Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 71911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 360(@200wpm)___ 288(@250wpm)___ 240(@300wpm)
“If he wants to put on his pajamas or whatever he sleeps in so he can be comfortable, we are just going up the elevator. He doesn’t really even need shoes.”
She looked back in the direction Cam had gone. “That would be better. That way, he can just go to bed when we get back. I’ll go tell him,” she said.
I watched her walk away, wishing like hell I could turn off my attraction to her. It was worse now that I knew about her past. There was a respect I held for her after hearing her son talk about her and all she’d sacrificed for him. It had changed everything. Including my plans to get her in my bed. That would no longer be happening. I wasn’t going to be the man in Cam’s life, and that was what he needed. Someone who could stand beside Brielle and help her raise her son. A man who wanted a family. That was not me.
When Brielle came from Cam’s room, there was a smile on her face I hadn’t seen before. It was a happy, content, maybe even hopeful smile. I didn’t need to be the one making her smile like that. Tonight would be a one and done. Cam was a fan, and I would do this for him. Then, I’d leave for a few weeks. Go back to Beverly Hills until Kiro annoyed me. Give us all a break.
“You planning a second date with the construction worker?” I asked her.
She looked surprised by my question before shrugging. “We never made it on our first date. Things kept coming up.”
Damn. I needed obstacles in my way. It would make it harder for me to cave in and take what I wanted.
“I’m ready!” Cam said with excitement as he came bounding out of his room.
I was doing this for the kid. Nothing more. He’d have something to tell his friends. This had nothing to do with his mother.
I’d keep telling myself that until it sank in.
“Let’s head on up,” I said as I made my way to the door.
I could be thankful that Brielle wasn’t wearing her pajamas. There was only so much a man could take.
I held the door open as they walked out, and we all headed toward the elevator.
“This is crazy,” Cam said in the elevator. “No one will ever believe me.”
“We’ll take some pictures. They can’t argue with those,” I told him.
His eyes lit up once again, and he beamed at me. He had his mom’s smile, I realized.
“Seriously? You’d let me do that?”
I nodded. “It’s always best to have proof.”
My gaze went to Brielle, who was looking at me.
Thank you, she mouthed silently.
I knew she meant it. As much as I got under her skin, she would forgive me anything for Cam. That wasn’t why I was doing it though. I liked the kid. I could give him this with no real effort on my part. Maybe one day, years from now, I’d turn on the television, and he’d be on the drums for some hot, new band. I hoped to hell that happened.
twenty
brielle
This was an experience that Cam would never forget. He’d tell his kids about it one day. It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and he knew it. There were many reasons I should dislike the arrogant man who was currently showing my son his drums that he had in a soundproofed room with red padded walls, but in this moment, none of those reasons mattered. Cam was living a dream.
A warmth settled in my chest when I looked at Dean; it was dangerous, and I knew it. I couldn’t let something like this derail the truths I knew about this man. He was good with kids, he was kind when it came to his younger fans, and he was focused on Cam. It was as if I weren’t here at all. No suggestive comments or looks. I respected that about him. Even if watching this scene play out in front of me broke me just a little. It was something I’d never imagined Cam would get to do. He was sharing his love with his hero. The man he wanted to be like. Dean had no idea the impact he had on Cam’s life.
“Theater is on the other side of the apartment,” Dean said, finally looking in my direction.
“If you two are ready, then I am too,” I replied.
Cam reverently touched the drumsticks Dean had left beside his drum set, then looked up at Dean. “I’m ready.”
Dean nodded his head in the direction of the sticks. “Take those with you. I’ve broken them in, but they need more use than I’ve been giving them these days.”
That was it. The man had found a way to make me forget all his wrongs. My chest felt so tight that I thought I might cry.