Taste of Love - By Stephanie Nicole Page 0,47

was barely dressed. The caption had said they were 'hot and heavy' all night and that they were spotted leaving together.

"Yeah, she was a great lay." He laughed while rolling his eyes. Cameron took the papers from Madison and stuffed them back into the bag. He then discarded it by his feet like the trash it was. They sat in silence for a long moment, looking at each other. Madison was contemplating this shift in perception.

"Is that how you see me, as that guy in those papers?" he asked quietly.

Madison sighed. "I don't know, Cameron. I don't know how to see you, or who to see you as; 'Rock Star Cameron' or 'Sweet and Sexy Cameron'." She paused for a moment. "I'd like to believe that you are the Cameron that watched movies with me when I got out of the hospital, the one that has swept me away from my over-worked frenzied life for a few days with him."

"But?"

"But I see the papers and I see how the girls are all over you after your concerts, and quite honestly, it freaks me out a bit, and I believe that both guys exist and enjoy who they are," she admitted.

Cameron nodded at the waiter as their food arrived, and waited for him to leave before he spoke again. "I've told you before that I love what I do. I love being out there on stage and making music, playing to those huge crowds. It's in my blood now, and I'm addicted. And yes, when I was younger, I got a rush out of how the girls were all over me too. But I'm not that cocky kid anymore. I'm not looking for random groupie hookups that only pursue my fame and my check book. I haven't kissed any girls since the last time we talked, and before that, it was part of my image."

He raised his hands, spreading them out to his side. "This is me, Madison, the real me. For better or worse, this is who I am. I'm the guy who makes up reasons to dine at your restaurant hoping to get a glance at you. I'm the guy who cares, even though I try not to show it. I'm the guy who loves his mother as much as she drives me crazy. And I'm the guy who would do anything to see a smile on your face."

He reached over and took her hands in his. "I'm also the guy that wants to be with you exclusively, but I know I will never be that guy, until you trust me."

"What?" she gasped.

He smiled at her with patience in his eyes. "You heard me."

Madison's eyes drifted to the ground where the gossip papers had dropped. She took a few deep breaths and tried to calm her racing heart. "Trust doesn't come easy to me. Logically, I know that those photos don't always paint a true picture, but a part of me wonders if the temptation for the hot girls that throw themselves at you might be stronger than your desire for me."

Cameron studied her face as she looked down at the table.

"Well, I don't know what else I can do to show you that I'm not the rock star whore. I've told you before that there is an image that I need to live up to for my career, which means that I have to go to the backstage parties and look like I'm having a good time. If I could give it up to show you how serious I am about wanting to be with you, I would," he sighed. "But that just isn't possible. And I understand that trust is something you have to earn, but please look at the past and see if it can lead you to believe in trusting me."

Madison bit her lip then went for honesty. "I'm afraid if I give you my heart, I'll get hurt."

Cameron laughed, but not unkindly. "Baby, I already have your heart. I'm just waiting for you to realize it." He reached over and brushed his finger along her cheek. "And I'll be here waiting when you do."

Madison blushed and started eating, putting an end to their conversation, or at least the heavy part of it. Cameron took the hint and changed the subject. He gave her the rundown of their next few days in Chicago. There were a couple of appearances to make that night, then they could go to a club if she felt up to