One Perfect Night

by Rachael Johns

  She actually shivered.

  Cameron frowned as he pulled the door shut behind him. “You’re not cold, are you?”

  She bit down hard on her lip but was unable to lie. Their eyes met as she answered, “No.”

  The muscles in Cameron’s neck visibly tensed, his eyes smoldering in a way that told her he understood and that she wasn’t the only one with irrational hormones racing through her veins. For a second, she wondered if he’d lean forward to kiss her. Grasp her face in his strong bold hands and ravage her lips with his own. If they’d bypass the party altogether and head back inside. Despite not wanting to disappoint a five-year-old birthday girl, Peppa couldn’t help but hope.

  Instead, Cameron expelled air through tight lips, and marched right past her. Gruffly adding, “Let’s go.”

  The journey to his cousin’s was stifling. Granted it was hot January weather but his car air-conditioner had never had a problem combating the heat before. Cameron couldn’t deny it was Penelope’s presence that had his insides a sweltering mess. Usually the simple fact that he was attracted to an employee would be more than enough to douse the fire but such thoughts weren’t working where this particular voice talent was concerned.

  All he could think about was how her soft curves had felt in his hands and her words about not looking for Mr. Right. All he could think about was whether having an affair with an employee was really a blatant no-no.

  For once he couldn’t wait to get to his aunt’s place and give himself something else to focus on. This constant focus on Penelope and another proposition he wanted to offer her was driving him insane.

  When they pulled up at his cousin Chelsea’s inner-city townhouse, pink and purple balloons attached to the fence were waving in the wind. He couldn’t help notice Penelope’s face light up at the sight. The children were already inside and he could hear their noise from the driveway. His heart pounded against his chest cavity. He knew the ridiculousness of a businessman like himself being scared to face a group of little girls but it was what they signified that left him cold. A dream lost. A life wasted.

  Cut the philosophy, he told himself as he marched round to help Penelope and her wings out of the car. “You ready?”

  She breathed deeply and smiled refreshingly. “Sure. I hope I don’t disappoint.”

  “You won’t,” said Cameron. There was something about Penelope—an aura or something if he bought into that new-age sort of rubbish—that made her the type of person everyone wanted to be around. He knew the party-goers would be as enamored by her as he was; only they wouldn’t have to keep such emotions in check.

  Penelope reached down to grab a mammoth bag but he scooped it up first.

  “Thanks,” she said, as he beeped the car locked and they headed round the back as Auntie Rose had instructed.

  Before they were in full view of the guests, Chelsea ambushed them and grasped Peppa in one of her effusive hugs. “Thank you, my sweet,” she sang. “The moment Cameron brought you home I knew I liked you and I’m so happy you said yes to today.”

  Penelope shrugged, her cheeks tinting pink. “Nonsense. It’s the least I could do for Cameron’s family. He’s spoken so much about you all that I feel like I already know you.”

  “Really?” Chelsea’s eyes widened and she let go of Penelope long enough to turn and beam at Cameron. “That’s so sweet.”

  What the hell? Cameron couldn’t help the upward trek of his eyebrows as he watched the exchange between the two women. He knew Penelope was only playing the part he’d asked of her but did she have to play it so damn well? Chelsea had been good friends with Kristen and, although he didn’t want her to be cruel to his fake girlfriend, this particular type of friendliness felt like a betrayal.

  He interrupted their compliment-infused tête-à-tête. “Penelope’s only got an hour. Shouldn’t she get started?”

  “Oh, of course,” laughed Chelsea. She smiled at Penelope. “I’d almost forgotten you were here for Scarlett. We’ll have to do dinner and a movie sometime soon.”

  “Sounds good,” said Penelope and then she and Chelsea linked arms and practically skipped down the garden path.

  Frowning, Cameron followed them at a much less enthusiastic pace.

