Operation: Tempt Me (17 page)

Miller
offered Mrs. Ginnity a smile and turned back to the director. “Thank you, sir.
I must add what a fantastic employee Cambrie is. So knowledgeable and caring
about the library. She just gave me a lovely tour and renewed my interest in
books. You’re very lucky to have her on your staff. I hope you realize that.”

Cambrie
enjoyed the way Hackler’s pudgy face reddened with Miller’s stern compliments
and the veiled statement she was positive Miller chose to ensure her job
security. In the presence of a massive man like Miller, it was no wonder
Hackler nearly choked on his own tie in the face of Miller’s open adoration.
Good, served him right for threatening her job and Aunt Annabelle’s future.

“Mr.
Hackler,” Mrs. Ginnity began. “Why…I think it’s important that Cambrie spend
some time with Miller to show him around our town. How else would he realize
what a special community we have? Don’t you think so? I mean, I’m already
watching the desk and I could stay until closing if you agree.”

Mr. Hackler
glanced at Cambrie then Miller and spoke after clearing his throat. “Yes, of
course,” he said, having no room to disagree.

Mrs. Ginnity
lightly applauded. “Then it’s a plan. You folks go and enjoy the afternoon.
Miller, I think you’ll find that Cambrie is an excellent tour guide.”

“I don’t
doubt it, ma’am,” Miller offered.

Being shooed
away from her job was one thing, being set up on a date was another.

“Were we just
set up?” Miller asked, reading her mind.

“I believe so
and it has Aunt Annabelle written all over it. I just know it.”

After getting
her briefcase and pocketbook and Miller’s coat from her office, they walked to
Cambrie’s car. “I owe Aunt Annabelle a thank you. I now get to spend the
afternoon with you and not with my laptop,” Miller said.

“And I like
that idea, too, but I want to keep the level of our relationship a secret,”
Cambrie said at her car, opening the back door to place her briefcase and
pocketbook inside.

A scowl
covered his face. “Oh? Embarrassed by me?”

She stopped
to stare at him before getting into the driver’s seat. “What? No, of course
not. Never. I just don’t want them thinking we’re dating when we’re not. You
don’t know how the people are in this town. Gossip spreads like wild fire
here.”

“Sure,
whatever you say,” he said from the passenger seat, looking very uncomfortable
with his long frame squished into her little car again.

Sighing, she
rested her head on the headrest and angled her neck to look at him. “I’m sorry.
That didn’t come out the right way. It’s just that I’m a very private person
and, well, people can get the wrong idea about us.”

“Then we need
to talk about where we go from here. You know, once I leave and get back to
work. I hope you’d at least want me to return. I would as soon as I could.”

“Yes. I’d
like that. But I don’t have an answer for you. I guess we just take our time
and see where life leads us.” She couldn’t face the fact that they could have
no more than whatever visits Miller’s job allowed. And just how long could that
go on for? Too much to think about.

His smile lit
up his eyes. “Okay. I can live with that. For now.” He drew her knuckles up to
his mouth and kissed them, not releasing her hand. “I’m starved. No matter what
else we do, I want to eat first.”

She started
the car. “I know just the place.”

Chapter
Twelve

At
the River’s Shack Grille & Bar, a very courteous elderly man greeted
Cambrie and Miller with enthusiasm before seating them in a window booth.

“What’s
in your hands, Cambrie?” Miller asked, eyeballing her before sitting.

“Running
pants, shirt, and sneakers. I keep them in my car for when I get the urge to
exercise after work. Who knows how long I’ve had them in the trunk.” She
laughed, the sound mixing with the din of the restaurant. “Since I don’t have
to return to the library, I thought I’d ditch the skirt and heels. Be more
comfy.”

“A
shame. I like you in heels,” he admitted, fire flashing in the depths of his
eyes.

“Sshh,
naughty boy. Be right back. Gonna hit the ladies room and change.”

