The One I Need

CHAPTERSEVEN

Cameron’s grandparents loved hosting family dinners at their penthouse. Now that Cameron was back from Paris, and Eve, the youngest of the siblings, was finished with college and launching her career, tonight represented a special time when all five grandchildren would be present.

Cameron stepped off the express elevator that family used to reach the top floor at Silver Creek and saw Eve nearly at the door.

“Eve,” he called out. “Wait up.”

She turned, and a smile blossomed on her red lips. “Hey, Cameron. Flying solo tonight?”

He shot her a quizzical glance.

“Gran said we could bring a date,” she reminded him.

“This is a family dinner, not a plus-one event.” Thinking of Juin—no, June—had his heart twisting. When he caught Eve staring at his expression, he forced a chuckle. “Can you imagine the interrogations if you and I had brought someone?”

“You won’t catch me ever bringing a guy to one of these events,” Eve said quite seriously.

His younger sister was a beauty, with the dark hair they’d inherited from their father and dazzling blue eyes enhanced by her expert use of makeup. She was also brilliant, with a quick mind and an equally quick tongue.

At UC Berkeley, she’d majored in business and economics, and Cameron knew their father assumed she’d come on board with one of the family companies after graduation.

While still in college, Eve had established herself as a social media guru in the area of fashion and makeup. With her looks, personality and razor sharp wit, she’d become a celebrity of sorts. When Anson had done a guest spot on one of her live events, the two had become linked in the eyes of her followers.

“How is Anson?” Cameron kept his tone offhand. He knew he had no control over who his little sister dated and didn’t want to treat her like a child. Still, Anson was his age, and Eve, at twenty-two, seemed too young for his friend.

“Don’t you know?” She inclined her head. “I thought you two played tennis at the club yesterday.”

That little comment told Cameron all he needed to know. Despite his sister and Anson both insisting there was nothing more than casual friendship between them, the fact that Eve knew the man’s whereabouts said it all.

“We did.”

“I spoke with him yesterday.” She tossed the words out there. “We met for drinks at B&GC in Cherry Creek.”

The elegant and dimly bar was a favorite among Cameron’s friends.

“Are you two dating?” He tried for casual, but by the way her eyes flashed, he didn’t nail it.

“We’re friends, Cameron. He’s been very supportive of the launch of my cosmetics line.” She tossed her head in what appeared to be a defiant gesture, sending sleek dark hair flying before it settled perfectly back in place.

Cameron lifted his hands, palms out. “Anson is a friend. I have no problem with you dating him. Though he does seem a little old for you.”

“We’re not dating.” She waved a dismissive hand. “We’re friends. It’s my followers who think we’re an item.”

“What are your followers going to think if they see a pic of you out on the town with another guy? Or him with another woman?”

“Since he’s running for city council, Anson is extremely cautious about his social life.”

“You’re saying he’s not dating anyone right now.”

“You’ll have to ask him that question.”

“What about you?”

Eve lifted a thin shoulder. “Right now, I’m completely focused on the new line.”

“You’ll have to tell me over dinner how that’s going.” Cameron reached around her to knock on their grandparents’ door.

He hoped talk of cosmetics and fragrances would take his mind off June and the feeling that he’d somehow let her down.