Page 8 of See You Again
“James Bloom, right? Kip Jordan. This is my business partner, Kevin Russell.” He jerked his thumb over his shoulder, but didn’t look back at Kevin. His eyes were on James as if he were waiting for a response. When James stayed silent, he lost a little of his swagger.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Kevin interjected into the tense moment.
James’s hand glided over her bare shoulder and down her arm. Her breath caught as the caress sent a shock of electricity along her nerve endings, and goosebumps rose on her arms. Kip’s eyes zeroed in on where James leisurely stroked his fingertips up and down her arm, creating havoc on her nervous system.
Not real. It’s not real, Cami chanted to herself as warmth flowed through her body settling low in her belly.
There is something seriously wrong with me. This is not supposed to be a sexy moment.
“I wouldn’t have kept her so late.” Kip leered. “Cami didn’t seem like she was in a hurry to leave me.”
James stiffened behind her.
Okay, that was pushing it. It was one thing to ask James to pretend to be her boyfriend. It was another to expect him to deal with Kip’s smarmy machismo.
Cami moved to stand, but to her shock, James’s arm snaked around her waist holding her securely against him. The hard muscles of his thighs flexed as he scooted her completely into his lap.
It was incredibly antifeminist of her and totally irrational, but… She was suddenly turned on in a way she hadn’t been in… well… Ever.
“If Cami needed me, she knew where I was.” There was no mistaking the warning in his voice.
Kevin looked at Kip like he was trying to figure out the best way to extricate them from the suddenly tense interaction.
Cami could empathize.
“You must be proud of her. Her podcast is incredibly successful. Kip and I are looking forward to partnering with her and Madison again,” Kevin said.
Silence stretched as Kip and James stared at each other over her head.
Cami wished she could see James’s face.
“Yes, of course.” He gently ran his fingers through the ends of her hair before tucking the strands behind her ear.
Cami bit her tongue hoping the pain would focus her on the conversation and not the mind melting sensations James was creating with his casual touches.
“Cami has always been good at whatever she put her mind to.”
She should say something. Rejoin the conversation instead of sitting on James’s lap like some sort of horny puppet.
“Thanks again for tonight.” Cami cleared her throat when the words came out more breathless than she’d expected. “It’s always great when we get a chance to meet in person.” She gave her best professional smile. “Hopefully, we can meet this week for you to sign the contracts.”
And I can order more ads for Amy’s story.
Kevin nodded, but Kip wagged his finger. “All business this one.” He sent a conspiratorial smile to James. “Enough of that. Let’s party.”
“I’m afraid I can’t stay. I have an early start tomorrow,” Cami wiggled a little to inch herself forward off James’s lap.
How was she supposed to get up? The bar chairs were tall, and her feet dangled off the ground. There was no way to make a dismount that would look graceful.
Her temperature ratcheted up when James’s chest molded firmly against her spine. “Stop moving,” he hissed in her ear. Pressing a tender kiss to her temple to hide his words, he looked up at Kip. “Cami is right. It’s getting late.”
“But—” Kip whined.
Kevin put a hand on Kip’s shoulder. “I think those ladies are looking for an autograph.”
The chef turned to look at two women hovering nearby with nervous smiles. His glance was all the encouragement they needed.
“I hope we aren’t interrupting.” The first woman stepped closer. “I’m Shannon, and this is my friend Alanna.” Her friend gave a self-conscious wave. “We are huge fans of yours, Mr. Jordan. Could we get a picture?”