Tainted Desire (Desire Series, #1) (5 page)

     “Not really, you just go talk to a counselor and they will assist you in filling out the paperwork for financial aid. You really
won’t need anything to start except a car to get there. I’m going to talk to Cameron about borrowing one of his cars for you. He has three cars, and can only drive one at a time but half the time he’s out of town,” Courtney explains.

     “
I should’ve asked earlier, have you heard how he’s doing in Alabama with his trial runs for his sponsor?” I ask, trying to find a way to change the subject to him without raising too much suspicion.

       “He called last night and said everything went really well on the track. Today
, he will be going through a series of interviews with a bunch of sponsors, some big name companies too. He’s really hoping to land sponsorship with two companies, Taco Bell and Valvoline. He said if he can get those two, he would work on smaller sponsors later. Then he would be able to devote all his time to racing and give up his part time job.”

     “Wow, I hope it all goes well for him. How does his girlfriend put up with him being gone all the time? That must be hard on her,
” I anxiously ask while awaiting her response. I just had to ask, the suspense was killing me.

     “He hasn’t had a girlfriend in a few years. He dated ‘the bitch’ for about two years. I could not stand that girl; she was just hoping he would make it big so she could be his trophy wife. Things
weren’t going fast enough for her, he couldn’t afford to take her to all the fancy places she expected him to, so she dropped him for some other racer and left town with him. Good riddance, she was a gold digger,” Courtney says with a look of disgust.

     “How awful, he must have
been heartbroken, how can women be like that? I hope she gets what she deserves and the other guy dumps her when he gets tired of her,” I say, thinking I wouldn’t mind getting a chance at mending Cameron’s broken heart.

    “He wasn’t heartbroken at all. I think he was relieved that she left and he
didn’t have to break it off with her. He hates confrontations; he probably would’ve stayed with her just to avoid an argument or hurting her, he’s still a softy. Her loss, my brother is hot as hell.”

     Okay
, this is good. It’s not often you hear a person call their sibling hot. Now I really can’t wait to lay my eyes on him. I hope that he’s everything I dreamed of in my fantasies, not that looks are everything; Dylan was hot but a royal asshole. I would rather have an average Joe, if they were nice and respectful. However, if Cameron were both, I would be in seventh heaven. Then again, he might not even give me the time of day; I shouldn’t get my hopes up.

     I look up as we’
re taking the turn into Daytona. “How much longer before we reach your place?” I ask.

     “Oh! About fifteen
minutes yet. The Daytona Speedway will be on your right hand side in just a couple minutes. If Cameron does well, we might be spending a lot of time there cheering him on,” Courtney says happily. 

      I would like to have that special celebration with h
im afterwards like in my dream on the plane. When we come up to the speedway, it is massive. The outside has huge pictures of all the past great racers. There’s a racing hall of fame you can tour and an advertisement for track tours. It would be exciting to go see a race after the hundreds I’ve watched with my dad. He would be upset to know I was able to go in person while he had to watch it on TV. I’ll have to get tickets to go see one soon, so I can brag about it to my dad. I would like an introduction to the life Cameron will be living.

     Daytona is a happening city,
I notice after we pass store after store. I can’t wait to go shopping and replace the clothes I had to leave behind. I hope that I can find some discount stores; my budget is going to be rather bleak for a while. A couple days of fun with my friend, then I have to buckle down and get serious about finding a job.

     “Look
, up there on the left. See it?” Courtney asks pointing.

     “No, what are you pointing to?” I ask.

     “Another Krispy Kreme shop! You can come get them whenever you want, in case that dozen you have in the back seat doesn’t hold you,” she says sarcastically.

     “Shut the hell up! I just needed some comfort food.
I’ll slim down in no time once I decide to actually start exercising. That might happen sometime in my life.” We both start cracking up, knowing I hate exercise. I really should start though; I want Cameron to see me as a sex goddess he can’t refuse.

     “Just up and over that bridge
you’ll see the ocean. We will be at my condo in a matter of minutes. I even cleaned for you, but don’t get used to it, I hate cleaning, cooking, and doing laundry. I do like having fun though. Maybe we should get a maid, I bet I could get my daddy to spring for one,” she says flashing me her killer smile.

     We turn on what must be another major road; it runs right
along the ocean. I can see a lot of people on the beach and in the ocean. There are tons of restaurants, hotels, high-rise condominiums, nightclubs, and beach shops. My excitement starts to build; this is going to be just want I need to get over that asshole. We take a turn and go into an underground garage. This can’t be where I will be living; this building must be at least fifty floors high. However, she pulls into a parking space and turns off the engine.

     “I forgot to tell you, Cameron was so upset he couldn’t be here to welcome you
, so he arranged for us to go to this great spa. He said everything is on him and he wants me to give you a relaxing day of pampering. He comes in late Sunday night and wants to sleep most of the day Monday. He’ll meet us Monday night for dinner after our spa appointments. If my brother is treating, we are going all out; haircuts, manicure, pedicure, waxing, massages,” she says with a big grin.

     “Waxing what?
I’ve never been to a spa; it sounds wonderful, except that waxing part.”

     “Um, if you’
re going to be a Florida girl, waxing is essential, trust me. Let’s go in so you can check out my place, and your new home.”

     The atrium of Courtney’s building is beautiful. It has gorgeous marble floors, tropical plants of all sorts and a beautiful shiny gold elevator. She walks me straight through the atrium to show me the backside of the building. There’s a huge Olympic sized pool with at least fifty lounge chairs and a couple of cabana’s you can use for the day. Just beyond the pool area
, is a stairway leading right down onto the beach. The beach has even more lounge chairs exclusive to the condominium owners, two volleyball nets, and surfboards that you can rent for the day. 

