Perfectly Shattered (5 page)

Plunking a huge onion onto the cutting board, Brittany looked thoughtful.

Cami raised a brow. “Questions?”

A sly smile in response told Cami it might have nothing to do with food prep.

Brittany went back to her chopping duty. “You think Jeremy’s cute?”

With a giggle, Cami said, “I guess. Do you ever stop looking at men?”

“Nope.” She scooped chopped onions into a large ceramic bowl. “He’s not really my type, though.”

“Not rock star enough?”

“Naw. He’s so nice. I don’t know if I can do
nice.
”

Cami laughed. “Yeah.
Nice
can be really annoying.”

Brittany stepped over to one of the ovens and turned it on to preheat. “I guess I like rougher sex, that’s all.”

“You don’t know how a guy is in bed just because he’s nice to you.”

“Sure you do. You can tell.”

Cami would have to think about that one. Clearly, her friend had more experience than she did in sexual relationships. Not that Cami was naïve. At home she’d dated, but recently, nobody steady. And there was a period when sex seemed like an escape, a way to fill the void of loneliness that nothing else could. But it was just one more thing she had weaned herself off when she had tried to clean up her act.

It was all the more reason to steer clear of Bradan. If she’d ever met a guy who was an escape into sex, he was it. Merely being in his presence, Cami’s body roiled in sensations that were beyond her ability to control. She wanted him; she’d be lying if she said she didn’t. But there was no way she could allow herself to go there. It was dangerous territory.

It wasn’t the smartest idea to go to dinner with him. The being-friends concept was flimsy at best. How could she be friends with a guy who soaked her panties every time he flashed his blue eyes at her? But it wouldn’t be right to cancel. And he’d sounded so sincere over the phone. She didn’t have the heart to refuse to see him.

One dinner, and that was it. A sort of making-up get-together. Her clumsy slip of a tray had ruined his slacks, and his not-so-clumsy attempt to get her alone with him had ruined her tour. They were even, like he had said. There was no reason to make him feel like a heel. Cami could have dinner with him, be civil, and they could go on their way.

“Bradan called me after you left,” she said.

Brittany looked up, very interested. “You’re kidding. That guy is hot, I’m telling you.”

Cami’s body warmed at the mention of Bradan. “And I’m having dinner with him tomorrow.” It felt better to confide in someone.

“You’re kidding. You agreed to dinner with that hunk. I’m jealous.”

Cami laughed. “No, you’re not. I bet he has no tattoos, and can’t even sing.”

“Looking like that, he doesn’t need to.”

They both laughed. Just teasing with her friend made Cami less stressed over seeing Bradan again. It was just a dinner, not a sex date, after all. Just friends, that was what he’d said. Right. Like that was ever going to happen. She’d be lucky to keep her feelings in control even for one evening. But she was going to give it her best effort. Taking things further was out of the question.

The wedding reception was a three-hour event, and every dish served was tasty and well prepared. Cami found the results very rewarding, and she learned a few things from Malena, who popped in with suggestions. Her boss even roasted the butternut squash and cut it into bite-sized pieces for the salads.

The way she added the goat cheese and cranberries with a particular flourish was something to remember. At the end, she sprinkled a few of the toasted pumpkin seeds around the edge of the china plate, turning it into a work of art. It was a lovely presentation, and how food looked on the plate made a difference. For the upcoming cooking contest, Cami needed to work on that part. Taste couldn’t carry the show if the dish didn’t look delectable.

Once the guests left and the kitchen was mostly cleaned up, Cami went back to the main room to check for anything they’d left behind. Jeremy was finishing up at the bar. She’d barely seen him all evening because they’d been so busy. He seemed relaxed, anyway.

“Good event, huh?” He smiled, and Cami decided he was handsome. His dark hair was full and wavy, brushed back, leaving none on his forehead. His hazel-brown eyes and full eyebrows were attractive, his face friendly.

“Yeah, we did good. Were you able to keep up?” Cami retrieved a forgotten cake plate.

Jeremy nodded and continued cleaning up. “Sure, no problem. Hey, did you see that Ferris wheel?”

“Yep. I came early just to gawk at the view.” Cami laughed.

