneath will look just as masculine and sexy as always.

  Cam takes my hand and tucks it inside his arm as we walk toward his truck. “It’s slippery tonight, huh?”

  “Ice in Minnesota,” I say. “You’d think we’d be so used to it by now that we’d be able to skate with our shoes on.”

  “Ice skates would become extinct,” he says as we head down the walkway and out to his truck.

  “That would sure change things.”

  “Sure would.” He opens the passenger door for me, and I climb in.

  Once he’s settled into the driver’s seat, Cam backs out of the driveway. He glances over at me and says, “We’ve got a few minutes before the fundraiser starts. Do you want to stop somewhere quiet before we head in?”

  I nod quickly. “Good idea.”

  He heads toward Main Street but stops just short of the banquet hall and pulls off by the town lake.

  “I love this lake,” I say as he puts the truck into park.

  “Me too.”

  Cam keeps the heat running, but he turns off the lights, and we lapse into a comfortable silence. I want to reach over and touch him or lean my head on his shoulder.

  “What are you thinking about, Savannah?” Cam turns to me.

  I laugh. “Sometimes I wish I were more like Celie. Nobody should dread a party like I do.”

  “I like that you’re different,” he says. “Who wants to be like everybody else?”

  His hand lands gently on my thigh. I squirm, but he keeps his hand there, and the gesture is comforting.

  “Did something happen?” he asks me. “You seem upset about something more than the fundraiser.”

  I wave my hand in the air. “Nothing worth talking about.”

  “You’re worth talking about, Savannah.” Cam’s eyes narrow. “If something upset you, you can tell me.”

  I bite back the truth about what happened earlier tonight and force a smile on my face. “I appreciate that, Cam. But I’m okay. And we should go,” I add as I see the time on the dash.

  Cam puts both hands on the wheel and backs out of the space.

  I turn and look out the window, and the banquet hall comes into view far too quickly. A valet attendant comes to collect the keys when we pull up, and Cam escorts me inside the heavy wooden doors and over to the coat check.

  I feel naked as soon as I hand over my coat.

  His lips brush my cheek. “You look stunning.”

  I shiver at his touch, and then glance at his grey suit, one I’ve never seen. “You look very handsome, Cam.” My compliment comes out shaky, but I manage to say it without stammering, so I’ll take that as a win.

  “Thank you.” He puts his hand on my lower back. “I think the raffle is this way, so that’s where the crowd is going to be.”

  He leads me to the main room of the hall, and I bite back a gasp.

  It’s beautifully decorated in silver and gold lighting, with lights strung across the walls. The place is packed with wall-to-wall people.

  “Super crowded, huh?” Cam’s voice is low and steady in my ear, and his hand hasn’t left my back. “Don’t worry. I’ve got this, okay?”

  I manage a nod and follow him to the bar where two women immediately start staring at us. Really, they’re staring at Cam.

  Not having been in this position before, I relish every moment of their envy.

  Within seconds, the two women have attached themselves to Cam’s side. He keeps his hand firmly on my arm as they introduce themselves as business owners of a jewelry store in Minneapolis. After a few minutes of them flirting with Cam and glaring at me, Cam turns away from them and leads me to a private corner.

  The bar area is huge, and everyone who doesn’t have a stool is packed up against the adjoining wall.

  “Do you want a drink?” Cam asks me. “I’ll drive us home, so I’m just going to have a soda.”

  “A vodka, please.” Celie always swears that vodka is the fastest drink to relax you.

  He leans in closer. “Straight?”

  I nod and turn away from his surprised eyes to scan the crowd.

  As Cam pushes to the front of the crowd to order our drinks, I stay safely in the corner and wait for him to return.

  “Savannah McMann! How the hell are you?”

  I look up sharply. I know that voice anywhere. It’s my Uncle Fred, Daddy’s brother. They sound exactly the same.

  Uncle Fred kisses me on the cheek and I wince at the smell of beer all over him. Fred drinks like a fish. All the brothers do but Daddy. They just followed their father right down the line. I didn’t think a fundraiser was his style, however. When I say so, he laughs uproariously. “I know. Isn’t it great?” He grabs my shoulder and shakes me, hard. I look up for Cam, and see he’s still waiting on the drinks.

