Page 76 of Things We Fake
“Do you really think Britt could have sent this?” he asked.
I raised an eyebrow. “Don’t you? There is absolutely no one in my life who would do this to me.”
As soon as I said the words I regretted them, but it was too late. A dark shadow of guilt crossed over his face.
“I’m sorry, Sue. I brought Britt into your life.”
“No, you didn’t. I met her way before you, remember? Bad luck brought her into my life. The kind of bad luck that brings frogs and locusts.”
A trace of amusement brightened his features, and I took a relieved breath. Arguing didn’t do any good. We were supposed to be a team, two people against the whole world that kept butting its head into our business.
Cam walked to the couch and sat next to me. “Let’s give her a call.”
“Who? Brittany? What for? It’s not like she’d ever admit to this.”
“Maybe not, but I know her well. If she’s involved in this, I may be able to tell.”
He took his phone out of his pocket, but stopped, snapping his fingers as though remembering something. “The ad was taken down from that dating website. My legal team was very convincing.”
My eyes widened, and I felt a weight being lifted off my chest. I was in his arms before I realized what I was doing, hugging him tightly.
“My God, thank you so much, Cam. You’ve no idea what stress you’ve taken off my shoulders.”
He squeezed me back, his hands around my waist as he smiled into my eyes. “I’m happy I could help.”
We stared at each other for a few long moments. The ticking of my loud hallway clock was the only sound in the room. Cam’s gaze moved over my features, his eyes lingering on my mouth. God, he was mouthwatering! I opened my lips to moisten them and saw his gaze following the tip of my tongue. His hands were still resting on my hips, and I sensed a struggle of indecision from him.
I didn’t want indecision. I wanted passionate, rip-your-clothes-off love, or at least lust. I didn’t want a man who carried a torch for another woman, no matter how faint. Besides, any man who would love that crazy bitch after all she had put him through had some screws loose.
I drew back, lowering my face to look at the phone on the table. “What are you going to ask her?”
Cam swallowed, straightening on the couch. “I’ll play it by ear.”
He reached for the phone and scrolled through his contacts. I peeked as inconspicuously as possible to see how he’d noted Brittany in his phone. I was curious if he had a pet name for her.Hot Bombshell? Crazy Bitch from Hell Who Ripped my Heart out? Professional Man Eater? Heart Crusher?
She was justBrittany Howard. I wasn’t sure why, but that formal title brought me some satisfaction.
He initiated the call and, to my surprise, set the phone on speaker. As it rang, he pressed a finger to mylips. I assumed he wanted me to be quiet, without knowing the touch of his fingertip made my lips tingle—all four pairs.
After two rings, Brittany’s voice filled the room. “Well, well. Mohammed has come to the mountain at last.” She sounded lazy and smug, like a cat that ate the canary.
Cam looked unimpressed. “Hello, Brittany. How are you doing?”
“I’m fabulous now, Cammy. What about you? You finally came to your senses?”
My God, the woman rattled! It took my best poker face not to roll my eyes and make barfing sounds.
“My senses are fully intact, thanks. Listen, Susanne’s been on the receiving end of some pretty nasty pranks the last couple of days. Any idea who might be behind them?”
Brittany laughed. “Nasty? Surely it’s just harmless fun. No offense, darling, but that boring woman could use a little excitement in her sad, pathetic little life.”
My eyes snapped wide, then narrowed, and I felt the tips of my ears go red. That bitch wasn’t even denying it! The nerve on her! I did not have a sad pathetic little life. In fact,sad patheticwas a lousy pleonasm. Okay, maybe noticing that was a little sad.
I huffed and folded my arms. Cam’s hand landed gently on my thigh, anchoring me with a silent not yet.
“So you’re admitting it?” he asked.
“I admit nothing,” she purred. “I’m just saying, whoever it is, sounds like they’re doing her a favor.”
