Generally speaking, I did a whole lot of disregarding how he made me feel on the drive back to Lazy Elk. And Cameron must have been doing the same, because neither of us spoke a single word until he killed the engine in the driveway.
“I’ll ring Robbie when I get inside,” he said, his voice sounding so… deep and low and intimate inside the confinement of his truck. “We’ll get the tire sorted tomorrow.”
We. That we again, as if we were… an item. A team. My chest did some of that squishing at the thought.
“Thanks for doing that,” I told him. I was so tired of antagonizing this man. “I’d insist on calling Robbie myself, but I don’t think he likes me very much.”
Cameron seemed to think about something. “His kids adore you.”
I wasn’t sure if he’d said that to make me feel better or because it was true. “I wouldn’t go that far. María likes me, but a part of me believes she’s trying to prove to the rest of the team that I’m not a witch.” I shrugged. “And Tony is a teenage boy who calls me ma’am and barely talks to me.”
Cameron’s eyes roamed around my face. “Tony doesn’t know how to act around a beautiful woman.”
Beautiful.
I ripped my gaze off his face and let it settle on the dashboard. “What do you mean?”
“The kid fancies you, Adalyn.” Right. “That’s why he gets tongue-tied. That’s probably why he calls you ma’am, too.”
So Tony believed I was beautiful. Not Cameron. That was fine. I’d never been insecure about my looks or needed anybody’s reassurance to feel good about my appearance. I definitely had other insecurities. But it didn’t really matter, and it was foolish of me to think Cameron would ever look at me like that after how… our relationship had gone.
“I didn’t say thanks,” Cameron shocked me by adding. I looked over at him. His eyes were on me. “Tony recognized me back at the facilities, and you covered for me. I appreciate it.”
I shook my head. I didn’t deserve his gratitude. I… I fumbled with my seatbelt, overwhelmed by the sudden urge to exit this car. It released with a click, and I threw open the passenger door. “Thanks for the ride. I will, hmm, see you tomorrow. Game day. Big day ahead. Good night!”
And jumped out without wasting a minute. I shot in the direction of my cabin but quickly came to a halt.
“Oh no,” I muttered, patting the pockets of my borrowed dungarees. Nothing. Empty. I groaned. “Oh God.”
I turned around. But I—
Collapsed against a hard wall. One that smelled like a pine forest and felt boiling hot to the touch. I stumbled back. “Cameron.”
“Why did you run?” wall-man asked, his chin tipping down to look at his chest. My gaze followed along, discovering my hands were planted on his pecs. I snagged them back. “What’s wrong?” he pressed, flat-out ignoring I hadn’t answered his first question.
“I forgot my things.” I sighed. Yes, I’d focus on that. “Back at the barn. My clothes, my shoes, my phone, the keys, too. I think I left the door unlocked so I could get inside, but I need my phone.”
“What?” he barked.
I frowned. “I was going to ask you to drive me back. There’s strange noises in the cabin at night and I can’t sleep without listening to—”
Cameron moved.
He bolted and walked around me. When the shock wore off, I whirled and went after him.
“I swear to God, Adalyn,” I heard him grumble when I reached him. “There’s no goddamn winning with you.” His hand was clasped around the doorknob of the door. It opened without resistance. “Christ.”
“I told you it would probably be unlocked,” I scoffed. I stared at Cameron’s back. He was… not moving. I’d expected him to be relieved, if anything. This gave him the perfect excuse not to drive me back. But I could… feel the anger leaving his body in waves. “You know what? That’s fine. I’ll make it without my phone. We’ll just drive back tomorrow morning.”
Cameron remained planted right where he was.
“It all worked out for the best so… good night,” I insisted, popping my head over his shoulder. Cameron stepped inside. He flipped the lights on. “Hey, what do you think you’re doing—”
“What in the bloody hell is this?” he asked. His words ricocheted in the confined and cramped space. Then he repeated himself, as if wanting to make sure I heard him right. “What is this, Adalyn?”