Love for All Time Page 4

  He turned around to face her.

  Their gazes met, locked.

  Something lay behind the dark pools of his eyes, something she couldn’t name. Whatever it was, it made her knees tremble. To steady herself, she pressed the small of her back against the edge of the counter.

  He began reciting the poem, drawing each word out, the way the men around here tended to do. She’d heard the words before, but never in this deep, molasses-thick drawl. With each word, she felt tingles race over the surface of her skin.

  When he’d finished, she drew in a deep breath to fill her empty lungs. “Wow.”

  “So you enjoyed my recitation?”

  She nodded. “You certainly put a lot of...um...feeling into it.”

  A slight smile turned up the corners of his full lips. “That’s the only way to do it when you’re reciting the work of a true master.”

  She swallowed, nodded again. What she didn’t say was that he’d shown her a whole new side to the piece. She’d never considered that poem sensual in any way, until just now. Hearing him recite it gave the poem an erotic edge she never would have ascribed to it before. Whether Mr. Hughes had written such undertones into it, she didn’t know. But she did know she’d never hear that poem the same way again.

  Her stomach growled a loud, hungry protest. She pressed her palms over it, as if that would muffle the sound.

  Campbell reacted with a short, rumbling laugh. “We’d better get back to cooking. Your stomach is about to stage a coup.” He moved closer to her, then past her to rinse the sprouts in the sink.

  Feeling her cheeks warm, she blew out a breath. “Sorry about that.”

  He waved her off while he ran a stream of water over the sprouts. “No big deal. Hunger is a natural thing, nothing to be ashamed of.”

  I’m hungry, alright. He had no idea she was fighting down more than one appetite. It seemed like ages since she’d been in the company of a man so handsome, thoughtful and intelligent. Her sometimes crazy filming schedule didn’t leave much free time for dating and relationships. This was the first time in almost six months she’d been alone with any man.

  And if he stayed much longer, looking as delicious as he did, she had no idea where things would go between them.

  After she recovered her senses, she set to work assembling the food for cooking. Then she placed the roaster, with the seasoned pork loin resting atop a bed of potatoes and sprouts, into the oven. “Now we just have to wait for it to get done.”

  She rinsed her hands in the sink, ridding them of the olive oil she’d massaged into the meat, then toweled them dry. As she shut off the water, her traitorous stomach growled...again.

  “Are you gonna be alright until it’s ready?” With his tone light and teasing, he looked her way.

  She smiled. “I think I’ll be fine.”

  Waiting for the food would be the easy part.

  Keeping her hands off him would be a whole different matter.

  * * *

  As night fell over Cooper Inlet, Campbell found himself back on the sofa with Sierra. They’d returned there after finishing the delicious meal they’d made. The main difference between now and earlier was that she seemed a little more relaxed, and had chosen to sit on the middle cushion rather than on the opposite end of the sofa.

  Outside, the wind had calmed somewhat, but the rain showed no signs of stopping. By his estimate, he wasn’t likely to be going anywhere before tomorrow morning, at the earliest.

  She’d turned on the television and surfed to an episode of Mysteries at the Museum. He half watched the show while continuing to page through the poetry book on his phone. She sat close enough now for him to pick up the feminine scent emanating from her. He couldn’t tell if it was perfume or shampoo, or a combination of the many grooming products women tended to use. Whatever the case, she smelled of bright citrus and spicy cinnamon, and the combination intoxicated him.

  During the commercial break, she looked his way. “This show is a trip. They always find the weirdest artifacts with the craziest backstories.”

  He nodded. “Yeah. I’ve seen a couple of episodes, and it is pretty wild.”

  She stood then. “Do you want any more food? If not, I’m about to put it away.”

  He patted his stomach and shook his head. “I’m full. It tasted great, by the way.”

  She winked. “You get some of the credit, since you were my sous-chef.” Turning, she walked to the kitchen.

