Close to You

  “We can’t?”

  “No, ma’am. I have a surprise for you tonight.” I push her hair over her shoulder and kiss her cheek.

  “Are you going to tell me what it is?”

  “Are you not aware of what a surprise is?” I ask, and dodge to the left when she swats at my arm. “You just need to be ready by seven when I pick you up.”

  “Do I need to look fancy?” she asks, worrying her bottom lip.

  “You always look beautiful. Be comfortable.”

  “Are we going out in public?”

  “Yes,” I reply with a laugh.

  “So, public comfortable. Got it.” She nods and grins. “Fun.”

  “You like surprises?”

  “Not usually.” She shrugs and checks the time. “But this is fun. If I’m going to be ready in time, I’d better get home.”

  I pull her back into my arms and kiss her, the kind of kiss that would make my mother blush, but I don’t care. When I pull back, I drag my finger down her nose. “You know, something skimpy and lacy under your comfy clothes wouldn’t hurt my feelings.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  “SO, I KNOW it’s not Madonna, but I thought you might enjoy this.” I pull into the parking garage for what I will always refer to as the Rose Garden and find parking.

  “Are you freaking kidding me?” Cami exclaims, practically dancing in her seat. “This is awesome. I love Bruno Mars.”

  I find parking and lead her inside, holding her hand tightly. She’s dressed in a simple black sweater and jeans with black boots.

  I can’t help but wonder what’s under those clothes.

  “I thought this show was sold out,” she says as we find our section.

  “I know people,” I reply, and locate our seats, to the right of the stage, and only a few rows back. We’ll have a great view.

  “You’re good at this date-night thing,” Cami says with a grin. “You’re hired.”

  “I’m relieved,” I reply, and lean in to kiss her cheek, just as the opening act takes the stage. I can’t take my eyes off her. She’s watching the show with wide green eyes, taking it all in. She laughs at the band’s bad jokes and claps for them. And when it’s time for Bruno Mars to take the stage, she loses her ever-loving mind, screaming like a teenager.

  She’s adorable.

  We dance and simply soak it all in.

  And when the song “When I Was Your Man” begins to play, I pull her into my arms and we sway in the aisle, moving back and forth, and for this moment, we’re the only people in the room. She sighs and melts against me, her whole body pressed to me. I bury my face in her hair, kiss her softly, and then the song, and the moment, are over.

  “This is incredible!” Cami exclaims, smiling up at me. “Thank you!”

  “It’s my pleasure,” I reply.

  Everything with Cami is my pleasure.

  “SO HOW ARE your siblings?” I ask on Thursday night. Cami and I are in her kitchen, cleaning up from dinner. “I know you said Amanda and her family moved north. What about your brother? I haven’t seen him in years.”

  “They don’t live here anymore either,” she replies with a shrug. “Bobby and his wife moved to Arizona to be closer to her family.”

  “I always liked your brother,” I reply, watching her closely. “I’m just surprised they left you all alone here.”

  “They didn’t.” She frowns. “I have the girls and Steven. Plus, I talk to Amanda all the time, probably more since they moved.”

  “Good,” I reply, not sure why I suddenly feel the need to hug her.

  “Riley will be here any minute,” Cami says, and bites her lip just as we hear the front door open and Riley calls out hello. “Or right now.”

  “Your cat tried to kill me,” Riley says as she walks into the kitchen, peeling her coat off. “I’m pretty sure he hates me.”

  “He’s a lover,” I say in the cat’s defense, and grin down at the feline as he winds his way through my legs, purring happily.

  “He only likes men,” Cami says. “He doesn’t like me either.”

  “What other men has he been around?” I ask, raising a brow.

  “Oh, you know,” Cami says, waving me off. “Just Jean Claude and Ricardo. But I always make sure they’re gone by the time you get here.”

  Not giving one shit about having an audience, I pull Cami into my arms and kiss the hell out of her, plunging my hands in her hair and fisting, holding her still as I plunder and explore her mouth, nibble her lips, then kiss my way down her jawline to her ear and whisper, “Do you want to change that answer?”

