Outspoken Angel
Page 20
Cameron frowned. “You’re parked in a fire lane.”
He shrugged. “I know. It’s Saturday and you said this wouldn’t take long.”
“You’re coming with me?”
He snorted. “Of course.” He stepped from the truck and opened her door.
She took his offered hand. “You’re playing this bodyguard thing for all it’s worth, aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he admitted, leading her inside.
As soon as they stepped off the elevator in front of the office door, Cameron pressed her index finger on the pad until a buzzer sounded and the door clicked open.
“This thing is so smart,” she said, still amazed by Max’s handiwork. “Stretch out on the sofa, James Bond, you can watch from there.”
As she turned to arrange her paint, her sunglasses slid to the tip of her nose. She sighed in frustration and pushed them back in place. “If I take these glasses off, you won’t scream, will you?”
His brow furrowed in confusion. “Hardly. Why?”
“I can’t see a blasted thing!” she groused. “All my paint looks black.”
He stood and removed the sunglasses from her face before tenderly brushing the bruises under her eyes with his fingertips.
“Better?”
She nodded. “Loads. I look frightful, don’t I?”
“Yes.”
She giggled and loaded her paintbrush with paint.
“I can always count on you to set me straight, Max.”
She turned away from him and began to paint.
“I bought you something,” he said in the silence.
“A cape to go with my mask?”
“Cameron.” His voice held a distinctive impatient edge.
She paused in mid-stroke, somewhat concerned at his use of her name. She took a deep breath and turned around to face him while her swollen eyes bulged in amazement.
“Must be something important.” She tossed the paintbrush in the tray.
He took a small, velvet box from his pocket and offered it to her.
“What is it?” she asked suspiciously.
“What do you think?”
She folded her arms across her chest and batted her bruised eyelids. “Well, I wouldn’t know, Max.”
He shoved the box at her. “Take it.”
“No!”
He palmed the box and sighed. “You’re going to make me do it, aren’t you?”
Cameron held out her hand. “Do what?”
Max peeled his own sunglasses from his face and placed them in her open palm. He hesitated only a moment before he eased himself down to one knee, and held the box in front of him once again.
She swallowed hard when he popped the lid with one finger; the glare from the promise resting inside blinded her swollen eyes.
“Marry me,” he said hoarsely.
“Why?”
He took a deep breath. “Because I love you.”
“There now,” she soothed, easing to her knees in front of him, “that wasn’t so difficult was it?”
“Cameron Baby, everything about you is difficult.” He slid the diamond on her finger. “But I love you anyway.”
Her swollen eyes bounced between his as she mulled his proposal.
“Are you ready to chance your heart with me?” she asked.
Cameron held her breath and waited for him to conquer the battle between his heart and his brain. A tiny flutter of doubt tormented her for a split second until she saw the clouds clear from his eyes.
Max lifted one side of his mouth. “Are you ready to cut me some slack?”
“No,” she retorted mischievously.
His full, hearty laugh chased away any remaining doubt in her mind as he pulled her into his arms and planted a kiss against her hair.
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“You didn’t answer my question.”
“Yes,” he answered into her curls. “I took that chance a long time ago.”
She raised her head and a heartfelt smile creased her lips.
“I love you too, Max,” she said honestly, “and I will marry you.” She winked playfully. “Just don’t forget who wears the designer shoes in this relationship.”
* * *
EPILOGUE
Brett counted the roses he held one last time as he stood outside Holly’s hospital suite and wondered if he weren’t crazy. Did their one chance-meeting justify his gift of a dozen roses? He shook his head. Hell, she deserved something for being shot.
He shifted the heavy crystal vase to one hand and knocked on the door with the other.
“Come in.” Holly’s soft, light voice drifted through the door and lured him inside.
“Hi.” He grinned like an idiot while he awaited her reaction to his visit.
A smile graced her pale features and she pushed herself up higher in the bed. “Brett! How nice to see you.”
He stepped toward her and placed the flowers on a side table. “These are for you.”
She hesitated just a moment and then reached to stroke the delicate petals. “Red.” She tilted her head to the side and grinned. “Thank you. That was very thoughtful.”
Brett winced. Thoughtful wasn’t quite what he had in mind.
He crammed one hand in his front pocket. “I can’t stay long. I just wanted to check on you.”
“I’m fine. I’m only here as a precaution and Hawke arranged my care.”
Brett made a brief observation of the room, complete with a full-sized bed and a plasma television. Hawke might have insisted on these accommodations, but he hadn’t arranged them personally. A green monster growled inside him and he jammed his other hand into his free pocket.
Holly folded her arms across her chest. “Greg hasn’t been here.”
Brett snapped his eyes to meet hers. Were his feelings that obvious?
He cleared his throat. “Do you want Sterling and me to check out the gym?”
She gave a small sigh, unfolded her arms and lay back against the pillows. “That’s not necessary. Everything seems to be back to normal.”
Brett studied her for a moment. Although fatigued, she appeared guarded. It was quite possible she wasn’t convinced her problems were solved.
“Sure?”
She nodded and gave a half smile. “I’m sure.”
He gave a lazy shrug. As long as she wasn’t in any danger, he wouldn’t worry about it. Yet, now he wouldn’t have an excuse to see her again.
“Well, I’ll let you rest.” He headed to the door and turned the handle.
“Oh, Brett.” Holly’s soft, breathy tone caused him to stop and look at her over his shoulder.
“You don’t need an excuse to see me.”
# # #
COMING SOON: Freaky by Nature (Holly’s story)
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Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
EPILOGUE
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