Chapter Six

Sophie

“So . . . food?” My brows rose hopefully as I hopped off the bed and stood before him.

“Yeah. I’ll lay off you for now. Let’s go figure out the food situation.” Cameron reached out, laid his hands on my shoulders, then turned me toward the door and gave me a gentle nudge. “Thoughts?”

“Something fast. I’m starving. And the food we consume should be hot. I’ve waited so long to eat, I need a serious meal.” I giggled and clapped a hand over my mouth. My elevated mood surprised me. Normally, I was only comfortable with Katie, and we’d known each other practically our entire lives.

“Good plan. And at the risk of sounding gluttonous, I need lots of calories. I’ve had coffee and a muffin all day,” he grumbled. “Oh, and that was at three in the morning.”

“I’m surprised you’re still standing. No wonder you turned white.” I tapped a finger to my lips while I rushed to the kitchen. “Shall we take a look at our options?” I walked into the pantry and considered what we could throw together. “I don’t have any protein, as you may have recalled, but I have plenty of fresh vegetables.”

“I need red meat or chicken, or even fish. Practically anything will do. Let’s go to the grocery store. You need supplies for the house anyway, since it looks like you’ll be here a while.” He stared at me seriously.

I stiffened. “I don’t normally go to the grocery store . . .”

“I get that. What if I take your vehicle? I won’t be gone long.” Cameron studied my face, and I knew he had already realized that idea wasn’t going to fly. “Or you could drive, and I’ll go inside the store and do all the shopping by myself. You’ll be safe, and I’ll be quick.”

The very idea of leaving the house again so soon practically had me hyperventilating. There had to be an alternative. “I could shop on Instacart. They’ll deliver it. We can get everything else ready.” Already I had staggered to the chair in my office and dropped into it. Opening my laptop, I quickly logged into the computer and checked on placing the order. “The earliest we could get delivery would be three hours,” I said with a whimper as I began to rub my forehead. A second later, I realized Cameron was squatting beside me.

“I’ll be with you. You’re safe. Wherever we go, I promise you, I’m the biggest, baddest, most highly trained motherfucker there.” He nodded at me solemnly. “Grab those keys. We should get going.”

“We could just order pizza. Someone must deliver here. And we can order groceries. And then I don’t have to leave.” I could feel the panic rising in my chest.

“Am I going to have to throw you over my shoulder again, kitten?” He glared at me.

“You’re not very nice,” I muttered as I slowly stood. “I’m struggling, and you’re being all bossy. Serious dick move, Cameron.” I scowled at him as I stalked toward the front door.

“Look, I tried sweet and sensitive. It didn’t work. The minute I turn surly, however, suddenly you respond. Why do women love an asshole?” He traipsed after me, still talking. “I don’t like being the asshole or the dick or whatever else you want to call me. I’d prefer to be sweet to you since I’m already sweet on you, but no . . .”

I froze, and my lips twitched as I tried to hide a smile. “What did you just say?”

His cheeks turned crimson, and he rubbed the back of his neck. “I tried being sensitive?” Cameron repeated weakly while he struggled to avoid my eyes.

“After that.” I bit my lip to keep from grinning.

“I don’t like being an asshole?” His face had begun to lose all color again.

“After that. Come on.” I chuckled some.

His jaw dropped. “You’re taking pleasure in my embarrassment. You’re a horrible person.” He smirked as he reached out to tickle me.

I giggled and danced around to avoid his fingers. “Stop. I hate being tickled!”

“Uh-huh. Everyone hates being tickled. It’s a special kind of torture, right?” Cameron studied me from his peripheral vision. Because I didn’t think he was really paying attention, he caught me off guard and managed to connect with my sides.

I laughed nearly uncontrollably and not entirely from the tickling. Cameron liked me. And for the first time in a really long time, I knew what it felt like to have fun. Finally I tucked my arms at my sides so he couldn’t access my torso, and I stared up into his handsome face.

