Page 79 of Tempting the Player
He points and peers around me to look at her.
“It’s okay,” she says quietly and comes to stand next to me. “Hey, Cam.”
“This your bodyguard?” he jokes.
“Something like that.” She smiles at him. “What are you doing here?”
“Stopped by with some of the guys. We were at The Hideout earlier.” He lets his gaze slide over her, and I grit my teeth. “You look great. It’s so good to see you out.”
“Thanks.”
“Wanna dance?”
“Oh, um.” She bites the corner of her lip and looks at me.
“It’s cool, man. I’ll keep an eye on her.” He winks.
I resist the urge to roll my eyes, but it’s the thump over the head that I need to remember I’m not here as her date.
“I’ll be close,” I say quietly where only she can hear me, and give Cam a hard look as I leave them.
25
JANE
I thought maybethere’d been a flash of jealousy in Hendrick’s gaze when Cam asked me to dance, but I’m starting to think I’m too drunk to trust my own brain. One dance turned to two and then I got pulled into a game of beer pong (can confirm I still suck at it) with Cam and his friends.
Hendrick hasn’t interrupted and he isn’t even hanging that close. He’s still watching me, of course, but if he’s bothered by me spending time with Cam it doesn’t show on his always grumpy and serious face.
Violet comes over to where I’m sitting with Cam in a lawn chair next to the keg. “We’re gonna go. Do you want to ride home with us?”
I look past her to see Gavin, Daisy, and Jordan all standing in a little group waiting for her.
“No. I think I’m gonna stay a little longer.”
“She’s definitely staying.” Cam places a hand on my knee. He’s been very touchy tonight and more attentive than I thought he was capable of being. Almost as attentive as my roommates’ boyfriends have been with them all night.
“Are you sure?” she asks again, eyes pleading with me like she thinks it’s a terrible idea.
It’s well after midnight, and the party is dying. The music is quieter, no one’s dancing anymore, and everyone that’s left is just kind of sitting and hanging out in groups around the yard.
“I’ll get a ride home from Hendrick later.” I let myself look over to where he’s sitting with Archer and Brogan and a few other guys I recognize as football players.
His gaze flicks to me and then quickly away. He does that often, always checking on me but not letting his stare linger too long, like he’s checking in but trying to give me space.
“Okay.” She reaches down to hug me and whispers near my ear, “Be careful. Love you.”
“Love you too.” I squeeze her back.
When she’s gone, I realize Cam’s hand is still on my knee. It feels good to be wanted, but his touch doesn’t have the same tingling effect that Hendrick’s does. My mind takes a quick trip down memory lane to the time we kissed in his room, and then to earlier today in the garage, and finally to tonight, dancing with him. A shiver wracks my body.
“You cold?” Cam asks, sliding his hand higher.
His hands aren’t as strong and rough as Hendrick’s, but my body still heats with pleasure as his thumb strokes the inside of my leg. “Maybe a little.”
“Yeah, me too. So, how do you know Hendrick Holland?” Cam asks. “I didn’t recognize him earlier. Kinda weird that an ex-pro football player is crashing a college party, don’t you think?”
My claws come out as Cam glances over in Hendrick’s direction with something like disgust.
