CHAPTER FIVE
It’d taken Cam a couple of hours and an ice cream sundae to find out Hope’s schedule for the rest of the benefit events. He’d also learned her day-to-day schedule, her preference for chocolate over vanilla and most of her life history—including the fact that she was doing this whole benefit thing to honor her late mother.
What he hadn’t found out was why the hell she’d disappeared after the auction the previous night.
And since her giddy blonde friend Bonnie had declared one ice cream sundae for breakfast enough, he didn’t figure he was going to get that information from her.
So he’d go to the source.
Since it’d be easier for her to disappear if there was a crowd around, he waited on a bench outside the day spa with one eye on the door and the other on his watch.
At precisely eleven-oh-five she stepped out the gilt and glass doors with a harried look on her face. At the sight of him, she stopped so fast he was surprised she didn’t topple in her red-heeled stilettos.
“Cameron.” Her greeting was just a little stiff. “What are you doing here?”
“Where else would I be?” Cam frowned, getting to his feet. Even after her disappearing act, he was actually surprised that she was startled. “You paid a crap-ton of money for me.”
“I donated a generous amount of money for a date with you,” Hope corrected carefully, her eyes sliding away from his when another woman stepped out of the spa.
Cam reeled back as if she’d kicked him in the balls.
She was ashamed of him.
It was as if the last eight years simply faded away, leaving behind every miserable feeling Cam had experienced living in Diver’s Cover as the motherless son of a three-time felon.
Cam had walked away from those feelings, had left everything to do with Diver’s Cove behind. Everything except Hope.
Whose regret might as well been written on her face in bright red ink.
“My mistake.” He turned to go.
“No, wait.” She grabbed for his arm before he could walk away. “You came to see me, don’t leave until we talk this through.”
“What’s to talk about?” Despite the tight pain knotted in his chest, he managed to ask the question as if he didn’t give a damn.
“I need to explain. And I couldn’t explain until I figured it out for myself, could I?”
Since she sounded as frustrated as he felt, Cam planted his feet and waited.
“I think I’m embarrassed,” she admitted, throwing her hands in the air. The move gave him a great view of her body wrapped in another sexy little dress—this one the color of crushed grapes. But Cam was too focused on the worried look in Hope’s eyes to do justice to his body’s instant lust.
“You’re embarrassed to date me?”
“What?” Jaw low, her gaze met his, shock and horror both equally apparent in the big brown depths. “Why would you say that?”
“Hey, you’re the one who just copped to being embarrassed.”
“I was embarrassed to pay more than most people make in a month on a date with a man while I was wearing my do-me undies and mentally undressing him while he stood on stage.” She said this in such a rush that Cam barely took in one word before the next one hit him harder. “I was embarrassed that I had a dozen condoms in my purse, two of which fell out when I opened it to get my checkbook and pay for our date.”
As chastised as he’d ever felt, Cam opened his mouth to apologize, but before he could say a word, she barreled on.
“Mr. Glass, you remember the elderly man who runs the grocery store?” She didn’t slow down enough to wait for his nod. “He picked them up and, when handing them back, advised that the ribbed ones offer more pleasure.”
The only thing that kept him from laughing at the image was the look on Hope’s face.
Cam angled his head so he could see her better, then grinned. Her cheeks looked hot enough to fry an egg and the way she nibbled her bottom lip made him want to rub his thumb there to smooth away the marks left by her teeth.
She really was embarrassed.
Had he ever seen such sweetness?
He reached out, sliding one finger along the warmth of her cheek before tucking his knuckle beneath her chin. He waited until her eyes met his before smiling.
“Thank you.” Before she could ask, he added, “For bidding. For saving my virtue from Rae, the man-eater. For putting yourself in that position. And, I’m sure, for thanking Mr. Glass for his kind advice.”
He waited a beat.
“Want me to drop by the store for some ribbed condoms?”
Hope’s laugh gurgled out, filling Cam with a weird emotion that took him a few moments to realize was happiness. Simple joy-filled happiness.
“You thought I was ashamed?” she asked, shaking her head. “You really thought I stood up in front of most of the town and yelled out bids in the high four figures, yet am ashamed to be seen with you?”
Cam had no trouble identifying shame when it hit him.
Then she shocked him. Flat out, a slight breeze would have knocked him on his ass, shocked him.
She stepped closer, so close that the ass-knocking breeze would have been challenged to slide between them. She cupped her soft hands over his cheeks, and eyes locked on his, stood on tiptoe and pressed her lips to his.
Right there, in the middle of the sidewalk with people walking by and everything. When the catcalls started, Cam started to pull away, but Hope deepened the kiss. Her tongue traced the seam of his lips, her teeth nipped at the lower one with an erotic tug that ricocheted through Cam’s body with a vicious need. Forgetting they were in a public place, hell, they were blocking sidewalk traffic, Cam grabbed her by the forearms, lifting her off her feet and pulling her tight against his body.
She fit perfectly.
So damned perfectly.
Since his body was urging him to make sure they fit as well naked, he eased back. And this time he didn’t give her a chance to lure him into another kiss. Instead, he set her down and immediately put a solid two-feet between them.
Hope’s mouth was swollen, glistening. Her eyes slumberous with passion. She was irresistible.
“Come for a ride with me.” His words were soft, his expression easy. But they both knew he was asking her to go for more than a ride on his Harley.
She tucked her hand into his, blowing him away with the look of absolute trust in her eyes.
“I’d like that.”
Cam didn’t remember the ride to Hope’s house on the hill. All he was aware of was the feel of her body pressed against his back and the roar of the motorcycle. Her arms wrapped around his waist and her hands cupping his belt buckle. She’d kept them there after the first foray south had almost ran them off the road.
Cam liked to think that he had style.
He’d worked at it, but he was pretty sure he had class.
Hell, if he put his mind to it, he was practically a Casanova.
But the minute that front door slammed shut, he forgot everything. Style. Class. Manners and rules. They all fell by the wayside the second he got his hands on Hope.
He trapped her between his body and the wall, his mouth taking hers in desperate, voracious bites. His hands were everywhere. Cupping, caressing, squeezing. With speed born of frantic need, he tore at anything and everything between his hands and her bare skin. He released her mouth only long enough for her to yank his shirt over his head, then took her lips again as if he’d suffocate without them.
For a few moments, the air was filled with the sounds of ripping fabric, breathy moans and panting breath.
Then as his hands cupped Hope’s full breasts, he knew he’d found heaven. While her fingers tugged and twisted to release his jeans, he feasted. Thumbs, tongue, teeth. He worked her nipples until her head fell back against the wall and her breath came in mewling groans of pleasure.
He snagged a condom from the pocket of his jeans—yes, ribbed, thank you very much—and let the denim fall.
Once sheathed, he grabbed her hips and lifted. Hope wrapped her legs around his, perfectly angling her body as if they’d done this a million times.
Cam’s eyes locked on Hope’s as he slid into her welcoming warmth. As they moved together, the spiked heels of her shoes made an erotic counterpoint to each thrust.
Still securing her with one hand, Cam reached between their bodies for her breast. As he teased the rigid tip, she went over with a keening cry. Her body gripped him so tight, he felt her orgasm. The contractions sent him over the edge of pleasure. Pounding, intense, addicting pleasure.
Even as he exploded, Cam was desperately afraid he’d never have enough.