  “Just you,” she says, then clears her throat. “I told Jean Claude and Ricardo to take a hike.”

  “That’s better,” I reply, and drag my knuckles down her cheek. “I’d hate to go to jail for murder.”

  “A little possessive, aren’t we?” Riley asks, and helps herself, pouring a glass of wine. “You want some?” she asks Cami.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Speaking of possessive,” I reply, not directly answering her question, “what’s going on tonight?”

  “It’s Thursday,” Riley says, as if that explains everything. “It’s our TV night.”

  “Hot vampires,” Cami says, nodding. “Want to join us?”

  “In watching vampires? No thanks,” I reply, and shake my head. “I guess you get her tonight,” I say to Riley.

  “Sorry not sorry,” Riley says with a smug smile. “And just so you know, when summer starts, there will be a Real Housewives night too.”

  “Real Housewives?” I ask. “Do I even want to know?”

  “Probably not,” Cami replies, and sips her wine. “Riley and I love trash TV. It’s sort of an addiction. You should probably know that from the get-go.”

  “I believe the get-go was a while ago,” I say, and then laugh. “Okay, have a good night. I’ll see you at work tomorrow.”

  “You don’t have to leave,” Cami says, and worries her bottom lip. I can see that she’s torn between hanging out with Riley and me leaving for the night, and that’s never a worry I want to give her. She doesn’t have to choose. She can have all of us.

  “I’m fine,” I reply, and kiss her forehead. “Have fun with Riley tonight. I’ll see you all weekend.”

  Her face lights up. “Do we have plans?”

  “Do we need them?” I ask.

  “No.” She shakes her head. “I don’t care what we do, as long as I get to do it with you.”

  “I’m going to gag,” Riley says, and starts for the living room. “I’ll take my chances with your homicidal cat while you all play kissy face.”

  “He’s not homicidal,” Cami calls after her, then stares up at me with a happy smile. “Thanks for understanding.”

  “I’m a guy, babe. I’ll never understand hot vampires.” I kiss her nose, then her lips. “But I understand needing time with your friend. Seriously, enjoy yourselves. Do you need anything?”

  “Ice cream!” Riley calls from the other room.

  “So much for privacy,” I mutter.

  “The walls are thin!” Riley yells, making us both laugh.

  “I’ll go get your ice cream.”

  “You don’t have to,” Cami says.

  “I know.” I walk through the living room and wave at Riley on my way out.

  “Cherry Garcia, please,” Riley says with a sweet smile.

  I nod, but rather than walk out, I turn back to look at Cami. She’s just sat down next to Riley, and she’s laughing at something Riley said. Cami’s head is tossed back, her hair fallen back so I can see the soft curve of her neck.

  I want to bury my face there and breathe her in.

  I rub my chest as I walk out of the house and down to my car. It aches.

  I’m in love with her.

  I can’t imagine my life without her in it. She’s it for me. And this isn’t just a childish crush. It’s the real thing.

  Holy fuck, I’m in love with her.


  Now I have to figure out a way to tell her without scaring the shit out of her.

  Chapter 11

  ~Cami~

  “Seriously,” Riley says, her eyes glued to the TV, “Stephan makes my insides tingle.”

  “Your insides?” I giggle and sit back, giving Scoot room to jump onto my lap, give me the stink eye to make sure I don’t dare try to pet him, then settle in to sleep. “Are we fourteen? Your girlie parts are tingling?”

  “Stop judging me,” she replies. “You know what I mean.”

  “We really should go to a Comic Con sometime. They are always there.”

  “Why haven’t we done that?” she asks as Landon walks back into the house, carrying a bag.

  “I have several kinds of ice cream here,” he says with a grin, passing over the bag. “I also grabbed spoons so you don’t have to get up.”

  “I like you so much,” Riley says, reaching eagerly for the bag. “Oh my God, seriously! Look at him!” She’s pointing at the screen where a very mostly naked Stephan is standing. “Hubba hubba.”

  “He looks twelve,” Landon says, frowning. “You like the young ones, Ri?”

