Page 104 of See You Again
“I wasn’t kidding. I’m starving!” Cami turned to sit at one of the small tables. She toyed with the glass containers of shredded parmesan and flaked red pepper as James slid into the seat across from her.
“I was surprised Luke didn’t know what was going on with us. Why did you decide not to tell him?”
“I wasn't interested in his opinion.”
“Madison knows, but she’s the only one. I didn’t even tell my mother.”
A corner of his mouth tipped up. “From the death glare Madison was giving me, I gathered as much.”
“If you want to keep it up… so that Luke never knows…”
“Let me worry about my family.” He turned her palm over and lightly traced the lines of her palm with his fingertip. “I don’t want you going places alone anymore.”
“You mean because of Crawford? He was less than pleased when he ran into Dahlia and me.”
“Did he threaten you?” James’s face hardened.
“Only legally.”
James’s expression eased slightly. “He’s dangerous. Even if he didn’t kill Amy.”
“I know.” And she did. The malevolence that emanated off the man had been undeniable. But there had been something else that she couldn’t put her finger on.
James seemed mesmerized by his index finger running up and down her fingers.
“Without DNA, we won’t be able to prove he did it. Even if he is Keller’s son.”
The finger froze in its pattern. “No.” His voice was quiet. “I’d hoped we’d be able to find a way… But justice for our family may not be along official channels.”
His gray eyes flashed up to meet hers, and she saw the message in them. It was terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.
“James—”
“One white pizza.” The louvered doors swung open, and the woman reappeared, their box of pizza in her hand.
Neither one of them said a word on the short drive back to her house.
James turned the car off and twisted to stare at her, but instead of speaking, he reached into the back seat to retrieve the pizza and handed it to her. Realization dawned on her. He wasn’t coming in.
Cami released her seatbelt and had her door open before he spoke. She stuck her head back in the door and hid a smile at his astonished expression. She wasn’t letting him get off that easily. “Hurry, it’s freezing out here!”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
James watched Cami walk up her sidewalk to the front door. He intended to give her the pizza, walk her to the door, and then go safely home. He wasn’t sure he was ready to have a conversation with her about what was happening between them.
His body hardened at the memory of what happened in the car. Cami was magnificent and unapologetic about asking for what she wanted. James wasn’t as brave as she was. He was terrified that if he told her that he was in love with her, he could be faced with the same expression she’d worn so many years ago.
“I’m sorry if I led you on… If there’s been a misunderstanding.”
From the first night they ran into each other in the hotel bar, Cami hadn’t given any indication that she was looking for a relationship. What if she considered that this was just a benefit of their arrangement. James wasn’t sure if his heart would recover if she didn’t feel the same.
Cami stood on the porch watching him expectantly. Who was he kidding? He wasn’t strong enough to resist her.
She set the pizza box on the counter and pulled out two plates before turning back to him, her face slightly flushed. She was nervous. Why? It was her idea for him to come in.
“I’m going to run up and change.” She gestured to her form-fitting dress. “I don’t think there’s any room for pizza in this.”
Without waiting for his input, she was gone, a bundle of efficient energy racing up the stairs. He smiled as he put a slice on each plate. There was wine in a countertop wine rack. He unscrewed the top, and after only the second cabinet, he found two glasses. There was some odd thumping noise upstairs, followed by muffled cursing, bringing a smile to James’s lips.