Hunter spun around slowly when he heard her voice. Camilla stood before him with a microphone in hand and a pair of shades on her face. Her hair was in another conglomerate of curls that bounced over her shoulders disappearing behind her back. Her brown skin looked so rich he was sure she’d been dipped in an oven of chocolate. Hunter’s eyes traveled to her lips that held a smooth shine. He unknowingly took his tongue across his own, remembering the way she’d tasted.

The blouse that hid her from him was a white ruffled buttoned down, and as the wind current sailed their way, with it was her tantalizing fragrance.

“I’m never too busy for you,” he said.

Camilla arched a single brow. She hadn’t been expecting that response. A smile covered her lips. “Are you always this charming with the ladies, Mr. Valentine?”

“I think you’ve asked me that before.”

“Oh? And what was your response?”

“Something along the lines of no, only you.”

A whimsical laugh tuned from her lips, causing a ring of heat to circle Hunter’s skin. “You have a beautiful laugh.”

She blushed. “Thank you.” Camilla cleared her throat. “So where should we set up? I want to make sure I get the shot I need while not blocking the view of the other stations.”

“Don’t worry about them. It doesn’t matter where you’re standing, a good reporter will get their shot if they’re on the top of a mountain.”

Camilla’s melodic laugh cruised from her mouth again, and this time warmth traveled to Hunter’s shaft.

“Let me take you out, Camilla.”

Although it was cloaked in a request, it wasn’t really. Camilla tried not to be surprised by it although she was slightly taken aback.

“I know a place where we can have a little fun and get to know one another.”

A riveting swirl of chills scurried across her skin.

“What did you have in mind,” she asked.

“It’s a surprise, this Saturday.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yes, is that a problem?”

“Um, no, well…” she hesitated. “My close friend from Florida is coming down this weekend. We’re supposed to have a girls’ night out.”

“She misses you already,” Hunter asserted. “I can understand that.”

“How? I’ve only literally lived in Chicago a week and a half if that.”

“Believe it or not, Angel, it only takes being without you for a few minutes to want you there again.”

Camilla was stunned speechless. She genuinely didn’t know what to say.

“She can come along, too, if she’s up for a double date. I have someone in mind. What’s her name?”

“Corinne Thomas. We worked together back in Florida, but she’s a flight attendant now.”

Hunter rubbed his chin. “I have just the guy for her.”

“Mr. Valentine,” the same young man who’d approached him earlier saddled up to their side. “We’re going live in fifteen minutes.”

“Thank you,” Hunter said. He reached out and grabbed Camilla by her hand. She didn’t try to, but their fingers linked naturally as he led her to the middle of the charging station.

“Here is where we will stand to cut the ribbon,” he said.

“We?”

“Yes.”

Camilla stuttered. “Um, I thought—I don’t know if—”

Hunter chuckled. “Relax, gorgeous. You’re a natural. Being on TV is your thing.”

Camilla chuckled anxiously. “Yeah, but this is your business. I couldn’t cut your ribbon.”

“Why not?”

Camilla paused. “Well, you have a contract or something with Toyota. You’re their hero. I’m sure they want you to carry out the celebration.” Camilla’s intake of breath almost made her dizzy. She looked for any excuse to be an onlooker like everyone else. Standing in front of Hunter now already threatened her nerves, never mind being at his side during a special occasion in his career.

“What’s the real reason?” Hunter asked.

Camilla opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out.

“You don’t want to be too close to me,” he asked. “Do I smell?” Hunter lifted his arms and made a show of checking his scent.

“No, of course not. Don’t be ridiculous,” Camilla said, grabbing his arms to pull them down.

“Okay, listen.” He grabbed her chin and drew her close. The move made her squirm and silently dismiss her sudden emotions. “I promise not to pester you, but I would love it if you would join me in cutting this ribbon today. Toyota won’t mind. Our contract has nothing to do with this part of the occasion.”

Camilla bit the corner of her lip as she thought it over. “I don’t know, Hunter. It’s a personal event.”

Hunter stared at her for a moment. “You don’t want to be personal with me, Angel? Because I’d like to become personal with you.”

Camilla opened her mouth with a breathless gasp, and Hunter’s eyes fell to her lips. A thrill of energy crawled around them both, and Camilla could do nothing but stare into his hypnotic eyes.

“If you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to kiss you, in front of all of these lovely people out here.”

Camilla’s cheeks flushed, and her heart rate increased, but still she didn’t pull her eyes away. She tried but it seemed useless when their connection was so strong.

Hunter took a step forward and leaned closer to her face. “I’m not kidding,” he added, his voice deepening to a profound depth. Camilla seemed to snap out of her trance. She dropped her gaze and took a posterior step.

“Two minutes,” someone shouted.

Camilla twirled toward her cameraman and called over Allison.

“Allison, this Hunter Valentine. Hunter, this is our assignment editor, Allison Sullivan.”

“How are you, Allison?”

“I’m doing just fine, how about yourself, Mr. Valentine?”

Hunter took a sweeping gaze over Camilla. “Never been better,” he said.

Allison smirked at Camilla then back to Hunter. “Thank you for inviting us. We appreciate the exclusive.”

“Pleasure’s all mine. Hey, Ms. Sullivan, you don’t mind if I call you Allison, do you?”

“Not at all.”

“Great, well could you do me a favor, Allison?”

“Sure, anything to help.”

“Camilla is going to help me cut this ribbon, and we need you to catch it all on camera for us.”

Allison smiled brightly over at Camilla, and her eyes lifted in surprise.

“I wouldn’t mind at all,” she said.

Camilla could almost roll her eyes. Allison was becoming more and more like Corinne every day. That wasn’t a bad thing, but it was crazy at the same time.

“Merci,” he responded.

“Sixty seconds,” someone called.

Both Camilla and Allison slipped off to the side, but Hunter reached for Camilla.

“You’ll stand over here with me, Angel.”

“Right now? You don’t want to do your introduction first?”

“With you by my side,” he said.

Camilla glanced over at Allison and the other eyes that were trained on them.

“Okay…” she droned.

The camera counted down while a representative at Toyota did the same in hand signals. When they went live, Hunter’s authoritative voice thanked the crowd and the viewers for being a part of the official partnership and grand opening between Toyota and VFC Energy. The audience cheered, and Camilla smiled proudly beside him. It was interesting really. They had only known each other a short spell but being in his company stirred things inside Camilla that she should’ve reserved for a boyfriend or fiancé.

That thought made her think about Steven, and Camilla fought to keep a frown off her face. As if sensing the brief cacophony in her spirit, Hunter turned to her with a smile just as Camilla heard her name. Her lips lifted at the corners, and the crowd cheered on as Hunter drew her in front of him and placed the giant scissors in her hand. He covered her hands with his massive palms, and a bustling heat crowded her fingers.

“Count down with me!” Hunter shouted to the crowd. And they did loudly as Camilla and Hunter held giant smiles.

“3, 2, 1!”

The large blades sliced through the ribbon then fell to the ground as everyone around them cheered and flashes of light from camera crews ignited. A representative ran up and took the scissors out of their hands as Camilla eased to the side. Hunter slipped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her in for a celebratory hug. She reciprocated, slipping her arms around his solid waist.

“Thank you,” he said in her ear, the heat from his mouth making her shiver.

“You’re welcome. Thanks for allowing me to share that with you.”

Hunter pulled back and gazed at her. With a slow grin, he replied, “Anytime, Angel. Anytime.”