Page 61

Story: Art of Convenience

“How did you know?” I roll over to face him.

“I can just feel it. You’re not sleeping. What's going on in that head of yours?”

“You can feel me not sleeping?”

He makes a small frustrating growl before dipping his head to my neck. “Camila.”

“I don't know.” I squirm against him and laugh when his beard tickles my cheek. “It’s like, I have a lot on my mind, but at the same time I can’t make out a single thought.” His eyes bunch in confusion but I’m used to not being able to explain how I feel to people. I rub a reassuring thumb over the crease between his brows. “It happens. I’ll be okay, I just need to relax and go to sleep.”

“You shouldn’t be the one comforting me right now.”

My arms wrap around his back as I nuzzle in close to him. “Shh…go to sleep.” I close my eyes and tell myself things are fine.I can relax. I am safe. I take things one day at a time. This feeling is only temporary.

“Let’s get out of here.”

My eyes snap open and I peel back looking at him. “Umm..it’s the middle of the night?”

Even in the dark, I can see his smirk and slight eye roll. “Not right now. This weekend.”

I hesitate, wondering where this is coming from and I shouldn’t be surprised, if he can sense when I’m not sleeping, he can obviously sense my hesitation.

“We’ll leave Saturday and come home Monday morning. Let’s just get away and relax a little.”

It’s a gesture that tugs at my heart. I know this trip is in an attempt to help me, so I kiss his mouth and whisper against his lips, “Sounds perfect.” I try to slow my breathing to mimic a deep sleep so I don’t keep him up with my running thoughts. But a familiar feeling begins scraping at the corners of my mind.

Miles

My phone buzzesinside my suit pocket. Talan’s desk number flashes across the screen. “Talan,” I answer.

“Sorry to bother you, Mr. Cameron. But Jonas is here asking for the Bainbridge files. And I?—”

“On my desk sitting on top of my computer. You can get them for him but then tell him to leave you alone. I’ll be back in thirty.” I don't wait for his response, I pocket my phone and my fast-paced walk comes to a halt when I see Camila pulling wood planks twice her size down from the shelves. Her beauty stuns me every time I see her. Her dark hair is pulled back into two braids that hang down her back. Her white T-shirt lifts up under her denim overalls as she reaches above her head. I shouldn’t be fighting a hard-on from overalls but this is what I’ve become around her.

I will my feet to finally move when I see her start climbing the unstable wood planks. I step up behind her and grab the plank she’s trying to reach.

“What do you think you're doing?” I ask, lowering the wood into her lumber cart.

“I could have gotten that,” she scolds me. “I’ve gotten all the other ones, by myself.” There’s no humor in her eyes. She seems on edge. Frustrated. And now I’m pissed that she’s been at this home improvement store for who knows how long and no one has helped her.

“I have no doubt that youcan,the fact is you shouldn’thaveto. Where the fuck are all the employees in this place?” I ask, looking around.

“It’s fine.” Her fingers squeeze the bridge of her nose and she lets out a breath of air. She shakes her head like she's trying to shake away her frustration. “Anyway, it’s nice to see you, midday.” Her hands clasp around my biceps and she tilts her head back to look at me. A smile that doesn’t reach her eyes crosses her face and I’m painfully aware of how spoiled I’ve been by her real smiles.

I pull her body in close to mine, it’s my way of telling herI’ve got youand she responds by allowing her body to soften into mine. Out of the corner of my eye, I see a flash of the hideous orange that is a part of the employee’s uniforms. I whip my head to find a man walking past the aisle. “Excuse me!”

He stops abruptly. “Yes sir, how can I help you?”

I keep Camila tucked tightly under my arm. “My wife is renovating her art gallery. I need you to help her get anything and everything she may need or want.”

I feel Camila’s eyes snap to me. She’s likely aware of the same thing I am. That's the first time I’ve said the wordsmy wifeto someone without any bite to them or dripping in sarcasm. I’d be lying to myself if I said I didn’t like the way it sounded.

“Yes of course. I’ll make sure she gets everything she needs.”

Unfortunately, I have to get back to the office to wrap up some things before we can leave tomorrow. “Will you be okay?” I ask her.

She nods her head with a reassuring smile and pats my chest. “Yes, go.”

“I’ll see you later,” I say, pressing my lips to her forehead.