  I smile awkwardly as Fred explains that he got in through a construction job. “Took the guy out and got him drunk and laid.” Fred chuckles.

  Fantastic. Just what I want to hear about.

  “Ever since then, he’s calling me all the time, inviting me to these ritzy parties and paying my way. Ain’t it great?” He grabs my shoulder again. I step backward and glance up to see Cam heading toward me.

  “Great,” I say.

  “Hey, how’s your mom doing?” Fred asks. “Last I saw her, she looked kind of down.”

  I give him a look. “Is that anything new?”

  “Well,” Fred says, and I’m relieved to see that somebody has waylaid Cam. “You know, Lawrence has his problems.” He raises his drink to me. “But who of us doesn’t, right? None of us are Jesus, after all.”

  “That’s true,” I say. “But, you know, my father was on the other end of the extreme.”

  “People are enigmas, darling,” Fred says. “And he’s taking some meds now.”

  I narrow my eyes. “Are you serious? What kinds of meds?”

  Fred shrugs. “Something for the downs. Maybe to even him out, you know? I think it’s helping a little, but I’m not sure anything will ever normalize my brother. That temper of his…” He lets out an awkward laugh. “He was the same way when he was a kid. We were all scared of him, you know.”

  “You were?”

  “Oh, sure. He never even had to lay a punch on any of us. His words were…”

  Violent enough. Yes, I’m aware.

  Cam is on the move again, and he’s got a clear path toward me.

  “I’ll see you later, Uncle Fred. Ladies room,” I add as an excuse.

  I motion to Cam to follow me as I head in the opposite direction of my uncle.

  “Wait!�
� I hear Fred calling out. “Did you see the picture I sent your sister? I hear Lawrence’s wedding…”

  Thank God. I’m finally out of earshot. But the pain lingers as Cam catches me and hands me my vodka. I give him a grateful look and take two large sips.

  “Who was that guy?” he asks me.

  I lean against the closest wall, and gesture to the raffle. “He had some questions about the former coach. We’d better start introducing ourselves to people in here, right?”

  Before Cam can respond, a man approaches us with a smile and a handshake. He tells us the name of his business and asks what company we’re with. Cam talks about the team and invites the man to a game. His eyes brighten, and he asks about the history of the Cannons. Cam tries to answer his questions, but I know this is the part I’m here for.

  “I can fill you in, sir,” I say.

  The man turns to me with a smile. “Wonderful. Let me grab a few of my colleagues and you can tell all of us.”

  I drink my vodka as fast as possible and tell Cam I’m going to get another one.

  Tonight’s going to be a long night.

  Cameron

  Savannah’s drunk. I cut her off after three drinks, but she snuck a couple more in when I was in the middle of chatting with various people. I had promised her I’d handle the meet and greet part of tonight, but in order to hold up my end of the bargain, I’ve been having a hell of a time keeping tabs on her. She keeps disappearing to the bar.

  When she stumbles and nearly wipes out, but somehow manages to keep the drink in her hand upright, I make the executive decision to call it a night.

  Turns out she doesn’t need much convincing.

  “Unexpected guests at this one,” she mumbles as I help her into her coat and we make our exit. “Exactly why I don’t go to parties.”

  Something tells me she’s upset about more than a party, but I don’t want to pry. Savannah clearly keeps her secrets close to her chest, and despite us hanging out together often, I know very little about her private life.

  The cold air slapping me in the face is a welcome relief from the overly-heated banquet hall packed with loud, drunk people. I had my bicep squeezed more times than I can count tonight, and the looks I was given—so many women gave me their numbers I could have started a female hockey team. I would have tossed the numbers out since I have no intention of using them, but some of them came on business cards, and Savannah insisted we hold onto them. She wants me to give them to Coach Craig, so I said I would. Maybe he’ll have some grand plan to increase ticket sales. Although winning will do that more than anything.