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And I was on the road before any of them had even sudsed up their balls.

I went back to the hotel where I already had supplies waiting. Flowers. Champagne. Bourbon. Tequila. Candles. And room service at the ready.

The whole nine yards. The cat's pajamas. The spit shine of a new pair of shoes.

Damn straight, Camille Rivers was not going to know what hit her.

Camille

I leaned back, letting Phillipe run his fingers through my hair. My eyes were halfway closed but I could still see his handsome face in the mirror behind me. He made little circles against my scalp and I nearly moaned out loud.

Nearly.

Now, this was bliss.

"Bonita. Who is this man who would steal you away from me?"

"I told you, it's nothing. He's a player."

I opened my eyes to see Phillipe toss his hair.

"Aren't we all?"

I laughed, shaking my head.

"He's a caveman. But he's on our team so I have to keep him happy."

He used his scissors to snip a few stray hairs and ran some styling creme through the ends. My hair was styled in soft waves that were just a little bit more flattering than what I had been born with. I could almost see golden highlights in the dark curls, but that must be a trick of the eye.

Phillipe was a magician.

He was truly an artist. He didn't belong out here in the middle of nowhere. The town was quiet all year, other than spring training. He certainly didn't charge enough, though I always tipped him 50%.

"I wish I could lure you down to Manhattan. You would make a fortune."

"But the weather dahling! The weather!"

He held his hand to his forehead dramatically. I laughed.

"Go to Miami at least. I don't know what you do to keep from going mad with boredom."

Phillipe gave me a flirtatious look.

"Well, I can tell you. Or maybe your caveman will show you himself."

I was laughing as the maid came into the room with a freshly pressed dress. I was already wearing my jeweled sandals. I'd had my nails and a pedi done earlier today as well.

"Is this the dress you'd like for tonight ma'am?"

"Yes- I'm sorry, what is your name again?"

"Annie ma'am."

"Please Annie, call me Camille."

"Yes ma'am."

I bit my tongue, ignoring Phillipe's chuckle. I slipped out of my robe and stood in my thong and bralette. Annie stood behind me as I lifted my arms over my head. The silk floated down over my skin, feeling like a caress. It was a dark turquoise that gleamed against my skin. I put on a heavy gold choker and dangling earrings.

I turned in a circle, surveying the effect. I'd deliberately worn underthings tonight, though normally I would go without in the Florida heat. I needed as much armor as possible between me and Mr. Wandering Hands.

"Perfecto! You will have this caveman eating out of the palm of your hand."

"That's what I'm afraid of."

Chapter Eleven

Cade

"Where are we going?"

I grinned at the beauty standing in the hotel lobby. She knocked my socks off. Just by showing up. Never mind that she looked like an ice cold glass of water on a hot day.

Though I'd never really had a doubt that she would.

"We're staying in."

"What?"

I took her elbow and guided her towards the elevators. I was a man, dammit. I didn't need to discuss every detail. I told her it was handled. End of story.

"Don't worry about a thing. It's all been taken care of."

She waited silently for the elevator but I could tell she was nervous. I probably would never admit it but I was a little nervous too. Being alone with Camille Rivers was always an adventure. I might end up shouting or kissing her. Or fucking. Or getting slapped.

There was no way to know what might happen.

I wanted this to go smooth and by the numbers.

1. get her up to my room

2. wine and dine her

3. break the bed

I pressed the button for my floor and leaned against the wall, watching her. She was staring up at the floor numbers. She looked so sweet and young and pretty standing there. Innocent even. I smirked. I knew that was a stretch.

Gorgeous rich girls like her were born knowing what they had and how to use it.

Camille was
born
to be worshipped.

By me. Tonight.

The elevator stopped and I guided her down the hallway. I used the key card to open the door and ushered her into my suite. If it were anyone else I would expect her to comment on the decor. It was a fancy ass hotel after all.
 

