Page 31

She braces one hand on my thigh while the other reaches between my legs, retrieving the gold and black onyx cuff link. Her alluring eyes look up to me through a fan of thick lashes and she fastens the link to my sleeve without even looking at it.

She loosens her grip on my wrist but doesn’t move when I bring my hand up to caress the side of her face. Her soft skin is such a stark difference under the rough calluses of my fingers. My eyes drill into her when I run the pad of my thumb along her bottom lip and her chest rises a full inch.

“Okay isn’t the word to describe how you look, Camila.”

“So,other than Samantha, is there anyone else I should be trying to impress at this gala?” She shifts nervously in her seat, ducking her head around trying to get a glimpse outside.

“I doubt you’ll have to try very hard to impress anyone,” I say, running a hand over my tie.

“We’re not all like you, Miles.” The car slows to a stop and she huffs a breath as if she's trying to hype herself up. She rests back against the seat and her smooth leg slips out of the slit in her dress.

My teeth clamp down asI try to ignore it and look into her eyes. “Meaning?”

“Meaning, people love you.”

“People are around waiting for me to get caught up and fail.”

“Why would you think that?”

Because it’s true. I have the reputation I have because I will doanythingto win. The thought of Camila seeing me any differently though causes a battle in me that I’m not reading to acknowledge yet.

“Let’s just say there’s a reason I don’t spend time with anyone that I don’t have to,” I say, pulling her dress over to cover her bare leg.

“You spend time with me,” she shakes her head giving me a beaming smile.

“Yeah, I do.” All too quickly the air hums around us as the realization that not only do I enjoy being around her, but I crave it. I move my hand from her leg and brush my fingers across my jaw, clearing my throat. “Anyway, like I said, the charity part is just used as an excuse for a bunch of rich lawyers and business people alike, to swing their dicks around and lick some ass.”

“Which you will not be doing,” she says.

I open the door, welcoming the evening breeze. After being in the back of a limo with her for thirty minutes, I definitely need it. Her hand effortlessly slides into mine as I help her out. My other hand finds the small of her back as I guide her to the entrance. I drop my voice to barely more than a whisper so only she can hear me, “When I saw you in that dress tonight, I wanted to do a lot more than that.” Her eyes widen and her mouth falls open somewhere between pure shock and a smile. I can't help but tip my head back and bark out a real genuine laugh at her expression.

The hotel is one of the largest in the city. Everything is gold save for the abundance of flowers everywhere—tables and chairs, the many pillars and chandeliers hanging from the ceiling; everything down to the carpet is gold.

Camila’s steps slow as her head spins around taking everything in. “This might be the most exquisite place I’ve ever seen,” she whispers. Amazing how she can’t decide what to focus on, because I hardly notice anything in the room with her here.

We’ve been trying for thirty minutes to make our way over to the bar but I’m stopped left and right by people I know and people I should know. Some stick to nods and curious glances at the woman on my arm. Some go through the full hassle of pretending to run into me to introduce themself and find out who she is. Only a small minority of them have the common sense to not act surprised, rather just offer a “So nice to meet you” and move along.

Thankfully Talan comes over and rescues us from a particularly inquisitive partner.

“Oh. Mr. Cameron, I’m sorry to interrupt but I wanted to make sure we got all your bids in,” he interjects.

I smile at him and excuse myself from the previous conversation. “Thank you, Talan.”

“Of course.” He bows his head and gives a beaming smile towards Camila.

“Talan, I’d like to introduce you to Camila.”

“We’ve actually talked on the phone, but it's nice to meet you in person,” she says, reaching her hand out with a warm smile.

Everything about Camila is so opposite of who I am. Where I can be cold and unapproachable, she is warm and inviting. Both my exterior and interior are hard and often perceived as cruel, but she is nothing but soft and kind. I find myself shocked no one has questioned our relationship.I don't deserve a wife like her, even as a fake wife.

“Incoming, incoming,” Talan squeals out the side of his mouth as he rushes past me. I pay him no attention because once again my eyes are glued on the woman beside me. She places her arm around my waist and looks up at me with a twinkle in her eyes.

“Ah, the Camerons. So nice to see you both.”

Camila is still smiling up at me but it's turned into more of a panicked smile, with all of her brilliant white teeth showing. Her hand grips tighter around my waist and she gives me a bump with her hip. Her mouth barely moves but I swear it says,‘Are you going to say something, idiot?’The words rattle around in my head and I look up to find Samantha standing with a wolfish grin spread across her face.

“Sorry, Sam, I didn't see you there. You look lovely tonight.”