  “He doesn’t look twelve,” we reply in unison.

  “He’s over a hundred years old in the story,” Riley says, her face perfectly serious. “But he was in his late teens when he was turned, so he’ll always look young.”

  “I’m so relieved,” Landon says, laughing.

  “Well, I think we have everything we need,” I say.

  “Does that mean, please leave?” Landon asks.

  “It means, thank you very much, I’ll see you tomorrow.” I wink at him, enjoying the way he looks at me with those hot, blue eyes. He kisses my cheek and waves, then leaves. When we hear his car start, Riley pauses the show.

  “Hey!”

  “Spill it.”

  “Spill what?” I open a tub of Chunky Monkey and sigh happily after the first bite. “You should have some of this.”

  “Spill your guts,” Riley replies, also digging into the ice cream. “This is going to be much better than the show.”

  “I really don’t have anything to say.” I keep my eyes on my spoon as I eat.

  “Lies.” Riley sighs. “All lies. The electricity zinging between you almost electrocuted me. I want the details.”

  “Okay, fine. I’ve already admitted it to Addie and Kat. And I’m sure Mia knows.”

  “Why am I always the last to know?” Riley demands.

  “I’m in love with him,” I mutter, and stare at the ice cream. “Like, head-over-heels, can’t-feel-anything-else in love.”

  “That’s awesome. I’m assuming you guys are flinging around the L-word?”

  “Nope.” I take a gulp of wine. “No L-words have been spoken.”

  She stares at me, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Why not?”

  “I’m not saying it first.”

  “Now who sounds like a kid?”

  “I don’t care if it sounds dumb,” I say, and shrug. “I really don’t. I’m not saying it first.”

  “Whyever not?” she asks, completely confused. “I mean, who cares who says it first, as long as it’s said?”

  “Because what if he just says ‘thank you’? Or ‘you’re so cute.’ Jesus, Riley, I would die. Dead. Deader than a doornail.”

  “But what if he says, ‘I love you too, Cami’?”

  “Well, that would be nice,” I admit softly. “But what if he just thinks that it’s all just a part of the crush I’ve had on him forever? Because it’s not. What I feel for him now is so much bigger, so much better. He’s not perfect, not by any means, and sometimes he makes me a little crazy, but he’s good to me. He listens to me. I care, more than I ever have about anyone, and I was married, Riley.”

  “I know,” she murmurs softly, watching me with happy hazel eyes. “And I watched you be unhappy in a marriage that was just mediocre for far too long.”

  “Yeah.” I nod and sigh and absently pet Scoot. “I don’t think anything with Landon could ever be mediocre. He’s not a guy that seems like he’d settle for mediocrity in anything.”

  “Do you feel safe with him?” she asks, surprising me.

  “Of course.”

  “Honestly, Cami, I think you should tell him.”

  “Maybe it’s too soon?”

  “Oh, please.” Riley rolls her eyes and takes a scoop out of my tub of ice cream. “You and I both know that falling in love happens when it happens. You may have only been dating him for about a month, but you’ve known him most of your life. You know him, Cami.”

  “I do.” I nod and stare at the paused screen. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should just let it slip out when we’re making love—”

  “Bad idea,” she says, shaking her head. “That shouldn’t be the first time.”

  “Why not? It’s as intimate as it gets.”

  “Exactly. Don’t force it.” She’s staring at Scoot now. “How long have you had this cat?”

  “I don’t know, a little more than a month, I guess.”

  “You should probably take him to the vet.”

  I frown down at him and realize that he’s been letting me pet him. Without trying to kill me. He’s coming around. “You’re right. I’ll make an appointment tomorrow.”

  Scoot glares, as if he knows what I’m saying. “He’s smart,” Riley says.

  “I know.” I chuckle when he slips out of my lap and curls up next to me on the couch to give himself a bath. “Want to help me take him to the vet?”

  “Not a chance in hell of that happening,” she says, shaking her head. “I have a meeting with the Food Network tomorrow.”

