Page 10 of Level With Me

“I’m so confused, Cam. How can you be such a caring guy and yet do what you did to me after university? You knew it was my dream job to land the position at that magazine in Calgary, but you sabotaged it. Why would you do that?”

“I knew who your boss would be. I used to play pick up with him, and I know how he treats women. I couldn’t see him do that to you.”

“Why didn’t you just tell me about him?”

“I saw the stars in your eyes, Koty. I heard how you talked about him. It wouldn’t have been enough.”

“You don’t know that—” But he’s right. I wouldn’t have listened to anyone saying anything about that job. That had been my dream for far too long to let a silly little thing stop me. And even though I’ve been standing still in front of him, I feel like I’ve been stopped in my tracks. Like my perspective on the past was skewed and his words are realigning things. It’s a lot. And it’s happening fast. Almost like my brain is catching up to my heart.

And I think I’m finally ready for that to happen.

Chapter 7

Cam

“I know you pretty well.” I step closer to her, invading her space. I can see how alert her body is, ready for me, like she’s waiting for me to claim her.

“I know that what happened between us in your bedroom was supposed to happen.”

“W-what?” She stammers as if her lips feel a bit sticky.

“It was supposed to happen. You and me. Don’t tell me you didn’t feel it, Koty.”

She doesn’t tell me anything and it looks like her mind is reeling. Did sex not mean as much to her as it meant to me?

“I-I did feel it. All of it. Too much of it. But you don’t even want kids, and I want a family. It’s why I bought this house.”

“What makes you think I don’t want kids?”

“You said so.”

I scoff. “You mean like ten years ago?”

“Ya.” She looks sheepish, like she’s realizing what she confessed sounds a bit dumb, and then she sneaks a glance up at me. “You’ve changed your mind?”

“Hell ya, I’ve changed my mind. I want a family. Why do you think I’m here working on your basement? I’m trying to redeem myself to my brothers in order to take on more in our company. So that,” I pause to search her face and let her know how serious I am, “I can provide for my family one day.”

“You are?”

“Ya. I am.”

Somehow her hands are resting on my shoulders, and I’m peering down at her with a small half smile tugging on my lips. “Does that change things for you, Dakota?” I need this to change things for her. I can’t stand the awkwardness around the house anymore. I want her to see me for who I really am. For the man I’m trying to be. For the person I want to be for her.

“Um…” She bites her bottom lip. “Ya. Just a little.” She pauses again, and I notice that I’m holding my breath. “By little, I mean a whole heck of a lot.”

“I’ve always admired you, Dakota. You’re a strong woman who goes after what she wants. You’re ambitious, but you have your priorities straight. Moving in here, I had so many reasons to take this job. I’ve told you about a few of them. But the last reason is that I just wanted to be near you. To see if I couldn’t change your mind about me.”

“So…you’re saying you like me?”

“Ya. I like you.” I take a step so close to her that now I’m crowding her space. “But I more than like you. I’ve fallen for you, Koty.”

She drops her eyes just before I cup her chin in my hand. “You’re the most beautiful woman I know, and I can’t stop these feelings. You’re the only one I want to be with. You’re the one I want to protect. You’re the one I want to build a family with. There’s no one else for me. I love you.”

“Shit.” She sniffles and covers her eyes with her arm.

“Look at me, sweetheart.”

When she pulls her arm down, her eyes are red. “I misjudged you, Cam. I thought you were…an asshole. But you’re protective. And caring. You’re loyal to the people you love, and you’ll do anything for them. Even pay them to do free work for them. You’re crazy, you know that?”