Jeremy smiled. “Have you been in it?”

“The Ferris wheel?”

“Yeah.”

Cami shrugged. “Oh, well, no. Not yet. I’ve been kinda busy since I got here.”

“You’re really missing something. I’ve lived here for years, but I still go. Great view.” He hesitated then went on. “Want to go? I mean, I’d like to take you. Would you go with me? We could grab some food and then go for a ride after?”

A little surprised at the invitation, Cami didn’t reply at first. She just looked at him. He was good looking, though she’d only seen him in his white shirt and black pants uniform. His body was lean, more of tennis player than a weightlifter. Lean was good.

He dried a glass and placed it on the bar, then looked at her, his hazel eyes conveying honesty or sincerity, or some other warm emotion. “Maybe Friday night? What do you say?”

Cami smiled. Why not? He was a nice guy, certainly a lot better for her than Bradan. And much safer. “Okay, sure. I’ll go with you.”

Jeremy grinned, and looked even more handsome than Cami had thought before. It would be fun. She’d wanted to try out the Ferris wheel ever since she had moved to Seattle, and he was easy to be with. It was a good idea. Maybe she’d have a good time, and she did need more friends. There was certainly no commitment between Bradan and her. That man had as many woman as he wanted, leaving no reason for her to impose restrictions on her own dating habits.

Once she got back to her apartment, Cami pondered going out with Jeremy—but her mind kept drifting back to Bradan. That had to stop. It was one friendly date. That was all. She didn’t need to make any more out of it. But the image of him, the way pants kind of massaged his well-formed thighs, and the way shirts draped over his chiseled muscles, got her hot.

It was going to be rough, being that close to him without touching. Another issue was what to wear. Cami dug through her closet trying on clothes. Nothing was right. Her sweaters were too bulky and her body was lost in them. The few dresses she had wouldn’t do for winter in Seattle. Finally, she just went to bed, exasperated.

Refusing to pleasure herself at first, Cami stared at the ceiling in the semi-darkness. Then she tossed and turned for what seemed like hours, but failed to drift off. She tried reading. Often that would help her fall asleep. An hour later, she was thinking more of Bradan than the plot of the novel. After turning off the light, she slipped off her nightgown and, naked against the cotton sheets, Cami gave in to imagining his touch.

She knew just how he’d smell, and how he’d taste. Even what he would say to her, or what she dreamed he’d say to her. The real thing would have been much better, but that wasn’t going to happen, so she let her fantasy wrap around her until she could satisfy her pressing need. Sighing, relaxed, she fell asleep at last.

Chapter 6

Convinced her wardrobe was hopeless, Cami texted Brittany for emergency shopping. It didn’t take much arm-twisting, as loving to shop was her friend’s favorite pastime, second only to rock-star encounters. Shopping in downtown Seattle was an experience in itself.

Between the national retailers and independent boutiques, there had to be a thousand shops. There were an overwhelming number of choices spread throughout the twelve downtown neighborhoods. Being a native of the city, Brittany was not the least bit overwhelmed.

Rising to the challenge, she led the way, and was certain that within the couple of hours they had that morning the perfect outfit could be scouted. Perfect in Brittany’s estimation and perfect in Cami’s were two different things. A rock star liked his dates in low-cut, tightly fitted tops and skirts that barely covered the butt. But Cami reminded her that she wasn’t trying to give Bradan the wrong impression.

Since they had limited time, they stuck to the few malls in the core area. An hour into it, still nothing satisfied Cami. Everything was too outdoorsy, too formal, or too risqué for what she had in mind. That was the trouble. She wasn’t sure what she had in mind.

Finally, they spotted Banana Republic and the motto painted on the window that said:
Offers covetable, uncomplicated style
. Cami looked at Brittany, who was already heading inside. “Come on. I have an idea.”

Several outfits later, she squinted at Cami, who modeled a pair of safari pants and a linen shirt. “So what
are
you looking for?”

Cami’s shoulders sagged and she let out a sigh. “I don’t know. I just don’t want him to think I’m coming on to him.”

“Yeah, well, you are going to a lot of trouble to dress to get his attention for someone who’s not coming on to him. Just wear one of your sweaters.”