For
a woman, Cambrie was remarkably fast with her fashion change, returning to the
booth in under five minutes.

They
placed their orders and were served their drinks immediately even though the
place was packed with a lunch crowd. Voices and laughter filled the air, a
welcomed treat for Miller who was used to the solitude of missions.

“This
is a charming town, Cambrie. Is everyone so polite and happy all the time?”
Miller asked before sipping his soda.

Glancing
around the room, he thought the charm appropriate for such an authentic
neighborhood restaurant in a small town. The wood walls sparkled, probably from
a weekly polish. The entire place was uniquely decorated with deer head,
bobcats, and some kind of massive fish all stuffed and adorning the walls.

It
was fascinating to sit so close to predators that, when alive, would have been
just as vicious as the human ones Miller fought on his deployments. Photos of
famous actors and people were scattered around the room, some with scribbled
messages in black marker. Strings of small white lights stretched from every
wall and hung from corner to corner to soften the otherwise bustling ambience.

With
her chin resting on her hand, Miller caught Cambrie watching him with those
beautiful brown eyes so full of life. He never wanted her to lose the innocence
he saw in their depths, never wanted to see shadows of pain where joy should
be. “Most in Maddyville are friendly. It’s in our nature to be pleasant to
others. I guess we’ve got it pretty good here, more than most. I mean, if
someone falls on a bit of bad luck then there’s plenty of people to pitch in
and help each other out. And we take an interest in our neighbors, so stopping
for a quick ‘hello, how are you?’ and listening to the reply is never seen as a
bother. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else or having to give this up.” She
looked around the room with a wide grin plastered to her pretty face.

A
sharp stab of pain hit Miller right in the middle of his chest. He knew she’d
never leave Maddyville or Aunt Annabelle-that was painfully obvious!-but
hearing her admission did something to his heart, like it could shatter into a
million pieces.
Suck it up, Miller, you have nothing to offer her
.
“Anyone with all this would be a fool to give it up, Cambrie. Trust me, I’ve
been all around the world, and, well, Maddyville, is truly one of a kind, a
very special place.”
Because of you
.

“Don’t
get me wrong. We also have our fair share of problems and, being a small town,
most people grow up and leave chasing dreams elsewhere.”

“But
you stayed.” Miller didn’t intend for his words to sound so morbid, like she
had made some unbelievable sacrifice.

“Yeah,
kinda,” Cambrie whispered and stared at her hands a moment before looking back
up. “I came back.”

Her
tone had turned from spirited to sad. Christ, it killed him to hear her be
anything but happy. “You lost me, babe. Came back? Meaning you left?”

Her
glassy eyes stared back. “I had a dream job in Nashville a few years ago. I was
the editor for a national fashion magazine. Had impressed the publisher so much
during my first month that he quickly promoted me to editor. I was in charge of
the New York fashion spotlight, so my hours were grueling, but I never noticed
because I loved the work I was doing.”

He
enjoyed the sparkle in those brown circles when she spoke of Nashville. He
tried to understand how she went from being an editor to being a librarian.
“And?”

She
sighed. “And then Aunt Annabelle suffered a heart attack.” When she choked on
the words, he reached for her hand and held it without a word. “I’m sorry. I
hate talking about it. She almost died, but the doctors were saints and saved
her. I…I knew that she needed me…like I had needed her once. So I only went
back to Nashville to empty my apartment and give my notice. I was fortunate
that the Highland Library needed a librarian and I qualified.”

“Sounds
like you’re
overqualified
.”

She
attempted a smile, but it was lame. “True. But the job paid the bills. Then the
doctors discovered that Aunt Annabelle had breast cancer. They said the heart
attack actually saved her life because, if not for the heart attack and
follow-up care, then the cancer would’ve gone undetected and killed her.”

His heart
constricted once again not knowing how to ease the pain of her memories. “Oh,
Cam, if I had known you then, I swear you wouldn’t have spent one minute alone
to worry by yourself.” And that was the God’s honest truth. Never would he
leave her to fight demons like that alone, no matter what fucking terrorist was
on his agenda.

