Audrey hadn’t realized how hard her heart was pounding or how close to tears she was when Cameron wrapped his hand around her finger and drew it away from his chest.
“I’m sorry,” he muttered.
She blinked, because it was the last thing she expected him to say. She’d grown so used to his taunts and firing questions at her just to throw her off.
“Tessa is a woman I used to be involved with,” he admitted.
Even though Audrey had figured as much, hearing the words from his mouth still created a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.
“She just showed up tonight, and I was trying to explain to her that she can’t do that,” he went on.
Audrey ordered her breathing to slow down so she could hear him out.
“I ended things with her, Audrey.”
“Why didn’t you just tell me you had a girlfriend?” And what were you doing kissing me?
One of his brows arched. “She wasn’t really my girlfriend.”
Oh.
“I just explained to her that we needed to go our separate ways,” he explained. “She didn’t want to take no for an answer. That’s when you walked in.”
“So then why didn’t you tell me that you have other women you’re involved with?” she pushed. “Why make me feel like I was it for you?”
He gripped her shoulders again, and this time she let him. Maybe it was the tightness of his fingers around her arm, but she felt like he needed her to listen. “Because I haven’t been involved with anyone else since you moved in here. The thing with Tessa was just casual and not even exclusive.” His hold on her tightened. “And you are it for me, Audrey.”
She blinked and tried to process his words, but they were foreign to her. She’d never been it for anyone before. “What d’you mean?”
“I mean…” He shook his head and cursed. “I mean I don’t want there to be anyone else. Casual or otherwise.”
Was she supposed to take that to mean that he wanted…something with her? But what? A fling until she went home? Was he going to ask her to stay in Blanco Valley so they could have something more permanent? Part of Audrey shivered at the thought that a man could want her that much. That Cameron could want her that much. The other part…was terrified that she wouldn’t know how to answer him, that she’d allow her fear to cloud her opportunity to be happy.
“What are you saying, Cameron?”
“I’m saying…” He scrubbed a hand over his head. “I don’t know what the hell I’m saying. Just that maybe…” He cleared his throat. “Maybe you don’t have to rush home after the football season is over.”
“I’ve already stayed too long,” she pointed out.
“I’m sure you have,” he agreed.
“And I need to get back to my business.”
“Also agreed,” he said with a nod.
Audrey chewed her lower lip. “And you don’t really need me anymore. Piper’s settled in here, and you’ve picked up the hang of things. It makes sense for me to go back.”
“Right. Except it doesn’t make sense.”
Audrey shook her head. “I’m going to need you to be a little clearer, Cameron.”
“How can it make sense for you to leave, when your being here makes more sense?”
It was so close to what she wanted, and needed, to hear from him, yet Audrey couldn’t help the frisson of unease that snaked through her system.
“Because of Piper?” she pressed.
He cleared his throat again, which she’d learned was a nervous habit. “Yeah, and—”
“Audrey?”
The little voice coming from the darkness behind her put a stop to whatever Cameron was about to say. For the first time, Audrey wished she didn’t have a six-year-old depending on her. As selfish as that sounded, she needed another minute to sort out whatever this was with Cameron, because as soon as Cameron locked gazes with Piper, she knew the moment was over. Who knew if she’d get it back?
What had he been about to say?
She turned and pasted a smile on her face for Dianna’s daughter. “Yeah, sweetie?”
“I had a bad dream.” Piper clung to the doorframe of her room, her curls a wild mess around her face. “And I have to go to the bathroom.”
“Okay.” She turned back, but Cameron was gone. He’d slipped out as silently as he’d slipped in, leaving her to wonder if the door had been shut completely.
Seventeen
Audrey found herself looking forward to Sunday dinner with Cameron’s mom, Pamela. Not only was the woman a breath of fresh air who wasn’t afraid to give her son a hard time, but also her presence gave Audrey a reprieve. Ever since their strange talk the night before, Audrey found she didn’t know what to say around Cameron or how to act around him. She felt like a high schooler who’d just admitted she had a crush on a boy.
To make matters worse, Cameron had spent the better part of the afternoon giving her lingering looks and teasing the panties off her. Figuratively, of course.
Since Pamela had cooked the last time, Audrey had insisted on making the dinner. Cameron looked like he’d been about to have a heart attack when Audrey announced she was going to make pot roast with potatoes and carrots. Their bickering about how to cook had started that morning when Cameron insisted the roast would be better in the oven so it could be basted in a Dutch oven. Since Audrey didn’t even know what the hell a Dutch oven was, and scolded her hormones for jumping all over the place, she’d placed the meal in a Crock-Pot. The vein in Cameron’s forehead looked like it
