Outspoken Angel (19 page)

Cameron pointed to a wooden rocking chair.
“Sit.”

“What gives?” Rachel demanded, sitting
obediently.

Cameron pried the lid from a paint can. “He’s
hot, huh?”

“Scorching,” Rachel agreed.

Cameron turned to add a purple tail to the
dragon on the wall. “He’s taking good care of me.”

Once the paint had been blended she glanced
over her shoulder to gauge Rachel’s response. Rachel nodded without
comment.

“He likes my shoes,” Cameron continued.

Rachel huffed and threw her hands in the air.
“Oh, for Pete’s sake!” she shrieked. “Just do him!”

Cameron spun completely around at Rachel’s
unexpected outburst and then winked. “I did,” she said
matter-of-factly. “Several times.”

“And?”

“He loves me.”

Again, Rachel sat mute.

“Rachel?” Cameron frowned and laid her
paintbrush across the top of the paint can. “Are you okay?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry. I’m fine. I just expected
you to tell me how powerful the sex was.”

Cameron sighed in remembrance.
“Combustible.”

“Max told you he loves you?” Rachel asked,
her eyes wide.

“Yes. Are you shocked?”

Rachel shrugged. “Not really. Hawke mentioned
something like that but I don’t think I’ve ever seen Max emotional,
let alone in love.”

“He thought I was sleeping when he told me.”
Cameron traded her paintbrush for a pencil and sketched a knight
next to the dragon.

“What did you say?” Rachel pressed.

Cameron glanced over her shoulder. “You won’t
believe me.”

Rachel tilted her head to the side and nodded
for her to continue.

“I said, I love you too, Max.”

“What’s going to happen once Vince is
caught?”

Cameron sighed and stuck her pencil behind
her ear. “I honestly don’t know, Rachel. I’ve never let myself get
in this predicament. I think I’ve got a bad case of bodyguard
fever.”

“Bodyguard fever?”

“Yeah, like hero worship. What woman wouldn’t
fall for a man who is not only exceptional eye candy, but who is
willing to kill for her?”

Rachel’s bubbly laughter filled the nursery.
“I don’t think you’ve got bodyguard fever.”

“No?”

“No, you’re in love with him.”

Cameron felt a nudge of hard core reality.
“You may be right.”

“Are you sure you know what you’re
doing?”

“No.”

Rachel pushed a toe against the floor and
began to rock the chair. “Then you’re definitely in love.”

No doubt. Cameron paused, astonished at the
sense of fulfillment she felt by her admission. Although the
epiphany was dredged from a place beyond logic and reason, she
found the thought very satisfying.

Cameron flipped her hair over her shoulder.
“Can you believe the two of us actually get along?”

Rachel nodded. “I see the way he looks at
you, Cameron.”

Cameron shrugged in mock resignation. “He
thinks he’s so smooth.”

“Thank goodness he’s got you to keep him in
line, huh?” Rachel teased.

Cameron rolled her eyes and turned back to
the mural on the wall. “Okay, Dragonslayer, do you want a zipper
painted on this knight’s armor?”

* * *

Max took a deep breath, adjusted his
sunglasses and prepared for battle before he entered the recording
studio. If Huntington and Hawke even sensed his uneasiness, it was
over. They’d never let him live it down. Turning the doorknob, he
stepped through the doorway, strangely comforted when he saw
Huntington sprawled over the leather sofa.

“What’s with him?” he asked Hawke.

Hawke shook his head. “I haven’t gotten that
far. He hobbled in here and passed out before I could ask.”

“Nothing,” Huntington said behind closed
eyes.

“Are you wasted?” Max asked pointedly.

“I wish,” Huntington mumbled, grimacing as he
opened his eyes and boosted himself upright. “I enrolled in a
Pilates class at Fitness in the Buff.”

Hawke’s mouth fell open. “You did what? You
don’t even live here.”

“Huntington,” Max drawled, “you don’t even
live in Arizona.”

Huntington groaned. “I’m here a lot.”

Hawke leaned back in his chair and crossed
his hands behind his head. “He saw Holly at the house last
week.”

Huntington ran a hand across his forehead and
then flinched at his sudden movement. “Holly teaches the
class.”

Max looked at Huntington and shook his head.
“You must’ve been desperate.”

