Chapter Nine

Scarlett

It was after noon, and I was growing anxious to see Hannah. She was coming for the weekend. It’d only been a week since I’d last seen her, but it felt like so much longer. We had texted every day, but it wasn’t the same. I had never felt so alone in my life. The brief interlude with Ella and Cameron had been nice, but I needed more.

I was like a kid waiting for Christmas morning. I was pacing while I waited. When I heard a series of honks, I squealed and ran outside.

“You’re here!” I said, jumping up and down.

She climbed out of her car, and I practically knocked her back inside with the force of my body weight slamming against her.

She was giggling. “Jake is going to be very jealous.”

“I’ve missed you.”

“I can tell.”

“I’m so glad you came. I’m going crazy here by myself,” I said, walking arm in arm with her back to the house.

“Any more from crazy pants?” she asked.

“No, thankfully. I’m hoping it was just one last jab at me.”

“Me too, or I’m going to have someone jab him,” she warned.

I laughed. Hannah wasn’t much bigger than me, but she talked like she was a muscle man. I wished I had her strength, even if it was imagined.

“So, where we going tonight? That same place?” she asked.

“If you want.”

“Tell me everything,” she said, flopping down on the couch.

I laughed. “I’ve texted you everything that’s happened.”

I hadn’t actually, but that was one little piece of information I would keep to myself. I knew she would think it was great. For some reason, I wanted to treasure that for a little longer. It was my little secret, and keeping it that way made it more special.

“Let’s get ready to go. You are not wearing that,” she said, taking in my T-shirt and jeans.

We rummaged through my closet before picking out outfits. We were going for “casual sexy” that didn’t make it look like we were trying too hard. We did our makeup and then called a car to take us out. We decided to head to the same bar we’d been at last weekend. We both liked the vibe, and the music had been great.

After getting a drink, we found a small table and checked out the scene.

“Dance with me,” a man said, nearly stumbling into me.

“No, thanks,” I said politely.

“Come on, one dance,” he said, his face too close to mine.

“She’s with me, buddy,” Hannah said, putting her arm around my shoulders.

I batted my eyes at her and smiled.

“Whatever. Don’t be a bitch. You’re not that hot,” he growled.

I froze. The man had triggered something inside me that had me paralyzed. I couldn’t move. I waited for the shouting and name-calling I knew was coming. I couldn’t draw in a deep breath.

“Take a walk, asshole,” a male voice cut in.

I turned around and came face to face with a broad chest. My eyes moved up, and I found Cameron’s blue eyes looking back at me. I immediately calmed down. Cameron was here. He would keep me safe. My heart rate slowed, and I breathed again.

The drunk guy looked at me, then at Cameron and clearly decided I wasn’t worth it.

“Thank you,” I told him.

He shrugged. “To protect and serve, even when I’m not in uniform.”

I noticed another man standing next to Cameron.

“I’m Noah,” he said with a charming smile.

“I’m Scarlett and this is Hannah.”

“You’re the new neighbor,” he said.

I felt a blush creep up my cheeks. Cameron had told him. I could see the guilt in his eyes.

“Hannah, dance with me,” Noah said.

“No, thanks.”

“Come on, I’m a great dancer. You know what they say about good dancers,” he said, waggling his eyebrows.

“No, I don’t know,” Hannah said dryly.

“Let me show you.”

“I don’t think my boyfriend would like that.”

Noah made a show of looking around the room.

“I don’t see him here.”

Hannah rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to give up, are you?”

Noah grinned. “Nope.”

“Fine. Come on, you big beast.”

Cameron and I watched the two walk away.

“What are you doing out?” I asked. “Where’s Ella?”

“She’s with my mom. I switch to nights next week, so I’m trying to stay up late and get used to the new shift.”

I nodded. “I see.”

“Dance with me,” he blurted out.

I smiled. “I’d love to.”

We left our drinks at the table and walked onto the floor, our hands clasped. The song changed to a slower beat. He put his hands on my hips and began to slowly grind against my pelvis. I forgot all about the other people bumping into us. It was only me and him. I let myself get lost in his blue eyes as his hands ran up my sides before running back down and pulling me close against him again.

“Cameron?” I whispered his name.

“Shh,” he mumbled before pressing his lips to mine.

We kissed, slow and easy, letting the rhythm of the music guide our movements. His body moved against mine, and memories flooded my brain. I wanted him again. I wanted him right then and there.

At some point, I realized we were making out on a crowded dance floor. I pulled back and looked up at him.

“I should find Hannah,” I said.

He nodded. “I’ll try to rein Noah in. He considers himself a bit of a womanizer.”

His hand moved to the small of my back as he walked me off the dance floor. Hannah and Noah were at the table with a fresh round of drinks. She was looking at me with a shocked expression. I shrugged one shoulder in response to her silent question.

