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Now, all I need to do is figure out what I want.
I pull into the driveway, behind Cameron’s car. I actually contemplate reversing back out and going over to Sasha’s, just to avoid being alone with him. Having him stay here is torture, because he seems to be going out of his way to get in my way. He’s just as irritating, only now I get to see more of him. I quietly let myself inside, careful not to make a sound. Just when I think I’m getting away with it, I hear my name.
“Darcy?”
I wince and then backtrack the few steps, until I can see Cameron sitting at the kitchen table. He grins at me, the sunlight filtering through the window, hitting his face at such an angle that he looks even sexier than usual. I snap out of my daydream when I realize I’ve been staring at him.
“Yes?” I prompt, raising my eyebrows, as if I’ve been waiting for him to speak.
“I’m having a few friends over for poker tonight if you want to join us?” he asks. His eyes twinkle. “I’m sure Lewis would appreciate not being the first out, for once.”
“On a Tuesday?” I query.
He nods. “Two of the guys work weekends and I’m off anyway. It won’t run late,” he adds.
“Are you sure you want to invite me?” I smirk at him. “Because you’ve got no idea what you’re unleashing. I’m a shark when it comes to poker.”
“I bet you are,” he chuckles. “Anyway, the offer is there. Twenty dollars will buy you in, winner takes all.”
“Great, I could use the extra cash,” I say. “You may as well hand over your twenty to me now. I’ll collect the rest at the door. Hell, why stop at twenty? Too scared to put in more?”
“Confidence is good,” he says, sliding his chair back. “But don’t get too cocky. You haven’t seen how dirty I can play. Besides, if you’re that desperate for money, I can think of a few—”
“Do not even think about finishing that sentence.” I warn him.
I plonk down into the chair opposite him. He smiles at me.
“You look like you’ve had a long day,” he comments.
“I feel like it.”
“If you want to talk about it…” He chuckles when I raise my eyebrows. “No pressure or ulterior motives and no crude comments. I’m offering brotherly advice as your future stepbrother,” he says.
He sounds genuine enough, but Cameron has never been this…well, nice to me. Why would he start now, without some underhanded reason? But the idea of some unbiased advice from someone who I know won’t bullshit me is too alluring to pass up.
“I hate my job,” I confess.
He smiles. “This is the one my father got for you?”
I nod. He chuckles. “Man, if you leave, my father’s gonna kill you.”
“He’d really be that upset?” I whisper, a sinking feeling forming in my stomach.
Cameron laughs. “No. I’m messing with you. Honestly? When it comes to shit like that, he’ll support you every step of the way, whatever you want to do. I changed my major two years into college.” I raise my eyebrows and he nods. “I started off wanting to be like him and study law, but I wasn’t feeling it. If he was okay with his eldest son not following in his footsteps, then I think you’ll be okay.”
I nod. He has no idea how relieved I am to hear him say that.
“So…what is it that you actually do?” I ask him. “Aside from not much? And I don’t mean that in an offensive way,” I quickly add.
He chuckles. “No, I can understand why you’d think I don’t do anything. I’m in property development. I’ll be the CEO of the LA office for one of the biggest commercial property development firms in the country by next week. If they get their shit together.”
I stare at him, shocked. At first I think he must be bullshitting, but there’s no smirk or sign that he’s lying.
“Wow, really?” I ask. “That’s great. I had no idea you were so…” My voice trails off, because I don’t want to offend him.
“Successful?” he offers. “I’ll also accept dedicated, smart, talented or passionate.”
“Passionate?” I roll my eyes.
“Hey, I’m passionate about many things,” he grins.
“I bet you are,” I say, getting to my feet. “I should get changed.”
“And maybe squeeze in some last-minute poker practice,” he suggests, his eyes shining.
“Don’t need it,” I say, winking at him. “The only thing I need to figure out is how far I ride you into the ground.”
I walk upstairs and down the hallway to my room, closing the door with my foot. I call Sash, because although she’s not much for poker, I know she’ll kill me if there were a group of single guys in the house and I didn’t invite her.
