Page 6 of See You Again
“Let her go, Kip.” The woman tugged at her lips suggestively with a long fingernail. “I’d love to have another drink with you.”
Kip frowned. “Who are you again?”
The woman gaped like a goldfish.
Cami caught sight of Madison lingering nearby, watching her worriedly. She waved her hands and mouthed, “I’ve got this.”
“Lexie Davenport,” the woman was saying to Kip. “We met at the Golden Peach fundraiser.”
“I don’t remember. Go away.” Kip flipped his hand in the air, dismissing her. Cami gasped at this rudeness.
Lexie turned bright red and surged to her feet. “Is there something in the water with all the assholes in this place?”
Kip turned his attention fully back on Cami. “Good riddance. You can’t trust a woman who doesn’t eat. Now, you on the other hand… You clearly enjoy food.” His eyes trailed down her curves.
Cami bit her tongue so hard she tasted blood.
She was well aware her body was fuller than the model-thin types normally surrounding Kip, but she couldn’t believe he’d actually said it out loud. Kip’s heavy arm swung over her shoulder, and he pulled her tight to his side.
“Kip.” Kevin’s voice held a warning.
“What? I’m giving Camellia a compliment. No one wants a stick in bed. You need something to hold onto.” His hand suddenly curved over her ass and squeezed hard, making her jump. Cami felt her clip give way even as Kip laughed and tugged her into his side, his arm a manacle around her waist.
Damn it!
It took everything inside Cami to keep the smile on her face. If they didn’t need this ad money so badly, she would have punched him two hours ago. But with this infusion of cash, the podcast could continue to advertise nationally, taking them one step closer to their goal of selling to a major streaming service.
She could handle Kip. What could he do? They were in public, after all. Cami caught sight of the heavily-tattooed bartender heading their way. There was a smile on her face, but her eyes were pissed.
“Are you ready for the check?” she asked, though when her eyes met Cami’s, what she was clearly asking was “are you okay?”
Kip looked down his nose at her. “Let’s get another round.”
The bartender waited until Cami nodded and smiled before stepping away. Maybe if Kip got wasted, he’d want to go to bed. But, as she watched the bartender walk away, awareness prickled up Cami’s spine. Her eyes scanned the room, coming to rest on the jaw-droppingly handsome man at the far end of the bar.
Cami’s heart thumped hard under her ribs. Twelve years. She chose not to examine why the exact amount of time that had passed since she last saw him in person jumped immediately into her mind.
James Bloom was no longer the boy she remembered. His face was harder, his body larger. He’d become a man. Cami’s chest tightened, and the butterflies in her stomach took flight. After all this time, just the sight of him had the same devastating effect on her as it always had.
Kip’s breath reeked of beer when he whispered in her ear. “It feels like you’ve got a lot to hang on to. This could be a mutually beneficial working relationship.”
Cami angled her head away, catching her now loose hair in her hand. She’d underestimated Kip’s dedication to getting laid, which was foolish. He hadn’t become one of the top celebrity chefs in America without a single-minded focus. She just wished she wasn’t the current target of that focus.
“That’s so sweet.” Cami shifted to the side. “But remember… I have a boyfriend.” The ruse had worked for Madison. No reason it shouldn’t work for her, too.
Kip’s brows dove over his nose. Cami had to play it cool. She needed to turn him down without jeopardizing the partnership. They needed the money, but sleeping with Kip to seal the deal was a step too far.
“Why didn’t you say that when Madison left? If you needed to go to this jealous boyfriend…” He made air quotes. “Wouldn’t you have left with her?”
He had her there. Why hadn’t she left? And why did he still want her if he knew she was making excuses?
Her brain tumbled, and the words were out before the thought was fully formed.
“Because he’s already here.”
Idiot! Why did you say that?
Kevin and Kip exchanged a look, and Kevin rolled his eyes.