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She would have done anything with him in that hot tub. She had done everything with him all those years ago.
But Clyde was talking. She had to pretend that everything was perfectly normal, and she hadn’t been sitting on Dane’s lap only moments before, the hard feel of him between her legs.
“I’m sorry it took me so long to get back to you about your new project,” Clyde said.
She and Dane had briefed him, letting him know they were looking for sponsors as well as donations.
“It’s only been a week. We didn’t expect you to have an immediate answer.” She looked at Dane as he sat down next to her on the lounge chair. “Dane’s right here. Let me put you on speaker.”
“I told you I’d get back to you after I’d thought it over. And I’ve concluded it’s a brilliant project, and I absolutely need to be a part of it.” Relief flooded her. Clyde was in. That was a huge boon, since he had an enormous pool of contacts.
“Thank you, Clyde. We’re so glad.”
“I’ve been making calls,” he went on. “And I haven’t heard a single no yet.”
“That’s amazing news.”
She glanced at Dane, whose smile beamed across his entire face. “As always, Clyde, you’re a powerhouse. Thank you.”
“I take it you’re close to breaking ground for the resort?”
Dane jutted his chin at her, indicating that it was her project and her answer to give.
“We’re looking for just the right property.” Or she would be, as soon as they got back to Pebble Beach.
“Brilliant. I have yeses to the tune of two hundred million already.”
Cammie gasped. That was her lowball figure just to start. “Clyde, you are the absolute best.”
“I know,” he said without an inflection of either humor or humility. “But I do miss seeing you. I hope you can come out soon.”
Guilt hit her that she and Dane had just been in the Caribbean, and she hadn’t even flown over to see Clyde. She hadn’t seen him since the summer, before she’d taken the leave of absence. Of course, Clyde had understood, since they’d talked extensively about her uncle’s condition. But she still hadn’t arranged to see him.
The worst was that she didn’t know when she could get out there again now that she was running the new project.
Dane came to her rescue. “We’re going to come see you, Clyde, don’t you worry. If you can let us nail down the property and get things rolling, we’ll be out for a visit.”
Clyde gave a guttural laugh. “Good. I see I’m guilting you into a trip.” Then he added more seriously, “I know you’re both busy. Just know you have a standing invitation.”
“Thanks for understanding, Clyde. We appreciate it,” Dane told him.
Cammie’s guilt eased slightly. Clyde claimed he would live forever, but she knew time would catch up to him. She vowed to make it out to see him as soon as they had a property secured.
After they’d said their goodbyes and she’d pushed the End button, Dane touched her arm. “You don’t need to feel guilty.”
“We were just in the Caribbean, and I didn’t even think,” she berated herself.
“Neither did I. But we had other things on our minds.”
Oh yes, she had. That kiss.
“We’ll see him in a very short while, like I said. Let’s just get a site deal going.” He squeezed her hand, his touch reminding her of everything they’d done in the hot tub.
And she couldn’t help an irreverent thought. Clyde really was the best, and she was so happy he’d called, but did he have to call right at that moment? Couldn’t he have called two hours earlier? Yes, there were all the rules they shouldn’t break, rules that kept them safe for twelve years, just like she’d told Dane on the island.
But oh, how badly she’d wanted to get naughty with him. In those few sexy, amazing moments in the hot tub, she hadn’t cared about the consequences. It was obvious Dane wanted the same thing.
Just as she’d felt when she watched him at the barbecue, with the children and the babies, she wanted everything.
Even if she knew how terribly wrong it could all go.
Maybe the person she really had to fight wasn’t Dane, but herself.
Of course she didn’t want her heart broken. She couldn’t let their relationship change when it wouldn’t be for the better. As much as she wanted that dream of love and family, she couldn’t trust that she’d get it. She couldn’t ruin everything they already had.
Even as badly as she wanted him.
* * *
Clyde was bringing them two hundred million for the resort. Dane couldn’t shake that off. But couldn’t the news have waited until tomorrow? Couldn’t the Fates let them have tonight?
They would have broken all the rules. And he would have convinced her there was no reason to leave him because of it.
