Chapter 20

Samantha

As I walk to thebathroom, I can feel Cameron’s eyes on me. It takes an incredible amount of willpower not to glance over my shoulder. When I step inside the bathroom, I close the door and brace my hands on the sink as I try to get my racing heart under control. The chemistry between Cameron and I is something I’ve never experienced before. Not even with Alan. Oh, I loved Alan, don’t get me wrong, and the sex was great. But what we had was different. It was comfortable. Alan told everyone he knew after our first date he was going to marry me. I took a little more convincing. In the end, we took all the natural steps, and walked down the aisle to declare our love before our family and friends.

I take a few deep breaths, turn on the cold water, let it run over my hands, and pat my face. I clean up the best I can, check my reflection in the mirror, and put my hand on the doorknob. I take one more deep breath and open the door. As I make my way back down the stairs, I take in the pictures lining the walls. Family photos of Cameron, Craig, and their parents in various stages of life stare back at me. There’s one of Cameron, Craig, and Kenny on horseback. Numerous photos of the boys smiling covered in dirt, and even one with me the year I won Grand Champion at the county fair. But the one that tugs at my heart, is a photo of Cameron in his Army fatigues, his arm wrapped around his momma her head on his shoulder, a teary smile of pride on her face.

The sound of the screen door banging followed by footsteps on the hardwood floor draws my attention before Cameron comes into view. He leans against the doorway, hands stuffed in the pockets of his jeans. “There you are. I was beginning to think you ran off.”

I smile shyly up at him and shake my head. “Sorry, I got caught up looking at all the pictures.”

Cameron pushes off the doorframe and comes to stand behind me. He chuckles as he straightens one of the frames. “I’d almost forgotten about this.” I look over to the photo he’s talking about. “We didn’t go on many family vacations. As you know, running a farm doesn’t really allow for time away. One year, Dad decided we needed to see the Grand Canyon. So, we loaded up in the car and drove to Arizona.”

“How old were you?”

“I was twelve and Craig was eight. We didn’t do anything spectacular on that trip, but I remember we had a great time just being together as a family.”

“Sometimes those are the best vacations.” I try to steer us to a lighter conversation. “It appears I lied to you earlier.”

Confusion fills his features. “About what?”

I fight to hide a smile. “It looks like I’ve been inside your house for the last ten years. Hanging right here on the wall.”

Cameron leans in to look over my shoulder. “Well, what do you know.” His warm breath tickles my ear sending a shiver through me. “Looks like I couldn’t take my eyes off you even then.”

I laugh. “It was probably the award-winning steer that caught your eye, not me.”

“Nah, you were beautiful even then.”

I turn to walk by him, rolling my eyes at his comment. “Pbfft, like you noticed.”

Cameron catches my hand stopping any forward movement the pull of our attraction, forcing my eyes up to meet his. “Trust me, I noticed.”

His head dips, lips brushing softly against mine. Before either of us can deepen the kiss, the front door opens announcing Craig’s arrival.

“Uh, sorry. Don’t stop on my account. I’ll be in the kitchen preparing the steaks.” He walks quickly from the front door to the kitchen leaving Cameron laughing and me slightly embarrassed.

Cameron kisses the tip of my nose and then nods toward the backyard. “We better go help him or there’s no tellin’ how he’ll season the steaks.”

I placemy knife and fork on my empty plate and fall back against my chair laughing. “I can’t believe I ate the entire steak.”

“Me either,” Craig teases. “I’m kinda sorry I gave you the biggest one.”

“Hey!” I ball up my napkin and hurl it at him across the table hitting him square in the chest.

Craig laughs tossing the napkin in his plate, before standing to clear the table. “It was nice having you here, Sam. You should stop by more often.”

Cameron takes my hand and I smile as he threads our fingers together. “I just might.”

As Craig takes a handful of dishes to the sink, Cameron lifts my hand to his lips, kissing it softly. “He’s right. It is nice having you here.”

“Well, thank you for inviting me.”

