Page 23 of Among the Stars

“Right. Sure. I’ll talk to him tonight.”

Ash hugged her again. “Thank you. I know you can make this happen.” So much for mitigating his expectations. “I need to go. Call me the minute you have an answer.”

Veronica followed him to the door. “You’ll be the first to know.”

With a quick peck on the cheek, he hurried out the door, and one thought rolled through her mind. Cam was much better at goodbyes.

* * *

A ninety-minute workouthad done little to burn off the rush of kissing Veronica Shepherd. Four hours after leaving her and an hour into reviewing the year-end reports, Cam had yet to get her out of his mind. He regretted leaving the way he had, an emotion he rarely entertained. An apology call would not have been out of order, except he didn’t have her number.

Another ten minutes of staring at the report and he had yet to process a single line. Leaning back in his chair, Cam swiped his hands over his face, then stared at the earrings resting beside his coffee cup. He’d removed them last night, worried the large silver hoops might hurt her ears as she slept. A ridiculous notion, but Cam hadn’t grown up with women around. He was uneducated regarding earring safety.

That Veronica hadn’t asked for them said a lot about her. She wasn’t enamored with material things. That was clear in other ways, like in her home. Not that it wasn’t tastefully decorated, but the items given prominence were small and personal. All those pictures. A painting signed by her sister, Emma. The worn leather furniture and dog-eared magazines.

Until today, Cam believed that he had a type. Ambitious. Calculating. Controlled. That’s why he and Samantha had worked so well together. The temperament and similar backgrounds. Veronica was different. Free. Relaxed. Open. All the things Cam had never been.

The one time during his childhood that he’d allowed himself to relax, Cam had been ripped from his bed, tossed into a pickup, and never had a moment’s peace again. Not until he’d grown tall enough and strong enough to take care of himself did his life been somewhat tolerable again.

His cell phone buzzed, bringing Cam back to the present. He didn’t recognize the number, but he was expecting a call from a new supplier so he answered.

“Hello?”

“Um, hi,” said the caller.

There was loud music in the background. “Hello?” he said again, not sure if the person could hear him.

“It’s Veronica. I know you don’t want to see me, but—”

His sat up straighter. “Where are you?”

“Outside your club. I tried your apartment building, but I couldn’t remember the number to know who to buzz. Then I came here, but your bouncer says you aren’t working tonight. I wouldn’t have bothered you, but it’s kind of important.”

Cam had told his staff that if anyone asked, he was off the premises. “Hand the phone to Dwayne.”

“Who’s Dwayne?” she asked.

“The bouncer.”

“The big, bald guy is named Dwayne? Shocker.” The music grew louder, and then his employee spoke. “Hello?”

“This is Cam. Bring the owner of this phone to my office.”

“Yes, sir.”

“But put her back on the line first.”

The volume increased again before Veronica said, “Did you just put me on a blacklist or something? I swear that I’m not stalking you.”

Where did she get these ideas? “I told him to bring you to my office.”

“Oh. Then you’re here?”

“I am.”

“Why didn’t he tell me that?”

“Veronica, just follow him.”