“I’ll do it.” I blew out a breath. “I’m not going to lie to you. I’m still . . . struggling, but we’re both hungry, and you make a lot of sense.” For a second I stared down at my feet before looking up at him through my lashes. “And you make me believe I can do things I’ve been too afraid to do for a really long time.” I jerked my head toward the door. “Let’s go before I chicken out or come to my senses or whatever.” My shoulders heaved. This wasn’t going to be easy, but for Cameron, I’d try.

“For what it’s worth, I’m really proud of you,” he murmured as he gently pulled me into his arms.

My initial reaction was to stiffen up, but with his patient, tender touch, I gradually melted into him. Once my head was pressed against his chest, I released a relived sigh. “How do you do it, Cameron? How do you make me brave?” I craned my neck so I could stare up at him.

His chin was balanced on my head, but when I moved, he drew back so he could see me too. “I don’t know,” he admitted quietly. “I’m just being myself.” He shrugged. “Actually, this is more the new me. I was never this bold when I was younger.” Cameron shook his head. “There was this girl I had a crush on for years, and nothing ever came of it because I was a damn coward.” He chuckled. “She seemed too perfect, too unattainable. I was just a dumb jock. What hope did I have?”

“Was she smart?” I eyed him curiously, trying not to acknowledge the hint of jealousy that had begun nagging at me the minute he’d mentioned another girl.

“Ridiculously smart.” Cameron stared into my eyes, and I swear it felt like I was supposed to understand something that completely eluded me.

“Well, she couldn’t have been that bright if she wasn’t interested in you.” I set my jaw and nodded.

“I don’t know. Apparently, she was interested in me all those years ago, and I never knew it. I didn’t know how to talk to her, or break the ice. I’ll never make that mistake again.” He shook his head as he stared at me seriously. “Being a marine changed me.” Cameron pulled me against him again. I could hear his heart racing, and I hoped I had something to do with it.

“How so? In what ways are you different?” Despite how smoky he was from the fire, I still wanted to inhale the underlying male essence that was uniquely his scent.

Cameron licked his lips. “Well, aside from being bolder, I’m more confident. I’m stronger, mentally and physically.” He chuckled. “I bet some people I went to school with wouldn’t even recognize me anymore.” Then he grew serious. “Some of it is from basic training, which was completely brutal. The Crucible was tough, but it was nothing compared to being in Afghanistan. The biggest transformation came from the tours I spent overseas.” He blew out a breath, and I felt his muscles tense some.

“You don’t have to talk about it. Just know I like who you are. I like the fireman who rescued me, despite my objections.” I smirked. “I like getting to know you. I like how I feel when I’m with you.” Then I did something I never expected to do. After giving him a quick squeeze, I stepped back and grabbed his hand. “Come on. We’re both starving. Let’s get this over with.”

“Right. It gets dark so much earlier in the fall.” Cameron nodded solemnly.

With a shiver, I admitted quietly, “Yeah. I know.”

Cameron

 

“You’re so quiet,” I murmured, almost afraid to startle her. “Is everything OK?” One minute, I think we’re having a major breakthrough; the next, she clams up again.

“I’m fine,” she chirped, while maintaining a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. Her eyes remained focused on the road.

Without thinking, I reached out and ran my hand over her hair. I loved the feel of her thick, dark tresses. I suppose I also rather hoped she might glance my way so I could soak in the depths of her semisweet-chocolate eyes. Instead, she inhaled sharply, which had my gut in knots and me stumbling over my words to apologize again. “I’m sorry, kitten. I guess I can’t help myself. Do you want me to stop?”

She mashed her lips together, and I realized she was deep in thought, trying to decide how to respond. Sophie was definitely one complex creature. “I don’t, really.” She pursed her lips, and I knew she was trying to say more. “I’ve spent a lot of years alone. I’ve never been around . . . guys.”

Her admission had me swallowing hard. Fuck. Did she just admit to being a virgin? I did the math in my head. Her family disappeared after her brother died. When would she have had the chance to have a boyfriend? “What about college?” I asked gently. “Surely, there were guys there?”

Sophie shook her head. “I didn’t go. Not really. I mean, I did some online studies, business stuff, but I don’t have an actual degree.” Her cheeks colored a dark pink. “I may regret it one day, but for now, I’m doing all right.” She shrugged and peeked at me shyly.

