Page 70 of All the Drama from New York
“Try this.” Ryan lifted the spoonful of chicken from the pot and handed it to Camille. He’d been trying to perfect a butter chicken curry all afternoon. The delight in her eyes as she put the food to her lips told him he might have finally nailed it.
Their two week stay on the island had flown by. During that time they’d taken to spending their evenings sitting out on the front porch, while thumbing their way through the extensive library of cookbooks whichTrade Windshad to offer its guests.
In the days following their fight, they’d both tried to focus their efforts and energies toward each other in a more positive way. He loved the way Camille was actively looking to find things they could do together as a couple.
Under Ryan’s instructions, she had mastered some simple techniques for cutting and cooking fresh ingredients. Whenever she got stuck Ryan would wait patiently for her to either figure it out, or ask him for help.
Camille in turn was expansive in showing her appreciation for his efforts. Sometimes it was a simple hum like now. Other times it was a genuine ‘thank you, I don’t know what I would dowithout you’. Both sentiments had him swallowing down a lump of emotion.
Her other way of showing him her appreciation was close to Ryan’s favorite. Camille would get a sultry look on her face, and suggest he deserved a special thank you.
It often started in the main living space of the house, but always ended up with them making love in the shower. Or in bed. Usually both. Camille’s capacity for hard work was matched by her appetite for mind blowing sex.
“You will ruin me for all the hotel food once we get back to New York,” she said.
Ryan shrugged. “I enjoy cooking. Remember how we were talking about finding the middle ground? Well, what do you think about me continuing to cook for us when we get back to New York? Then once we get past fashion week, if you are still keen to learn more recipes, we could ramp up your lessons. My contract will still have four weeks to run at that point.”
He liked feeding her. Loved seeing the happy grin on Camille’s face whenever he presented her with a new dish. Or when she mastered a new skill in the kitchen.
The joy on Camille’s face dimmed. “I don’t want to think about your contract ending. It’s bad enough that this is our last night on Fire Island. If I could, I’d stay here for another month.”
He drew her into his arms. “Yeah, but then we wouldn’t be able to get the staging and lighting for the runway show completed. Not to mention those extra show pieces which the sample makers will need to run up once Karl can get the fabrics in store.”
I sound like someone who actually works in the fashion garment industry.
Once they were back in New York, coordinating the fashion collection would shift up another gear. Fashion week was eightweeks away, and they had a million things to get finalized before then.
Fortunately Ryan knew a guy who knew a guy who had some mad talent in graphic design, and the mockup drawings Camille had created for the Cinderella in the City theme had now been sent to him. He was going to create a series of giant city backdrops for the show. Once they were ready, Ryan would then meet with the lighting and staging teams for the Really Big Space.
The models were all booked. The guest lists well in hand. Julia Spence would have her design concept drawings before the due date. The planning app had lots of tasks marked as either completed or in-progress.
“It would be nice to come back again,” said Ryan.
Just the two of us. No work. Just all play. And lots of steamy sex.
But would Camille still want him after his contract was ended? Neither of them had mentioned the L word. It was on the tip of Ryan’s tongue a hundred times a day, but fear made him hold back from telling Camille how he felt.
He’d suffered the humiliation of public heartbreak once before. It had left deep wounds. What if he told Camille he loved her; and she didn’t feel the same way?
I’m not sure if I could survive being rejected again. Not when I am so invested in this woman.
“You’ve been nothing short of incredible these past two weeks, Ryan Collins, and I don’t just mean when you and I are…” Camille grinned up at him.
She was a tiger in the bedroom, but he loved how she could play at being shy when out of it. Playing being the right word, because no matter where she was, Camille was a force of nature.
“My runway collection is back on track in large part thanks to you. So once we are back in New York and have caught up witha few things, I’m going to take you somewhere extra special for dinner.”
He dropped another kiss onto her soft warm lips. “Does this place involve us having to be dressed, or will it be another of your naked dinners? Not that I’m adverse to them.”
“Hmmm. Clothes.” She tapped a finger to Ryan’s t-shirt clad chest. “Another part of my thank you involves us going shopping to get you a new suit. Where I’m taking you, they expect their guests to be exceptionally attired.”
Camille was his boss. His lover. But he still didn’t like the idea of her buying him clothes. It was bad enough stealing a few pieces from her brother’s closet, even if he’d never notice. “I’d prefer to pay for my own stuff if that’s ok. Male pride and all.”
Her eyes lit up in surprise. “I didn’t mean that you were some sort of kept man. I just wanted to treat you.”
He was going to stand firm on this point. “Thank you, but no. If we go shopping, I should be the one who pays for my clothes.”
The hard line around her mouth told him she wasn’t going to let this go. “This is another one of those middle ground things, isn’t it?”
