She’d vowed she’d be honest. “If I wasn’t already, I’m pretty sure I took a swan dive off that cliff without a parachute last night. It’s completely insane. Every single objection I raised is still valid, every problem still an issue. But I know if I don’t go after this with everything I’ve got, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life.”
“Love isn’t supposed to be sane and logical. You’ll figure the rest of it out. Problems without solutions are your specialty, remember?”
“Yeah. I may need you to keep reminding me of that when I start to freak out.”
“I can do that.” She leaned forward and tugged Norah into a hard hug. “For the record, I think you two will be great together. Melody wasn’t right for him, not because she was ambitious but because she was a bitch.”
Norah laughed. “Good to know.”
“Now come on. If we want to score any pie, we’d better get back in there.”
Chapter 13
“You brought me a corsage.” This was said in a tone of awww, accompanied by a look of stunned pleasure on Norah’s face that completely eradicated the feeling of idiocy Cam had felt on buying it.
“Well, it’s part of that whole dance experience. It seemed the thing to do. I wasn’t sure what you’d be wearing, so I figured wrist made more sense than something you pinned on. You look amazing, by the way.” He had a soft spot for that little black dress from New Year’s, now sans Hush hair and paired with some short jacket that stopped at the base of her shoulders.
“Put it on.” Beaming, she held out her wrist and waited while he fastened on the simple red rose corsage.
“It’s a bit trite, but Trudy up in the floral section of McSweeney’s Market doesn’t have a whole lot to work with. We don’t have a proper florist anymore.”
“It’s perfect.” Her eyes, deep and dark and serious, searched his for a long moment before she rose to brush her lips over his, a feat much more easily managed in the heels she wore. “God, you’re sweet. Thank you.”
He was feeling something in response to that kiss but sweet wasn’t it.
“Just let me go grab my coat.” She sprinted up the stairs at a speed that should’ve been impossible in the ridiculous and very sexy shoes.
Miranda picked up her purse. “You know, I feel like part of me should be gagging at the cuteness here, but the pair of you are just too adorable.”
“Is that approval, cuz?”
“That was exceptionally thoughtful.”
Cam shrugged. “It’s just a flower.”
“Admittedly it doesn’t top digging up evidence clearing her of blame for what happened in Morton, but still, thoughtful. It’s normal. She hasn’t had a lot of that in her life.
“Too many people look at her and see what she can do, not who she is. And she’s spent a long damned time buying into it. I aim to change that, give her a little balance.”
Miranda studied him with open curiosity. “You get her. Most people don’t. They like her, are impressed by her, but they don’t understand her.”
They don’t love her. He cast a glance back up the stairs. “I’ve been waiting for her all my life.”
Miranda gave an uncharacteristically watery, “Oh, Cam” as she reached up to cup his face.
He gave her a squeeze. “Jesus, don’t cry. You’ll mess up your makeup.”
“I’m allowed to get emotional over the fact that my favorite cousin is in love with my best friend.”
“Yeah well, pull yourself together. I’m not ready to tell her yet. She’s wigged out enough about how fast this is moving.”
“Fair enough. A word of advice, though, as somebody who’s known her a lot longer than you. If she balks or tries to run, go after her. Hang on. No one else ever has.”
Norah’s footsteps from upstairs put a stop to any reply he might’ve made. She descended the stairs at a considerably more sedate pace, a coat draped over one arm and a bulging messenger bag slung over her shoulder. “Sorry. I had to throw some things together.”
Cam eyed the bag with suspicion. “If that’s more of your folders and legal pads, we’re going to have to have a serious talk.”
She stopped in front of him with a slow, sexy smile. “Talking wasn’t what I had in mind.”