     We make our way back into the building and get on the elevator. My mouth opens in shock as Courtney pushes the button for the thirty-fifth floor. “How many floors does this building have?”  I ask.

    “The building has forty five floors in all. Forty of those floors have two condominiums on each floor. One faces beachside and the other faces the city. The top five floors have only one huge condominium per floor and is way beyond my means. They go for around five hundred thousand a piece!” Courtney replies.

     “Wow, five hundred thousand for just one floor of a building! That’s crazy. Who lives on those floors?”  I ask.

     “No idea, I have never seen the owners or the inside of those condos. They have their own elevator in the parking garage and floors forty thru forty-five have personal key slots. They insert the key for their floor and apparently the elevator opens right into an entry way in their condo.”

     “Hmmm, wonder if any of them are eligible bachelors? Is your condo facing the ocean or the city? I ask.

     “Mine faces the beach, Cameron’s faces the city. Daddy made us flip for who got which one when he was helping us buy them. I won.” Courtney smirks.

     Now my mind is reeling. Did she just say Cameron’s faces the city? As in, his condominium is in the same friggin building. We will be living on the same floor. I’ll never get any sleep knowing he’s right across the hall sleeping. I wonder if he sleeps in the nude.
Oh geez, I have to stop thinking about him.
It has only been five hours since walking away from my life with Dylan, the last thing I need is to get involved with someone else. However, this is Cameron, my first crush, the man I have fantasized about more nights than I care to admit. This living arrangement is not going to make matters any better for my already overactive imagination. “You never mentioned that Cameron lives right across the hall from you. I assumed he lived in a different building. Isn’t it somewhat awkward to bring someone home knowing your brother might see you?” I ask.

     “He knows I love to have sex! He minds his own business, he does his thing and I do mine, no big deal. Besides, who better to have across the hall than an overprotective brother if I need help?”

    “I guess, but if it was my brother across the hall, I would feel a little weird thinking that he could hear me having sex with someone.”

     “Well, now he won’t know if it’s me or you. Therefore, I don’t have to worry about anything. I will just say you are a slut and bring home a new guy every night,” she says laughing.

     “Courtney!” I shout, smacking her.

     “Oh, don’t worry, Cameron thinks very highly of you, he always has. He was just as hurt as I was when we had to move. He moped for a long time and kept saying we lost our best friend. He’s excited that he is going to see you again. He even cleaned his condo before he left. He doesn’t do that for just anyone. I think he always had a crush on you.” She admits, as the elevator opens. 

     I stand there in utter shock for a moment. Does she know? Has Cameron told her about what happened between us all those years ago? On the other hand, I guess it could have just been a random comment. I’m a little less nervous about seeing him again, sounds like he’s just as excited as I am. I wonder how he will react when he sees me for the first time. Will he hug me or will there be an awkward moment? I’m so glad we are going to the spa Monday before we meet up with him. I want to try to look my best. I’m going to get my hair highlighted and cut, nails and toes done, and a massage to ease the tension before seeing him. I’m even going to consider the waxing but maybe just the bikini line. I don’t know about that Brazilian business.

     “Earth to Kylie,” Courtney says, waving her hand in front of my face. “Where did you go? You looked like you were on another planet. Come on!  Can’t wait to show you the room Cameron and I redecorated for you.”

     “Courtney, you didn’t have to go through any trouble. I’m sure it was fine the way it was before. I’m just grateful to you both for getting me out of that situation and for allowing me to stay with you. If at any time you want your place to yourself or get sick of me, just let me know, and I will find somewhere else to stay. I don’t want to be a burden to anyone.”  

    “Kylie, shut the hell up! I’m not going to get sick of you. You just got here and I’m going to enjoy having someone to talk to and do things with. It gets boring living alone. I have lost contact with a lot of my friends from high school. Don’t really have anyone I consider myself close to, except you,” she says, grabbing my hand and yanking me out of the elevator. 

     If I thought the atrium was spectacular, that was nothing compared to the inside of these condos. You walk into a little entryway that she decorated with a table, small lamp and a mirror hanging above it. Then the whole condominium just opens up. To the left is a fabulous state of the art kitchen with stainless steel appliances, recessed lighting, breakfast bar, and small dining area with a glass table for two. To the right is a massive living area with sliding glass doors that open to a patio area with two lounging chairs and small tables. The ocean from this height is breathtaking. I’m a little leery when she opens the doors but I slowly creep out to the balcony ledge and peer over. My palms start to sweat and I can feel my chest tighten as I swallow down a little acid rising from my stomach. I’m not going to let Courtney know I have a fear of heights. It will be worth battling just to spend the mornings out here watching the sunrise over the ocean. She pulls me back in the condo and my heart rate starts to go back to normal.

     Her living area looks like Martha Stewart herself decorated it. She has pale blue/gray walls with all white furniture and somewhat of a beach nautical theme going on. The fireplace mantel is decorated with clear vases that are full of shells. She has blue and gray accent throw pillows on the chairs and couch. On the end tables are clear lamps that match the vases filled with shells, and shades that look as if
they were made out of coiled rope from a boat. They are old and rugged looking, but it really works in this space and with the theme of the room.

      “Courtney, this place is wonderful. It seems so inviting and relaxing, especially hearing the waves of the ocean crashing on the beach. I may never want to leave now.”