Page 49 of Sophia & Cameron

Cameron nodded sharply.

She breathed out a sigh. “I get it, Cameron. With what happened with your brother, I can understand your concerns about losing someone you care for.”

Why did her statement not bring him the comfort he wanted it to?

“But it’s exhausting.”

The statement he’d started returned to the tip of his lips. He didn’t want to put this on her. The fact that he had only made the guilt worse. “I’ll do better.” Would she only hear an empty promise?

She frowned.

“I know I said that before. The problem isn’t with the guys who hang around you. It’s… with me.” He blew out a heavy breath and dropped his hand to his side. “And my brother.”

She opened her mouth as if she were going to reject his claim, but he pushed forward.

“To expect a stranger to have the same tendencies as my brother had when we were younger isn’t fair to anyone involved.”

Sophia’s brows pulled together. Apparently, she’d changed her mind about speaking whatever it was that she’d nearly said.

He stepped closer to her and took her hand in his own. His thumb traced circles on the back of her hand, and he stared hard at the movement as he considered his next words carefully. “If I’m completely honest, I don’t regret what I did—not entirely.”

She tugged to remove her hand from his, but he held fast.

“Sophia,” he said, his heart hammering in his chest. “I feel bad about how I treated the guy… but I don’t feel bad showing people how much I care about you. We belong together.” He closed the remaining distance between them, pulling her to him by the nape of her neck before he pressed his forehead against hers. “You belong to me.”

The way her body tensed at his words gave him pause. They were probably not the best words to say at this moment, but at least she didn’t argue with him. That had to be a good sign, right?

He drew in a shuddering breath and closed his eyes, reveling in the way she smelled, in the way she felt beside him. Then he opened his eyes and set them on her with a confidence he didn’t feel at all in his core. “I know that I’ve made mistakes, Red. More than I can count. But there is something drawing me to you that I have never been able to shake. Over the last five years, I compared any woman who wanted to get close to me… I compared them toyou.”

Her soft gasp gave him an ounce of courage to continue.

“The bar was high, and I’m not entirely convinced any of them could have come close.” He searched her eyes, unsure of what he was looking for. She seemed stunned. Gone was the anxiety, though. And it almost felt like her walls were cracking. All she needed was one little shove in the right direction. “I love you, Red,” he whispered huskily.

Then he leaned down and brushed a feather-light kiss to her full lips. The only solace he had was the fact that she didn’t pull away. She didn’t push him back or hurl insults at him.

But what hurt the most was her utter lack of a returning confession.

He withdrew just enough to look her in the eyes, and all he saw were warring emotions. It was understandable. She didn’t have to return his sentiments with a confession of her own. That would happen in time.

At least, he prayed it would.

Cameron took a step back, dropping the hand he still held. “Goodnight, Sophia.” With that, he turned away from her and headed to his truck. He couldn’t stick around in case she chose to officially break things off with him. His heart wouldn’t be able to handle such a rejection, not after he’d left his heart in her hands to do with as she pleased.

If this experience taught him anything, it was that he needed to focus on controlling his temper. There was too much at risk, and he wasn’t about to lose her over something as dumb as his jealousy.

21

Sophia

“Argh. Why does he have to be so charming?” Sophia placed her face in her hands. “Am I crazy?”

Emma swirled her straw in her drink as she sat across from Sophia in a booth at Sal’s. One side of her mouth quirked upward, and she let out a chuckle. “What part are you asking about?”

Sophia gave her a flat look—one that probably gave away the fact that she was somewhat confused.

Once again, Emma laughed. “Meaning, are you crazy because his behavior bothers you? Or are you crazy because it doesn’t bother you enough?”

Another groan spilled from Sophia’s lips, and she shook her head. “Both.”