Page 39 of See You Again
“Um, how are you?” Cami tried to hide it, but he could hear the hope in her voice.
“I’ve changed my mind,” he said brusquely. “Let's get together. I’ve drawn up an agreement.”
“An agreement?”
He could picture her scrunching her nose. “Yes. I think if everything is clear cut… in writing, it'll be best. No risk of misunderstandings.”
The word lingered between them.
“Misunderstandings.” Her voice was noticeably cooler when she said, “If that's what you think is best. When do you want to do this?”
“Tonight,” he blurted. It was best to get this over with. The sooner he released a statement the better. He had work that needed to get done.
“Do you want me to come by your hotel? I have an appointment later… I could swing by after.”
James could easily imagine what might happen if she came up to his suite again. “No, I’ll come to your office, or you can come to mine.”
“Since I’ll already be in the area, I'll come to you. Do you want me to bring some food? I won’t have a chance to eat before.”
James frowned. They didn't need food for a business meeting, but he also didn’t want her to be cranky. The memory of how he used to carry bags of trail mix and peanuts in his backpack for her popped in his head, bringing a smile to his face.
“I'll order something from the restaurant downstairs. What do you want, cheeseburger?”
“Impossible burger,” she said, naming the meat substitute. “I’m a vegetarian now.”
“Anything else? Dessert?”
“I shouldn’t.”
James found himself smirking later as he placed the online order, adding a slice of chocolate cake. Cami never ordered dessert. He ordered it, and then she would eat at least half. It was their thing. Half the time, she didn’t even wait for him to say he didn’t want it before flashing one of her brilliant smiles at him and pulling the plate closer to her.
His lips twitched at the memory before he caught himself. Those days were over. Or maybe not, if he was supposed to be her fake boyfriend. A fake boyfriend would know that she had an obsessive sweet tooth.
James forced himself to concentrate on the motions he planned on challenging in court the next day, but it was difficult. His mind wandered repeatedly back to Cami, and the arrangement he’d agreed to… He tried to tell himself that the buzz of electricity he felt was anxiety about all the ways this could end badly, but he had a sneaking suspicion it was because he was going to see her again—soon.
He typed up a draft of their contract from his notes, leaving room for any amendments Cami might want to add, and slid it into a green folder. James rested his elbows on his desk, satisfied he’d created a fair and comprehensive document. She might even be grateful he’d thought of it.
“James?” He heard Cami’s voice call from the outer offices, and anticipation bloomed inside him before he squelched it.
He pushed back from his desk, tugged the sleeves of his suit jacket down, and greeted her at the door.
“I was surprised when you called.”
James dragged his eyes away from the black pencil skirt hugging her hips. “I thought about your proposition and saw how it could work out.” He spread an arm to indicate the chairs in front of his wide desk.
Cami set her purse on the floor and took a seat with a wry smile. James had the uncomfortable sensation that she was laughing at him. As if she knew how she affected him and that he used formal language to remind himself not to haul her into his arms.
“Dinner should be here in a minute. In the meantime, I drew up a preliminary document.” He handed her the file folder, careful not to touch her as she took it.
“Preliminary document?” She echoed faintly, scanning the pages inside. Her eyebrows crept high. “A contract? Seriously?”
The amusement in her voice set him on edge.
“I think it’s important, if we are entering into an agreement together, that the terms are clear. That way, we each know what to expect. No surprises.”
Her lips quirked. “Because surprises are bad?”
She was definitely laughing at him.