Page 37 of Love Off Course

Would he be that way for his pregnant wife one day?

The thought warms me in places I didn’t even know were cold. I hate the fluttery feeling in my stomach. One day, I’ll be married to David and he’ll do sweet things like peel me oranges when I’m big and pregnant.

I sigh.

If I could erase Camilo from my mind, I’d like to think about the image of David doing just that. Only I can’t even remember what David looks like right now. All I can do is appreciate the view in front of me.

Tall.

Broad shoulders.

Scruffy jaw.

Beautifully sculpted biceps.

I sigh because he’s too damn pretty to look at.

Maybe I need a little fling to get these crazy thoughts out of my system. A little vacation fucking with an incredibly cocky, yet super sexy pilot. That would definitely help me prepare to settle down with David.

What could go wrong?

I’m used to evaluating risks and analyzing the best way to move forward. It’s what I’m good at. Yet, right now, I can’t make my brain work. The only thing that works is my body and it’s on fire.

The lights flicker, go out for a couple of seconds, and then come back on.

All heat is chased away as cold dread settles in my bones.

If this hurricane is a bad one, I may not be around to even have a vacation fling or a future with David.

I wish Daddy were here.

Chapter 12

Camilo

The moment the electricity comes back on, everyone is back to laughing and talking, but not Sheridan. Terror still swims in her pretty brown eyes. I drain my Corralejo and set my glass down, relishing in the burn down my throat. My stomach swims with heat from the liquor. We’re trapped in Eddie’s, so there’s not much to do but drink, talk, and eat.

“Want to go find someplace quiet?” Ramona asks, clutching my arm. “I’ve missed you.”

I gently pluck my arm from her grip. “It was good catching up, but we’re done with all that.”

Her nostrils flare as heat burns her cheeks bright red. “All that? CZ, I gave you years of my life. I don’t deserve to be lumped into an ‘all that’ category.”

Guilt punches me in the gut and Carson shakes his head at me. I’m being a dick. Fuck. I scrub my palm over my face and sigh. “Sorry, Ramona. You’re right. But it doesn’t change the fact that I’m not interested in more. It’s not fair to you to come seek you out whenever I’m in town. You deserve someone who will be there all the time for you. Someone who can commit. I’m just not that guy.”

Araceli glowers at me, but I ignore my moody cousin as I stand and head over to where Sheridan is sitting. My dumbass cousins have taken up residence beside her and have been chatting her ear off all night. I hate that she smiles easier for them than me. I’m going to blame the copious amounts of tequila she’s been consuming on her smiles for them.

She’s not smiling now, though.

Her lips are pressed together as she nervously eyes the door that whines against the high winds. Eduardo has a radio on his andMamá’s table and they’ve been giving us updates on Rodrigo’s path. We’re right in the direct line of it.

Lawton and Damian are arguing at the jukebox. They end up in the girliest shoving match that ends up making Lawton fall on his ass. He yanks off the covering of the old piano, in an effort to break his fall, sending dust flying up in a cloud. Damian apologizes and pulls him up. They hug and all is well in their world again before they finally select a song. As soon as the familiar beat starts playing, I know just the way to loosen Sheridan up.

I saunter over to her, giving her my best flirty smile, moving my hips to the song. Her nerves are chased off when she rolls her eyes. She’s fighting a smile as Van Morrison starts singing “Brown Eyed Girl.” I sing along with Morrison and take her hands, pulling her up. Damian squeals in delight, making everyone laugh.

My hands find her sexy hips and she wraps her arms around my neck. She’s loose from the liquor and I love it. Our hips move in tandem with the song. Fuck, she’s hot as hell. The smile on her pouty lips will be my undoing. I slide my hands to her ass, pulling her close to me. We dance a little too dirtily considering the old folks are watching, but we don’t care. I love that she’s not so stiff. That she’s forgetting about the hurricane and letting me have my wicked way with her.

“How are you still single?” I ask. “Were all the Los Angeles dudes beating down your door so you had to make your great escape?”

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