  The next forty-five minutes or so flew by in a whirl. Cameron watched the spectacle like a weatherman assessing a hurricane. He couldn’t take his eyes off Penelope and her energy. The girls adored her, all clamoring for her attention every time she wanted one of them to help her with a trick. But they weren’t the only ones who wanted to be near her. Occasionally she’d look up and catch him staring. He tried for an encouraging smile but wasn’t sure whether he carried it off. Being here with the family who loved him, who tried to make things right when they never would be, was always tough. Ironically Penelope’s presence made things worse.

  The facade they’d created reminded him all too much of when Kristen came to family gatherings. Not that Penelope was anything like Kristen really, but she’d made an imprint and his family liked her a little more than he wanted.

  Why he’d ever come up with this harebrained idea to stop them matchmaking he couldn’t tell!

  As his cousin held up a pink fairy castle sugar creation, which he guessed was a cake, a dozen little girls stampeded past him into the house. Unfortunately the last one crashed at his feet, looked up at him with big green eyes and burst into tears. He cursed silently. Tears on adult females made him uncomfortable but little females crying…almost unbearable. He glanced around but as much as he wanted to remove himself, there was no one else who’d noticed. He stooped down so he didn’t frighten her and offered his hand to the distressed child.

  She stared at him accusingly, her eyes wide and her mouth decidedly pouted. High maintenance from the tip of her blond curly head to the purple ruffles on her fancy dress.

  “That was a bit of a stunt,” he said, trying to divert the girl’s attention from her grazed knee. Hoping she’d be easily placated. “You could be in the movies when you get big.”

  The little girl sniffed and crossed her arms. “I don’t like movies.”

  Of course not. This was why he didn’t hang out with little kids. He had no idea what they were into these days. The sniffles became louder and threatened to become sobs. Desperate, he scanned the surrounds for inspiration. His eyes took in her dress and it suddenly clicked. She was five and a girl, just like his niece.

  “Not normal movies,” he said, as if she were silly to even think the idea. “Fairy movies. Fairies may look pretty and dainty but they need to be tough and flexible to stand up to the evil boy monsters.” He spoke softly so she had to stop crying to listen. “And I can tell from that stunt work that you have what it takes.”

  He offered his hand again when he noticed her lips turning upward slightly to soften her glower.

  “Really?” She put her tiny hand in his and let him help her to her feet. “Like Fairy Princess Ashontae?”

  He had no idea who this woman was. “Yes,” he said firmly, “exactly like Fairy Princess Ashontae. Now, future fairy, you’d better walk like a normal girl to get into the house or you might miss out on a slice of cake.”

  The little girl dashed away in exactly the manner he’d warned her against. Penelope sidled up beside him and smiled warmly. “You were awesome.”

  “Huh? You were the awesome one.”

  “I meant with Emma.” Penelope gestured to where the girl had fallen. “That was quite a tumble but you fixed it.”

  He shrugged her compliment off. “I did what any adult would have done.”

  She glared at him. Disbelief evident in her raised brow. “Whatever. Shall we go inside and have some cake?”

  Cameron cringed. Outside was one thing but inside with the hyperactive kids and their happy-couple parents, he’d suffocate for sure. “Okay, but we’d better make it quick. I’ve got lots of work to do this weekend.”

  Peppa nodded but inside she didn’t know what to think. She’d have to have been
blind not to notice Cameron’s discomfort during her show but whenever she’d seen him looking over, it had been unmistakable lust she read in his eyes. She couldn’t work out if it was being here with his family that was causing him indigestion or being here with her. Now she knew about his wife, she guessed it had more to do with Kristen’s absence. He must find happy family gatherings difficult and she couldn’t help but feel sorry for his loss.

  Either way, she’d had enough of these silly games. Despite enjoying every minute with his family, she felt like a total fraud and that didn’t feel good. These people cared about Cameron’s happiness and would be even more worried about him when they learned he’d ended things with her.

  As much as she loved being with them—they were the big warm family that she dreamed of one day being a part of—she had to remember they weren’t hers. And they never would be. She’d seen a glimpse of another Cameron when he’d knelt down and dealt with that little girl. Warmth had flooded her watching them but he hadn’t wanted her to notice. He’d totally clammed up. Setting straight any notions she might be developing about him being a man she could get used to having around.

