Page 15 of Flirt
That One Place was a hole-in-the-wall restaurant that people never noticed unless they knew where to look. A shame, really, because the food was phenomenal and theportions generous. Case in point, the enormous loaded, brisket-stuffed baked potato on his desk. It smelled divine, and his mouth watered as he dug back into the bag for the plastic fork, knife, and napkin set.
“I’m insulted.” She almost pulled off the expression, but the twitch of her lips gave her away. “Can’t I treat my big brother to his favorite lunch just because I love him?”
Her potato looked remarkably similar, only instead of brisket, hers had been topped with pepperoni and black olives. Once she had her lunch arranged on the desk, she pulled a smaller plastic container from her own brown bag, removed the lid, and placed the cucumber salad between them.
“Mmm, you could,” he mused, plucking one of the cucumbers from the bowl with his fingers. “I wouldn’t believe you, though.”
“Fine.” All pretense gone, she glared, her sharp blue eyes cutting through the distance between them. “Tell me.”
“Natalie.” Cameron stabbed his fork into his potato and sighed. “What do you want me to say? There really isn’t anything to tell.”
“So, you didn’t go for coffee with a certain famous author last Saturday night?”
His head snapped up, even as his mouth turned down at the corners. “How did you…?”
He shook his head, irritation bubbling under the surface.
“Nico,” they both said at the same time.
“I know he thinks he’s being a good friend.” It was Natalie’s turn to sigh. “He’s being an ass, though.”
Cameron bobbed his head in agreement. Stopped. Shook head. “His heart is in the right place.”
“I guess.” Her bottom lip stuck out adorably as she poked at her lunch. “Look, Cam, all joking aside, you know you can talk to me, right? I won’t judge.”
He’d never been able to resist those big, blue eyes or that open, earnest expression. So, he told her everything, starting with his first encounter with Asher outside the library at his house. He told her about the club, the coffee shop, and even the strange encounter with Kyle Anders.
Natalie listened, never interrupted, and she nodded thoughtfully in all the right places. When he’d finished, she simply asked, “So, what do you want?”
“I don’t know,” he answered honestly.
On one hand, he definitely wanted to get to know Asher better, to know therealhim, and not just the persona he showed the world. Yet, a voice in his head that sounded an awful lot like Nico whispered that he should stay far, far away.
“It sounds like he could use a friend.”
Cameron pursed his lips. They could be friends. It didn’t have to be all or nothing. Yes, the guy was attractive, but so was Nico.
Yeah, but you don’t want Nico to pound you into the nearest flat surface.
“You’re blushing!” Natalie threw her head back and laughed. “I take it you want to be a lot more than friends with him.”
Groaning, he scrubbed both hands over his face, then dropped them to his desk. “No. Maybe?” A sigh rolled up from his chest and slipped past his lips before he could choke it back. “I don’t know. I mean, yes, he’s handsome—”
“You mean, he’s hot.”
Cameron grinned despite his warring thoughts. “Yeah, he’s hot. He’s also smart and funny and…interesting.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“He’s a rich playboy who isn’t interested in commitment.” That much had been perfectly clear when Asher had shamelessly invited him to his bed before the previous occupant had even vacated it.
Uncrossing her legs, Natalie leaned forward to rest her elbows on her knees. “He’s not Richard.” Her lips twisted on the name as if it left a bad taste in her mouth. “Maybe he’ll surprise you. How will you know if you don’t try?”
“Are you suggesting I sleep with him?”
“Well, I’m notnotsuggesting it.” She laughed quietly, leaning in a little closer. “All I’m saying is maybe loosen up a little. You don’t have to fall in love with every guy you date. There’s nothing wrong with having a little fun.”
The way she said it made it sound so easy, but Cameron knew himself better than that. It wasn’t like he expected a ring, a house in the suburbs, and a white picket fence, but he wasn’t the type to sleep with a different guy every week. He also knew he wouldn’t be happy dating a guy who did.
