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Focus. Subject change. You can do this. She leaned forward. “If you’re so into fantasy, have you thought about traveling to New Zealand and seeing The Lord of the Rings stuff they have set up there?”
“You’re trying to change the subject.”
“Correction, I am changing the subject.” When a stubborn look settled over his features, she sighed. “Look, I’m feeling raw and angsty, and I would greatly appreciate it if you’d throw me this bone and talk about your geeky love of all things hobbits and wizards and dwarves.” She met his gaze. “Please, Cameron.”
“Okay.” He gave a surprisingly soft smile. “And yeah, I’ve thought about visiting New Zealand. My mom is a fan of the series, too, so the summer after this one, we’re going. I’ll probably strong-arm them into a longer vacation for that one so we can visit Australia as well.”
When she met Cameron, she never would have guessed he was too good to be true. She still wasn’t sure he was—not when his flaws were readily apparent. But the longer she spent with him, the more the brusque attitude and the painfully truthful comments stopped feeling like flaws and just became part of the man as a whole. “That’s really sweet.”
“I guess.” He got a strange look on his face but masked it almost as soon as it had come. “You do much traveling?”
“Only Stateside. A couple of spring breaks down in Florida. One very memorable road trip to see a Green Bay game with a friend who was a huge fan. Nothing fancy.” She looked around at the restaurant they sat in. It wasn’t fancy, exactly, but it was in London. “Thank you. For bringing me here. To London, I mean. This trip has been surreal in the extreme, but in a good way, and I just... Thank you.”
“You don’t have to thank me. I needed you to ensure I didn’t fuck up this contract.”
He said that, but she was no longer sure it was the truth. Nikki Lancaster might be standoffish to a criminal degree, but she obviously put her professional goals before any personal slight she might feel after how things fell out with Cameron. And she had the advantage of knowing how he operated, so she would have been prepared to handle him as needed to close the deal. Trish had been mostly ornamental to the whole situation. “You would have done fine.”
“No, Trish. You can claim that now that it’s all said and done, but it’s not the fucking truth.” He shook his head sharply. “There were half a dozen times during that meeting when I started to say something and looked at you—and realized I needed to keep my damn mouth shut. I wouldn’t have bothered to show restraint if you weren’t there. That might not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to me. I value your presence on this trip—and not just because you’re in my bed.”
“But I am in your bed, and that changes things.”
“Yes, it does. And we’ll negotiate as needed when we’re home.”
God, she loved him a little in that moment for not pussyfooting around the truth. No matter how long she stayed on in her current job, there would be an adjustment to how they handled themselves in the office, and if he were anyone else, he would have glossed right over that truth. “Okay.”
He eyed her mostly full plate. “You’re not going to eat, are you?”
“I’m not really hungry,” she admitted.
“We’ll get something on the way back so you can snack as needed.” He twisted and motioned the waitress to bring their check. “Are you tired?”
She blinked. “Not especially.”
“Good. There’s something I want to show you. I think you’ll like it.” He made a face. “Though it has nothing to do with untimely death, so maybe we should just go back to the hotel.”
“Cameron O’Clery, was that an actual joke?” She playfully smacked his forearm. “I don’t just like untimely death, you know. I like flowers and bright colors and telling other people what to do. I’m a well-rounded woman.”
“I’m aware.” His gaze dropped to her breasts where they pressed against her T-shirt.
She gave a mock gasp. “You’re terrible.”
“You like it.”
She’d had so many different emotions with him—frustration and irritation and lust and enjoyment. Playing fun only made her like him more. She was up to her neck and sinking fast, and she couldn’t bring herself to care. “I do. Now, let’s go so you can show me your surprise.”
15
CAMERON ALMOST CHANGED his mind half a dozen times on the drive. His idea had felt like the right call when he’d first come up with it, but the closer they got to the waterfront, the more he felt like he’d made the wrong call.
Right up until the point Trish leaned against the door of the taxi and gasped. “The London Eye?”
“It’s rather touristy but—”
“No, I love it.” She barely waited for the taxi to pull to a stop before she opened the door and climbed out. Cameron paid the fare and followed her onto the street. Her captivated expression made her look even younger, and much less world-weary than she’d been since he’d met her. She spun to grab his arm and tugged him toward the giant Ferris wheel. “How did you know? I’ve wanted to ride this since I was a kid. It seemed like the most magical thing in the world to be able to see a nighttime London from so far up.”
“Aaron may have mentioned that you enjoy Ferris wheels.” He allowed himself to be towed along like some well-loved toy. It was only after the words escaped that he realized she might find them creepy.
“It gives you a different perspective of the world, and if that isn’t magic, I don’t know what qualifies.” She shot him a look. “I’d say I’m surprised you remembered what had to have been a passing comment, but I’m not.”
