Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
“Ready to go?” he asked, reaching out a hand for hers.
“Yes. I’m excited now.”
He drew her close and pressed a light kiss to her lips. “I am, too.”
Flustered, Aria dropped her keys when she whirled to lock her door. Cameron picked them up and completed the process before setting them in her hand.
“Thanks.”
“I’ve got you, Little girl.”
“I’m starting to realize that,” she admitted.
“Good. My master plan is working,” he joked as he placed a hand on her lower back to steer her out of the apartment building.
“How many cats will be there?” Aria asked.
“I don’t know. What’s your favorite kind of cat? Long hair? Short?” he asked as he opened the door to his SUV and helped her inside.
“I like cuddly ones. Oh!” she said in surprise as he reached inside to fasten her seatbelt for her. “I can do it,” she blurted.
“I know. I like taking care of you. Is that okay?”
“I guess?”
She closed her eyes as Cameron pressed a soft kiss to her head. “Thank you for coming with me.”
He stood and closed the door. Aria watched him circle the front of the vehicle to jump into the driver’s seat. In seconds, they were on their way.
Aria had a theory that she could tell a lot about a man by the way he drove. If he was aggressive—pushing cars to speed up by looming close to their rear bumpers or darting through traffic—he would be the same in real life. If he drove below the speed limit and cursed at the wild drivers around him, she knew he’d never pick up on social clues. Heaven forbid he curse or threaten others. She knew to steer clear of those with hair-trigger tempers.
Chatting easily, Cameron merged smoothly with traffic. His powerful hands steered the large SUV with precision and ease. He seemed to anticipate when trouble loomed ahead and took evasive action without a fuss. When Cameron parallel parked the vehicle effortlessly at the curb in front of CC’s Purrfect Coffee, she turned to stare at him.
“Do you have any flaws?” Aria asked.
“I do. I frequently leave the cap off the toothpaste, but I’m trying to train myself to replace it.”
“Really? That’s the worst thing you do?”
“The absolute worst,” he confirmed. “What about you?”
“A lot more than that,” she confessed. “Maybe we aren’t a good match. I couldn’t ever be that perfect.”
“I only want you to be yourself, Aria. And I’m not perfect. I was kidding. Already I feel possessive about you, and I’m trying not to scare you with the intensity of my feelings.”
“Should I be frightened?”
“No, honey. I could never hurt you,” he assured her softly. “Let’s go get coffee and play with the cats. I think you’ve had enough tough decisions today.”
When she reached for the door release, he wrapped his fingers around her lower thigh and squeezed firmly. Automatically, she slumped back against the seat.
Cameron gave her another quick press before sliding out and coming around to open her door for her. “Thank you, Aria.”
“It seems silly,” she whispered as she got out of the SUV.
“I know. It makes me happy to take care of you. Could that be enough of a reason?” he asked, wrapping an arm around her waist.
Aria looked around before asking, “Because I’m Little?”
“That’s an important part of you that draws me, but that’s not all.” Cameron stopped talking as a couple walked by them when they got to the entrance. “Here we are.”
He opened the set of doors that ensured the safety of the cats inside. When they got inside, he allowed her to think about what she wanted without pressure and placed their order when she was ready.
“Let’s go sit down. They’ll call my name when it’s ready to pick up. There’s a lot of people here today,” Cameron said, steering her to an empty table where a large orange tabby cat lolled in sun-fueled bliss.
“Look at this big guy. He’s living a happy life,” Aria said, feeling her lips curve in a delighted smile.
“Want me to move him so he’s out of your way?” a friendly voice asked.
Aria turned to look at a curvy brunette wearing an employee apron. “Oh, no. He’s fine. Can I pet him?”
“Tangerine will love you forever if you rub his belly,” the woman answered.
“CC. I’m glad to see you again. I’m Cameron.”
“You’ve been in a few times, right?”
“Yes. The coffee’s great, and the entertainment keeps me coming back.”
“They are fun to watch. Although somedays I might not admit the chaos belongs to me. Tangerine is in control most days,” CC joked, rubbing the big cat’s belly and starting a thunderous purr from deep inside the orange fur.
“You’ve been targeted,” CC said, pointing to a flame-colored kitten that pounced on Aria’s shoestrings. “Be warned. Murder mittens on the way.”
Aria looked down to see a calico kitten stretch a paw up her calf. The creature latched on with its tiny claws and climbed up onto Aria’s lap. Those sharp nail tips bit through her jeans and into her skin a few times, making her wince. “Yikes. Now I understand the murder mittens description.”