Page 13 of Tentacles for Christmas
“Whoa, there. Don’t die on me.” Rowen pulled me into his body as I caught my breath. Running his hand up my back, he settled it on the back of my neck and I nearly swooned when he whispered, “You already planned our next date.”
Fuck. Me.
This man would be the death of me.
My headstone would read:
Here Lies Cameron Bass.
A hot redhead killed Cam with sexiness.
No regrets.
Chapter eight
Rowen
TheconfidenceIwasdisplaying around Cam was surprising to me, but once I decided to go for it, I wasn’t the type of person to hesitate. I overthought constantly, and I was stubborn. Then I made my choice and followed through.
When I decided at the age of sixteen that I wanted to be a boat mechanic, instead of going to university or following my dad into motorcycles, I saved up the money for school.
After graduating from a marine technical school, I already had a plan to start my business. I no longer used the small, old boat I’d started with, selling it to a local fisherman after fixing it up, but my point remained.
Once I set my mind to something, I made it happen.
Months of seeing Cam daily culminated in the moment I decided to take them up on the offer to get something to eat. Over three months, they had wormed their way into my mind and didn’t show any signs of leaving.
More importantly, I didn’t want Cam off my mind.
They were fun to be around, and having Cam so close when I kept them from falling flat on their face as we walked into the pizza place told me they also smelled even better than I thought. I’d thought Cam's fragrance was salted caramel and sugar—which was still there—but there was also a strong whiff of lake water.
Outside of the ocean, the smell of the Blue Lake was my favorite. It was the aroma of home. Clean and earthy, the same scent I caught the day I met my dad and found out what family meant.
Resisting the urge to nuzzle into Cam’s neck where the layers of smell would be strongest, I let them go so we could walk further than the doorway, letting Cam take in the firefighter decor.
For the first time in my life, I wanted to keep touching someone more than for a friendly hug. I needed some space to think and time to get to know Cam more.
The Firehouse had a seat-yourself vibe, so I led Cam past a group of kids in basketball jerseys celebrating a win to a small booth in the back. I didn’t want to hide Cam away, I was absolutely proud to be out with them, but I didn’t need people staring.
No one had ever seen me on a date, and Cam was still the new person in town. Privacy was appreciated.
“What are you in the mood for?” Cam asked, grabbing a laminated menu from the holder on the table.
“I eat pretty much anything,” I shrugged, not needing to see the menu.
“Okay.” Cam dropped the menu and steepled their fingers under their chin, leaning forward with a serious face, belied by the sparkle in their eyes. “But if you were ordering for yourself, no one to think about seeing or sharing with, what would you order?”
“Sardines and Canadian bacon,” I answered before I stopped to consider how that answer would be perceived. Cam made me feel safe. “With white sauce.”
Cam’s eyes expended, but they didn’t hold any judgement. “Sardines? Interesting. I do like a good garlic or pesto sauce.”
“I did tell you I like salt,” I pointed out. It had been the first thing I’d told Cam, but I didn’t know if they remembered.
“You did,” Cam nodded, picking the menu back up to browse the drinks on the back. “Do you want a beer?”
“No thanks, I’m driving.” I shook my head, then remembered something about dates I’d seen in movies. “But you get whatever you want. I’m buying.”
“Hmm, but I asked you to go out,” Cam tapped their chin, abandoning the menu again. “We could split it.”