Another sting of guilt he couldn't avoid. 'Yeah, I know. Work's been crazy. I'll have to set aside a Sunday morning for a game.'
'Your father would absolutely love spending the time with you,' she said, and he could hear the satisfied smile in her voice. 'But I didn't call you for that. Your sister, Claudia, is turning forty next week, and I'm having her birthday dinner at the house next Sunday for her and the family. I want to be sure you keep the evening free.'
Claudia was the oldest of his three sisters, and as each kid had left home and started lives of their own, his mother had made it a ritual to have birthday dinners for each one of them to be sure there were at least a few family gatherings that brought them together throughout the year. Over the years, their birthday dinners had grown in size, because each one of his sisters was married with children of her own.
'I wouldn't miss it, Mom,' he promised and made a mental note to add the date to his PDA so there was no way he could forget, since his schedule had been so hectic the past few weeks.
'I also wanted to let you know, you're welcome to bring a friend.'
His mother's subtle comment made Cameron smirk. 'So I can bring Rick, then?' He knew damn well that's not what she meant, but he hadn't been able to resist contradicting her just to see how she'd respond.
'Well, I was hoping you'd bring a friend of the female gender. You know, someone you might be dating?'
Cam turned into The Electric Blue's parking lot as images of Mia immediately filled his mind, with her innate sensuality, wild ways, and smart mouth. She was so different from any woman he'd ever brought home to meet his family, and it had been a long time since he'd even done that. He could only imagine what Mia would say or do to shock his refined mother and equally straitlaced sisters and found himself smiling at the thought.
Finding an open space a few slots away from Mia's flashy red Celica, he parked the truck and turned off the engine. 'Sorry, Mom, but I'm not dating anyone right now.'
Her disappointed sigh drifted through the intercom. 'And that's such a shame, too.'
Cameron rolled his eyes, having heard the 'you need to settle down like your sisters have' lecture many times before. He would, when the right woman finally came along.
'I hate to cut you short, Mom, but I need to go,' he said before she could launch into her speech. 'I promise to be there next Sunday for Claude's dinner.'
After a quick good-bye he ended the call, clipped the cell phone onto the waistband of his jeans, and got out of the truck. A minute later he was entering The Electric Blue, and it was just as loud and jam-packed as it had been the previous Friday night. At the moment, the waiters and waitresses were dancing up on the bar and tabletops, which had the riled-up crowd whistling and cheering them on. He half expected to find Mia up there doing a few shimmies and shakes of her own, but much to his relief, she wasn't part of the evening's entertainment.
His gaze scanned the establishment, and just when he caught sight of Mia standing at the bar with a group of men, he felt a large hand clamp down firmly on his shoulder. He turned around with his fists clenched tight, instinctively in defense mode, until he came face to face with Mia's brother Joel, who was flanked by two of his business partners and Marine buddies, Kevin and Ben. As security specialists, all three were big, muscular, intimidating-looking guys-the kind women looked twice at and men didn't mess with.
Cameron had never considered the possibility of running into anyone from Mia's family here. Her three cousins were married, along with her brothers Scott and Alex, and they were no longer into the bar scene. But Joel was a consummate playboy who enjoyed having a good time, especially when there were single women involved, and The Electric Blue certainly provided that.
He swore beneath his breath. This was a scenario he hadn't anticipated, and now he had to tread carefully because not only had Cameron promised Mia he wouldn't apprise her brothers about her situation, but there was no way in hell he wanted anyone in her family to find out about their relationship. He didn't need the grief, the headache, or any of the Wilde brood beating the crap out of him for having a hot and heavy, no-strings-attached fling with Mia.
It seemed like an hour had passed between them, when in fact it had only been a handful of seconds. 'Joel!' he said, unable to keep his genuine shock and surprise from his tone.
'Hey, Cam!' Joel replied in an enthusiastic voice loud enough to be heard above the music and noise. 'You hang out here?'
'I've been here a few times,' he said evasively and gestured toward the waitresses dancing up on the bar for the customers, and for better tips. 'The place is quite lively and entertaining.'
'So we heard.' Joel grinned up at one of the women who blew him a kiss while gyrating her hips to the seductive beat of the music. 'We thought we'd check it out for ourselves, and it appears we aren't going to be disappointed. Want to grab a beer with us?'
Despite having other plans, which had included finding an inconspicuous place to sit alone and keep an eye on Mia, Cameron knew he couldn't turn down Joel's invitation without him wondering why… and eventually pinpointing the reason as Mia once Joel discovered his sister was there. Besides, sitting with the trio didn't mean Cam had to reveal his true reasons for being there, and he could still keep an inconspicuous eye on Mia.
'A beer sounds great,' he finally said.
It took some time on such a crowded, busy night, but they eventually managed to claim a table up on the second level as a small group vacated it. It was a perfect spot for Cameron, because it gave him a decent view of the bar and dance area. And that's all he cared about.
As he sat down, his gaze found Mia once again. She was still talking to the same group of guys at the bar. Just as a waitress came up to their table to take their order, he watched as Mia tucked her hair behind her left ear, a signal they'd decided upon earlier to let him know she was speaking to her neighbor, Will, if he happened to show up.
He studied the guy, who was more of a pretty boy than a man's man, with short hair that looked like it actually had blond highlights woven through the strands-and not the kind from the sun, but the artificial kind from a salon. At a distance, his features appeared more effeminate than masculine, and he looked barely old enough to drink-as did his three friends.
Just as Mia had told him, there were definitely no sparks between her and Will. They were conversing like old friends, when most of the other men at the bar were openly eyeing Mia with appreciative interest. There was something different about Will other than his appearance, but for the moment Cameron couldn't quite put his finger on what was bothering him.
Mia smoothed her hair back once again as she laughed at something one of the other guys said. Most likely, she hadn't seen him arrive. Under normal circumstances, he would have called her on her cell phone to let her know he was at The Electric Blue and where he was sitting, but meeting up with Joel had nixed that idea. He figured in time she'd locate him, and he couldn't help but wonder how she'd act once she discovered her brother Joel was there.
Cameron waited for the waitress to finish taking their drink orders and move on to the next table before striking up a conversation. 'So how's business been?'
'It's been great,' Joel said as he leaned back in his seat. 'Getting busier by the week.'
'I hear ya,' Cam replied with a shake of his head. 'Steve and I are swamped. We've been interviewing potential assistants, but we haven't found anyone we both like yet.' He glanced at Kevin and Ben once more. 'Where's Jon?' he asked of their other friend and partner.
'He's on an assignment that took him to California for the next week.' Abruptly, Joel stopped speaking, and his body tensed as he stared just beyond Cameron's shoulder.
Cameron was very familiar with that intense kind of look. Certain that Joel had finally spied Mia, Cameron's own personal radar went on alert. 'Everything okay?'
'That waitress looks familiar,' Joel said with a confused frown. 'Like I've seen her before.'
Cameron, along with Ben and Kevin, glanced in the same direction to appease their own curiosity. The woman who had caught Joel's attention wasn't the waitress who had taken their order. This one was curvy and very pretty, with shoulder-length brown hair and an alluring smile. As attractive as she was, she seemed much too reserved and sweet compared to the more outgoing women Joel normally chose to date.
'Yeah, you've seen her before,' Ben said with a snicker. 'In your dreams, man.'
'I'm being serious,' Joel said, a frustrated edge to his tone. 'But I'll be damned if I can place
Kevin slapped Joel on the back. 'I'm sure she's just another face in the long string of women you've seduced with that Wilde charm of yours, then left behind.'
