Page 17 of See You Again
The door dinged softly open, and the thick carpeting of the hallway muffled their steps. Cami’s heart beat so hard she was half convinced he could hear it. But his expression remained cool, impassive even, as they reached the door to his suite. When the heavy mahogany door swung open, Cami saw James hadn’t misled her.
A small, round foyer covered in bright chinoiserie wallpaper greeted them, with another set of wide double doors standing open to reveal a large sitting room.
Cami’s eyes roved past the sofas and dark wood tables to the open concept kitchen. Espresso cabinets lined the wall over white granite countertops facing a matching island with stools. The room was immaculate, not a single piece of paper or article of clothing in sight.
“This is really nice, though I wouldn’t have thought happy birds were your style.” She gestured back at the foyer wallpaper.
James’s forehead creased in confusion, as he restlessly tapped his phone against his opposite hand. “I didn’t decorate it.”
Cami struggled to keep a straight face. Obviously she’d been joking, but he seemed to have taken her literally. Was he regretting asking her up?
“I guess going upstairs with you helped sell the story,” she blurted, to cover her own nerves. “Kip was definitely watching the show I put on.” She swept a hand down her soaked dress. “Hopefully he won’t think I’m always such a klutz.”
James scowled. “It was an accident.”
“I know,” Cami didn’t let her smile dim. “But not the kind of thing you want to happen in front of someone you want money from.”
“Is that so important?” His voice was sharp, and Cami hesitated.
“Kip and his business partner Kevin signed a short-term advertising campaign with us. Now that it’s coming to an end, we’re hoping he’ll sign on for the rest of this season, as well as the next. With his money, we can run more marketing spots and elevate the podcast’s visibility.”
“I thought you were a national podcast? He’s just a chef.”
Cami goggled at him. “Do you really not know who he is?”
James shrugged.
“Kip has restaurants all over the country, not to mention he had a successful reality TV show about his restaurant in Vegas. Now, he’s started a gourmet food delivery kit. You know, the kind that delivers all the ingredients to your door with a recipe. It’s a great match for our listener demographic.”
“That’s why you lied about me? To get his business?”
“To keep his business,” she corrected him. “I can’t afford to offend him. It’s too important to Madison and me.”
“Hence the fake boyfriend.” His lip curled slightly.
Her temper rose. “It’s easy for you to say. I doubt you’ve ever had this particular problem.”
“Because of money?” he snapped.
“Because you’re a man.”
James’s lips parted in surprise. “Touché”
He set his phone on the island and shoved his hands into the pockets of his suit pants.
Cami strolled to the windows and looked out at the sparkling lights of the surrounding city, trying to relax. James blew so hot and cold he was giving her whiplash. She inhaled deeply and then let out a silent breath.
He invited her up to his room to ‘get cleaned up.’ That didn’t make them friends again, and as much as her subconscious hoped this would lead to more, now that she was up here, he seemed angry, as if he regretted his momentary kindness.
In the glass's reflection, James thrust a hand back through his hair and rolled his lips in before letting out a deep breath of his own. A gesture she recognized.
He’s nervous. The realization made her smile and went a long way toward alleviating her anxiety.
“The… uh… the bedrooms are down the hall,” he said, when she turned to face him. James pointed to his left. “Guest room is the door on the right. There should be a robe hanging in the bathroom.”
She cocked her head at him.
He cleared his throat. “For after your shower, I mean.”