The Long Game (Long Game, #1)(37)

Almost. Because hands closed around the top of my arms, securing me upright.

And thanks to the grunt reaching my ears, I didn’t need a sixth sense to know who those large and warm palms belonged to.

“Bloody goats,” Cameron grumbled, his hold shifting up and engulfing my shoulders.

I glanced down, finding Brandy at my feet. “And here I thought you were on my side, Brandy.”

The blind goat nudged my leg again, and I felt Cameron’s grip tighten.

Curious about that reaction preceded by the bloody goats, I looked over my shoulder, finding his face right there. So close that I could see the slight wrinkles around his eyes. The specks of brown in the green of his eyes. The smooth-looking texture of his skin. An unsolicited wave of warmth climbed up my neck. Cameron’s hands dropped.

“Listen to the goats,” Josie said, suddenly in front of us. “They are here to help, and Brandy was trying to tell you something. Probably that you shouldn’t give up.” She placed her hand behind her ear. “What’s that, Brandy? Oh yes. Brandy wants you to give this your best shot.”

I blinked at Josie. “I’ll try?”

“Don’t act so shocked,” the man slightly behind pointed out in a dry tone. “You were talking to the goat a minute ago.”

Josie’s gaze shifted to him. “She wants you to try your best, too, you know?” She tilted her head. “Hmm. You look tense, Cam. Would you feel better if I got a second goat to come over here?”

“No.”

I frowned at the curt and direct answer. Was it… Was it possible that Cameron didn’t like the goats? “Well, I think I would love another goat,” I heard myself say. “Maybe even a few more.”

Before I could get a reaction from Cameron, someone from the back of the group piped up. “Josie, honey? Can we switch positions?” Diane’s voice was strained. “We’ve been holding Crescent Lunge for so long I think Gabriel is about to pull a muscle in his back.”

Josie’s eyes widened. “Sorry, Diane!” she called. And then, she snapped into action. “Okay, you two—or three,” she said, pointing at Brandy, too, “are stalling the class.” She walked around me, and next thing I knew Cameron’s hands were on my shoulders again. The warmth returned to my face. “And you, my dear Adalyn, are struggling,” Josie pointed out.

“I have it under control,” I complained. “I don’t need a private lesson. Or him. Or his hands on me.”

Cameron grumbled something.

Josie’s grin turned tight. “I’m not driving Gabriel to the ER again. GOGGH is going to go smoothly and without a hitch today. So, Cam”—she shifted her gaze behind me—“stop looking like you’re sucking on a lemon and help her. You clearly know what you’re doing.”

“But—” I tried again.

“No buts.” Josie’s expression morphed, giving her a strangely threatening look for someone who was wearing a yoga set in neon pink. She turned around and said in that soothing voice from earlier, “Aaaaaaaaand, warrior position!”

Cameron released a deep, loud breath.

One that I felt right at the back of my neck.

I swallowed, suddenly hyperaware of how close he was standing. Of the weight of his hands. Of the warmth of his body. Of what we were about to do. Together.

“I hope you’re happy,” he muttered. And the palm that been limply resting on my shoulder flexed, wrapping around my shoulder blade with clear intention. He was guiding me through this.

“What do you mean?” I asked distractedly, feeling how his thumb swiped along a muscle that had been bunched up with tension.

I sensed him step closer. “Team bonding,” he explained, the words reaching me in a murmur. “You set me up, Adalyn. After you forced my hand.” A pause. “You even recruited Josephine.”

“I didn’t recruit her,” I let out in a shaky breath. “This is all Josie’s doing.”

His thumb swiped again, as if trying to loosen me up, and a rush of electricity raced down my spine. “So you’re saying you didn’t plan to volunteer me for this?” he asked, my whole body growing warm. Warmer. As if a furnace had been flipped on beneath my skin. “You just happened to take me down with you?”

I steadied myself. He was distracting me, baiting me, and I was not allowing that. I was not being knocked over by Cameron Caldani. Leaving this town without my success story of the Green Warriors wasn’t an option. Mostly because I didn’t think I’d ever be able to return to the Flames without it.

“Can we just… get through this?” I closed my eyes, focused on the pressure of his palm, and not his words. On his fingers, as they slid down one of my arms in what felt like an unnecessarily slow pace. They ended at my wrist, curling around it in a gentle but swift motion.

“Arm up and in a straight line,” Cameron indicated, his voice now falling right against the shell of my ear. A shiver crawled down my spine, and I had to make a serious effort to follow his command. “That’ll do,” he said. And before I could complain about the backhanded compliment, his fingers were curling around my other wrist. Sidetracking my words. This time, it was him who lifted my limp limb.

I released a strange exhale.

“Keep them up for me.” Cameron’s voice came again, his tone focused, deliberate, not a trace of reluctance there. I swallowed. “Hold right there.” I held. “Beautiful.”