‘You sure?’
‘Yup!’
‘Fine.’ He put his hand into his pocket, adopting a casual pose while he watched me struggle to untangle myself. One heel was stuck in the dirt, a branch was jabbing me in the ribs and there were leaves in my hair. But still I was not going to accept this man’s hand. Eventually, with one almighty yank, I freed myself.
‘There,’ I said triumphantly.
‘Indeed, there.’ Cam’s eyes dropped to my legs and I looked down.
My dress had risen so high that the hem was around my belly button and my little white panties were on full display.
‘Eyes up.’ I clicked my fingers in front of his face, but when he didn’t move his gaze, it was time to get forceful. I stuck a pointy nail under his chin and physically pushed his head up.
‘See, not very Vulcan of me. And if you’re not careful, I’ll battle you to death like a Klingon too.’
‘I wouldn’t go into battle like this, though.’ And then, I felt his hand on my hem. He started to pull the dress down, very, very slowly,his fingers grazing my naked skin as he did. He paused momentarily when he reached the top of my panties, but then locked eyes with me and continued to pull. I tried not to react as his knuckles grazed my stomach on the way down, a feeling that made me want to explode.
‘There,’ he said, smoothing the dress back into place. But he didn’t move away; instead he just stared at me, as if he was daring me to do something. So I did. I jabbed my finger into his chest.
‘The point of tonight is to gather intel on Amber and Victor. Nothing more, nothing less. Got it? It’s purely professional. That’s all.’
‘Didn’t seem that professional earlier. And doesn’t seem so professional now either.’ He looked down at my finger. ‘It’s not common to assault your co-workers, I believe.’
‘Assault?’ I scoffed. ‘Keep this up, Cam, and I’ll really show you what assault is.’ I stepped closer to him, as threatening as I could be. And then he . . . he . . .
Laughed!He fucking laughed.
‘Cam, I mean it. I will literally—’
‘What?’ He cut me off again; this was becoming a habit I didn’t like. ‘Knock me unconscious? Choke me out? Throw me to the sharks? What will you do, Lizzy? What will you do?’ He walked towards me, and my finger buckled against his weight. ‘I thought you were all about being professional?’
‘I am.’
‘Well, then I think you’re forgetting something.’
‘What?’
He reached down, pulled my finger off his chest and wrapped his entire hand around it. ‘We’re supposed to look like we’re in love, baby.’
‘That’s going to be difficult.’
‘At least let me hold your hand,’ he said.
‘Youareholding it,’ I pointed out, looking down at it.
He loosened his grip and slowly slipped his fingers into mine. The sensation made my pulse race. I just hoped he couldn’t feel it, because now it felt like my heart was beating in each and every one of my fingertips.
‘You’d better not take advantage of this situation. You’d better not play this up,’ I said.
‘Of course I won’t, you know me.’
‘Yeah, I do. And that’s what I’m afraid of.’
‘Big smile, sweetie,’ he said, and steered me down the path towards the restaurant.
‘I’m smiling on the inside,’ I said through gritted teeth.
‘Have I told you how ravishing you look tonight, sweet pea?’ he asked.