But in this case, her old man was the one paying for it.

Just inside the door she hesitated. The raw honesty in her voice nearly threw me off guard. But I was determined.
 

"Cade- I'm not sure this is a good idea."

I leaned over her neck and whispered in her ear. I only felt a tiny bit guilty about lying to her. I did plan on biting.

"Don't worry. I won't bite."

She swallowed and I turned her to face me. This time I did tell the truth. I wasn't going to hurt her or scare her. That wasn't my objective.

I wanted her purring and safe and happy.

"I'm not going to do anything you don't want Camille."

Her eyes were serious as she stared into mine. I realized in that moment that she'd been hurt before. I hated knowing that. It made me want to go out and punch every guy who'd hurt her in the face. A wave of fierce protectiveness washed over me.

At that moment I would have promised her anything.

Except that I would stay away. That I would keep my hands off her. Tonight or any other night.

That I would not promise her.

I
could
not promise her.

Because I was more than just lusting after this girl. I was fucking smitten. A heavy feeling settled in my gut. I was a cooked goose and I knew it. My usual confidence was missing, rocked loose at its roots. I didn't just want this girl to be with me.

I
needed
her to be with me.

Better not let the lady know. Not yet. Not until I knew how she felt about me.

"Champagne? Or something stronger?"

She followed me towards the living room.

"Is it any good?"

I nodded, holding up a three hundred dollar bottle of champage. She gave me a look and nodded, looking around the suite.

"You are pulling out all the stops tonight aren't you?"

I poured her a glass and led her out to the balcony.

"Nothing but the best for the lady."

She laughed and leaned over the edge, looking around.

"Can anyone- see us from here? From the team I mean?"

I shook my head.

"I'm the only one on this side of the hotel. Me being a last minute addition and all."

She sipped her bubbly and glanced at me.

"You did cause quite a commotion."

"That's the Dupree way."

I ran my hand over her hair, brushing it away from her neck. I let it rest on her back for a moment and then moved away. I was going to take this
slow
.

As slow as I could handle it.

"Are you hungry?"

"I could eat something."

I went inside and brought out a room service menu and more champagne. I poured for her and held the menu over my forearm like a waiter. She was leaning back on one of the chaises. One on hand, she looked relaxed. On the other, it would be harder to get my hands on her delectable body with her all the way over there.

"Shall I order for you, Miss?"

She cocked an eyebrow at me.

"So formal Cade."

I grinned at her, ruining the effect.

"I thought you would approve."

She leaned back in her chaise and closed her eyes.

"I do. Yes, please order for me."

She cracked one eye open.

"No raw meat please."

I wrinkled my nose.

"No worries there. I like mine charred to a crisp."

She smiled, her eyes still closed.

"Stay away from the tartar."

"The what?"

"Exactly."

I left her there, sipping her second glass of champagne. I ordered and came back out, bringing the bucket of ice and bottle with me. I sipped my champs, sitting on the chaise next to hers.

We sat in companionable silence for a while. It was nice. That's a funny thing to say about a heart racing, trying to impress the heck out of the woman of your dreams first date. But it was true.

Of course I was a little distracted, doing my best to hide the raging hard on I'd had since I saw her in the lobby.

Hell, I'd been hard pretty much since I met her. It was like being a damn teenager again. She was natural born boner machine.

I was almost sorry when the food came, even though dinner got me closer to desert. Desert being the fine ass woman sitting beside me. But a man had to eat, and I needed my reserves if I was going to put on the kind of performance I intended.

An award-winning performance.

The fuck of a lifetime. A blue ribbon, apple pie on the Fourth of Fucking July kind of fuck. A lay to end all lays.

A Biblical, raining toads, knock the lady's socks straight to next Tuesday fuckathon.

So, yeah, I figured I better eat.

Camille followed me inside, sitting gracefully in the chair I held out for her. She was relaxed tonight. Chillaxed even.

