Page 28 of See You Again
“Some of them are afraid that the more famous you become at helping solve cold cases you’ll bring dangerous people to our community.” Angela sucked her teeth. “Don’t you ever worry that these murderers might want to do something to you to stop you from investigating?”
“I’m not the police, just a podcaster. Have a great day!” she called cheerfully before shutting the door, hiding the chill that ran down her spine. She walked a quick perimeter of the small house reassuring herself that all of the windows and doors were locked.
Cami stopped in the middle of her kitchen. She couldn’t let Angela’s paranoia get to her.
CHAPTER EIGHT
“You didn’t tell me you were dating Cami Messina?” Luke closed the office door behind him and leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest.
James’s eyebrows plummeted over his nose. “What are you talking about?”
“There is a picture of the two of you kissing in front of your hotel on all the blogs this morning. Dahlia showed me. It even quoted Alanna Hughes and Shannon Markson as saying they met the two of you out Friday night and you were all over each other.”
“Who?” He picked up his pen. “People will say anything to get press.”
“But why would they say that? It’s oddly specific and easily deniable.” Luke arched a dark brow at his twin. “Plus, I didn’t realize until Dahlia showed me the picture that Camellia Messina is Cami. You never said she was the host of the cold case podcast.”
“I—” A brisk knock on the door saved James from answering, but he glowered at his brother for good measure. “Come in.”
His secretary, Loretta, opened the door just wide enough to slip in, an uncharacteristically flustered look on her face.
“Mr. Bloom, there’s a Ms. Messina here to see you. She doesn’t have an appointment, but she’s quite insistent.”
A hand on the door behind the older woman pushed the door open, and Cami appeared. James’s heart rate sped up as she stepped past Loretta, her red lips turned up in a sunny smile.
Those lips. James shifted in his chair. He hadn’t expected to see her again so soon. He’d hoped after their night together the hold she had over him would be gone. The problem with finally being with Cami was the reality had turned out to be even better than James had imagined.
And he had an excellent imagination.
Cami was dressed casually in jeans and a lemon-yellow scoop neck sweater, her thick hair tied up in a high ponytail with matching ribbons trailing from where it was secured. It should have looked childish, but somehow it was just… perfect.
James pulled his eyes away from the way her sweater curved around her breasts and leaned forward, propping his elbows on his desk to hide his physical reaction to her, all too aware that Luke was watching.
“Hey!” Cami’s smile didn’t waver as she advanced into the room, but her voice was strained. “Have you seen the internet? We’re kind of everywhere.”
Loretta stepped to intercept Cami, and a speculative look crossed Luke’s face.
“Ma’am, you can’t just…”
“It’s all right, Loretta. I know Ms. Messina.”
“So, do I,” Luke drawled, his lips twitching. “We were just talking about you. It’s nice to see you again, Cami.”
Cami’s head swiveled, eyes widening as she spotted Luke, lounging against the wall behind her.
She winced. “Sorry! I shouldn’t have burst in, but I really need to talk to you.”
Her gaze caught his, and James’s ribs tightened around his lungs at the look of desperation he saw there. “Of course.” He gave her a curt nod. “Luke was just leaving.”
“I was?” James stared hard at his brother, and Luke chuckled. “I guess I was.” He gave James one last meaningful look before closing the door behind him.
Cami hesitated before coming further into the room, and James extended his hand toward one of the low chairs in front of his desk, waiting for her to take a seat.
“Have you been online today?”
“I checked the markets.”
She scrunched her nose. “No, I mean social media, blogs…”