“I can’t. I’m lost in those things.”

“Isn’t that what you want? To have dinner and send him on his way? There’s nothing better than a sweater big enough to swim in. He won’t have any idea what’s under it.”

“It’s out of the question. I’m going to dress so he will want me.”

Brittany raised her arms in the air. “But you don’t plan to let him have you.”

“Exactly. It’s just the idea. It’s one date, and the last thing I want is for him to get the upper hand.”

“Why do you care?”

“Because.”

Brittany looked at her, expecting more.

Cami looked in the mirror, hoping that suddenly the outfit she wore would look right. “Okay, because I want him to want me, that’s all. As long as we aren’t going to see each other again, I want to end it off with Bradan thinking I’m desirable.”

Waving her hand toward the dressing room, Brittany took charge. “Okay. Take that off. Let me see what else they’ve got here.”

After another thirty minutes, Cami settled on some slim pants with a knit top that revealed the roundness of her breasts without flaunting them. Brittany paired it with a trim copper-colored blazer that accented Cami’s green eyes, and some soft leather walking shoes that managed to look feminine.

“You look…very…cute.”

Cami laughed. “Cute, huh?”

“Good cute. There’s good cute and bad cute. This is good cute. Trust me.”

They were scheduled to cater a business meeting downtown, and had just enough time to grab some food. Tasty soup was an easy find in downtown. After slipping into the first café they spotted, they placed their orders. Brittany had the roasted corn and crab chowder, and Cami the seasonal vegetable. Her stomach was a little jumpy; it was only hours until she saw Bradan.

Brittany took a sip of her Coke. “So where’s he taking you?”

“Don’t know.” Cami sipped her espresso. “How’s it going with Tyler?”

“He didn’t call. I mean, not since that night.”

Cami didn’t know what to say. It seemed it was all too frequent that the guys her friend liked didn’t call. “You think he will?”

Brittany shrugged as though she didn’t care, but her expression said she did. “Probably not. They never do.”

The few minutes they had left were spent eating, and then they jogged to the office building in time set up for the event. Malena was already there. Thankfully, it was just a short business affair, so afterwards Cami would have time to shower and get ready for her date. Nervous and excited, she struggled through catering, taking off the instant it was over.

“Okay, call me,” Brittany said. “I want to know all, full disclosure.”

Cami laughed. “Sure, I’ll call you. But there won’t be anything to disclose. It’s a friendly dinner, remember?”

“Yeah, well, he better say something nice about your outfit.”

At the apartment, Cami showered and took time to dry her hair properly. She was too keyed up to soak in the tub. After an hour of prep, she scrutinized her makeup. With just enough to add color, but not enough to look seductive, Cami approved. It took longer to look natural, like she didn’t care, than it would have been to just go for a dramatic effect.

Her long hair hung past her shoulders, and she put one clip in it for added interest. Looking critically in the mirror, Cami decided the impression was passable. The outfit came off slightly sophisticated, but not too sexy. Yet with the blazer open, the ivory-colored sweater captured attention, subtly highlighting her curves.

Before she had time to worry herself to a frazzle, there was a knock at the door. Bradan was early. As she walked through the room, Cami made a last-minute effort to tidy up, kicking some shoes and a forgotten jacket behind a chair in the corner. She took a deep breath and opened the door.

She didn’t start breathing again for several seconds. Wearing jeans that made his thighs look carved from stone and a knit shirt stretched over his buff chest, Bradan was too sexy for words. His blue eyes sparkled and the half-smile she saw on his lips told her that he was fully aware of the effect he was creating.

“You look pretty,” he said in that deep male voice that made her heart pound.

Pretty
. She wasn’t sure if that was good or not. He didn’t say
beautiful
, but then at least he’d said something. Nothing would have been worse. “Thank you. You look amazing.”

Bradan smiled, this time a full smile that made little crinkles next to his eyes. Everything about him was perfect, from his thick, touchable brown hair in a casually messy style, to his firm jaw and inviting lips. Forcing herself to breathe, Cami said, “I’m ready.”

She thought of inviting him in, but that would be too intimate. Deciding it was better to be in a more public place, she closed the door behind her and locked it.

“So, no trouble finding the place?”