home address. Doug didn't know who Margot Talbert was, so it was up to Cameron to discover what the other woman's relationship was to Trish. A casual acquaintance? A business associate? Or something more?
He typed up a few more case reports, answered e-mails, and downloaded some information he needed off the Internet before deciding it was time to call it a night. It was nearly ten p.m., and even though it was Saturday and the weekend, he'd spent the day doing background checks on a few witnesses, tracing a lead on an insurance fraud case, and meeting with Wesley at the office to follow up on the cases he and Steve had given the other man to work on.
So far, Wes was proving to be a huge asset to the company, especially when it came to computers and electronics. The kid could hack into a computer in the blink of an eye, and he knew the ins and outs of surveillance equipment like the back of his hand-including planting bugs and hidden cameras. Wes's knowledge blew Cameron away, and both he and Steve saw this as the perfect opportunity to expand the business to include a security division.
Done for the evening, Cameron shut down his computer and stretched his arms above his head to pull the kinks from the muscles along his back and shoulders. He needed a long, hot shower, and a good night's sleep-but not until after he called Mia for the evening.
It had become a nightly ritual to check in with her. His days were swamped, and she knew he was reachable by cell phone should she need him for anything, but he hadn't had the chance to see her since the night he'd followed Trish. There had been no more incidences with Mia, and despite her contrary nature, fear had her laying low at home per his instructions. He didn't want her out on her own after dark with the possibility of someone watching and stalking her.
They'd skipped going to The Electric Blue this past Friday because Cameron had a meeting with a client. Besides, even though he knew frequenting the popular bar was their best shot at finding the person behind the pictures, he didn't like using Mia as bait or as a plant. Not until he discovered who was harassing and scaring her.
Unearthing the person intimidating Mia wasn't turning out to be an easy process. For one thing, the pictures she'd received weren't traceable, and he only had a few key people as viable suspects-with Ray topping the list. And he was proving to be a very difficult man to track-a man seemingly without a past beyond his life in Chicago.
Releasing a tired sigh, Cameron pushed away from his desk, and from across the room his gaze landed on the hummingbird stained-glass design he'd bought from Mia a week ago for his sister's birthday tomorrow. He'd set the piece up against the window for safekeeping until Claude's party, and in the mornings when the sun shone through the window, the cut glass cast prisms of vibrant, sparkling colors across the walls and ceiling.
Every time the dazzling artwork caught his eye it reminded him of Mia, her talent, and her secret, erotic pieces no one knew about except him. He'd watched her excitement and enthusiasm that night and had known, without a doubt, that this was what she was meant to do.
He wasn't an art collector by any means, but unless he was missing something, he couldn't imagine her artwork not appealing to everyone on different levels. The range of her designs were so broad-from subtle, to striking, to extravagant and even eccentric. She even did custom work, and the erotic stuff… man, he knew that once the right people got wind of her specialty and the word spread, she'd be set. If only she had the confidence to take the risk and follow her dreams of making a living with her designs.
She needed to get her designs out there for people to find and buy-and not just in a consignment shop. She needed something bigger, with more exposure and the right clientele. And he had an idea of how she could accomplish exactly that.
With his mind still on Mia and her stained-glass designs, he headed to the master bathroom, stripped off his clothes, and stepped beneath the steamy-hot spray of water to take a shower. He'd purchased the hummingbird piece for Claude because he honestly knew she'd love the design and the way it lit up in the sunlight. But he had to admit he'd had ulterior motives in mind, because his sister's good friend owned an art gallery in the city that showcased everything from paintings to sculptures and anything else that could be interpreted as a rare and one- of-a-kind collectible. He was hoping Claude would see the potential in Mia's creations and possibly put in a good word for Mia and help give her that initial boost she needed to get started.
He shampooed his hair and washed his body, thinking that the introduction and recommendation had to be done in a way that didn't look like an obvious setup. He knew Mia and that stubborn streak of hers well enough to know she'd never accept what she perceived as charity. He needed the idea to be introduced casually and naturally, in a way that didn't come across as planned or contrived.
As he got out of the shower and dried off, he decided the best way to accomplish his goal was to invite Mia to his sister's birthday get-together tomorrow afternoon at his parent's place. When Claude opened her gift, he'd let her know Mia had created the design… and then he'd let things play out from there and hope for the best.
He laughed to himself as he thought about his family meeting Mia for the first time, and how they might react to her wearing something as sexy and wild as those lace-up boots of hers. And then there was her outrageous personality that had the ability to shock, and her open sensuality that was evident in the way she walked, talked, and dressed. Outwardly, Mia was the complete opposite of his mother and sisters in just about every way. And he was certain those contrasts were bound to make for an interesting and amusing evening.
FOR the fifth time in the past half hour Mia glanced at the clock on her nightstand to check the time. Like a school girl with a huge crush on a guy, she couldn't wait for Cameron to call. It was silly, really, to feel so excited and eager, but no matter how hard she tried to concentrate on the romance novel she'd curled up in bed with-which was a poor substitute for Cameron actually being with her-there was no ignoring the anticipation fluttering in her belly.
She hadn't seen him since Wednesday evening, though she spoke to him every night when he called to check in on her and be sure she was doing okay. Now, she looked forward to their easy, and sometimes amusing, conversations.
Funny how she'd spent years trying to break free from her family's protective ways, but with Cameron it was different. He was genuinely concerned about her, but he wasn't overbearing about it and he never made her feel smothered or pressured. And because of that, she found herself relaxing and opening up to him-more than anyone else in her life.
It was a scary prospect, considering their relationship, their affair actually, was a temporary deal that would last only as long as it took to figure out who was stalking her. Then they'd go their separate ways, back to their own individual and vastly different lives, and revert back to casual acquaintances. And because she knew the separation was inevitable, she'd do well to protect her heart and emotions in the meantime.
She was so lost in her thoughts that the ringing of her phone made her jump. Grateful for the interruption, she picked up the cordless receiver, a smile already forming on her lips.
'Hello,' she answered, much too breathlessly.
'Hey, there,' Cameron said, his deep, sexy voice wrapping around her like soft, warm velvet. 'What are you doing?'
Those giddy flutters hatched full-fledge in her belly, like a dozen butterflies being set free. 'I'm in bed, reading a book.'
'Something good, I hope?'
'Mmmm. It's more entertaining than anything that's on TV right now.' Marking her page, she set the novel aside and snuggled beneath the covers. 'What would be even better would be having you here. I've been home alone all day, and I'm starting to forget what it's like to socialize with a real person.'
His low chuckle traveled through the phone line, and she closed her eyes to savor the husky sound. 'Feeling cooped up and restless?' he guessed.
She sighed, not at all surprised he'd accurately pegged her mood. The man had an amazing insight when it came to her. 'Yeah, I guess I am.'
'Sorry 'bout that,' he murmured apologetically. 'I know this is tough, but I really don't want you going out by yourself. Especially at night.'
'I know, and I'm okay with it.' Surprisingly, that was true. 'Really.'
Something rustled in the background, as though he was trying to get comfortable in his own bed. Mia's imagination took flight, and in her mind's eye she could see him sprawled lazily on his bed with one hand tucked