“Screw you,” Huntington muttered.

“Rachel says her class is tough,” Hawke said.
“I take it she’s right.”

Huntington squinted one eye. “Your wife takes
that class?”

“Yeah. On Tuesdays.”

Huntington moaned. “Holly’s a shark.”

“Just your type.” Max pushed off the wall.
“Where’s the drummer? I can’t stay all night. Duty calls.”

“He should be here any minute.” Huntington
eased himself off the sofa and moaned again as he stood. “I’ll go
call him.”

Max sat in a vacant chair. “Stop whining,
Huntington.”

“Bite me.” Huntington snarled as he left the
studio and slammed the door behind him.

“So.” Hawke swiveled his chair to face Max.
“How’s Cameron?”

Max’s humor at Huntington’s pain faded when
he realized the radar was now pointed straight at him. Damn. “She’s
fine.”

“Fine?” Hawke prompted.

“Yes,” Max said shortly. “Fine.”

Hawke tilted his head and raised an eyebrow.
“You fell in love with her, didn’t you?”

“Yes.” Max exhaled a heavy breath, removed
his shades and ran his hand over the top of his head. “You’re a bad
influence.”

“Congratulations,” Hawke said with a smug
grin, “welcome to the suckers’ club.”

“I’m not taking out a lifetime membership.
Just a visitor’s pass.”

“I never thought I’d say this, but she’s good
for you, Max. Just keep an open mind, and don’t blow it. What about
Stone?”

“He’s been too damn quiet.”

“Think he’s moved on?”

“No. He’s here, I just don’t know where.”

“Has Steele found anything?”

“Other than finding Holly sunbathing nude in
her backyard, he’s checking out the lead on Calvin Thomas that
Huntington gave us.”

“Holly sunbathes naked?”

“Yes.”

Hawke’s eyes widened. “No kidding?”

“No.”

“Do you have proof?”

Realizing there was no delicate way out of
this, Max answered honestly. “I saw her from Cameron’s upstairs
window.”

“Does Cameron know you saw Holly?”

“Damn, Hawke! Yes, she hung a shade.”

“Bummer. Maybe we should tell Greg.”

“Believe me when I say that would not be a
good idea.” Max quickly changed the subject while he could. “What
about your phone calls?”

“None since we changed the number. Rachel
suggested we disconnect the house phone, but I told her 911 could
get here faster from the home number.”

At the squeak of the doorknob, Max shot Hawke
a warning glare before he threw his sunglasses back on his
face.

Huntington limped back inside and propped
himself against a wall. “He’s on his way. You know, it’s going to
be harder than we thought to replace Pirelli. Maybe we should -” He
glanced at Hawke. “What happened while I was gone?”

“Max is in love,” Hawke drawled.

“With who?” he asked.

“Cameron.”

Huntington’s eyes flew open. “Cameron?
Rachel’s Cameron?”

Hawke nodded.

“Man, Sterling, you must really have brass
balls.” Huntington shook his head in disgust. “You guys are so
doomed.”

“Us?” Hawke lifted an eyebrow. “We weren’t
the ones stupid enough to take a Pilates class. For a woman. In
Arizona.”

“Maybe not,” Huntington agreed, “but I’m not
in love with her.”

“Yet,” Max stated calmly.

“Oh, no,” Huntington denied vehemently.
“Don’t pull me in on this mess.”

“Face it, Huntington,” Max said, standing to
answer a knock at the door. “You’re next.”

Max opened the door to find Cameron poised in
the opening, a sexy smile on her glowing face. His body heated and
he hardened. Silently, he cursed his reaction. Again? How could one
little smile pack so much punch, snapping his practiced self
discipline?

“Are you guys finished yet? Rachel’s
hungry.”

He pulled the door shut and took her into his
arms. Screw self discipline. “I feel her pain.”

She molded her thighs to his groin. “I don’t
think you’re in pain, Pinocchio.”

He brushed a gentle kiss across her pouty
lips. “We’re still waiting.”

“Do you have to grill him?” she asked,
trailing her index finger down the front of his chest.

He groaned at her tender touch while his
erection sought the warmth between her legs.

“No.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I’ll
search him online.”

She giggled as he braided their fingers and
turned to open the door.

“I’m leaving,” he told Hawke and Huntington.
“Call me with a social and date of birth. Tell him I’m too old for
funny business and that Cameron is off limits.”

