Page 50 of Be Mine Forever

“Even later, I didn’t probe. Maybe I was just so glad to have you, I didn’t ask about your past.”

“And maybe I was so glad to leave my past behind, I didn’t want to talk about it.”

“I didn’t even know you could skate like that. You thanked Lashaun like she’d been this important person to you at one time, and I’d never heard of her. I thought you were white.”

Cam laughed, sending a half-exasperated glance her way.

“Iamwhite. I’m just also black, Puerto Rican, and no telling what else. I don’t really think about it.”

“I should know these things.”

“I don’t know every detail of your life. No one does.”

“These are not details, Cam. These are essentials. I want your essentials.”

Though his eyes remained straight ahead, she felt like he was exposing something to her he’d been holding back.

“What’s essential is that I want to be with you. Now.”

Jo allowed the words to settle onto her heart. To water the seeds of security they’d been planting over the last few days. Years of rejection didn’t disappear in two days, but Cam’s openness was helping.

And yet, beingherself, she had to press for more. It was in her blood.

“Just now?”

“Jo, we’ve been together a grand total of two days. Give this thing time to unfold a little. Don’t just snap it open like some dollar store fan.”

Jo let her head drop back against the headrest. She was handling this all wrong. She’d hidden so much behind this careful mask for years, and at the first sign that she might get somewhere with him, she spilled her feelings everywhere.

“I didn’t mean to pressure you or to be all ‘define the relationship’ already.”

“I don’t mind defining the relationship. I want to be with you.” Cam shifted his eyes from the road long enough to meet hers, steady and sure. “Period.”

So much for holding back. That look, that moment, snapped the restraints Jo had imposed on herself.

“In that case, you should know that I want to give you everything. I know we’ve only been together for two days, but you know I’ve had…feelings for you for a long time. I’ve spent over half my life holding them back. I’m ready to spill them all over you.”

Cam left one hand on the steering wheel and grabbed her hand with the other.

“Spilling is good. I want all of that. I love it when you’re open about how you feel.” Cam drew a deep breath and blew it out. “I just want to reciprocate, and it’s tough. I told you there were things we still need to talk about. Things you don’t know yet.”

“Do you want this, Cam? You really want me?” Jo held her breath, waiting for his response.

Cam pulled into the cottage driveway and turned off the car. He turned to her, linking their fingers and pressing their hands to his chest.

“Let me put it like this.” He took her eyes hostage, mesmerizing her with a look. “All those times you wondered if I might care, I did. All the times you thought you imagined I wanted you, I wanted you. And all those times you wondered if I might one day feel the same way, well, I do.”

If hope were a bitch, then Jo would just have to watch her back, because now they were best friends.

Chapter Sixteen

It should probably be obvious, but will you get mad if I ask what you’re doing?”

Jo looked up from the eggish concoction she was laboring over, hoping Cam didn’t notice the small tornado that had torn through his kitchen. When she woke up, she’d been alone again. Cam had been outside painting, so Jo decided to get her cook on. Shemayhave bitten off more than she could chew.

“Whisking?” She paused mid-whisk. “I thought I’d make you breakfast.”

Cam walked up beside her at the kitchen island, bare chested, wearing only beleaguered jeans, holding on by threads to his lean hips. The ridged plane of muscle and sinew climbing out of the waistband of his jeans distracted Jo momentarily from her task. Seemingly oblivious to the way her body was responding to the mouthwatering sight of him, he eyed the bag of flour spilled across the granite surface, the butchered peppers and onions, the clumps of ham she had “diced.”

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