I wasn't used to this side of her, but it made me like her even more. I already wanted her. Craved her even. But liking her for her easygoing company hadn't been part of the deal.

It made me want this on the regs.

I dealt with the food, grateful for the distraction. I wasn't ready to think about how I felt about Camille too much. I was in dangerous territory with that kind of thinking. I wanted sex. That was uncomplicated. That I could handle.

Everything else… well, I needed to drain my balls and drink a busload of bourbon and branch before I went down that road.

I'd start with a lighter load, thank you very much.

I set the food on the table and lifted the cover from her plate.

"Lobster salad? Very nice."

I sat across from her, drinking in the way she looked in the candlelight.

"I got surf and turf. I figured you might want some of my meat."

She stared at me, her eyes wide. Then she started to laugh. I had to join in.

"Cade Dupree, you certainly have a way with words."

I grinned and started cutting my food.

"Trust me darlin'. You ain't seen nothing yet."

Camille

I leaned back in my chair, pleasantly full. In fact, everything about this evening had been pleasant so far. I sipped the last of my champagne, watching Cade over the candles. He had finished eating and was just smiling in a sort of dreamy way.

He looked almost sweet, for an arrogant, sex-crazed caveman.
 

I was almost afraid to ask what he was thinking about. I didn't want to spoil the mood. It was odd, but all his efforts were more touching than the most extravagant decadent date I'd been on.

Without a word Cade cleared the table. Then he brought over two tumblers and a bottle of very expensive blanco tequila. He'd remembered my favorite drink, down to the brand and the flavor.

I felt myself melt a little bit more.

He sat down and smiled at me. He poured us each a healthy portion, adding ice and lemon at the end. Then he put a deck of cards in the center of the table and leaned back.

I lifted the glass and looked at the man across from me. He was oozing sex. I had to admit it was working. I was tingling all over in anticipation of what he might try next.

Be smart Camille. Resist. He will only break your heart.

I set the glass down again. I had to be sensible. This was just asking for trouble, and I knew it.

"If I drink this, I'll have to call a cab."

"I highly doubt that."

"I don't drive drunk Cade."

"Oh no darlin', that's not what I meant."

He leaned back in his seat and smiled at me.

"I just don't think you'll be leaving till morning."

My heart started to thud in my chest. There. He'd said it. There was no beating around the bush now.
 

Cade Dupree thought I was a sure thing. Well, he had another thing coming.

"Is that a bet?"

He shook his head slowly.

"It's more of… a dare."

I reached forward and lifted the glass, holding it aloft.

"A cab it is then."

He raised his glass to me.

"Keep telling yourself that sweetheart."

He sipped his drink and picked up the cards, shuffling them deftly.

"What are the stakes this time?"

"Don't I have anything you want Camille?"

I felt the warmth of the liquor spreading through me. I shook my head, smiling.

"I can't wait to hear what you will come up with next."

"I was thinking we go old school."

"Land? Cattle? Gold nuggets?"

He laughed appreciatively. He got my dry sense of humor. It made me like him even more than I already did.

"No, not that old school."

"What then?"

"How about the shirt off your back?"

"Strip poker? How retro."

He kept shuffling the cards, waiting for my answer. I felt reckless and daring as I decided to see this through. Plus I really wanted to see him without his shirt on.

"Alright Cade. I hope you don't have any embarrassing tattoos."

He grinned and started dealing.

"Does the kitten on my left butt cheek count?"

I took my cards and focused. I realized I wanted to see more than his chest. I wanted to see him nude. And I wanted him to see me. Even if the thought made me deeply unsettled.

Maybe I needed to be unsettled.

"Not at all. I love kittens."

He grinned and tossed his drink back, sucking on his lemon. I did the same. Then he poured us each other round.

It was going to be a long night.

Chapter Twelve

Cade

I didn't really have any kitten tattoos. But if I had, she would be finding out about them real soon. Way before I learned about hers.