Semi-Sweet On You (Hot Cakes #4) - Erin Nicholas Page 0,49

go and stepped back though. He didn’t seem angry or even frustrated. It seemed that he’d been expecting her reaction actually.

“Okay,” he finally said.

She wet her lips. “Thanks,” she said, hoarsely. And she meant it. She appreciated that he was giving her these choices. Kind of.

It would be a lot easier to just climb him like a tree and give in to everything zipping between them if he’d just back her up against the wall, seal his mouth over hers, and start running his big hands over her body. Then she could pretend she was just caught up in the moment and enjoy the hell out of it without actually admitting she wanted any of that.

Which he knew.

She could see it.

He knew that she wanted him, but that she didn’t want to admit it.

So, of course, he was going to make her confess before he did anything more.

“In case you’ve forgotten, I’m very stubborn,” he said.

Whitney gave him a nod. “I remember.”

“And something you should know about me and the past ten years,” he said, holding her gaze steadily, “I’ve also gotten very used to winning. “

That actually made her heart trip and her inner muscles clench.

See, she should really feel trepidation at that implied promise from him. But she didn’t. Right along with liking the feel of being wanted was a flutter of excitement over being pursued. No one came after her. Outside of invitations to fundraisers or, again, the occasional dinner date that she almost always said no to, she wasn’t asked for much. And no one ever asked more than once.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she said, trying desperately not to act excited about the idea of him trying again and again to get close to her.

He looked at her for a long moment and a thought flickered through her mind—he knows.

It was possible. Cam knew her well. Or he had known her well. But back in high school she’d been a lot more sought after. People had wanted her on school committees and projects. She’d been a cheerleader, runner-up for Homecoming Queen, invited to parties. She’d been popular. Wanted.

For stupid things like picking a winter dance theme or helping girlfriends do their hair for pool parties.

But she’d absolutely been wanted by Cam back then. He’d wanted everything then. He’d planned on them getting married. He’d planned for them to spend their lives together.

But now, no one wanted her for important things.

Until Aiden and the guys had taken over Hot Cakes.

Until Cam had decided he wanted to date her again.

She blew out a breath. It was crazy how important both of those things were to her.

She shouldn’t lead Cam on. She shouldn’t tease him and make him think there was a chance if there wasn’t.

But maybe it was okay to relish being wanted for a little while.

And for sure Camden McCaffery could handle being teased. He might even enjoy it.

“You gonna show me to my new room?” he asked, his tone changing to a more playful note. His eyes told her that he was onto her.

“I’m sure you can find your way,” she said, feeling a jolt of… something. Playful and teasing could be fun. It was clear that Cam was going to let her call some of the shots. That made her feel less jittery about everything. “Third door on the left is probably the best choice.” She moved to step around him, planning to join Didi while he headed upstairs. She didn’t need to show him the way. She shouldn’t show him the way. They might not make it back down here.

“Why is that?”

“It’s one of the bigger rooms,” she said. “It has its own bathroom.”

“And how many doors are there between that one and yours?”

Her belly flipped and she felt warmth rush over her. She glanced over her shoulder feeling something she hadn’t felt in a very long time. Sassy.

“A couple. And several squeaky floorboards,” she tossed back to him. She paused. “But it’s not like Didi can hear squeaky floorboards when her hearing aids are out.”

Then she turned and headed down the hall before he could say—or do—anything else.

It wasn’t as if he’d never been mixed up and wound up because of Whitney Lancaster before.

She was the only woman who had ever actually confused him. But he knew why. She was the only woman he’d ever cared enough about to try to figure out. He was sure that had he ever tried to figure another woman out, he would have been confused then