Page 62 of Ravage

"It's Carl," I tell her, and the twinkle in her eye tells me she knows exactly what is going through my mind.

Dad continues speaking, oblivious to the silent discussion happening between us. "Oh good, cause for a minute there, I was worried I'd confused you with all of Cam's other women." He gives her a cheeky wink.

I shoot Imogen a look before shaking my head at what I'm sure Dad thinks is a hilarious joke. If only he knew it wasn't me with the various people on the go.

Since the night when she'd admitted that she regularly 'played' with several of her colleagues, we've not discussed it further. Notbecause I'm pretending it doesn't happen, but because it just doesn't bother me. We've made no promises to each other, and from her enthusiasm in the bedroom, I know I'm leaving her more than satisfied. I have no idea if she's fucked either Sebastian or Annika in the weeks we've been sleeping together and figure she'll tell me if she wants to.

"Nope, just this one, Dad," I tell him, sliding my arm around her shoulders and tucking her into my side.

Mum enters the room with a smile on her face. "I thought I heard you, Cam. And Imogen, it's lovely to see you again."

She steps forward to hug us both at the same time, and I feel Imogen stiffen at my side. Mum doesn't seem to notice, but there's no denying Imogen isn't used to being greeted with friendliness by parental figures.

Mum insists Imogen join her out on the deck for a drink, and Imogen sends me a panicked look as my mother drags her outside. I want to rescue her, but Dad bails me up to help him in the kitchen, just as Michael and Felicity arrive with Jordan screaming at the top of his lungs.

It's utter chaos, and I can feel myself growing more and more tense as my family makes zero attempts to be on their best behaviour for our guest.

Imogen takes it in her stride, but I can see her taking it all in, processing the differences between my family and her own. Mum and Dad joke around with us like normal, and Michael is his usual, annoying as shit, self.

When Jordan clambers into Imogen's lap after dinner, she's like a deer caught in headlights, the panic returning to her eyes as she stares at me. I swoop in to rescue her, transferring the two-year-old to my lap instead. I don't miss the sigh of relief she makes once she's free. Guess we're on the same page about tiny humans.

"So, how did you two kids meet, anyway?" Dad asks.

Beside me, Imogen stiffens.

I'd been expecting this line of questioning though, andplace my hand on her thigh, squeezing gently. "I got called out to a job where Imogen works. I checked her out, but she was obviously preoccupied, so didn't even notice me. When it turned out we had a mutual friend in common, he helped me get in contact with her so I could ask her out."

"Oh, which friend?" Mum asks.

"Connell."

"Oh, that gorgeous Irish guy you used to work with, right?" Felicity asks, earning her a glare from her husband. "What? I'm married, not blind. And he was very, very attractive." She shoots a smirk towards Imogen.

Imogen grins back, the muscle in her leg relaxing under my palm. "Yep, that's Connell."

"How do you know Connell?" Felicity asks her.

And that muscle tenses right back up. "Um, we work together. He was there when the client was having chest pains. That's how Cam worked out we had someone in common."

"Very smooth, brother. I taught him everything he knows," Michael says.

I smack him up the back of the head. "Bullshit. Felicity, back me up here?"

Felicity gives her husband a pitying look. "Baby, let's not tell lies. You are not smooth. Do you want me to tell Imogen what happened when you asked me out?"

Michael opens his mouth in silent protest, but Felicity ignores him and leans towards Imogen, pretending to whisper behind her hand. "He was so nervous he threw up on my shoes."

Imogen laughs as Michael scowls at Felicity. "Traitor."

Felicity grins at him. "You love it."

Slowly, Imogen seems to relax, and I finally let my guard down. I try not to think too much about why I want her to feel comfortable here, amongst my family. Until we lay our cards on the table, this is nothing more than a bit of fun... Right?

When we're finally back in my car, I turn to run my gaze over her. "You okay? That didn't stress you out too much?"

She smiles and shakes her head. "No. It was fine. They were all great. Don't stress, Cam. I had a good time. Your family is really nice."

I let out a breath, nodding. "Yeah... I guess I just didn't want them to upset you."

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