Page 7

I walked over to the sink, checking my reflection in the gilded bathroom mirror. Thankfully, my cheeks were no longer red. I counted down to ten in my head, taking deep breaths, then straightened up, chin high.
You’re his boss, Alison. Why are you hiding in the bathroom? You’re allowed to be here. You’re on a date, just like he is.
I walked out of the room with a confident stride, only to run straight into a firm body. My hands flew up and grabbed hold of strong biceps as I met a pair of familiar blue eyes.
My jaw fell open, but I quickly clamped it shut.
“Hello, Alison,” Cameron said calmly, like he wasn’t surprised to see me. Had he been waiting for me?
“Hello. What are you doing here?”
“Having a meal,” he said, with a small smile, like the answer was obvious. “I wasn’t expecting to run into you tonight.”
“Me neither,” I said. “Well, I better get back to my meeting with my…friend.”
Before I could slip past him, Cameron reached out and gently wrapped his long fingers around my upper arm, stopping me from running off again. The amusement faded away from his handsome face as he peered at me with concern. “Are you alright?”
“Why is everyone asking me that?” I snapped, then took a breath to calm myself. “I’m fine. I’m just having dinner with a friend. Everything is fine. Besides, it’s after hours. You don’t need to check up on me.”
Cameron frowned. “I’m not asking as an employee. I’m asking as a friend.”
My heart skipped when I felt his thumb brush against my upper arm in the softest stroke. Even the tiniest touch lit up my senses up like wildfire. It didn’t help that his eyes were pools of warmth, inviting me in and soothing me.
I almost succumbed until he spoke again.
“You could do better than him,” Cameron told me as hegestured in the direction of the dining area.
I blinked in surprise. “W-what?”
The corner of his mouth turned up. He was still touching my arm, and a shiver threatened to tremble up my spine in response. “You would have a better time with someone else. You deserve the best.”
I stared. “I’m not on a date,” I lied. “I told you. He’s a friend.”
“He wasn’t looking at you like he wants to be friends with you,” he said.
I scowled. “Even if I was on a date, that’s none of your business.” I pulled my arm from his grip and he let go. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow,” I told him, before returning to my table.
What was that all about?You could do better. You deserve the best.
I shook the words from my head as I sat back down with Russell.
“Everything alright?” he asked.
“Yes, fine,” I said.
“I already took care of the check while you were gone. I figured we could change the scenery a little.”
Let me guess, he wanted to take me back to his place. Maybe mindless sex with him would take my mind off Cameron. It wasn’t like Russell was ugly, but he was a bit too obsessed with himself for me to believe that he was a giving lover.
“Actually, I think I’m going to go home for the night. Thank you for dinner,” I told him, forcing a smile.
Russell blinked at me. “You want the night to end already? Are you sure?”
“I’m tired,” I said. “I had a big day today, but…maybe another time?” I wasn’t sure if there would be another time, but I wanted to be polite.
He still looked disappointed but he mustered up a smile. We walked out of the restaurant together, and I kept my eyes forward, so they wouldn’t stray to stare at Cameron and his runway model date.
“You deserve the best,” Cameron whispered, dragging his hands up my calves, his fingertips left me shivering as they crept up over my knees and up my thighs, sliding underneath my pencil skirt.