His thumb skates across the top of my hand. “You’re welcome here anytime.”

I smile to cover up the butterflies that are fluttering in my belly. “Keep feeding me like this and you may never get rid of me.”

“I’m okay with that,” Craig says from the kitchen over the rattle of dishes and running water as he begins to fill the sink.

Cameron winks. “I’m okay with it too.”

I laugh at his teasing as I rise from my seat. “Well, if I want to stay on Craig’s good side, I should at least help clean up.”

Cameron pushes up out of his seat. “I suppose you’re right. Besides,” he says with a kiss to my cheek, “the sooner everything is cleaned up, the sooner I’ll have you to myself.”

Cameron and I carry the rest of the dishes into the kitchen and place them on the counter. I look up at Craig, “You want to wash or dry?”

“I’ll dry since I know where everything goes.”

I bump him with my hip. “Okay then move over and let me get to work.”

Craig looks over my head to address Cameron. “Your girlfriend is bossy.”

Cameron grins and claps Craig on the shoulder. “She knows how to handle you, that’s for sure. Since you two have the dishes under control, I’m going to clean the grill.”

Craig and I work in silence, both glancing out the window from time to time watching Cameron as he scrapes the grill clean. I hand Craig another plate which he dries and then places it in the cabinet. “It’s good to have him home.”

“He really seems to be finding his place.”

Craig takes a glass from me and glances over at me as he dries it. “You have a lot to do with that you know.”

I smile, liking the idea I may have something to do with Cameron’s happiness. “I don’t know about that.”

“I do. You need to give yourself more credit, Sam. I’m not saying Cam doesn’t love the farm, but he was born to be a soldier. He loved being in the Army. I’m a little surprised he didn’t make a career of it.”

His statement fills me with concern, and I glance out the window again at Cameron. “He didn’t tell you why he decided to leave the Army?”

“No, just that it was time. I didn’t push him. I figure he’ll tell me when he’s ready.”

I drain the water from the sink, rinse the dishrag and my hands, before drying them on the towel hanging on the cabinet. “You should see him with the veterans at the legion. They love talking to him as much as he loves listening to them.”

“Yeah? That’s good he needs to be able to talk to someone about his Army days.”

I lay my hand on Craig’s arm. “Hey, I’m sure you’re right, he’ll tell you when he’s ready. If it makes you feel any better, he hasn’t told me why either. One thing’s for sure though, no matter who he tells first, we’ll both be there for him when he does.”

Craig smiles as he hangs the dishtowel to dry. “Yes, we will.” He wraps me in a hug. “Thanks, Sam.”

I return his hug and pat his back. “Anytime.”

“Hey, get your own girl,” Cameron calls as he walks in the back door.

Craig pours more salt in the wound by dropping a kiss on top of my head, making me laugh, and Cameron pulls me into his side. Craig winks at me as he claps his brother on the shoulder. “She’s a good one man, don’t let her go.”

“Not planning on it.” Cameron squeezes me tighter as I wrap my arms around his waist and rest my head on his chest.

“Good,” Craig says as he makes his way up the stairs. “Goodnight, you two.”

“Night,” we reply in unison.

Cameron moves me from his side to stand in front of him, my arms still wrapped around his waist. “What time do you need to be home?”

I fight a smile as I look up at him. “You realize I’m twenty-eight, right? I haven’t had a curfew in years.”

Cameron’s smile widens. “Okay, then how about we watch a movie?”

I run my hands up his massive chest until they are draped over his shoulders. “Only if we can make out on the couch like teenagers.”

Cameron lifts me onto the kitchen counter making me squeal in surprise. He moves to stand between my legs. “Who says we need a couch?” His hand caresses my cheek as he moves to cup the back of my head, fingers weaving into my hair. No pressure is needed, due to the undeniable magnetic force between us. His lips softly brush mine, teasing, bringing all the nerves in my body to life. As my arms wind around his neck, my legs wrap around him drawing him closer. Our kiss becomes more demanding, the need between us more evident than a moment ago. Cameron’s mouth leaves mine to trail kisses down my neck. I cling to him not wanting to lose the feel of his mouth on my skin. Heavy gasps fill the air as I try to restore my lungs with some much-needed air.

