Page 18 of Under My Skin

“We don’t have to dance if you don’t want to. I can run to the bathroom and waste a few minutes in there, or we can dance with other people if you want. Actually, we can switch partners with Lia and Reid, or I’m sure any other woman here would be happy to take my spot.”

I take a step back so he doesn’t have to touch me anymore. Between all the intense stares and now his body language, I’m seriously thinking he has some kind of problem with me.

“What? Why would I want to dance with someone else?” He takes a step forward, getting in my space, and his hand is back on my hip.

“I can tell you’re not comfortable. I assumed it was me making you feel that way.”

“Not even close, Lizzie. I just don’t really dance. I feel like I’m going to embarrass you and make a fool of myself all at the same time.” He pulls me closer, wrapping his other arm around my lower back, just above my ass. His woodsy scent fills up my lungs, and then I feel his breath on my ear and hear his deep, husky voice. “You are the hottest woman in here, Lizzie. There’s no chance I would let you dance with anyone else. Not even Reid.”

I gasp, completely taken by surprise. I don’t know how to respond to that, so I just wrap my arms around his neck instead and act like he didn’t just stop my heart. “Just sway with me until the song ends, and then we’ll go back to the table.”

Cameron nods and then starts to move with me, never breaking eye contact. I feel like I’m dreaming, and I don’t want to wake up, but I also kind of want to because his stare is so intense that I don’t feel equipped to handle this. Him. I end up giving up and pressing my cheek against his very hard chest and feel him exhale and kind of go with it.

When the song ends, I immediately step back from him and make my way to the table with Lia and Reid trailing behind.

“That looked intimate. I can confidently say that he was definitely flirting with you yesterday,” Lia whispers in my ear after catching up with me.

I don’t respond because I’m so flustered that I’m afraid of what might come out of my mouth.

Once we reach the table, I slam down into my chair and immediately gasp as my hip starts to throb from the impact. Reid steps close and goes into doctor mode.

“Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“I’m fine. I forgot that I fell yesterday and have a little bruise from it. I just need to be careful when I sit, that’s all.”

“A little bruise shouldn’t make you react like that. Maybe you should let me take a look…” Reid starts to say as he moves closer and puts a hand on the back of my chair, reaching for my hip.

“Nope. Not gonna happen, Reid,” Cameron announces from behind me with that same pissed-off look on his face.

Reid visibly bites his tongue but then laughs under his breath. “Okay, Cam. You gonna play doctor, then?”

Before Cameron can respond, I jump in. “I really don’t need to see a doctor. Thanks for offering, Reid, but it’s fine. Honest.”

“Why don’t I take you home, Lizzie, since we’re going to the same place? I have some cream that will help with the swelling and pain.”

“Lia’s going to take me home, so I’m good.”

“You are kind of out of my way, Lizzie.” Lia glares at me and then turns to Cameron. “It would actually be a huge help if you took her home. And I have to be done here anyway because I have a big day tomorrow,” she says with way too much enthusiasm.

“I’ll drop Ellie off,” Liam jumps up to say. Wrapped up in my own drama, I forgot that they were even there.

“Are you good with that, Els? I can take you home,” Lia asks Ellie, making sure she’s comfortable with the arrangements. She may lack a filter, but she’ll always have our backs.

“Yeah, I’m good,” Ellie replies and gives us the shyest smile.

“I’ll stay and settle up the tab. You guys can all get out of here.” Reid shakes his head and says what we’re all probably thinking. “What a bizarre night. Let’s try it again soon, guys,” he tells his friends as he hugs Liam and Cameron and then hesitates. He decides to give Lia a hug but only offers a smile to Ellie and me.

What the hell is this all about? Did I step into the Twilight Zone or something?

We all say goodnight and then exit Rangers and walk to our respective cars. Cameron opens the passenger door to his truck and waits for me to put my seat belt on before closing it and walking to his side of the car. We start the drive home with only the low volume of the radio breaking the stifling silence.

I want to say something, but anything I can think of sounds weird and awkward, so silence it is.

Within ten minutes, we’re pulling up in front of Cameron’s house. I unlatch my seat belt and reach for the door handle, but he quickly stops me with a hand on my thigh. “Wait for me. I’ll get your door.”

Oh wow. He’s a hot, sexy, grumpygentlemanapparently, and I can’t deny that’s a turn-on. It’s a side of Cameron I never got a chance to see but wanted to. I just don’t know what to do with it now that it’s happening.

He opens my door, and I step down, but Cameron doesn’t move, effectively blocking my path.

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