style="font-size:15px;"> She sneezed. “It tickles,” she complained.
“That’s what a woman says when she kisses—” He stopped. He didn’t want to go there.
“Did you ever have a mustache?”
“Yeah, when I was younger and wanted to look older.” And more in control. More macho, able to face his father as a man. Able to determine his own future and not follow in the traditions already laid down by his family.
But instead of facing his father, Jake had stayed far away.
CAMILLE WASN’T SURE what she’d said that had distracted Jake, but he appeared to be worlds away.
“Jake?”
“Uh, yeah, here’s the jacket. You put it on and I’ll get the hat.” He hurried out of the room.
She took a deep breath and tried to relax. When he stared at her lips, only to check out the mustache, of course, she’d thought she might melt. All she could think about was him kissing her. How much she wanted him to kiss her. What kissing him would be like.
“Camille?” Jake said as he stepped into the room. “Is there something wrong with the jacket?”
Her cheeks burning with embarrassment, she scrambled into the jacket. “No, it’s fine,” she assured him. And it fit, sort of. A lot better than one of Jake’s would have. He was a big man.
He showed her a felt Stetson. “I chose beige so there wouldn’t be a sharp contrast between your hair and the hat.” Without waiting for her to take it, he put it on her head.
“My hair!” she exclaimed, reaching for the hat.
He caught her hands. “No, don’t take it off. You’ll have time to fix your hair when we get there. We’d better go.” He reached for Jamie’s carrier at the same time she did, his hands touching hers again. Jerking back, he said, “I’ll carry him. We don’t want to mess up your disguise.”
She surrendered her hold and stepped aside. “Okay. Will—will your mother—everyone else will be dressed up, won’t they?”
Jake stared at her. “Is that what you’ve been stewing about? Whether you’ll be dressed all right?”
“I haven’t been to a formal party in years, or maybe ever,” she confessed, avoiding his gaze. And she’d never been anywhere with a man who looked like Jake.
He shrugged. “Hang around here long enough and you will. Mom loves dressing up.”
He escorted her to the SUV and belted the baby carrier in the back seat.
Neither of them spoke until they reached Garrett’s house and Camille exclaimed, “Look, there’s Max. And Garrett. Are they going to ride with us?”
Jake slowed down. “Nope. They’re escorting us. Garrett will lead, and Max will bring up the rear. The only tricky part about the evening is getting you to and from Mom’s.”
“Oh. Has there been any sign of Vince?”
“No.”
“Maybe he’s given up. Maybe he doesn’t want me or Jamie anymore.”
Jake pressed his lips tightly together before he answered, a grim look on his face. “No. He hasn’t given up.”
His words depressed her, and she sank back against the seat, staring out the window at the passing pastureland.
WHEN THEY TURNED IN at the gate that protected his mother’s home, Camille spoke for the first time since they’d left Garrett’s ranch. “Oh, my heavens!”
Jake gave a wry smile. The house was imposing. When he’d brought friends home from college, they’d been overwhelmed by the magnificence of his home. His girlfriend, the one who broke his heart, had reveled in the luxury of the place and been eager to move in.
Once he realized his girlfriend was only interested in his family’s fortunes, he had decided he didn’t want to be associated with such obvious wealth. He didn’t want to be different from other people. He didn’t want friends who could be bought with money.
“I thought Garrett’s house was—impressive. But this… You actually lived here?” There was astonishment in Camille’s voice.
“Yeah.”
“Were you ever lonely?”
That unexpected question brought a rush of other memories. “Hell, no. There were seven of us kids, plus Mom and Dad and the staff they hired to take care of all of us. Both my parents were involved with the hospital, but they spent a lot of time with us,” he remembered, his lips curving in a smile. That smile felt good.
Once his world had fallen apart with Susie’s betrayal, he’d had some problems with his father. When he left home, he was determined to make it on his own.
And he had, but his childhood memories felt surprisingly good tonight.
Garrett stopped and got out in front of the house as a man in uniform hurried to park his car. He stepped back and waited for Jake’s vehicle. When it came to a stop, he opened the door for Camille.
An appreciative whistle split the air. “My, my, my. You’re a little, uh, unusual, Camille,” Garrett said with a smile.
Jake looked sharply at his friend. Garrett wasn’t one to flirt. In fact, he was a very private man. But he’d been friendly with Camille.
Jake got out and hurried around the SUV. Garrett had his hands around Camille’s waist to lift her out, and Jake had to fight to hold back harsh words.
“Will you get Jamie, Jake?” Camille asked as Garrett turned to escort her into the house.
“Yeah, sure,” he muttered. After all his work to take care of her, he didn’t even get to escort her into the party? He was going to have a few choice words for Garrett.
Max joined him before he got to the front door. “Need some help with that diaper bag?” he asked, grinning.
Jake gave him a disgusted look and shook his head. “You’d think they’d make these things without flowers all over them. Jamie’s a boy, too. He must be pretty embarrassed to have his belongings in this thing.”
“I think he’ll survive,” Max assured him.
“Did you see anything?” Jake asked, turning to business.
“Nope. And I’ve checked all the staff and extras hired. They’re clean.”
“Good. While I look around, I want you to stay close to Camille.” A sudden image of the way she looked beneath her disguise had him amending his instructions. “But not too close. And don’t let Garrett drool all over her.”
Max laughed again. “That might be the hardest assignment you’ve given me. Especially when she gets rid of that mustache. Good thing no one could see her clearly on the way in. She could never pass as a man.”
