Page 88 of The Boyfriend Gamble

“Well…” He straightened. “The government provides for services for more people—”

“But not all.”

“No, not all.” He cleared his throat, then toyed with the edge of the glass container. “I’m lucky. My practice is extremely successful, and I have no problems paying my bills at the end of each month. My student loans are paid off, the mortgage on this place is more than half paid down and I have healthy savings.”

“So you’re in a good place.”

“I watch my expenses.” He met my gaze. “I spoil my nieces and nephew.”

I’d figured out by now he meant Kade and Tanner’s daughter as well as Nina and Rohit’s twins. He didn’t have siblings, so he didn’t have any blood nieces and nephews.

Blood relations were way overblown as far as I was concerned. Even I could see Cameron’s found family—of Kade as best friend and Kade’s entire brood—was far more important to him than my parents were to me.

I loved my parents, but they’d never been overly affectionate. Or overly caring. They’d very much had their own lives and expected self-sufficiency from me. Which was fine…but also made it easier to get up and walk away when my job was terminated and I got dumped by my cheating boyfriend.

“You have to go. I wish…” He smiled. “I want to tell you about my draft dodger father who is now fiercely Canadian. About the wonderful woman he married and had a great twenty-five years with. I want to sit with you in a booth in Fifties and watch you try the best milkshakes in Cedar Valley. Hell, possibly the best in British Columbia. I want to make you smile like you are now.”

“Those are some pretty easy wishes to fulfill. The snowwillstop falling. The plowing will, eventually, all be done. Your office will close, and Wally’s giving me a week off. So we’ll have time to do all those things.”

“But I’m…” He blinked.

“You are…?”

“I don’t think I can be who you want me to be.”

I cocked my head. “Have I said I’m unhappy with any part of this rather unorthodox relationship?”

“Well…not exactly.”

“Right. So how about, to use my mother’s expression, we not goborrowing trouble?” I rose, stretched over to him, and planted a kiss on his lips. I pulled back. “I think you’re amazing. I always have.”

“You’ve known me a month.” Said dryly.

“I have good taste.” I snagged the insulated bag and the mug of coffee. “Thank you.”

“Thirteen hours?”

I nodded.

“Well, I’ll be waiting.” Still, he rose and walked downstairs with me. He held the bag and mug while I shoved my feet into my boots, tied the laces, then put my coat back on.

I straightened, then met his gaze. “Don’t let the intensity scare you. We’ve got our entire lives to sort this out.”

And with that, I took off.

Chapter Seven

Cameron

“Areyoupayingattention?”Kade’s voice rang through the speaker of my phone.

“Hmm?” I rubbed my eyes. The clock read six-thirty.

In the morning.

Jasper had just texted and said he hoped I was still asleep and he would be back at eight. Since I was only making him an omelet—with chives, diced ham, and shredded cheese—I didn’t really need to be up for another hour.

I’d texted Kade to see how he was faring. Assuming he’d be asleep.

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