  “You’re right,” she said, deciding she could miss cake for once if it helped get her out of this awkward situation and stopped the churning in her stomach. “I’ll just go say goodbye to Auntie Rose, Chelsea and the girls.”

  Peppa expected Cameron to follow but he just mumbled something like “good idea” and then set to work typing something on his phone.

  Her heart squeezed as she snuck in through the back sliding door and came upon the sight of twelve little girls squished around the table. This was her dream but her hand automatically fell to her stomach at the thought as she wondered if she’d ever get to fulfill it. Cameras flashed in every direction and happily married parents clinked glasses of pink champagne. Trying to annihilate her negativity, Peppa joined in the last lines of “Happy Birthday” and then sought out Chelsea and Auntie Rose.

  “Thanks for having me today,” she said, fighting silly tears that threatened to choke her. “Cameron has things to do this afternoon, so we have to go now.”

  “Always the workaholic,” tutted Auntie Rose. She laid a cold but soft hand on Peppa’s arm. “You’ll have to work on that. We’d really like to see him back at the house much, much more.”

  “I’ll try,” Peppa managed despite the enormous lump in her throat.

  “Good. Norm and I are going away for three weeks to visit my sister but you must come for Sunday lunch after that.” She scooped a mobile phone out of her handbag. “Here, put your number in.”

  Damn! This was really going too far. But if she refused, Cameron’s family would be suspicious and she owed it to him not to let that happen. Shakily, she took Rose’s phone and entered her own mobile number.

  Then, finally, after more hugs all round, she fled the house to Cameron.

  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” he said, stuffing his phone back into his pocket.

  “Well, I don’t see you clamoring to spend time with your family,” she snapped.

  “Sorry.” He had the good sense to hang his head. “They can be a little overwhelming.”

  “Overwhelming?” Her teeth clenched together so tightly she was sure they’d all pop out. “They’re absolutely lovely but I feel like a total tool lying to them like this.”

  “I’m sorry.” Cameron reached out to touch her. He cupped his palms against her cheeks and drew her face close to his. As much as she wanted to resist, her body couldn’t help melting at his touch. Despite what had just happened, despite knowing about his wife, Peppa couldn’t help wanting to lean closer to this incredible specimen of man.

  She swallowed as she met his gaze.

  “I’m sorry,” he said again. “I’ll tell Rose the truth, soon.”

  “Apology accepted,” she replied, all too conscious of his lips only millimeters from hers. What did he want from her? ’Cos she damn well knew what she wanted from him.

  He kissed her then. Firm and hard and over all too quickly. “We’re still on for tonight, aren’t we? For our date?”

  Her heart rate quickened. Was yes or no the right answer? She didn’t want to go out with him if he was only doing it out of some kind of duty. After the six months she’d had, she didn’t want to be anyone’s charity. But if…

  She pulled back and somehow found the guts to ask him outright. “What kind of date are we talking about?”

  He looked taken aback by her question, but he hid it quickly. “What kind of date do you want it to be?”

  “Uh uh.” She waved her finger at him. “You’re not getting off the hook that easily.”

  He sighed and rubbed the side of his jaw. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t find you attractive but the whole reason for inviting you to my aunt’s house in the first place was because I don’t want to get involved with anyone. I just wanted to get them off my back.”

  She rubbed her lips together, trying to ignore the little light that had lit within her at his mention of her attractiveness. At least they were on the same page there. The more and more time she spent with him, the more and more she realized she fancied the posh business pants off him. “So?”

  “So, if you want this to be a proper I-kiss-you-at-the-end-and-see-where-it-leads type of date, then I’d like that, but you need to know from the start, I date for a good time, not a long time.”

