“I’ve got to change,” I grumbled, and headed toward my bike.
Cameron shuffled slowly back to the apartment building, shaking her head and muttering under her breath. I looked away, then got changed. I needed to forget about this. Whatever had happened in the woods didn’t matter. Somehow, I’d convince myself it was all a dream or something.
Once I was dressed, I’d be out of here. Back on the feral’s trail and away from Cameron for good. Who the hell wanted to be the loser asshole who hung around a woman who didn’t want him? Not me, that was for sure.
21
Cameron
“Idiot,” I whispered to myself. “Dumb fucking idiot. What is wrong with me?”
I glanced over my shoulder. Nate was pulling his jeans out of the saddlebag. I looked away before he pulled his shorts down. Spying on him while he changed was the last thing I should be doing, especially after what had happened in the park.
I couldn’t understand what had come over me. Why the hell had I let things go that far? I wasn’t that kind of person. I didn’t just jump men I knew nothing about. Being in the woods, away from everyone and everything, had made it seem natural, and I’d screwed up. Big time.
Crossing the street, I stopped at the bottom step of Lesley’s apartment building and pressed a hand to my forehead. I’d kissed Nate. Good God, I’d donewaymore than kiss him. In that haze of hormones, it had all feltright. I’d wanted him more than I’d ever wanted any man in my entire life. If I hadn’t stopped it when I did, we’d have both been arrested for indecent exposure.There was zero doubt in my mind we would have ended up fucking like rabbits twenty yards off the jogging path.
I’d stopped it, which was both the best thing and theworstthing I could have done. Now I looked like some kind of tease. A user, taking advantage of Nate. He hadn’t done anything I didn’t want him to. As far as he could tell, I was ready to go, and I’d cut off contact abruptly, leaving his head spinning. Leading him on like that was a shitty thing to do.
Finally mustering the courage, I looked across the street where Nate was slipping into his leather jacket. I stared at him, willing him to look at me. I wanted to see that cocky grin on his face. He didn’t. Instead, he pulled his phone out and began typing away. Sending a text to someone about the case, maybe. Or telling some buddy he’d just gotten blue balls from some psycho chick.
Nate finished typingon his phone, tucked it away in his jacket pocket, and threw a leg over his motorcycle. The sleek lines of the machine reminded me of a jet. I imagined him twisting the throttle and flying out of town, never to be seen again. He was a nomad. He would be leaving soon, anyway. I’d always wanted stability, success, and yes, financial security. All that sounded trite now. Maybe I needed to look beyond those simple desires for something more. Something deeper.
“Cameron? Where the hell have you been?”
The sound of Rick’s voice sent a cold sensation through my stomach, like a bucket of ice being dumped into my guts. I turned and found him standing on the street behind me. He was still wearing the tuxedo pants and dress shirt from the night before.
“What are you doing here, Rick?”
Before he could speak, the low, throaty hum of Nate’s bike broke through the silence. He pulled up alongside me.
“You want to get on?” he asked wearily. “I can get you out of here in a couple seconds.”
Nothing sounded better. Us, screaming along the highway toward the horizon, wind whipping through my hair. Except there were things to be done. This wasn’t a movie where the heroine got to ride off into the sunset with the dark stranger at the end.
“I need to talk to him,” I said.
Rick’s hands clenched into fists at his side, eyes wide and staring daggers at Nate.
“All right.” Nate sighed. “But I’m sticking near you. This fucker might blow his top like last night.”
“Thanks,” I muttered, and walked toward Rick.
With his bike still running, Nate walked it forward.
“Get the fuck out of here,” Rick barked, glaring at Nate. “This is between Cam and me, you filthy fucking lone wolf prick.”
Nate smirked at him. “Done some checking on me, Ricky?”
“Don’t call me that,” Rick snarled, then turned his eyes to me. “I asked you where you’ve been. I guess I know.” He threw a disgusted look at Nate again. “What happened? Your friend Lesley give you her spare room, so you and douchebag here can fuck your little brains out?”
“Rick!” I yelled. “That’s enough. What is wrong with you?”
“What’s wrong with me?” he shouted, throwing his arms out at his sides. “Are you serious, Cam?” he sputtered. “My girlfriend is banging someone else. That’s what’s wrong with me.”
“Nobodybangedanyone,” I said. “And for fuck’s sake, Rick, I’m not your girlfriend anymore. How hard is that for you to understand?”
“Can’t believe you’d debase yourself like this,” he said, his voice dripping with disgust. “It’s a particularly horrifyingbetrayal to be fucking another man when you’re pregnant with my child.”
