Page 16 of My Sweetest Agony
His shoulders tense, and he shakes his head, his jaw hardening. “No.” He averts his gaze. “She just knows I’m searching for a few things that I think might be in those boxes. So, she gave me your number and said I should call and ask you, but I was hoping I could come by and look through them.” His blue eyes cut back to mine. “Of course, I wouldn’t take anything without letting you know what it was first, but?—”
“No”—I hold up a hand—“I get it.”
No matter what might have happened between them, they’re brothers.
Things that were meaningful enough for Drew to keep are likely just as important to Cam.
I would never prevent him from taking something he wants, that holds good memories of his brother—even if their final years were spent in some sort of argument that broke their relationship so badly.
“There’s a lot of stuff. His whole closet in his office is full of boxes, but you’re welcome to come look through all of it, if you want to.”
A bit of the tension slips away from Cam’s body, and he inclines his head toward me, making that thick dark hair of his flop forward again. “Thanks. Hopefully, I can find what I’m looking for quickly and won’t be in your way too much.”
An embarrassing rush of air releases from my lungs.
That would be for the best—if he can find what he needs and be on his way. So we can avoid more of whatever this is.
“I’m off tomorrow. If you want to come by anytime, I’ll be home.”
One of his brows rises slowly, and he looks so much like Drew with that move that I have to fight back a sob. “You’re sure?”
I nod.
He offers a tight smile. “Okay. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow, then.”
The thunk of the chair hitting the ground again comes from behind me. “You’re not going to introduce me?”
I glance over my shoulder at Marlo, who still eyes Cam up like he’s something to eat—thoroughly. “Sorry. Marlo, this is Drew’s brother, Camden. Cam, this is my best friend, Marlo, who’s also my store manager and who should have returned to work”—I glance at my watch—“five minutes ago, instead of sitting here, eavesdropping.”
Marlo smirks. “But eavesdropping is one of my favorite pastimes. Along with other things.” She winks at Camden in a way that makes it very clear what she’s referring to. “It was nice to meet you.”
He gives her a half-smile that suggests he finds her as amusing as she finds herself. “You too.”
Sliding his jacket back over his shoulders, he turns and walks away through the greenhouse, weaving around several customers. Several of whom openly watch him with appreciation.
Marlo issues another little groan in her throat and smacks my arm. “Giiirl!”
I turn back toward her, ignoring the instinct to glance over my shoulder to see if he’s gone yet. “What?”
“Camden is, woooooooo.” She starts fanning herself. It has nothing to do with the heat and humidity in the greenhouse, and everything to do with the man walking out of it.
It would be impossible not to notice how hot he is.
It’s why I was attracted to Drew in the first place.
The way he just fills up a space. Consuming the oxygen and somehow enthralling everyone he smiles at. From the moment he approached me at the hospital nurses’ station in his slick white doctor’s coat with a smooth smile, I was a goner.
And Camden, despite his rougher appearance and darker nature, has that same magnetism his brother did.
But Marlo is also right about something else.
Camden is dangerous.
Drew told me as much, many times, over the years, when I tried to broach the subject of their rocky relationship.
Which means, I need to be careful with him.
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