Page 7 of See You Again

“He’s here?” Kip scoffed. “And he left you by yourself with me all night?”

Cami wanted to snap at Kip that he wasn’t god’s gift to the feminine half of the species and not every man was threatened. But she needed to defuse the situation. She snuck a glance at James, staring at the short tumbler in front of him.

“He respects my job. He gives me the space I need to work.”

Kevin shook his head, clearly not buying it, but Cami suspected he was as eager to leave as she was.

“Who is it?” Kip scanned the bar.

“Hm,” Cami lifted her brows high, scrambling for a way to stall him.

“Which one is your boyfriend?” Kip laughed as if he knew she was lying.

This was bad. Not only was it embarrassing on a personal level to get caught lying about something so stupid, but it was going to look extremely unprofessional.

“James doesn’t like to be bothered,” Cami said blithely, hoping that would be enough, but now Kevin’s interest had been engaged and he was scanning the bar.

His eyes came to rest on James before flying back to hers. “James Bloom?”

Her mouth fell open. They knew each other? Could she deny it? But if she did, they would want her to point out someone else.

“Um…”

“I want to meet him,” Kip declared, downing the drink that had just been delivered.

What?

“Oh… um… no. We like to keep things separate.”

“That’s silly.” When Kip’s eyes met hers, she saw that he knew she was lying, and now in retribution for her rejection of him, he was going to humiliate her. She could kiss this ad campaign goodbye.

“Okay, but he doesn’t like surprises,” Cami said, before setting off as quickly as she could toward the bar, conscious of Kip close on her heels.

A fan tugged at Kip’s arm, buying her the extra seconds Cami needed to reach James first. Would he play along? They’d been close once—before he’d disappeared from her life without a word.

“I need you to be my boyfriend…” James’s intense gray eyes met hers and time froze.

She was twenty-one again, and James Bloom and his ridiculously handsome face were all she could see. She could have stayed lost in his eyes, but Kip was at her shoulder, pressing against her.

“You’re Camellia’s boyfriend, huh?” His hand landed hard on her shoulder.

James turned slowly in his seat to face them. His gaze fell to the large hand covering Cami’s shoulder, and then slowly rose to skate over her face. He stared at her for a moment before shifting his eyes to Kip.

“Is there a reason you’re touching my girlfriend?” James’s deep voice rumbled. Relief washed over her, making her knees weak.

Before Cami knew what was happening, James grasped her hands and pulled her forward, away from Kip. She squeaked when he suddenly spun and lifted her so that Cami was half perched on the tall chair between his legs, his chest grazing her back.

The act of possession was undeniable. And hot as hell.

Get your hormones under control. It’s not real, Cami. He’s just doing what you asked.

Kip’s face slacked as Kevin approached them warily. Kevin wore the resigned expression of a man who knew he was going to have to clean up yet another one of the chef’s messes.

“Hey man, I’m sorry. I didn’t know she was taken.” Kip chuckled.

Cami bristled. It didn’t matter that she wasn’t interested in him, to Kip it only mattered if she ‘belonged’ to another man.

“She is.” James’s deep voice vibrated against her back, sending incredibly, inappropriately timed tingles through her body.