  He watched her every step, hypnotized by the sway of her ample hips. The way she walked seemed like an art form, a manifestation of her confidence and femininity. She wasn’t twisting or strutting; this was her natural gait. It was the physical manifestation of who she was, or at least it seemed that way based on his limited knowledge of her. Whatever it was, that certain something about her was what made her so attractive, and made her so talented as an actress. He’d seen this mysterious quality of hers play out on-screen many times before, and in no film had it been played up so much as in Waltz at Midnight.

  She moved around the kitchen, putting the leftover food in glass containers and tucking it into the fridge. When she returned, she sat down and tucked her bare feet beneath her hips.

  His brow lifted. Am I imagining it, or is she sitting closer to me now? Wordlessly, he placed his hand palm down on the sofa. Sure enough, there wasn’t enough room now for him to spread his fingers.

  Lifting his hand again, he rested it on his thigh, fighting back a smile. It was possible she didn’t realize how close she’d sat. It was also possible she’d purposely moved into his personal bubble. Either way, he wasn’t going to be the one to mention it. They were in her place, and whatever happened tonight would be on her terms.

  By now, the show had returned from the break, and she fell right in, watching it with interest. He, on the other hand, set aside his phone and contented himself with watching her. As entertaining as the show was, he found Sierra even more interesting.

  She seemed to notice his regard, because she turned her large, sparkling dark eyes his way and asked, “What is it?”

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

  She shrugged. “I’m not uncomfortable, really. I just couldn’t help noticing you staring at me.”

  “I was just thinking about something. Remember how I told you Waltz at Midnight is one of my favorite movies of all time?”

  A soft smile tilted her lips. “Yes, I remember, and I appreciate you saying that.”

  “I meant it.” He scratched his chin. “Can I ask you a question about that movie?”

  “Sure.”

  “Do you feel you have anything in common with your character?”

  “You mean Reva Lane, the jewel thief better known as the Midnight Shadow?” She chuckled, then made a dramatic gesture with both hands. “Well, I’ve never knocked over a jewelry store, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  He laughed. “No, that’s not what I mean. I mean her attitude, her outlook on things. Do you share anything like that with her?”

  Her gaze shifted, as if she were looking outside at the falling rain. “I’d like to think I’m as fearless and intelligent as she is.” She eyed him. “What made you ask that question?”

  “I see a little of her in you. At least I think I do, based on our limited interactions.”

  She shifted a little closer to him, changing position until she sat cross-legged, right next to him. Their thighs were now touching again, just as they had when they were sitting on the landing earlier. “Care to elaborate on that?”

  “I see you as guarded, closed off.”

  She pursed her lips.

  Sensing her annoyance, he held up his hand. “Wait, hear me out. I also see you as confident and self-assured. That’s probably what stood out to me the most about the character, and I saw it again in Della’s the other da
y.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I saw you with your costar. I can tell she’s not your favorite person, but you kept it very professional. At least from what I saw.” He stretched his arms over his head, to shake off some of the stiffness from sitting so long in one position. “I did leave before the scene finished filming, but I’m gonna assume you didn’t go upside her head.”

  She laughed then, releasing a full, diaphragm-deep sound that brightened his whole world. When she finally recovered, she shook her head, the mirth still visible in her eyes. “You’re a mess!”

  “But I’m right, though.”

  She giggled. “Yeah. I’m not too fond of Mia, but I’m not about to jeopardize my career for her or anyone else.”

  He smiled. “See, that’s what I mean. You’ve got your head on straight, your priorities are in order and your path laid out. You’re out here going for what you want without waiting for permission. I respect that.”

  The humor dancing in her eyes morphed into something else. She held his gaze. “Do you really think that? Or is this just flattery?”

  “It’s the truth. Yeah, I’ll admit I feel like a teenage boy who got pulled onstage with his favorite singer right now.” Damn. Didn’t mean to say that aloud. He ran a hand over his face. “But I meant every word I said.”

  The soft smile on her face grew even bigger. “Wow.”

  He smiled back, still trying to read that look in her eyes. What is she thinking right now?