I nodded and struggled not to give away my emotions on my face. “You’re an amazing woman, Soph. Look at all you’ve accomplished. And at least half of it was on your own, right?” My heart raced as I leaned over the console to plant a quick kiss on her cheek.

“Oh,” she gasped. Then I recognized the twitch in her lips, which proved she wasn’t altogether displeased with my display of affection. “Yeah. I was on my own after Katie went to college.” She bit her cheek. “We started as Sophia Kate. That channel is old, but we still manage to earn a bit of revenue on it. Obviously, the biggest income is derived from Simply Sophie and the associated LLC.” Again, she peeked at me for approval.

“That’s wildly impressive. All I did was graduate and join the military.” I shook my head. “I feel like I’ve accomplished nothing compared to you.”

Her hand rested briefly on my thigh, and warmth radiated through me. “Hey, Cameron? Not all accomplishments can be measured in money.” Sophie frowned. “Most of my early success was sheer dumb luck. The latter was a concerted effort because I was on my own and too scared to fail.” She released an empty laugh. “I’ve been scared for the better part of the last ten years. At first small stuff, then mostly everything.”

I wanted to say something deep and profound, but we’d pulled into the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter. Worrying over Sophie, I scanned the parking lot, trying to get a sense of the number of people we might encounter. “This doesn’t look so bad. Late afternoon—”

“I can’t believe I left the house looking like this,” she whined. “How could you let me go out in public like this?” She jabbed me in the shoulder.

“Have you never looked at ‘People of Walmart’? We’re overdressed. I promise.” I chuckled as I tried to pull the website up on my phone. “Check this out.” I turned the screen around so she could see the people in their odd attire, often barely there clothing. “You’re doing just fine.” Then I stared at her seriously. “Does this mean you’re coming in with me?” I could barely hide my excitement. I sensed if I managed to get her out of the vehicle, this would be monumental.

She shook her head while she stared at the entrance. Finally Sophie sighed. “Yeah. I’ll come in.” She shifted in her seat to face me. “You won’t leave me, right? I’m hanging on by a thread here, Sparky.” Though she seemed to be trying to make light of the situation, I knew she was serious.

“Not even to pee.” I raised my hand. “On my honor.” Then I leaned close. “And in case you didn’t know, no one has more honor than a marine.” I winked. When she gifted me with a smile, I threw caution to the wind and pressed my lips to her forehead. “Let’s go,” I urged, without watching for her reaction. Then I opened the door and hopped out of the vehicle. By the time I reached the driver’s side, I discovered she hadn’t moved. “Change of heart?” I asked after I opened her door and squatted beside her.

Sophie swallowed hard. “Something like that.” Her cheeks flushed, and she pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. “So now we shop?” Her brows rose.

“Together,” I murmured as I held out my hand to her. Then I gave her a tiny tug. With hardly any hesitation, she slipped out of the SUV.

“I can do this.” She blew out a breath.

“Of course you can.” I smiled as we neared the cart return. “Want one from here or one from inside?”

“Here,” Sophie whispered. “Can I push?” Her brow furrowed like she thought I might actually deny such a simple request.

“You bet. That way my hands are free to grab stuff on the high shelves.” I chuckled, determined to make this experience absolutely painless for her.

She nodded and pulled a cart from the corral before slowly making her way to the store’s entrance. “Food side or household?” she all but whispered.

“Food. We’ll try to stay focused, but I expect I’ll need to grab a few essentials. I thought maybe you’d let me take a shower when we get back. I’ll use the downstairs one. That way you can use yours.” I shrugged, hoping I wasn’t being too forward. “And I’d like to gather some wood. I could make you a fire.”

“We can’t start a fire, then leave,” Sophie commented, her eyes trained on the sliding doors ten feet ahead of us.

“Right. I’m the fireman. What was I thinking?” I grinned.

“You were thinking maybe you should stay.” She licked her lips, and I could tell she was working up to something. “I’ve never spent the night at the cottage. I only visit during the day. And I don’t drive at night.” She inhaled deeply. “I don’t want you to get the wrong impression. The couch downstairs folds out to a bed.” We wandered into the store, and she paused briefly, her eyes scanning the area. Her hands tightened around the bar of the cart.