Her eyes
fluttered. “That is so sweet, Miller. But, believe me, I wasn’t alone, even
when sometimes I just wanted to be. There was always a neighbor or friend there
to wait with me for test results or a prognosis.” She sat up straight and
pushed away from the table and offered another smile that didn’t quite glow.
“But I admit, I would’ve preferred your company, Miller.”

Their food
came and the waitress disappeared, leaving them to their privacy. Miller dug
into his sandwich to ease his hunger pains.

“Now that you
know something about me, how about sharing something of yourself, handsome,”
Cambrie said with a heightened curiosity. He admired how quickly she could
reign in her emotions and continue on like nothing had happened. If he didn’t
know any better, he’d swear she had some kind of military training.

Miller wasn’t
interested in divulging family secrets and spoiling the mood. Skirting the
question was best. “Oh, I plan to share a lot of me with you, baby girl. Just
as soon as we can be alone.”

The pink
flush that covered her cheeks in a slow ascent was alluring. Knowing he had
such an instant affect on her was the sweetest aphrodisiac. “Now that veiled
promise may pique my interest,” she began. “But I’m not letting you avoid the
question. So far, you know much more about my life and me. Now it’s only fair
that you share a part of you. I won’t ask for specific info. Just share what
you’re comfortable with, Miller.”

He knew she
wouldn’t allow him to weasel out of a decent answer. She was too smart to be
distracted with sexual innuendos. “Not much to really talk about. My mom and
dad still live in Florida where they raised me and my sisters. I’m the middle
child, spoiled rotten since I’m the only boy.” The smirk couldn’t be helped
when he remembered his sisters’ constant complaints of how he always got his
way. “My older sister is studying to be a doctor. The younger one is trying to
be a model. Me? I’m just trying to keep the world safe from bastards that think
bombs are the only answer to their problems.”

“It sounds
like you had great parents who raised y’all well.”

Miller
shrugged. “My dad was a work-a-holic who showed his love by buying me
everything I wanted when I would’ve preferred him spending some time with me,
you know, like throwing a ball around or shooting some hoops. But I guess he
did what he could. My mother was always more interested in her status within
the community than taking time to spend with her kids. So me and my sisters
just found our own way in life. Marie, the doctor, follows after Dad’s work-a-holic
tendencies. Catherine, the model, takes after mom’s need for attention. And me,
well, I just look for things that hold my interest. That’s why the military was
perfect. Always something to do.”

“I’m sure
your parents did the best they could. And, it doesn’t surprise me that one of
your sisters is a model. Great looks must run in the family.”

Watching her
sip her drink through the straw created visions of those pretty lips sucking
his cock with the same enthusiasm. He squirmed in his seat, adjusting the
semi-hard cock pressing into his jeans. Fuck! Now she had him squirming. Oh,
she was so spanked.

“Well, you
see, there’s no impressive story about my past to spill. I graduated fourth in
my high school class, went to college on a partial football scholarship.”

“Shocking,”
she teased. “Like you don’t look like a wide receiver or defensive back.”

That piqued
his interest. “So you know a little bit about football, do you?”

She blew out
a breath and waved her hand in the air. “When you grow up in a small town like
Maddyville, well, you either know about sports or you’d die of boredom. I’m a
mean quarterback. I can find my target every time as long as my offensive line
keeps me from getting blitzed.”

God, she was
the woman for him. “Keep talking like that. It’s fucking arousing.”

“Ah, ah, ah,
I still want to hear more about you.”

He cleared
his throat. “Okay. After college I tried a few jobs, but nothing interested me.
I hated sitting behind a desk doing lame reports or financial comparisons. A
military recruitment ad on television caught my eye one day and the rest is
history. I signed up and haven’t regretted it once.”
Except when I have to
say good-bye to you.