Too Wilde to Tame (23 page)

He feigned an exasperated sigh, though he was smiling when he glanced Mia's way. "Some things never change."

Chapter Eleven

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AFTER dinner and cleanup, the family converged back in the living room with their stomachs filled with a delicious meal and the atmosphere mellowed by good wine. From across the room, Cameron glanced at Mia, who was sitting on the couch next to Heather, while conversing with his family. Thank God his sisters had finally run out of embarrassing stories about him in his youth and had moved on to other topics that no longer centered around him.

Mia laughed at something Susan's husband, Ted, said, the light sound brimming with genuine amusement. Cameron smiled at just how beautiful she looked when she was happy and was glad he'd invited her to come tonight. Not only because he wanted Claudia to meet the woman who'd created her birthday present, but because Mia obviously needed the distraction from the more uncertain issues going on in her life. Even if it was just for a few hours.

She appeared relaxed and very comfortable around his family, which didn't surprise him at all. Despite her initial nervousness, her outgoing personality made it easy for everyone to like her—including his nieces and nephews. The younger ones, especially, seemed drawn to her. And who wouldn't be, considering Mia's warm smile and the way her gray eyes lit up when one of the children came up to her or tried to get her attention—which she always gave them. And that kept them coming back for more.

Three-year-old Marissa, who seemed completely infatuated with Mia, had managed to maneuver her way up onto Mia's lap in that mischievous way of hers no adult could resist. The little girl leaned against Mia's chest, fascinated with the shiny silver bracelets Mia was wearing on her arm and the tinkling sound they made whenever she moved her hand.

"If she's being a bother, just set her down and tell her to go play with the others," Claudia said about her young daughter.

"She's no bother at all," Mia said and gently ran her finger through the little girl's soft curls. "She's just as sweet as can be."

"At the moment, yes," Heather jumped in. As Marissa's aunt, she was very aware of her personality and mood swings, as they all were. "But that's subject to change at a moment's notice."

Marissa, oblivious to the conversation about her, blinked up at Mia, her dark lashes framing her pretty blue eyes. "Bwacelets on my hand?" she asked and pointed to her own wrist.

Mia gave in to the request without hesitation, and Cameron had to swallow a chuckle at what a soft touch she was. "Sure you can wear them, so long as you give them back before I leave, okay?"

"Okay." Marissa beamed happily, and it was clear to everyone in the room that Mia had just been conned by one very sly little girl.

Mia removed the bracelets from her wrist and slipped them onto Marissa's arm. She immediately shook her fist and squealed in delight as the silver trinkets made that musical, jingling sound for her.

"Tank you!" Marissa said and then scooted off Mia's lap and scampered off to show the others what she'd managed to confiscate, the little imp.

Once the laughter in the room subsided, Barbara made an announcement. "It's time for Claudia to open her birthday presents."

Susan helped stack the wrapped gifts on the table in front of Claudia, and his sister spent the next half hour opening each one. She received her favorite perfume from Heather, a luxurious bath and body gift set and certificate to spend the day at the spa for pampering from Susan, a pair of gold and diamond earrings she'd had her eye on from her husband, and a crystal figurine from their mom and dad to add to her growing collection.

"I didn't forget about you, sis," Cameron said once she was done opening those gifts. Standing, he went to retrieve the present he'd left over in the corner for her to open last and handed it to her. "I actually managed to get you something unique and original this year."

"What, no gift card to a department store?" she teased, knowing Cameron had given up long ago trying to figure out what his sisters wanted or needed and had resorted to purchasing gift certificates to their favorite places to shop instead.

"Hey, it's your fortieth birthday," he said as he sat back down in his seat. "I wanted to give you something special to commemorate you being so old."

She narrowed her gaze at him, though laughter sparkled in her eyes. "After that remark, this better be a great present."

As she eagerly ripped off the wrapping paper and opened the box, Cameron glanced at Mia. She was watching Claudia expectantly and biting her lower lip in that adorable way of hers that told him just how anxious she was feeling.

He understood how important it was to Mia that his sister like the gift, but Cameron already knew she had absolutely nothing to worry about. And moments later, after Claudia had removed her present from the protective bubble wrapping, his sister's gasp of pleasure confirmed what Cam already knew. Claudia loved her birthday gift.

"Oh Cameron, this is absolutely stunning!" Claudia said' in awe while his other sisters and his mother all oohed and ahhed in feminine appreciation over the delicate, colorful hummingbird design. "Where did you find such a beautiful stained-glass design?"

Cameron couldn't have hoped for a better opening, and he waved a hand toward the woman sitting across from him. "Mia made it."

All eyes immediately shifted to Mia, whose face flushed pink from all the direct attention. She shrugged as if it was no big deal, and because he was coming to know her well, he could sense the insecurity running beneath the casual gesture.

"It's just a hobby and something I do in my spare time," she said, downplaying her talent because that's what she'd been doing for years.

"A hobby?" Susan exclaimed incredulously. "If the quality of your other work is even close to this piece, you're wasting the kind of artistic ability most of us would kill to possess."

"I couldn't agree with you more," Cameron said, backing up his sister before glancing at Claudia and setting his plan in motion. "In fact, I was wondering if your friend, Amy, might be interested in something like this to add to her gallery? Mia has a dozen or more unique designs that are equally as amazing."

"Oh yeah," Claudia said, nodding enthusiastically. "Amy is always looking for new and different art to sell, and I know this would be right up her alley. I can give her a call on Monday, put in a good word, and you can follow up from there with an appointment to meet with her," she said to Mia. "I'll be sure to give you her name and phone number before you leave."