  A little voice inside her told her to end it now. Had she ever been the type to be able to separate sex from emotion? She ignored the voice and smiled. “Then we agree. I’m all for a good time. I’m not on the market for a long-term relationship either.” Lord knew her heart and body needed to heal before that was possible. “But I wouldn’t mind having some fun. And distraction.”

  His smile stretched from ear-to-ear and the wicked glint in his eye was as attractive as a forbidden sweet. “Then we’re definitely on for tonight.”

  Chapter Seven

  “Two words. Absolutely fabulous.”

  Peppa smiled at Izzy as she turned to face the mirror but she almost did a double-take when she took in the full-length image of herself. At least there were vague similarities. But she’d never before worn such a glamorous figure-hugging gown. The dress—on loan from Izzy’s cousin who was studying fashion design—had power like no piece of clothing Peppa had ever worn before. Quite aside from the way it lifted her breasts, transforming her cleavage from average to voluptuous with a mere tug of the zip, it made her feel sexy, as if her body was a tool she’d suddenly learned how to use.

  She didn’t actually know if she could carry it off.

  She swallowed and looked over her shoulder to where Izzy stood beaming. “Thanks for coming to the rescue.”

  “No probs.” Izzy waved her hand in dismissal. “It’s not every day one’s best friend finally takes the plunge back into the dating game.”

  “Thanks.” She glanced at the digital clock on her bedside table. “And I really, really appreciate your help but you’re going to have to go. He’ll be here in any second.”

  “Go?” Izzy’s smile drooped. “You’re not going to let me stick around and meet him?”

  Peppa’s heart beat triple time at the thought. She wasn’t ready to tell Izzy who “he” was just yet. “Definitely not.”

  “Oh come on,” pleaded Izzy. “In lieu of your father, who’s supposed to give him the third degree and find out if he’s good enough for you?”

  “No one. I’m big enough to look after myself.”

  When Izzy didn’t make any move to go, Peppa glared and thrust her finger at the door. “Please.”

  Sighing, Izzy stepped forward and pulled Peppa into a tight hug. “Enjoy yourself,” she whispered. “You are one hot tart and it’s time to remember that. Forget about Tim. And forget about…well, you know…”

  An awkward silence filled the air. Why didn’t Izzy just say Forget about your ex-fiancé, his shotgun wedding and the fact he’s currently honeymooning in Paris wit
h his new, pregnant wife? Looking forward to the baby you couldn’t give him.

  Izzy chose to fill the quiet with a totally ridiculous order. “Embrace your sexuality.”

  “Stop!” Peppa, almost swallowing her own tongue, tugged out of the embrace, her cheeks heating at the thought. She wasn’t a hundred percent sure this was even a real date and she had no idea how the night would pan out. Still, she’d changed her sheets and fluffed her pillows just in case. “I’m nervous enough as it is.”

  “Whatever. Have fun.” And with that directive, Izzy scooped up her fake designer handbag, kissed her friend on the cheek and flitted out the door, leaving Peppa to really start stressing.

  She only had time to pace the length of her hallway twice before her intercom buzzed. She gulped and almost tripped on her favorite rug. She froze until Cameron buzzed again. At least, she assumed it was Cameron. She wouldn’t be in such a ridiculous state if it were anyone else.

  “Hello,” she managed when she finally made it to the intercom.

  “Good evening,” he drawled. “Shall I come up or shall you come down?”

  “Me down. I’ll be ten seconds.” And seven of those seconds she used to slow her breathing and give herself a stern lecture. These never-before-nerves had to be down to the fact Cameron was her boss and anything more between them could get complicated. She didn’t want anything to affect her work. After losing Tim and their baby, it was all she had left. Work was her lifeline.

  As she closed her front door and climbed the stairs to the ground level, she made a promise to herself to forget about politics, to let go and enjoy. She deserved it.

  The moment she opened the door and saw Cameron leaning casually against a lamp post, her nerves morphed totally into excitement. She’d thought she was immune to men at the moment—unable to contemplate entering into another relationship—but it appeared Cameron was above most men. He was off the radar on the Richter scale of lust.