Max listened to the wheels in Cameron’s brain
squeak in the silence as they drove across town. Her guarded
silence warned him of an impending battle, one in which there would
be casualties. Namely him. Armed with a white flag, he hoisted her
from the truck and nudged her inside the house.

“I’ve been thinking about your aversion to
relationships, Max,” she said as he disarmed the security
system.

Anticipating her direct attack, he pocketed
the white flag and closed the door behind them. Determined to
distract her, he folded himself onto the sofa and pulled her next
to him. With a small sigh, she laid her head on his shoulder.

“No,” he stated flatly.

Her body visibly tensed. He mentally crossed
his fingers and hoped for the best. Soon her back would arch and
claws would spring from her fingertips.

“So, now that you’ve had me, you’re ready to
move on,” she continued thickly.

Her words froze him in his tracks. Move on?
Was she crazy? No way in hell would he ever be able to move on. He
might have expected to at one time, but not now. Never.

“No,” he repeated with quiet emphasis.

She raised her head and frowned. “No
what?”

“We are not going to discuss this.”

“Yes, we are.”

“No, we’re not.” He purposely made his voice
cold and exact. “End of discussion.”

Several curls slapped his cheek as she shook
her head in defiance. “I don’t think so, Macho Man. You told me you
love me.”

“I do love you.” More than life itself.

“I need to know what’s going to happen after
you catch Vince.”

“I don’t know.”

He felt her body heat the space between them.
“Sex?” she said flippantly.

Encouraged by her sarcasm, he began to relax.
Anger, he could handle. “If you’re game.”

“That’s all?”

As soon as the question left her mouth, Max
knew his answer was not what she wanted. With his heart aching, he
shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“You’re not willing to share your heart with
me,” she concluded softly.

He hunched over, rested his arms on his
thighs, and exhaled a sharp breath before he raised his head to
look at her. “Damn, Cameron, do not make me do this.”

She flinched at his use of her name. “I want
to understand.”

“Do you? Or are you looking for
ammunition?”

She stood, obviously hurt by the bitter anger
in his voice. Unspoken pain flickered in her eyes as though he had
belted her.

“Just forget it.” She turned and headed
toward the kitchen.

Curses flew from his mouth as he stood and
grabbed her forearm. “Wait.”

Cameron paused, shell-shocked by Max’s
response. Although he was bossy by nature, his last order was
almost a plea. Curiosity forced her to tamper her hurt and turn
around.

With a tip of his head, he motioned her to
the couch beside him.

She lowered herself back into the cushions
next to him, amazed at why he allowed her to break him. Something
cautioned her not to ask.

Max removed his sunglasses and tossed them to
the coffee table. Cupping her chin, he searched her upturned
face.

“Why is this so important to you?” he asked,
caressing her cheek with the knuckle of his forehand.

She leaned lightly into his touch, her
troubled spirits temporarily quieted.

“I have to know it’s not me,” she answered
honestly.

A faint glint of humor winked at her from the
depths of his tormented eyes.

“It’s not you.”

She closed her eyes for a split second,
momentarily relieved. When she opened them, he touched her cheek in
a wistful gesture.

“I watched my father die of a broken heart,”
he explained. “He made the fatal mistake of granting my mother
exclusive ownership. When she died, he buried his heart with
her.”

Pain squeezed her heart as compassion flooded
her. His reluctance had nothing to do with controlling a woman.
Instead, he wasn’t convinced of his expert self control. Oddly, she
understood. Even though she was willing to risk her heart to love,
she kept a tight rein on her vulnerability. That part of her was
not for hire.
I won’t break your heart, Max.
She fought
herself from blurting the reassurance as she kissed him softly on
the cheek and stood to extend a hand.

“Enough talk, Loverboy, let’s go to bed.”

She witnessed the fight leave his eyes as he
accepted her outstretched hand. With the air cleared between them,
she knew time was now her new best friend. Confident, she’d made
progress, she led him to the bedroom, loving him more with each
footstep.

* * *

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

After she rested peacefully throughout the
night, Cameron was convinced the morning would be equally peaceful,
until she told Max she wanted to work alone. She watched him walk
the section of carpet behind the sofa to the front door and back
again for the thousandth time.