Mia stared at Claudia in wide-eyed shock, obviously thrown by the shift in conversation that now centered around her and the stained-glass designs she created. "I… uh… well…"

"That would be great," Cam jumped in, because Mia had lost the ability to speak. He caught the uncertainty etching her expression and told himself he was doing the right thing. That this was exactly what Mia needed to give her designs the exposure they deserved.

Whether or not Mia agreed with him remained to be seen.

"TONIGHT went well, don't you think?"

Mia leaned her head against the soft leather seat and glanced Cameron's way as he drove his Porsche away from the curb of his parent's house. It was dark out since night had fallen, but the streetlights they passed enabled her to see the satisfied look on his face.

"Quit looking so smug, Sinclair."

"Smug?" he said, oh-so-innocently. "Why in the world would I be smug?"

"You know damn well why." She was still reeling from his ulterior motives and the flurry of excitement and enthusiasm he'd generated with his family over her art. "You set me up, didn't you?"

"How so?"

He was playing hard to get, but she wasn't going to let him off so easily. "By giving your sister one of my designs as a birthday present."

He brought the car to a stop at a streetlight, which allowed him a free moment to meet her gaze. The honest sincerity in the depths of his eyes made her heart thump hard and fast in her chest.

"First and foremost, I bought the hummingbird design from you and gave it to Claude because I knew she'd love it, and she did. Don't ever doubt that."

She lifted a brow. "And she just happens to have a friend who owns a gallery here in Chicago?"

He shrugged as he shifted into first gear and they started moving again. "Yeah, and?"

"And that was your intention all along, wasn't it?"

He flashed her a nonrepentant grin. "Guilty as charged."

She shook her head and laughed. "If I'd known you were going to make me and my stained-glass art the center of attention with your family, I never would have agreed to come with you tonight."

"Which is exactly why I didn't tell you ahead of time."

She knew she ought to be mad at him for interfering in her life and for giving her that initial push she needed to do something with her designs. But deep down inside she was too appreciative of his support and belief in her to summon any real anger.

Still, her own personal doubts surfaced, and her hands twisted in her lap. "I don't know if I'm ready to do something like this." A consignment shop was one thing. A high-end gallery was another.

His brows lifted in surprise at her confession. "Why not?"

"Because…" She drew a deep breath, hating the uncertainty knotting in her stomach. "Because it's just stained-glass art, and I'm sure a gallery owner is looking for something more unique than what I have to offer."

"And you'll give her unique," he said, flashing her a confident grin. "You need to show her your erotic pieces. Those are going to be what sets you apart from any one else who creates stained-glass art."

It was a phenomenal opportunity, so why in the world was she hesitating and so nervous? And then she realized a part of what was holding her back: a healthy does of fear.

If it was just her regular designs, her decision would have been an easy one to make. But she knew it was the more provocative pieces that would intrigue people the most and draw her the most attention. And that's where her fears came into play. Not only would she be putting her art on display for everyone to see, but so many of those erotic designs were like a window into her soul if anyone cared to look deep enough. Those unique creations were filled with her emotions, her hopes, her dreams… and everything she secretly wished for in her life but had been too afraid to embrace as her own.

As if sensing her wavering thoughts, he reached across the console, took her hand in his, and intertwined their fingers. "Just go and talk to her, Mia," he urged gently. "What can it hurt? If you find it's something you really don't want to pursue, then you'll have lost nothing but an hour of your time. But if things with Amy work out, it could change your whole life and future."

And that possibility scared her, too. For as much as she sometimes disliked working for the family business and how restricting it could be, the fact remained that it gave her security and stability, whereas the world of art was so unpredictable and uncertain. And very fickle.

Who would have thought she'd be afraid of anything?

"Promise me you'll at least talk to her, okay?" Cameron asked and gave her hand a squeeze.

She forced her doubts and insecurities away, knowing she had to at least meet with Amy or she'd always regret passing up such a prime opportunity. "Okay."

They arrived at her apartment building, and Cameron shut off the car. "Come on, I'll walk you to your place."

Once she was safely inside her apartment, he closed the door behind them. The kitchen and living room were dark and shadowed, indicating that either Gina wasn't home or she'd already gone to bed. So when Cameron turned toward her and slid his hand along her cheek and into her hair and then lowered his mouth to hers, she didn't hesitate to meet him halfway.

Kissing Cameron was not only a sensual experience, but it was magical, too. With just the touch of his lips, he made her entire body come alive. Her skin tingled, her belly tightened, and her nipples hardened into sensitive peaks. No other man had ever had such an immediate effect on her, and she reveled in the pleasure of losing herself in the softness and heat of his mouth on hers.

Gradually, he guided her back a few steps until her bottom came into contact with the nearest wall. He aligned his hard thighs and lean hips against hers, and there was no mistaking the erection straining between them. He placed his hands on her waist and nibbled at the corner of her mouth, used his tongue to trace the lower curve of her lip, and when she sighed he slipped inside and slowly deepened the kiss.

His mouth took hers, hot and soft and with a languid hunger that said how much he wanted her but was in no rush to take this into the bedroom. It had been so long since she'd just made out with a guy, and Cameron was showing her everything she'd been missing… the heady buzz of anticipation. The slow, agonizing buildup of sexual tension. The simmer of arousal making her restless and needy.

His hands slipped beneath her top and skimmed upward, stroking her skin all the way up to her sheer, lace bra. She waited for him to cup her in his palm, nearly trembling with the desire to have him touch her there, to drag his fingers across her aching nipples. But instead he merely caressed his thumbs just below her breasts, teasing her and making her moan in frustration.