“As riveting as it is to discover you like the hole between a woman’s legs—”
“You can say the word, princess,” I say with a laugh.
She rolls her eyes. “Pussy. There. Are you happy?”
Grinning at her, I lean back in my seat. “Very.”
“So you say you’re ready to get married, but have you ever even had a long-term relationship?”
“I have,” I say. But that’s a story for another time.
Camryn doesn’t press me; she just takes another sip of her cocktail.
“Do you want kids someday?” she asks.
I rub the back of my neck. With kids comes a total life change. And until now, my life has been about me. Pursuing my career and the self-interests that bring me pleasure. Though I suppose when I get married, that will have to change too.
“Not sure. You?”
She smiles. “I do, actually. I’d like at least one. A little mini-me, someone to be my best friend.”
I can picture Camryn as a mother. She’d be one of those effortlessly cool mums. Not one of those with a gigantic diaper bag, mom jeans, and a permanent look of worry etched into her features. She’d make it fun. I have no doubt about that.
“I don’t have any siblings,” she continues. “So I guess I like the idea of building my own squad.” She giggles, and I wonder if the champagne cocktail she finished has gone to her head.
I signal the waitress, ordering another for her.
“That’s something you and I have in common. Only child,” I say, motioning to myself.
She meets my eyes, studying me carefully.
The idea of family is something I hold dear, and there’s something inside me that warms at hearing her say she wants to build a family. When my own happy family was split apart, I pretty much gave up all interest in the idea, but I’m starting to realize that with the right person by your side, anything is possible.
Camryn’s gaze drifts to the dance floor, which on a weeknight isn’t being used, but a group of girls in short cocktail dresses linger near the edge. I’ve paid them no mind, but it’s been hard to ignore the fact that they keep looking in our direction.
“They’re wondering what a man like you is doing with a girl like me,” Camryn says, her voice uncharacteristically soft.
“What do you mean by that?” If she’s going to put herself down, I’ll have something to say about that.
She shrugs. “It’s fine. I’m not bothered by it. You’re attractive, and they’re interested. Simple as that.” She grabs her fresh drink, slowly draining it all, and I get the sense that she’s embarrassed.
“Fuck that.” I rise to my feet. “Come on.”
Chapter Nine
Camryn
I’m out with Sterling at the rooftop bar I suggested we meet at tonight. And though I try to ignore it, I can’t pretend the women ogling him don’t exist. He’s tall, deliciously attractive, and his commanding presence coupled with his British accent make him a magnet for women. That’s a fact.
I just didn’t expect it to bother me. I’m his matchmaker. He and I aren’t here on a date.
“Where are we going?”
“Out of here,” is all he says.
He grabs my hand, and as we pass, it’s impossible to ignore the group of girls giving me a death stare. His grip on my hand is tight, certain, as though he’s not planning to let go anytime soon.
When we stop on the street with cars and taxis zooming past, Sterling still hasn’t let go of my hand.
“Don’t let those girls bother you.” His tone is uncharacteristically soft.
I shake my head. “I’m a big girl, Sterling. I can handle the truth. Honestly, I’m fine.”
“You may not realize this, sweetheart, but once upon a time, I wanted to hook up with you.”
He takes a step forward and my heart lurches. Unsure what to do with this information, I chew on my lip.
“And you don’t anymore.” I place my hands on my hips and watch him.
He pushes his hands into his hair, looking eager, yet unsure. “I’d bend you over this rubbish bin right now if you’d let me.”
At this, I crack up laughing. Not only does he call a trash can a rubbish bin, which is adorable, but he suggests that we have sex on the sidewalk.
But mostly, I’m smiling because this sexy, confident, delicious man just told me that he finds me attractive. And more than that, he came to my rescue. In my experience, that isn’t something that men do anymore.
Last year when a bitchy waitress messed up my order twice and then suggested I was hard to please, David only laughed. I have a feeling that Sterling would have jumped to my defense, maybe even stormed out of the restaurant without tipping just to prove his point. David ate his tuna-salad sandwich while I sulked, waiting for my omelet to be remade. The jerk didn’t even offer me any of his fries.
Sterling tosses me a flirty wink, and I realize I still haven’t responded to his offer for public sex.
“As fun as that sounds, I think I’ll pass.” I elbow him in the ribs, and he chuckles.
“Come on.”
He takes my hand again and tows me off down the street. We walk for a long time, passing by little bakeries, family-owned restaurants, and dry cleaners while the city buzzes around us. We talk about family, and life, and our goals for the future, and I realize how much I’ve been missing the thoughtful conversation between a man and a woman.