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“Why?”
She shrugged. “I don’t want them to see us and think we’re being antisocial.”
“They won’t.” She had a point though. He felt a little uncomfortable about what the others would assume if they saw the two of them sitting in here together. Especially since he’d told Jack and Emma that he’d come out and join them. He raised his glass. “We’ll just have this, and then we’ll go out there.” She looked relieved and disappointed at the same time—he hoped it was for the same reasons as him. He didn’t want to put either of them in a difficult situation, but he would have loved to spend the evening alone with her.
“So, how was your week?” she asked.
He nodded. “It was good, pretty much business as usual. How about you?”
She laughed. “Mine was anything but business as usual. I went home, packed up my life, and came back here to start a new one.”
“Wow. You don’t waste any time, do you?”
“No. I don’t see the point. Once a decision is made, you just need to get on with it.”
Cameron nodded. He liked to live that way himself.
“Hey, you two.” He looked up and smiled at Ben. “The others are all outside.”
Cameron exchanged a look with Piper. Would she want to explain why they were in here?
She grinned at Ben. “I know. We’re going to join them in a minute.”
“Oh, okay.” Ben seemed to think he’d put his foot in it. “I’ll leave you to it. It’s good to see you both.”
Piper rolled her eyes when he’d gone.
“What’s the matter?”
She shrugged. “I don’t want him assuming we’re having dinner together and avoiding everyone.”
“Yeah.” Cameron’s heart sank. She didn’t want Ben to think they were on a date? Why not? He downed the rest of his drink and smiled. “Do you want to go join them, then?”
“Okay.”
He couldn’t figure her out. She looked disappointed again.
~ ~ ~
Piper mentally cursed herself as she followed Cameron across the deck to where the others were sitting. She would have loved to have dinner with him, just the two of them. She hadn’t wanted to embarrasshim. He was here to see his brother. She’d been about to ask him if he’d rather stay inside with her, but he’d assumed she meantshedidn’t want to.
“Hey, everyone,” said Cam as he reached the table. “Is there room for two more?”
Smoke moved closer to Laura and patted the space beside him. “Come on, Piper.”
She smiled and slid onto the bench next to him. She needed to relax. Maybe Cameron just wasn’t into her. What did it matter, really? He was a good-looking guy—a nice guy—but she had so much else going on right now. Smoke was going to be her new boss. She’d be better off out here getting to know him better, than inside hoping to get to know his brother better—in bed!
Cameron shot Smoke an odd look as he sat down opposite them. Piper had to hope that it wasn’t an appeal for help—help to keep her away from him. Maybe she’d misread the situation completely, and he wasn’t interested at all.
Ben came out with two more menus. “If you’re quick, I can put your order in with the rest.”
Laura caught Piper’s eye and smiled. “How’ve you been?”
“Great, thanks. I went back to Texas while you were gone, collected my things, and put the house up for sale. Now I’m staying at the lodge till I find a place of my own.”
“That’s awesome. I’m so happy you’re moving here.”
Piper nodded. “Me too. The guys at the airport are great.”
