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We have a lunch date planned, but I’m not sure if his invitation was code for sex or if we’re actually going to eat.
I’m bolstered by my talk with Brienne a few hours ago. She validated my desire to test the waters with Camden. She made me feel confident that I can still hold Mitch close, can still even mourn him, but also find happiness with someone else. I’d suspected it, but damn if it’s not better when someone else says the same thing.
The door swings open and Camden is there looking unlike I’ve ever seen him before. He’s usually in warm-weather clothing—jeans, sweaters, boots and the like. But I’m guessing he hasn’t been outside today as he’s wearing workout shorts and his gray T-shirt stretches slightly over his chest but loose through the abdomen. I notice so many things in that first glance. His arms are amazing—pure porn in my mind—with cut muscles and dark golden hair from elbow to wrist. His skin is tan, but not like he’s been in a tanning bed. Just a normal healthy glow from whatever his ancestral roots are. That same golden hair catches my attention on his legs, equally muscled.
It’s not like I haven’t seen those body parts before, because we did have sex and I saw him slide out of bed the next morning. But for some reason, he’s as sexy with parts of him covered up, hinting at the mystery of what’s underneath.
Although not an absolute mystery.
Best of all is what he’s got going on from the shoulders up, his beautiful, light brown to dark golden hair that he wears wildly untamed. His facial scruff is a bit longer than normal, almost thick enough to be a playoff beard. I’m guessing these last handful of days off he didn’t feel like shaving, but I didn’t notice how much it had grown out until now.
Camden rubs a hand along his jaw as he lets his gaze slide down my body and then up again. I’m wearing a brown tweed wool skirt and espresso-colored tights. A mustard-colored turtleneck is hidden under my puffy winter coat. There’s nothing sexual about my outfit, but the way he’s eating me up makes me hot and self-conscious.
He steps back, sweeps his arm to welcome me.
“Come on in, little girl,” he growls low, adding to thewolf preparing to eat the lambvibe I’m getting.
Stepping past him, I shrug out of my coat. He’s there to take it from me, hanging it on a rack in the corner. “I thought you invited me over for lunch. I get the distinct impression I might be on the menu.”
Camden steps into me quickly from behind, a hand on my hip and his lips near my ear. “It’s a possibility.”
I have to suppress a shiver of desire and I hope the possibility becomes reality. I don’t have the nerve to make the first move.
I take in Camden’s condo, noting with a bit of astonishment how neat it is. It’s spacious, the living room filled with plush furniture that invites you to sink in and watch a movie. No walls separate the living area from the dining and kitchen but rather it all flows together. I love the kitchen with its white cabinets and quartz countertops accented with black wrought iron pendant lighting.
Camden’s lips move from my ear to press a soft kiss on my cheek. “I’m glad you were able to come and eat lunch with me.”
I’m a tiny bit disappointed when he moves past me into the kitchen where I see he’s laid out food. He flashes a crooked grin as I take it all in. “I’m not the best cook so I ordered some stuff. I hope you’re okay with that?”
Setting my purse on the edge of the counter, I survey the sandwiches neatly arranged on plates next to tubs of pasta salad and fruit salad. “I think you know me well enough by now to know I enjoy all kinds of food. Maybe a little too much at times.”
Camden hands me one of the plated subs and motions toward the salads to help myself. I scoop a spoonful of fruit salad as Camden asks, “What do you mean by too much?”
I give a half shrug as I add pasta salad to my plate. “You know… we women have to watch our figures. Blah, blah, blah. I don’t watch mine very well.”
Camden doesn’t say anything and the silence draws my gaze to him. His eyes are boring into me. “I think you’re perfect. So whatever it is you’re eating, I would tell you to keep on doing it.”
I blush as my eyes go back to the pasta salad and I decide on a second spoonful. “You’re sweet to say that.”
“It might be sweet, but it’s also honest.”
Those words send my heart into a reckless gallop, not only because he said something sweet but because I hear the truth in his tone. It’s refreshing and endearing, and it does nothing but deepen my feelings for him.
After we have our lunches and are settled onto side-by-side stools at his counter, Camden asks, “How’s your day been so far?”
“I had a good meeting with Brienne and we went over the last-minute details for the gala Friday night.”
Camden slaps his hand to his forehead. “I had forgotten all about that. I need to make sure my tux still fits.”
“Why wouldn’t your tux fit?” I ask as I toy with a spiraled noodle.
“I’ve packed on a bit of muscle this year using a new training regimen. It should be okay, but I need to make sure.”
“We can try it on now if you want and I’ll give you my expert opinion.”
Camden studies me, his lips twitching. “You’re not just saying that to get me out of my clothes, are you?”
I decide to throw caution to the wind. “Maybe.”
