I pulled at the scratchy collar of the starched shirt she'd made me put on. The damn woman was a menace. So far today she'd told me what to wear, where to stand and how to behave. And the night was just getting started.

She was treating me like a stuffed bear for God's sake! Not the man she wanted in her bed!

The last thing I wanted to be doing after a long day playing ball was dress up in this monkey suit.

Even if I did look damn good in it.

I glanced across the room at Camille. She was wearing a red silk gown that revealed nothing and everything at the same time. It skimmed over her curves, hinting at all the goodies underneath.

And she had lots and lots of goodies.

The way she looked tonight made my fingers itch to get at her. I'd take her into one of the side rooms at the banquet hall and bend her over a table. Then I'd slid her dress up so I could see her bare ass and pussy.

Of course in my fantasy there wasn't anything like panties in the way.

Or talking.

There was zero talking.

I sipped the bourbon she'd placed in my hand before slinking off to make small talk with donors. Leaving me to do the same. At least she made sure my preferred beverage was on hand, down to the brand. Another woman was simpering up at me, the scent of her perfume making me want to sneeze.

Damn straight, there was something else I'd rather be doing.

I'd rather be doing Camille.

Good Goddamn but I wanted to do sinful things with that woman! I'd do her six ways from Sunday. I'd do things that would make a lesser man faint. And soon too, no matter how much she was pissing me off.

I might not like her all that much, but I sure as shit wanted to kiss her.

Everywhere.

Actually, that might make it even more fun. My grannie always said that a little anger was the spice of life. Oh yeah, I'd be happy to hate screw her right into the wall.

Or the floor. Or a bed.

Hell, I'd be happy to take her on a kitchen counter.

I smiled blandly and nodded, itching to go over there and tell Miss Fancy Pants what I though of her fundraising schedule. First of all, it was grueling. Second of all, the charity was for children and there was only one damn event that actually involved kids! The rest of them were all about fat cats and fancy dinners.

"She's a prime piece isn't she?"

My head swiveled to the right. A guy was standing next to me, leaning in like we were friends. There was something about him that immediately put my teeth on edge.

He looked rich, like everybody else in the room. But he also looked off somehow. A little too handsome. A little too slick.

And definitely a little too interested in staring at something across the room that I considered to be my personal property.

Camille.

"She was the best I ever had. By far."

He grinned at me and I felt ice on the back of my neck. My blood literally ran cold, I was so mad. My lizard brain was ready to attack.

But the dumb piece of shit kept going, talking about Camille like she was nothing more than a piece of meat.

"The best tits. The best ass. And the best legs. Never mind the family money."

I grit my teeth. Who the fuck was this guy? He sipped his drink, his eyes travelling over Camille's body with frank appreciation. I wanted to smack him.

Hell, I wanted to pound his ass into the ground.

"Maybe I'll take another swing at it."

"It? Don't you mean 'her?'"

He smirked.

"I was using baseball talk. You know, trying to speak at your level."

I opened my mouth to tell him to go to hell. As if on cue, Camille appeared and neatly inserted herself between us. She snaked her arm under mine and I looked at her in surprise.

She smiled at me flirtatiously.

"Are you enjoying yourself, Cade?"

She glanced coolly at the douche standing there. The guy she'd kept me from smacking straight into next Tuesday. She flicked her eyes over him.

"Jason. I didn't know you were invited."

He stared at her chest, not even bothering to hide where he was looking.

"I wouldn't miss one of your events, Cami."

I was irritated by the familiar nickname until I realized that Camille looked extremely displeased to see him. Not just annoyed like the way she looked when she was bickering with me. Nope. She looked like she was actually disgusted by this Jason character.

Like someone had just tried to feed the girl a bowl of worms and called it spaghetti.

I relaxed instantly, surprised how relieved I was to know that. Whoever this guy was, she was not into him.

Good.

She turned to me again, running her hands up my lapel. Hello darlin'. I grinned at her stupidly as she adjusted my tie. Maybe this could work to my advantage. I sure liked it when she was sweet, even if it was all an act.

"Have you had enough?"

I nodded, smiling like a kid on Christmas morning.

"Let's sneak away for a little while… goodbye Jason."

"Goodnight Camille."

I followed her like a lapdog down a long hallway, my eyes on that gorgeous ass of hers. Her body moved so gracefully, watching her walk was like watching a dancer. It was like watching a sunset, the first snowfall of the year, and the God damn Fourth of July all rolled up into one.

That ass was a galdamn symphony.

I followed Camille into one of the smaller rooms away from the main hall. It was only small in comparison to the rest of the place though. It was an elegant room, decked out with a long conference table, a sofa and two wing chairs. Heavy wooden furniture lined the walls.

Like everything Camille touched, it stank of old money.

Funny thing was, I was pretty sure her money wasn't old. Her father had said something about her being good with numbers. Some sort of financial whiz. I didn't much understand all that, but it was impressive.

I leaned against the door and locked it behind me. Then I crossed my arms over my chest and gave her a stern look. Camille was standing by the window, her arms wrapped around herself. She looked vulnerable somehow. As if she were trying to make herself smaller.

I frowned.

That sonofabitch had really gotten to her.

I would have to take care of that.

After I dealt with Miss Priss here.

"Camille. Come here."

Her head snapped up and I saw that her sky blue eyes were unhappy, full of unease. I would deal with that too. After I kissed her senseless.

"I said come here."