Page 6 of Cameron's Contract

Fierce barking came from inside, chilling my veins and setting off my adrenaline.

Shay casually sprinkled dark crumbs along the doorstep and dropped more along the threshold.

He met my gaze. “Emma checked the pet registry on the way here.” He brushed his hands together to get rid of the rest. “Dog food.”

I admired his forethought. “What kind?”

“Kibbles ’n’ Bits.”

“I meant the dog.”

He gave a shrug. “Rottweiler.”

CHAPTER 3

THE PUNGENT SMELL hit us.

Dog urine and burned food and something else—cigarettes and stale beer. A TV blared from the living room, raising the stakes to the drama.

Decker stood in the open doorway staring us down.

He’d aged from his driving license photo taken five years ago. A crooked life hadn’t been kind to him. He looked older than twenty-six. His boxer shorts and vest needed a wash. He hadn’t shaved in a while, or combed his hair.

If my ex-girlfriend McKenzie saw this tattooed stud now, the one everyone supposedly swooned over at Charlie’s, she’d have shut her damned mouth and run. To think I’d been fretting over this mystery man being a threat.

McKenzie had bitched her way beneath my skin, making me believe Mia was having an affair with this asshole, and all the while the sinister truth had loomed right in front of me. Regret seeped into my bones. I’d doubted Mia, doubted us.

Zen was called for. Not just here, now, but in the way I usually conducted my life. I’d let emotion get in the way and it had threatened all I held dear.

Fucked up everything.

That dog barked viciously from somewhere in the back of the house.

“Decker Hern?” I asked.

He went to close the door. “Not buying anything.”

“You work at Charlie’s?” I smiled.

His gaze swept the street behind us.

“Bad time?” said Shay.

Decker studied us. “Kind of.”

“You’re right.” I turned away. “We should go.”

“You don’t want your New Year bonus?” asked Shay, surprised.

“He’s busy.” I tucked my hands into my pockets and turned to go. “We’re running late anyway.”

Shay glanced my way. His brow arched to convey what we both now new. Decker didn’t know who I was.

“Sorry to have bothered you.” Shay went to follow me.

“You should have called first,” said Decker.

Shay turned back to him. “You didn’t get the email?”