Page 20 of Sophia & Cameron

He frowned. While he could hang out right beside the bathrooms, he didn’t think Sophia would appreciate finding him stalking her like that—even if he’d made the excuse that he wanted to ask her to dance next. They hadn’t had a chance to dance yet, and that was the main reason he’d asked around.

Roman had mentioned his sister came here frequently, but the look on his face when he mentioned it made it clear he didn’t approve of Cameron’s interest. It was unclear if he disapproved because he wanted to protect Sophia or if he wanted to protect Cameron.

The song was nearing its end by the time Cameron moved to the door that opened out onto a balcony on the back side of the space.

He heard her voice before he saw her. Turning the corner, he froze. Sophia had both of her arms draped around the back of some guy’s neck. She was staring up at him like he was a superhero. Cameron couldn’t see the guy’s face, but he could see the way Sophia looked at him, and it made his blood boil.

Watching the two of them was utter torture. He could remember what it felt like when she looked at him like that. It chased away the darkness and made him believe he could do anything. His fingers curled around, forming a fist as he heard the man’s chuckle. There was no deciphering their words.

Sophia’s eyes snagged on Cameron, and her smile widened before she turned her attention to the lucky cowboy who had his hands at her waist. She tilted her head in that flirtatious way that could snare any man with a heart.

As the cowboy lowered his face toward Sophia, her eyes shifted to Cameron. It was brief and might have been hard to see for anyone who didn’t know Sophia well, but she attemptedto pull back from the guy. The smile on her face looked strained, like she was regretting the position she was in. Her gaze shifted to Cameron once more, and that was all it took for him to launch forward. He laid a heavy hand on the cowboy’s shoulder and jerked him backward.

“Cameron!” Sophia gasped. “What are you?—”

“Hey, man—” the cowboy said.

Cameron ignored them both as he grasped Sophia’s hand in his own and pulled her away from the man who had nearly kissed her. “Who was that?” he ground out.

She tugged on his hold of her, but he refused to release her. Instead, he pulled her through the crowd. They passed by her friends, who called out her name, but he didn’t stop for them.

“Cameron,” her voice was indignant and fueled with irritation. “What are you doing?”

“That guy,” he huffed as they burst through the front door. “Who was he?”

“No one.”

He pulled her to a sudden stop, and his eyes narrowed on her. “That guy doesn’t mean anything to you, and you were just going to…what? Let him kiss you?” He could hear the fury in his voice, the betrayal too, but he didn’t care—especially when he noted the flicker of regret in her gaze. But even that reaction quickly faded.

She yanked her hand from his grasp. “It’s none of your business who I kiss or don’t kiss. You’re not my boyfriend.”

“Neither is he.”

“Exactly. And I’m allowed to kiss whomever I want to?—”

He pointed at the truck. “Get in.”

Her eyes darted to the side, having just realized that he’d stopped at his vehicle. “What?”

“Get in the truck, Sophia. I’m taking you home.”

She barked out a laugh. “You can’t be serious. I didn’t come here with you.”

“I’m aware. But I’m taking you home.”

She folded her arms and defiance flickered in her eyes. “No.”

He arched a brow. If he really wanted to, he could throw her in that truck himself, but he would rather she got in all by herself. Taking a deep, calming breath, he lowered his voice so it resembled less of a growl and more like a plea. “Get in the truck, Sophia.”

That defiant streak faltered. “Why?”

Cameron couldn’t tell her that he had been blinded by jealousy and that was the only reason he wanted to remove her from this place—that there were far too many red-blooded males to make him comfortable. He couldn’t tell her that he was in love with her and had been for five years. She’d laugh in his face. So he went with the only reason that might make a difference.

“You’re being reckless.”

“Reckless?” she said, stamping a foot. “I’mnotreckless.”

“I’ve been watching you tonight. You’re definitely not paying attention.”

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