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She nodded. “Have you talked to Smoke? You’re forgetting that right now I work for him, and I won’t leave him in the lurch.”
“Nor would I ask you to. You’re right. We’re getting ahead of ourselves.”
She was glad to drop the subject, but she knew they’d have to face it, and soon.
Chapter Eighteen
Cameron checked his watch. They needed to get going soon, but he didn’t want to rush Piper. She was still upstairs getting ready. He smiled. He was hoping this evening would go as well as the day had. She’d fit right into his life so easily, and he loved having her in it. They’d had a leisurely breakfast this morning, and he’d gone ahead and warned her that she might meet with some resistance from some of the girls tonight. She’d taken it much better than he’d expected. She shrugged and said it was only to be expected. She could handle it.
She’d been more upset when she realized that she had nothing to wear to the dinner. Mary Ellen had stepped in and helped out. She was a mind reader and a miracle worker rolled into one. She’d called Piper and asked if she wanted to go shopping. That had worked out perfectly as Cameron had a few phone calls he needed to make.
Piper and Mary Ellen had returned from their shopping spree with Chelsea in tow, and they’d all hung out for a little while this afternoon. It had been a glimpse of what his life could be like if Piper were here permanently—and he’d loved it.
“Are you ready?” she called down the stairs.
“Yes. Come on down.”
He went to stand at the bottom of the stairs, and the blood rushed through his veins when she appeared at the top. She was stunning. She wore a long, silver, shimmery dress that clung to her voluptuous figure and made him want to go upstairs to join her, instead of taking her out.
“Damn!” he breathed.
Her eyes sparkled when she smiled.
“You like?”
“Like doesn’t even come close! You look amazing!”
She made her way down and stopped at the bottom. “Mary Ellen picked it, I would never have thought of getting something like this, but she dared me to try it on and …” She dropped her gaze. “I feel good in it.”
“So you should.” Cameron made a note to thank Mary Ellen.
“I felt like I needed to look great, you know? I don’t want to feel dowdy when all your glamorous ex-girlfriends come after me with their claws out. I want to feel like their equal.”
He shook his head. “You’re not their equal, Piper. You’re so much more than any of them could ever hope to be. They can’t hold a candle to you.”
She smiled. “That’s a sweet thing to say.”
“I’m not just saying it; it’s true.”
She shook her head. “I scrub up okay.”
He laughed. “We don’t have time to stand around here arguing about it until you can finally accept a compliment. We need to get going. Are you ready?”
“Yes.”
When they pulled up outside the hotel, he looked over at her. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. A little bit nervous, but other than that, I’m fine.”
“You’ve got nothing to be nervous about. I’ll stick to your side as much as I can.”
“Thanks. Don’t worry, though; I know you’ll have to socialize. Mary Ellen and Chelsea have said they’re going to hang with me, too.”
Cameron smiled. He needed to thank both of them.
Once the valet had taken the car, he took hold of Piper’s hand and led her inside. She looked up at him. “You’re sure you don’t mind everyone seeing and knowing that we’re together?”
“It’s what I want. I want everyone to know it.”