  “What?” I squeal, staring at her as if she’s just grown a third arm. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

  “Because I don’t want to get all our hopes up for nothing,” she says. “But I admit, I’m nervous.”

  “Is this a phone meeting?”

  “Video chat,” she says. “They might be interested in featuring us on a reality food show, and they have questions. I’ll be chatting with a producer and a publicist, a few others too. I’ll let you know if anything comes of it.”

  “Well, duh. This is so exciting!”

  “If the show wants to intrude on Mia’s kitchen, it won’t be. She’ll put up a fight.”

  “She is territorial,” I agree. “But she’ll do what’s best for the restaurant.”

  Riley and I stare at each other for a moment, then giggle.

  “Okay, she’ll put up a fight. But wow, this could be really cool.”

  “I’m ready for more wine and more Stephan.”

  “Me too.” I nod and reach for the bottle. “Hit play, sister.”

  THERE IS SOMETHING furry on my face.

  “Mmmph,” I mumble, muffled. With my eyes still closed, I take stock of my body. My head is lying on something bony, and my feet are up.

  What the hell?

  I open my eyes, but all I see is gray fur. Scoot is sleeping on my chest. I glance up, and there’s Riley, sleeping with her head back on the couch, and my head is in her lap.

  “Good morning,” Landon says, startling me.

  “Holy crap.” I stare at his smiling face. “Is this a dream?”

  “Yes, I’m your dream lover,” he says, and then laughs. “You weren’t answering your phone.”

  “I don’t know where it is.”

  “What the hell is happening?” Riley asks, stirring.

  “Landon just woke us up.”

  “Why?”

  “You guys didn’t show up to work and neither of you was answering your phone,” Landon explains again, and circles around the couch, crouches in front of me, and nudges Scoot off my chest. “How are you, sweetheart?”

  “Sleepy.” Hungover. “We stayed up late watching our shows.”

  “There’s more than one?” he asks.

  “We were behind by a few weeks,” Riley informs him. “Damn, my neck is stiff.”

  “You were worrie
d when we were late for work?” I ask.

  “A little.”

  “You know, I don’t know if you know this, but we own the joint,” Riley says, always grouchy when she doesn’t have her coffee. “We don’t have a set schedule.” She scowls. “Wait. What time is it?”

  “Nine fifteen,” he replies.

  “Fucking hell!” Riley exclaims, and wiggles out from under me. “I have a meeting at ten! Cami, I’m stealing some clothes.”

  I slap her ass. “How are you going to fit this luscious ass in my clothes?”

  I envy Riley’s ass. She’s curvy where I’m just not.

  “I’ll find something.”

  She dashes upstairs, and Landon and I just stare at each other until she’s out of earshot. “I missed you last night,” he says, and leans in to kiss my lips softly.

  “Aw, I missed you too,” I say, smiling against his lips. “And I’m pretty sure I smell bad.”

  “Not too bad.” He kisses me twice more. “Want to ride in with me?”

  “I can’t.” I sit up and glance over at Scoot. “I have to take him to the V-E-T.”

  “You have to spell it out?”

  “Yes, because I’m pretty sure he knows what that word means. I’ve had him awhile. It’s time to have him checked out.”

  “Want me to stay and help?”

  God, yes. But I square my shoulders and do my best to look brave. “No. I’m fine.”

  “Do you have a carrier?”

  “Yes. I bought one when I bought his other things.”

  Landon nods. “Do you think he’ll let you put him in there?”

  “God, I hope I don’t die.”

  He laughs and pats me on the leg. “I’ll put him in there for you. Do you think you’ll be okay at the vet’s?”

  “Yes, thank you.” He brushes my hair back behind my ear and kisses my forehead as he stands.

  “Where is it?”

  “In the laundry room, on the dryer.”

  He disappears through the kitchen to the laundry-slash-mudroom and returns quickly as Riley makes a mad dash down the stairs, wearing a cute winter dress I forgot I had. “That looks better on you than it does on me.”

  “Thanks, I’ll keep it.” She winks at me and hurries into her jacket. “Are you going to stick around tonight for Jake’s set? He’s bringing Max.”