The One I Need

Once her sister had died, her parents had dropped her curfew from midnight to eleven and watched her like hawks. She’d understood the increased scrutiny. It hadn’t mattered. After Aubrey died, June hadn’t felt much like socializing.

Her answer appeared to satisfy Cameron. “Sometimes adults, more progressive than mine, were there. Most of the time, though, parties were held by college kids that had their own place.”

Excitement shot up her spine. June took another bite of the ribs and considered how to proceed.

“Is the second bite as good as the first?” Cameron asked, his gaze on her face. Or rather, on her mouth.

Her lips tingled, possibly from the red pepper, likely from recalling the taste of him. “Yummy.”

“I notice you don’t have a drop of sauce on your dress. Although…” Leaning forward, he swiped her cheek with the tip of his index finger. “You did leave a little bit here.”

The movement brought him so close she could see the gold flecks in his blue eyes and smell the subtle scent of his expensive cologne.

Once again, she remembered what it had been like to kiss him. Feeling off-balanced, she gave a little laugh. “I warned you. Can’t take me anywhere.”

Cameron shook his head, a smile tipping the corners of his lips. “I don’t believe that for a second.”

“Well, my high school boyfriend would tell a different story.” June sat back and fought to regain her composure. “When we went out to dinner before prom, I had shrimp cocktail. The cocktail sauce came with us to the dance.”

Cameron laughed aloud, startling them both.

“It really wasn’t funny. I was mortified.” June expelled a melodramatic breath. “The only good thing was it makes for an amusing story.”

“I’m sure you were the only one who noticed—”

“What planet are you from?” June chuckled. “E-ver-ry single person at the dance noticed. The pictures were all over social media seconds after I walked through the door. I—”

“How noticeable could it be?”

She knew he was simply trying to be kind, and she appreciated the effort. “Did I happen to mention my dress was white?”

He winced. “Umm, no, you left off that detail.”

“My friend Lily and I had a discussion afterwards about everything happening for a reason.”

Cameron took a sip of his ale, his gaze never leaving her face.

June remembered the night they’d met and how he’d looked at her. He was looking at her the same way now, with admiration and unabashed interest.

Deciding to wait a few minutes before circling back and hitting him with more party questions, June inclined her head. “What did you think when you first met me?”

“We were at the Solange event.” Cameron’s eyes grew dark with memories, and she could see he was looking back. “You wore this bright red dress that wrapped around you like a second skin. You were gorgeous, but there was something more about you, something that told me I had to know you.”

“That was when you first saw me,” she reminded him. “I asked what you thought when you first met me.”

“When I strolled over, determined to make your acquaintance, you were in a lively debate with a man over a cross-product opportunity.” Cameron smiled. “He was trying to impress you with his knowledge, but it was evident, at least to me, that you knew way more than he did.” His gaze searched hers. “There’s nothing I find more appealing than a strong, intelligent woman.”

“Some men are intimidated.”

“Not this guy.” Reaching across the table, he took her hand.

The simple touch sent shock waves of feeling up her arm. The desire coursing through her told her to pull back, that this wasn’t the time or place. But she could no more break the connection than she could stop breathing.

“I come from a long line of strong, intelligent women,” Cameron continued. “My grandmother Hal is amazing.”

June opened her mouth to agree, then shut it. Though June also thought Hal was amazing, Juin didn’t know her at all. And until she was freed from her agreement, the secret connecting her to Hal wasn’t hers to spill.

“What about me? What did you think when you first saw me?”