“Cameron,” I whisper, my train of thought derailing as his hand slips beneath my shirt.

“So soft,” he murmurs as his thumb brushes over my lace-covered breast causing my nipple to strain against the fabric.

My fingers tug at his hair, bringing his eyes up to meet mine. “Take me upstairs.”

Cameron’s eyes blaze, the gold flecks more prominent in his hazel irises. “Are you sure?” I nod, as the word yes slips past my lips. His hand cups my cheek as he leans in and gives me a quick kiss before stepping back and slipping his arm under my knees as the other wraps around my back. “Hold on.”

He easily lifts me off the counter and starts up the stairs. “I can walk you know.”

Cameron grins. “I know. I’m just ensuring you don’t change your mind and run off.”

I laugh as I tighten my arms around his neck. “Not going to happen.”

When we reach the top of the stairs, Cameron steps through the open door on the left and lowers me to stand in front of him. A sudden rush of nerves hits me, and I find myself looking around his room. The bed is made to Army standards, not a wrinkle in sight on the blue patchwork quilt. A nightstand sits next to the bed with a lamp and alarm clock, a closet with bifold doors on the other side. A bookcase and chest of drawers stands opposite of each other with a window between them, light blue grommeted curtains delicately dance from the ceiling fan overhead.

“Huh, not at all what I was expecting.”

A grin tugs at his lips. “What were you expecting?”

I shrug, “You know, posters, football trophies, 4H ribbons.”

He chuckles. “I knew my mom would leave my room as a shrine when I left for the Army, so I packed all that stuff up and put it in the attic.” He takes a step closer eliminating some of the distance between us. “Samantha, did you ask me to bring you up here so we could talk room décor?”

I look up at him and shake my head. “No, I just had a sudden rush of nerves once we walked through the door.”

He takes another step closer and reaches out taking both my hands in his. “You’re not the only one who’s nervous you know. I mean, you’re Samantha Kincaid, the most beautiful woman in Blossom Creek and you’re standing in my bedroom. Everything is entirely up to you; we don’t have to rush into anything.”

Cameron is over six feet tall, and built like a brick wall, I’m skeptical he’s suffering the same bout of anxiety I am. I look down at our hands and give his a squeeze before looking up at him. “I’m tired of taking things slow. I asked you to bring me up here because I want to be with you.”

I let go of his hands, walk to the side of the bed and pull the quilt down exposing crisp white sheets. I toe off my blue Converse and turn to face him. I grab the hem of my T-shirt, pull it over my head, and let it fall to the floor. Before my fingers can release the button on my shorts, Cameron makes two quick strides, takes my face in his hands and captures my mouth in a fierce kiss. My hands pull at his T-shirt, and he breaks the kiss long enough to pull it over his head and toss it to the floor with mine. My hands work the button and zipper of his jeans, but before I can push them off, he stops me. “You first.”

I grin and hold my hands up in surrender as he unfastens my shorts and pushes them to the floor. I kick them to the side and stand in front of him light blue lace panties and matching bra. “God you’re beautiful,” he says as he hooks an arm around my waist, bringing me flush against him. He leans in and kisses me below my ear. “If you want to keep those lacey panties, I suggest you remove them because I won’t be gentle if you leave them for me.”

My breath hitches as I stare up into those hazel eyes that ignite a fire within me. I hold his gaze as I reach around, unfasten my bra and drop it into the pile of discarded clothes. Cameron’s eyes dip to watch my breasts rapidly rise and fall. He takes half a step back as I hook my fingers into the delicate lace panties, drag them down over my hips, and let them fall to the floor. Naked, I take a step forward eliminating any distance between us, grab the waistband of his jeans, and tug him closer. “You’ve had your show, now I want mine.” I release him and climb to the middle of the bed and wait.