“I’ll stay. If it makes you more comfortable, I’ll stick around.” I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a squeeze. “Let’s go this way.” I removed my arm and instead laid my hand on her lower back as I worked to steer her through the store.

“What are we getting?” Her eyes widened.

“Well, what do you want? Remember, you could be there for weeks. I think you should stock up on several days of meals at the very least.” I pointed toward the deli on the far side of the produce section. “Shall we start there?”

Sophie nodded. “I have vegetables, but I could use some fruit too.” She paused in front of the apple display. “Galas?”

I nodded. “Good choice.”

While I watched, she selected several and dropped them into a plastic bag she’d pulled from the stand. Then she moved to grab two bags of McIntosh. She must’ve noticed the confusion on my face. “Applesauce,” she explained. “Or maybe apple pie…”

I grinned. “My mother makes a mean Dutch apple pie. We eat it while it’s still warm with vanilla bean ice cream on the side.”

With a nod, Sophie moved farther into the produce area. She deftly picked some green seedless grapes, a pineapple, and a quart of strawberries before making her way through the bakery. “Sourdough?” She watched me for a response.

“Warmed, with lots of butter?” I bit my lower lip and hoped she’d agree with me.

“Is there any other way?” Sophie actually grinned for a split second.

Before long, we’d managed to navigate the entire food section, nearly completely loading the cart. That she kept grabbing ingredients for meals I liked hadn’t escaped my attention. Something about this made me incredibly hopeful. Was it possible she might want me around for longer than one night? I hated myself for getting my hopes up, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I needed her too. Sophie kept my demons at bay. When I focused on her, I didn’t have to think about myself, or fight the memories of the horrors I’d experienced on foreign land, far from home.

“What else do we need?” She tilted her head and stared up at me. Her grip on the cart seemed less intense, but I could tell her nerves were still bothering her. Her humor came and went in bursts. Her smiles were nearly nonexistent. Yet because I hadn’t had to talk her down, or keep her from hyperventilating, I was calling this a win.

“I need a few things. We’ll take a right here,” I commented absently as I began to turn down the aisle. In a matter of minutes, I’d selected a couple of packages of boxer briefs, a pack of socks, a few thermal shirts of varying colors, and several pairs of wind pants. “I could still use some shoes.” I sighed.

“There was a place we passed on the way. Shoe Show or something,” Sophie suggested.

My brows rose. “You sure you’re up for it?”

She inhaled deeply. “Yeah. I can do this. I may wait in the car, though.” She bit her lip. “I still need to run into AT&T. I have to replace my phone. I can’t not have one, you know?”

I nodded. “I understand. You do realize you’re more than welcome to use mine, right?” Maybe if she needed me a little bit more, I could secure a place in her life.

“That’s not a permanent solution. You’ll have to go home and go to work . . .” Her voice trailed off, and she looked away. “So we’re done here, right?”

“Time to check out.” I placed my hand on her back and guided her to the nearest open self-checkout. We worked together like we’d done this before. There were a few awkward scrapes, moments when grazing her skin made the breath catch in my throat. There were times when our bodies bumped together, sending little electrical shocks through me. My favorite moments, however, were when our eyes met, and I swear I could see forever in them. I could kick myself for all those lost years. Look what had happened to us in the many years apart.

“I’m paying,” she announced.

“You can’t,” I argued while pulling out my wallet. “Male pride won’t allow it.”

She laughed as she pushed by me and ran her card. “You’ll survive.” Then she lowered her chin and gazed up at me through her lashes. “After all, it’s only because of you that I’m here.”

Her words hit me straight in the heart. I swear I nearly gasped for breath. Swallowing hard, I felt grateful to the captain for the first time. I’d groaned when I’d heard I had to walk ten flights of stairs to get someone still on the floor. This was something like hazing for the new kid. Yet somehow, this cynical guy who didn’t believe in fate now thought this was meant to be: I was supposed to end up with Sophie. Now a single thought had me in knots, the good knots. I only hoped I had the patience to see this through.