Semi-Sweet On You (Hot Cakes #4) - Erin Nicholas Page 0,42

to exercise and she always wants to watch me do things like make my coffee and start the washing machine. She treats me like a child.”

“Have you talked to Whitney about it?”

“It makes her anxious. She wants it to all be good. She wants me to be safe and happy. That’s why I’m moving into Sunny Orchard,” Didi said. “It will be easier for Whitney to relax and concentrate at work once I’m living there.”

Cam frowned. “You’re moving into the nursing home to make things easier on Whitney?”

“Of course.” Didi dabbed at her mouth with her napkin. “But it’s fine. It’s a lovely place. I’ll have a new suite. And I know a lot of people who live there. I like to play cards and things.” She gave Cam a smile. “It’s a great solution. But my new apartment won’t be ready for another month. I can’t tolerate Katherine for another week not to mention a month. And this is the perfect chance for you to show Whitney what it would be like to live together and make a real life together. You can show her what being married to you will be like.”

Cam was glad he was done eating. His throat was suddenly tight and there was no way he could have swallowed anything.

Didi was simplifying this, of course. You didn’t just move in with a woman and her grandmother and start making dinner and entertaining that grandmother in the afternoons when that woman was still unsure how she felt about you.

But that was the part that made him pause.

He wasn’t so sure that Whitney didn’t know how she felt about it. He was pretty sure she knew exactly how she felt but knew that could be complicated.

So he needed to show her it wasn’t complicated. Having him around could actually make things so much easier. She could have it all. Hot Cakes, him, and her grandmother safe and happy.

Hot Cakes was important to her? She wanted to prove that she belonged there? That she could contribute to the company’s growth and success? She wanted a chance to be a kickass corporate tycoon? Fine. What did she need to make that happen? A partner. Not in business but in life.

He wanted to know if they could still fit. He wanted to know who Whitney was now, ten years later, and how he felt about that woman. He wanted to know if they could have a relationship now. He needed to be with her to do that. They needed to spend time together for that.

This was just about the most perfect setup for them both.

“You’ve got a deal,” he finally said to Didi. “But I have to warn you… I’m not going to let you win at checkers or cards or whatever we’re going to be doing all day.”

Didi lifted her chin. “I would be insulted if you did.”

“Good.” He grinned at her.

“And you’ll have to move into the house.”

“Why’s that?” he asked. He wasn’t opposed to that at all. Didi’s house was huge. He was sure there were at least six bedrooms. He was currently staying in one of the rooms at Zoe’s house. But so was Aiden. Well, Aiden was staying in Zoe’s room with her.

He was happy for his sister and his best friend, but it was a little weird being there with them when they were cuddling on the couch, or flirting in the kitchen, or coming out of the bathroom at the same time, wrapped only in towels.

“I’m a night owl,” Didi said. “I always have been. But Whitney feels strange about going to bed before I do. So she sits up with me. Then gets up so early for work. She’s sleep deprived.” Didi frowned. “And grumpy because of it. It would be great if someone else could sit up with me. You can sleep in until noon if you need to. I do.”

Cam thought about that. He didn’t mind staying up late at all. He wasn’t an early morning person. Thankfully, the Fluke guys all liked to get a later start in the morning so their team meetings were certainly not first thing in the day.

And this was for a month. Just until Didi moved to Sunny Orchard. He could flex his hours for a month. Or work from Didi’s house. The Hot Cakes offices were a five-minute drive. If he needed to go in he could pop over there, not leaving Didi alone for too long. Or he could take her with