Page 22 of Bang

"Livia, huh?" I smiled. "See, now I have a name."

"Oh, stop it," she said. "You're just messing with me. Iknowyou wouldn't really do it."

"It's better than leaving Willow alone." I gave Cami a no-bullshit look. "Like I said, I leave for California on Tuesday."

Cami was silent for a long moment, and we locked gazes as we continued to move with the music. Her eyes were accusing but gorgeous as hell.

I wanted to pull her closer, to feel her head on my shoulder and inhale the scent of her shampoo. She had nice hair – auburn with a hint of red. Her hair was long and wavy, just the way I liked it.

I was liking a lot of things.

This wasn't good.

It wasn't lost on me that one dance had turned into two –andthat I hadn't liked it when her friend's lapdog had tried to hone his way in.

One Cami was worth a million of her friend. I knewthisjust as surely as I knew that I wouldn't be leaving town without her.

For Willow.

Not for myself.

I'd be smart to remember that.

Finally, Cami said, "Can I at least have the night to think about it?"

I tried not to smile.Oh yeah, she was coming with me, alright.

And from the look on her face, she knew it, too.

Chapter 8

Cami

I needed a second opinion, and I needed itnow.Fortunately, I knew just the person to call – my best friend Arden. After all, she was the person who'd gotten me into this mess.

Or, she was the person who'd just saved my bacon. After all, I really did need the money.

As I made my way across the dimly lit parking lot, I was still trying to decide which sentiment was truer.

By now, I was so flustered, I could hardly think. Just ten minutes ago, Mason Blastoviak had strolled out of the club, taking my sanity with him.

He hadn't even waited for the drink he'd ordered from Livia. Instead, he'd left right after the second song had ended, pausing only long enough to give me his business card, along with a reminder to call him by nine o'clock tomorrow morning.

That's when I owed him my answer. It was the time we'd agreed on, but now I was having second thoughts.

It was too soon.

But in my own defense, I'd been finding it hard to think while gazing up into those dark, compelling eyes of his.

As I walked toward my car, Livia's words echoed in my brain."He's seen things."

Ofthat, I had no doubt whatsoever.

Without breaking my stride, I pulled out my cell phone and sent Arden an urgent text."Can you talk? It's kind of important."

I kept on walking, praying like crazy that she was still awake. These days, she was keeping some pretty early hours, so I could never be sure. Already, it was past midnight.

Oh, God. Past midnight?