Like someone jealous.
The word burned across her mind, furthering her anger and disrupting the peace she’d finally settled into.
For the first time in a long time, she’d felt a sense of peace with her life. That things were finally clicking into place. That maybe…
Maybe she’d finally settled where she was supposed to be.
Then reality had come smacking down and reminded her that no.
There would be no peace for her. No comfort. No settling down.
And, really, it was her own fault. As much as she’d like to blame Cameron, Audrey knew she shouldered some of the responsibility. The man was who he was, and she couldn’t change him. No amount of wishing and daydreaming could mold him into the man she wanted him to be.
On the other hand, the scene she’d walked into…that woman’s lips on Cameron’s neck. His hands gripping her shoulders. Audrey had been hit with a blinding white numbness she’d never felt. She’d been unable to do anything other than stand there and watch, because she’d been unable to identify the foreign feeling coursing through her system. Then she’d stubbed her toe on the edge of the door as she’d been trying to back out, and the gig had been up.
Cameron had been able to see every emotion swirling through her eyes. She’d wanted to smack herself for being so predictable, for thinking that slinking over there at eleven o’clock at night had been a good idea. For thinking that he’d welcome her with another one of his soul-searing kisses and drag her to bed. And it figures that the one time she’d conjured some boldness with a man, it would come back to bite her in the ass.
And why would he want her anyway? The woman who’d been draped all over him and sucking on his neck was the opposite of Audrey. Tall, elegant. Gorgeous. Polished. Not that Audrey was a slouch. She knew she was attractive and maybe even beautiful if she made enough effort. But that woman…with her size C’s and slim legs. She was the type of woman Cameron belonged with.
Audrey poured herself another hefty glass and smiled to herself when the tremble had lessened.
Behind her, the door to the guesthouse opened, letting in the cool midnight air. The moon was absent tonight, leaving the backyard an inky mass so Audrey hadn’t seen him come. But she’d known he’d eventually show up.
Audrey lifted the wineglass to her lips. “Go away, Cameron.” She downed another healthy sip, just so she’d have something to occupy herself.
He approached, but didn’t say anything. Audrey didn’t turn around, couldn’t face him and show just how much he’d hurt her.
“Audrey,” he said in a low voice.
She ignored him and continued to sip her wine.
“That wasn’t what it looked like,” he told her.
It’s not me, it’s you. Your check is in the mail. Yeah, she’d heard them all.
“I was trying to get her to leave,” he went on.
A laugh popped out of her. “Yeah. Looked like it.”
He sighed and reached around her to pluck the wineglass from her hands. She almost turned to demand to know what the hell he thought he was doing, but found she didn’t have the strength. She was tired, defeated, and confused.
Audrey bit her lip as Cameron set the glass down, then wrapped both hands around her shoulders and turned her to face him. But the second she clapped eyes with his, she remembered how he’d held that other woman the same way, and she shrugged out of his hold. He immediately dropped his arms and held his hands up in defeat.
“Okay,” he said. “I get it.”
“I don’t think you do,” she whispered.
“So why don’t you tell me?” he suggested.
She laughed, even though it was far from funny. “You want me to explain to you why I’m upset over what I just walked in on?”
Cameron nodded. “Okay, dumb question.” He gazed at her for a moment. Then he tilted his head as though a thought had just occurred to him. “On second thought, explain.”
Audrey resisted the urge to smash the bottle of wine over his head. “You want me to explain?”
“Yeah,” he said without hesitation.
She jabbed a finger at herself. “I’m supposed to explain when you’re the one who—”
“I’m the one who what?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Why were you sneaking into my house at eleven o’clock at night?”
She opened her mouth to answer, then shut it. They both knew why, and they both knew she had no defense. But how had he managed to turn the discussion around on her?
“What if I told you that was exactly what it looked like?” Cameron countered.
“You just told me it wasn’t,” she argued.
He stepped closer. “But what if it was?”
She shook her head and laughed at herself for what an idiot she was. She snagged the wineglass off the counter and tossed back another sip.
“It doesn’t matter,” she told him.
He came up behind her so she could feel the heat of his chest against her back. “I think it matters to you.”
Her eyes dropped closed, and instantly her mind replayed the scene again. Audrey sliding the glass door open, stepping foot inside Cameron’s dark house. Feeling the nerves skitter through her system at the thought of what she was about to do. Then the blood in her veins turning to ice when she caught sight of Cameron and the woman. The dinner churning in Audrey’s stomach at the intimate scene before her, and wondering how she could have been so horribly wrong.
She whirled on him. “Okay, you know what? Yeah, it matters,” she spat out. “It matters when you’re
