His eyes went wide with surprise, then he narrowed them in agitation. “I don’t see how that is your business, seeing as I don’t know who you are. I was told your name, but all I know is you are someone connected to the woman I have a date with tonight. I’d like more information from you if you intend to grill me.”
He spoke like a principal. I watched him fiddle with his tie and stick his hands in his pockets while he stood tall. The dude was a nerd. He wasn’t anywhere near Sienna’s league. What was she doing with this guy?
“Sienna’s son is my nephew. Since she met you in the bread aisle of a grocery store, I’d like to know more about you before you take her out tonight. I’m also going to make sure you understand that her safety is really f**king important. You hurt her, and you won’t live long enough to regret it.”
The man flinched. At least he believed me. He took in my tattooed arms and the piercing in my lip before meeting my gaze again. He cleared his throat. “You’re her son’s uncle . . . but you aren’t her brother? Does that mean you’re the boy’s father’s brother?” he asked.
I nodded.
He studied me a moment. “Is the boy’s father still in her life?”
I shook my head. “You don’t get to ask questions. You asked her out. I’m asking the questions. Have you been married? I’m assuming you don’t have a record, since you’re a principal. The school board would have checked that shit. But do you have a girlfriend? Or a drinking problem? Drugs?”
Cam held up his hands and laughed nervously. “Whoa. Okay. Wow. No to all of that. I’m completely clean and unattached. I was engaged five years ago, but she had cervical cancer, and she didn’t make it.”
His slight wince when he mentioned his fiancée’s death didn’t go unnoticed. He was a man trying to move on. He had a good job, and he seemed pretty damn sincere. This was not enough for me, but I’d ask around and find out more about him. My gut was telling me he was safe.
“Don’t hurt her,” I repeated. “That means touching her in ways she doesn’t want, or touching at all. Remember, I’ll know and I’ll come after you. I’ve got a f**king record, and I’m not scared of prison.”
I turned and walked out of the small office, and waved good-bye to Mrs. Quinn before leaving.
I had some more poking around to do about the guy, and only eight hours left to do it.
SIENNA
I wasn’t ready to introduce Cam to Micah. I wasn’t sure if I would ever go out with Cam again after tonight. There was always a chance it wouldn’t go well. I hardly knew this man. No reason to introduce him to the most important person in my life. That would be for later, if I liked him and wanted to spend more time with him. Tabby agreed, and she’d had Micah come over an hour before Cam was supposed to show up.
It also gave me time to change clothes five times and worry with my hair. Micah would have been right under me, asking me why I was changing clothes so much and messing with my hair. He would then tell Dewayne, which would be humiliating. I already knew he didn’t think there was much that could be done with me.
Fortunately, Cam disagreed with him. That eased my mind some, and I put back on the skirt I had tried on first and slipped on my wraparound blouse. This was casual but nice. It would work for anywhere. I slipped on a pair of black pumps and fought the urge to go pull my hair back up again. Letting it hang loose had been my last-minute decision, but now I was questioning it.
The doorbell stopped me from doing anything more. I gave myself a quick pep talk in the mirror and then headed for the door. It had been a very long time since I’d been on a date. And I’d only dated one guy. I didn’t know how to do this. Dustin had been my best friend. I‘d known everything about him. I had never dated someone I didn’t know.
“You can do this,” I said one last time before opening the door.
Cam was dressed in a pair of khaki pants and a light blue polo shirt. I had dressed appropriately. One worry off my list.
“Hello,” he said with a grin. “You look gorgeous. I feel like I need to go back home and try to make myself look like it’s actually believable that we’re out together.”
Yes, he was doing wonders for my self-esteem. “Thank you, but you look very handsome yourself. I don’t think anyone will question that we are together.”
He chuckled, then shrugged. “I’m not sure how you’re that blind, but I’m just counting my lucky stars.” He held out his arm to me. “Ready?”
I nodded and stepped outside onto the porch, then locked up behind me before sticking my keys in my purse. I’d had a key made for Tabby this week and given it to her, so if she needed to get inside to get Micah anything, she’d be able to.
“I made reservations at Le Cellier. I hope you like steak,” he said with a smile. I had heard of Le Cellier, but I’d never been there. “I love steak,” I told him. And I intended to eat a filet, which felt nice. I wouldn’t have to pick at my food because I was worrying about what he was thinking. This was going to be a good night. I could already tell.
* * *
Two hours later I was ready to go back home and put on my pajamas. Cam was really nice, but I was a little bored with him. He talked about work and asked me about myself. He did everything right, but there was something missing. I wasn’t sure if I was just being picky because my last relationship had been with someone I was already so close to.
“You want to stop in Live Bay and listen to Jackdown play? I hear they’re good. I haven’t been to see Jackdown yet, but Live Bay seems to be the place to go to hear live music and dance.”
For the first time all night, something sounded exciting. I hadn’t been dancing in forever . . . since the prom, and I wasn’t sure that counted. I danced with Micah all the time around the house, but live music and actual dancing sounded like fun. Maybe it had been the stuffy fancy restaurant he had taken me to that had bored me. If he liked to dance, he couldn’t be completely boring.
“Sounds like fun,” I said, trying not to bounce in my seat like a kid.
He pulled his Volvo into the parking lot. The place was packed. I soaked it all in. This was a world I didn’t know. One I wanted a taste of. Live Bay had been around when I was sixteen, but I hadn’t been old enough to get inside. Now I was getting to see what the fuss was all about.