  A moment later, she leaned toward him. Her small hand came up to cup his jaw. “You’re quite the charmer, Campbell Monroe.”

  “Not really.” He couldn’t tear his eyes away from hers. His face tingled beneath the warmth of her touch. “I’m just honest.”

  She tilted her head, letting her eyes drift closed as her lips formed that unmistakable pucker shape.

  He didn’t know how they’d gotten here, but he wasn’t about to turn down an invitation like that. He placed a hand on her shoulder, then gently touched his lips to hers. Her lips were plump, soft and made for kissing. They tasted of some fruit-flavored lip gloss, and as he gave her a series of little pecks on the lips, he got a taste of it every few seconds.

  She responded by moving her hand to grip the back of his neck, and letting her mouth fall open. He closed his eyes, too, prepared to savor her and this moment. Their tongues mated, stroking against each other as their upper bodies pressed closer together. He found the interior of her mouth just as sweet as her lips had been. He embraced her, cradling her in his arms and pulling her onto his lap as the kiss deepened. She moaned into his mouth, and the sound lit the fire in his blood. Her body seemed to fit perfectly against his, and holding her felt as natural and right as breathing.

  He felt her take a sharp inhale, then jerk away, abruptly breaking the seal of their lips. He opened his eyes just in time to see her scoot off his lap and stand. Looking up at her, he frowned. “What happened? Is something wrong?”

  She brought her arms up, crossing them over her chest with her hands on her shoulders. Her gaze retreating, she simply shook her head. “I can’t.”

  He felt his brow knitting. He couldn’t recall ever being so confused by a woman’s actions.

  But before he could say anything more, she turned and jogged down the hallway. Moments later, he heard her bedroom door slam.

  With a sigh, he fell back against the sofa cushions.

  What in the world just happened?

  Chapter 5

  When Sierra woke up Thursday morning, the sunlight streaming through the white lace curtains let her know she’d slept later than she intended. Groggy, she rubbed her eyes and sat up, running a hand over her wild locks.

  It took her a few moments to figure out where she was. She’d gotten so accustomed to sleeping in her hotel suite that waking up in the condo felt a bit jarring. She blinked a few times, letting her vision adjust to the brightness as her mind came awake.

  Her eyes widened as she remembered last night.

  Last night.

  Her hand flew to cover her mouth.

  I kissed Campbell. Holy crap.

  She’d kissed Campbell, alright. And then run away and locked herself in the bedroom for the rest of the night. She’d tossed and turned for quite a while, but the pounding rain had eventually lulled her to sleep.

  He hadn’t followed her, hadn’t knocked on the door to see if she were alright. And she was glad of that, because if he had come, she wouldn’t have known what to say to him. That’s why she ran away. He’d just gotten through telling her how intelligent and self-assured he thought she was, and yet, after kissing him, she couldn’t formulate a coherent sentence.

  She swiveled her head to the right, looking at the closed bedroom door. If he had any sense, he was still in the condo. Only a fool would have gone out in that kind of weather.

  She threw back the covers, slipping out of bed. Dressed in the camisole and panties she’d been wearing under her clothes yesterday, she walked to the door, feeling the chill of the hardwood floors beneath her bare feet with each step. Arriving at the door, she gave the handle a slow turn and cracked the door open.

  The first thing she noticed was the sound of his snores. He must be sleeping good. The log-sawing sound rattled the air in an otherwise silent space. Peering through the crack, she saw him stretched out on the sofa, with the plaid blanket draped over his body. He was on his back, his head propped up on one of the armrests. The way he lay, he faced the hallway and her bedroom door.

  Shutting the door just as silently as she’d opened it, she stood with her back against it for a minute. What am I going to do? She knew she’d have to leave the room eventually; she had to eat. The subject of last night was bound to come up. What was she going to say to him?

