Page 14 of Staying for You

“I wish I wouldn’t have ever had an interest in it.”

“You addicted to your phone, Cami?” I tease.

She looks down at her lap and twists her lips. “Kind of the nature of the job, I suppose. It’s hard to turn it off, not feel like I should be available. I love it, but it also is what brought me here.”

“What is it you do?” I ask even though I know she’s an author. Or at least, she was at one point.

“I write romance novels.”

She holds her head up and straightens her shoulders when she tells me this and I wonder if she’s been chastised for it in the past. I know I’ve teased my sister before when she acted like the guys in books were real.

“Actually, I saw that on your front seat when I moved your car for you earlier. How many have you written?”

“Eighteen.”

I choke on my own spit. “Eighteen? Are you serious?”

She blushes and pulls her hair over one shoulder. “Yes. Though, I’m starting to wonder if I already used up my good words. The last few books haven’t done so well for me.”

“Ah, really?” I have no idea what to say to that. I might be great at reading people, but expressing my sympathy or empathy in a way that doesn’t sound ridiculous is another thing.

“Yeah.” She looks around the room, focuses her attention on the kids for a few minutes then lets out a heavy sigh. “Well, I can see you’ve got everything under control. Sorry I invaded your home without knocking – or being invited, for that matter.”

“You weren’t invading. And I’m glad you came over and helped me out. I needed it.”

She stands from the couch and puts her arms above her head, stretches, picks at one of her fingernails with her thumbnail.

“The offer still stands for dinner.”

“Thanks, but I’ll pass for tonight. I didn’t get my things unpacked yet and I’m pretty beat after traveling the past two days.”

I stand and follow her to the door. “No coat?” I ask, noticing she isn’t grabbing for one that she removed along the way.

“I’ll be fine.”

I frown, not liking the idea of her walking outside not bundled up. I reach for the dark gray lined zip-up hooded sweatshirt I have hanging by the door that leads down the steps for the lodge and hand it to her. “I’m sure you will be, but do me a favor and don’t freeze to death on my property.”

She laughs lightly, her teeth biting down on her plump bottom lip as she does. Cheeks turning a slight shade of pink. “Thank you.”

Slipping it on, I chuckle at how she drowns in it. Her tiny frame getting swallowed up. She pushes the sleeves up so they’re bunched around her wrists and grins. “I’ll bring it back to you tomorrow.”

“No rush. I’ve got plenty.”

“Bye.”

I watch as she makes her way down the stairs and out through the front door of the lodge and close the door behind her so I don’t worry about Brody walking over to the stairs and falling down.

I don’t remember the last time someone other than family was in my home. Certainly, no women aside from the cleaning people who take care of the cabins and help me out a few times during the busy summer months. And that goodbye. Are they always that awkward?

Noise behind me reminds me that I’m not alone and the babies need attention. Which is good. This way I won’t dwell on the fact that my new guest is incredibly sexy with the voice of an angel.

Chapter Five

Cami

I stare downat my phone in my hand with a scowl that I hope can bore a hole into the phone screen. It would be great if I got that super power right now. Laser shooting eyes. I narrow my blue eyes and concentrate really hard, like I’m a four-year-old determined to will it to happen.

What an ass.

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