Page 59 of See You Again

Cami’s shoulders dropped with an irritated huff. “If it’s anything like what I saw of Kip’s opening in Vegas, it will be packed. Celebrities, athletes, influencers… Kip might be a douche, but he’s talented, and for some reason, the public seems to love handsome, talented jerks.” She hesitated as he scrawled his signature on the receipt. “I know you're a private person… Your family is, too… There will be a lot of press and paparazzi taking pictures.”

“Right.” He couldn't think of anything worse, but it was part of their bargain. “It'll be fine.”

“You say that with so much enthusiasm,” she teased as they walked to the door, James’s hand once more finding its way to the small of her back. “Try it one more time, but this time, move your lips.”

James felt his mouth curve, and Cami chuckled. The sound was so natural and happy he joined in. “I'll pull it off.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Cami’s happiness at making James laugh faded as they reached the car. Their evening was almost over, and she still hadn’t asked him about his stepbrother. A knot formed in her stomach. She had no idea what James’s relationship was with Matt Crawford, but in no world would asking him if a family member was a murderer thrill him.

Her brain searched for the words, and she could feel James’s gaze returning to her again and again as he drove.

“What’s wrong?”

She caught her tongue between her front teeth. Big girl pants time. It wasn’t just that it might lead to a break in Amy’s case. She and Madison had worked hard to build their podcast’s reputation. She couldn’t afford to walk on eggshells just because she didn’t want to upset James.

“Cami?” His voice was soft. Her chest tightened around her heart.

Oh well. At least we were friends again for a minute.

A silent sigh left her lips, and she twisted her body toward him. Cami needed to see his reaction.

“You have two stepbrothers, right?”

The street lights illuminated the car enough so that she could see the muscle in his jaw flex.

“What is this about?”

“Are you close to them?”

James turned his face to look at her, his expression inscrutable. “Why are you asking?”

Her heart dropped. Avoidance wasn’t a good sign.

James’s hands flexed on the steering wheel.

“Why aren’t you answering?”

Gray eyes flashed at her before returning to the road. “Is that Camellia the social worker's voice? Calm but firm?”

The hairs on her arms rose at his derogatory tone. It had nothing to do with the fact that he was no longer calling her Cami, in the voice he reserved for her, she told herself.

“From the tone of your voice, I’ve hit a nerve.”

James shook his head, but he didn’t look at her again. The tense silence between them grew, along with the sick feeling in her stomach. James pulled into her driveway, but made no move to get out after turning the engine off. In a swift motion, he turned to face her, his eyes capturing hers.

“Why do you want to know about the Crawfords?”

This was not a James she knew. Cami recoiled against her seat. He registered her movement and let out a string of curses before rubbing his hands over his face. A bark of bitter laughter escaped. He glared at her again before slinging open his door.

Cami sat still, watching as he stalked around the front of the car and wrenched open her door. Trying to hide the shaking in her hands, she released her seatbelt and swung her legs out, ignoring the hand he offered, but James trapped her between his large body and the car.

“This isn’t going to work.” His voice was tight, angry.

Cami refused to be the one to break eye contact. “Why?”

“Because you’re hiding something.”