  She walked to the glazed mahogany dresser, grabbing her phone from the top. It was after nine. Jazmin should be up by now. As she dialed the number, she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and cringed. She’d forgotten to tie her hair up last night, and now it resembled a partially woven basket sitting crooked on top of her head. She balanced the phone between her face and her shoulder as it rang, and ran her hands over her hair to tame it.

  “Hello?” Jazmin’s voice filled her ear as she answered the call. “What’s up, Sierra?”

  Speaking in a quiet, but urgent tone, she said, “Jazzy. I got a problem.”

  “I know, girl. Isn’t it flooded over there where you are?”

  “I don’t know.” She glanced toward the window then, realizing she hadn’t even thought to look outside. “If it is, that’s a problem, but that’s not what I meant.”

  “If you’re worried about not showing up on set, don’t be. Devon shut down production for the day so the crew can help with cleanup.”

  She rested her face in her hands. Jazmin was a natural problem solver, but sometimes her tendency to try to predict the problem got on Sierra’s nerves. “Jazzy, will you please hush? This is a man problem.”

  “It’s a what?”

  She sighed. “A man problem.”

  “I just wanted to make sure I heard you correctly. Why are you whispering?”

  “Because my problem is still here in the condo with me.”

  “Still there, as in he was there all night?” Jazmin’s tone held a mixture of amusement and shock.

  “Yes, he was, but—”

  Jazmin cut her off. “Ooh, congrats, girl! I know you haven’t gotten any of the good stuff in a hot minute! Was it good? Did he blow ya back out?”

  Flopping down on the end of the bed, Sierra couldn’t help rolling her eyes. “Jazmin, chill. He was here last night because of the storm. We didn’t do it.”

  Sympathy replaced her previous jubilation. “Oh, girl. I’m sorry. So that’s the problem. You didn’t get any...again. We gotta get you back in the game, sis.”

&n
bsp; “Jazzy, if I was sitting in the room with you, I’d have popped you by now. Just hush and listen. He came here yesterday to give me the keys to my unit. He ended up bringing the wrong key, and we had to wait on the landing for his intern to bring the right one. By then the weather was too bad for me to send him out in it, so he stayed here.”

  “Okay, you’ve said ‘he’ like a hundred times. Who is he?”

  “His name is Campbell. He’s the property manager for the company that owns the condo complex I’m staying in.”

  Jazmin was silent for a few long moments. “Wait a minute. You mean Campbell Monroe?”

  “You know him?”

  “Girl, yeah! His company owns just about every residential property on the island. Plus, he’s friends with Devon. I’ve seen him on the set a few times.” She paused again. “He’s fine, girl.”

  “You don’t have to tell me that. I’ve been with him since early yesterday afternoon.” It was that fineness, combined with the charm he exuded, that had led her to kiss him in the first place. “But I don’t have time for involvement right now, no matter how fine he is.”

  “Okay. So, I’m confused.” Jazmin blew out a loud breath. “If he’s been at your house all night, and y’all didn’t do anything, and you didn’t want to do anything, then what’s the problem?”

  She took a deep breath. “I said we didn’t do ‘it,’ but I didn’t say we didn’t do anything.” She searched for the right words. “We kissed. Or rather, I kissed him.”

  She could hear Jazmin clapping. “Girl, you are a walking contradiction. You just spent the last ten minutes saying he’s a problem, and now you tell me you kissed him? Make up your mind!”

  Sierra let her head drop back in frustration. “I created the problem. We were talking, I got carried away, and now I’m sitting in my bedroom, afraid to go out of it.”

  “Why? It’s gonna be awkward, we both know that. But you’re being ridiculous. It was just a little kiss.”

  “I wouldn’t describe it as a ‘little kiss’ by any means, Jazmin.” Memories of last night sprang up again. She’d relished being in his strong arms, feeling his lips against hers. She hadn’t intended to open her mouth, but she’d been so intoxicated and caught up in the moment, it just happened. And she’d enjoyed every second of it. But she didn’t dare give voice to her thoughts. “I just hope I didn’t give him the wrong impression.”