“You two probably need a cold drink after that, uh, dance,” Noah quipped.

Cameron didn’t look bothered by the comment. “Thanks for the beer.”

I took a drink of my Long Island iced tea, feeling parched after the dance.

“How come you don’t dance like that?” Noah asked Hannah.

She smiled. “I do—with my boyfriend.”

Noah slapped a hand over his heart. “You’re killing me. Come on, what’s he got that I don’t?”

“Me.”

We all burst into laughter.

“Come on, Noah. Let’s leave the ladies alone. Enjoy your night,” Cameron said, looking at me with heat in his eyes.

That look was enough to make me want to ditch Hannah and go home with him. I couldn’t. Hannah had come a long way to see me, and I wasn’t going to up and leave her so I could get laid.

“I think you guys should stick around. You can be our bodyguards and keep the irritating, obnoxious guys away,” Hannah said, looking purposefully at Noah.

Cameron laughed. “Noah will be on his best behavior. You guys pretend we’re not here. We’ll be over there,” he said, pointing to a cushioned bench against the wall.

“Thank you,” I said, appreciating him keeping a close eye on us.

Hannah and I stayed at the club for another hour before we decided to call it a night. I said good-bye to Cameron and went outside to wait for our Uber.

“He’s hot,” Hannah said gleefully.

I shrugged. “He’s all right.”

“You are such a liar. You practically ate his face off on the dance floor. He is really into you.”

I laughed. “I did not.”

“Yes, you did. Not to say he wasn’t very much enjoying it. You two were on fire out there. I don’t think I’ve ever seen that kind of chemistry between two people. I mean, I wish I could experience that kind of attraction with Jake. Hell, with anybody,” she said.

I could admit it was pretty intense. I couldn’t explain what it was, but something about the man made me hot and wet.

Our car arrived and we climbed into the back seat.

“Well?” she asked.

“Well what?” I wondered if I had spaced out and not heard something.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“What am I lying to you about?”

She lowered her voice. “You slept with him, didn’t you?”

I didn’t say anything.

She pinched my arm. “You better tell me.”

“Yes.”

She squealed. “I knew it. There was no denying what was happening between the two of you.”

“It was just one time.”

She laughed. “Scarlett, that one time was obviously pretty explosive. He wants you and you want him. Why are you holding back?”

I scoffed. “Isaac. What if he finds out about him? I don’t know what he’ll do.”

“Um, isn’t your man a cop? A sexy cop.”

“True, but that doesn’t mean Isaac won’t get mad at me.”

“Don’t be afraid of him. You can’t let him control your life,” she said.

It was the same thing I’d heard her tell me several times.

“I know. I won’t, but I still have to be careful.”

She squeezed my thigh. “It’s going to get better. You’ve only been here a week. Give it some time. Pass the time with Mr. Hot Cop.”

I laughed. “I think it was a one-time thing. He’s very devoted to his daughter. I don’t want to interfere with that.”

“Ohhh, a hot cop and a daddy. Damn! You hit the jackpot.”

The car stopped and we climbed out.

“Is it too soon?” I asked after changing into a pair of pajama bottoms and a T-shirt.

“Is what too soon?”

“Me and Cameron. Is it too fast? I mean, I was with Isaac a couple weeks ago, and then I jumped into bed with a guy I don’t even know. That is so not like me.”

“It is normal for a healthy, gorgeous, twenty-six-year-old woman. And you weren’t with Isaac. You broke up with him months ago. He just didn’t seem to get the picture. I think when you have that kind of chemistry with a man, you don’t pass it up. Have fun. See what it’s like to live life and be free of the chains that horrible man bound you up with—and I don’t mean that in a good way,” she joked.

I sighed. “I guess we’ll see what happens. It was probably just the one time.”

Hannah laughed. “Sure it was. You two live too close together for it to be just once. That little row of bushes is not going to keep you two apart. You guys are like dogs in heat,” she said with feigned disgust.

I laughed. “Thanks. That is quite the image.”

If she only knew how close to the truth she was about the dog thing.

“Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow,” I told her, heading to my room to go to sleep.

I lay in bed and thought about what Hannah had said. Before Isaac, I had been carefree. I’d had several boyfriends and done the party thing. Then I’d met Isaac and thought I was in love. He had been so sweet and adoring back then. I hadn’t even realized things were slowly changing until it had already happened. I woke up one day and realized I was in an unhealthy relationship. When I tried to leave, things had gotten ugly. Then he changed his ways and we got back to the beginning of the relationship when he was sweet and loving before he reverted to his controlling ways.

Then there was Cameron. I had no idea what we were doing, if anything at all. For now, I was happy to let things go as they were. If only we could have a few more of those dances.