Control You (8 page)

“This place is cute,” Lauren said. She slid into her chair as she glanced around. “I really like the light fixtures. They’re different.”

Craig pulled my chair out for me and I sat. His attitude tonight had me on edge already, and I hoped after a margarita he’d chill out and loosen up. “They would look really cute hung in your bedroom from the ceiling above the nightstands on either side of your bed,” I said, glad some sort of conversation was starting to flow.

“Oh, you’re right! And if they had dimmers, that would be even better.” She reached for Johnny’s hand on the table and slipped her fingers between his. “It would be something to set the mood.”

“Something we hardly need any help with,” Jimmy said. His voice was sultry with a heavy European accent.

I could see why Lauren was so smitten with him and didn’t care if their relationship was all about sex. The guy was the definition of sex—tall, leanly sculpted muscles, olive skin, dark hair that fell over his ears in silky locks, and electric blue eyes. He was one of those guys who were so gorgeous and had such an amazing accent, they could say, “I stepped in dog shit,” and it would sound hot.

Craig shifted in his seat beside me, and I could feel the tension emanate from him. The butterflies in my stomach grew to gigantic proportions. I wanted him to enjoy himself with my friends tonight. The only other times we’d all hung out had been at parties, where we were all getting smashed. Maybe a conversation just needed to flow for us to all loosen up.

“So, Jason, how’s the moving going?” I asked.

Jason had inherited his grandfather’s lake house when the man had passed away a few months ago. It had shocked him and his mother when a lawyer from Coldcreek had contacted them after his grandfather’s death. There was a will and testament Jason and his mom knew nothing about. In it, Jason’s gramps had left him his house and ten grand. He’d also left Jason’s mom nearly a hundred grand in CDs and stocks he’d never cashed out.

“It’s going. The house is in good shape, since I spent all summer fixing it up to sell.” He smiled and glanced at Blaire. “I think it might need some color splashed around here and there to liven it up though. At least that’s what I’m told by a certain someone.” He nudged Blaire with his elbow, and grinned.

“All I said was that it looked like a color-blind person lived there. Everything you have is black, gray, or brown.” Blaire smirked at him as she ticked the colors off her fingers.

“My mom’s an interior designer. I could have her come look at the place for you as a favor to me if you like,” Craig offered.

My heart sank. I hated the way he’d worded that as well as the tone he’d used. It sounded like he was doing charity work or something. I prayed he hadn’t offended anyone.

“She does an amazing job. His parents’ house is beautiful,” I added, hoping to smooth over any awkwardness his offer may have caused.

Blaire met my eyes from across the table, and I knew she’d taken offense to Craig’s tone. I would be hearing about it later. This would only add to the long list of things she didn’t like about him. Awesome.

“All right, I’ll think about it.” Jason nodded. “Thanks.”

Our waiter walked up then and took our drink orders—margaritas all around. Thank God.

“Oh, and could we please have an order of cheese dip?” Blaire added before the waiter walked away.

“Wonder if it’s as good as Verde Guacamole’s?” I asked.

“That’s what I plan to find out.” Blaire smiled. “There are two staples a town has to have when it comes to restaurants. One is a great Italian place and the other is a great Mexican place. Let’s hope this is it, because that place you two took me to the other night had some awesome Italian food.”

“It was good,” Lauren agreed. “We’ll all have to go there next.”

Jimmy leaned on his elbows. “Italian food has to be authentic. It all starts with the sauce.”

“I agree,” Jason said. “And the bread—the bread has to be garlicky and crunchy.”

“A man after my own heart,” Blaire gushed. Bread was her favorite thing. My mother would say she was a carbaholic.

I laughed and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear while glancing at Craig for a split-second. This night would be okay if he would relax; his tension was making my heart pound.

“So, Craig, what are you majoring in?” Jason asked. A small sense of relief trickled through me. I was glad Jason was trying to include him in some form of conversation.

“How to be an asshole 101,” a familiar voice said from behind us, and Jason burst into a fit of laughter.

My skin prickled and I bit my bottom lip, knowing exactly to whom the voice belonged. I turned in my seat, and Cameron stood behind me. My eyes barely brushed over him before they shifted to the person standing beside him. A gorgeous woman with silky brown hair and the longest legs I’d ever seen. I smoothed my hair away from my face and sat a little taller after assessing her with my eyes. It was no surprise that this was the type of woman Cameron went for. She was stunning.

“Actually, I’m pre-law.” Craig gritted his teeth and locked eyes with Cameron before shifting his attention back to Jason. “You’ll have to excuse Cameron. He’s known for saying smart-ass shit in an effort to embarrass people.”

“Aww, is that what you’re calling our banter today, some smart-ass shit?” Cameron grinned. “Looks like you guys have room for two more, mind if we join you? We were on our way out, but wouldn’t mind chatting with some of Craig’s friends who look like they have personalities.”

Having met Craig’s lifelong friends the other night, I stifled a laugh. Cameron had been dead on—those people had no personalities. As I turned back around in my seat, I realized the only available chairs at the table were the ones beside me—one of them being the seat directly beside me. I prayed Miss Model sat in the one closest to me and not Cameron. I didn’t think I could stand being sandwiched between Craig and him for long.

“No, not at all. Have a seat,” Blaire offered. She smiled at the two of them, and then dropped her eyes to me. Excitement danced clearly within them. I was positive it was because she was anxious to find out who Cameron was. Anyone who bad-mouthed Craig to his face was a friend of hers. “I’m Blaire and this is my boyfriend, Jason.”

Cameron nodded and scooted out a chair for his date—the chair that just so happened to be farthest from me. “Nice to meet you, Blaire. Thank you for being so generous and allowing us to join you.”

Craig stiffened beside me, and the tension emanating off him strengthened tenfold. Why the hell did he hate Cameron so much? From the little bit of time I’d spent with him earlier today, he seemed nice enough. Shit. Would Cameron bring up the fact that we’d hung out earlier? Surely not, not with his bombshell of a date sitting right beside him. My eyes flickered to her again, taking in her exotic eyes and perfect facial features. There was not one single imperfection on her.

“I’m Eva.” The gorgeous woman smiled at no one in particular.

“Lauren.” Lauren waved. “And this is my guy, Jimmy.”

I smiled, loving how she introduced him as her guy instead of her boyfriend. Cameron slid into the chair beside me, and I instantly felt that side of my body heat. His presence was definitely known to every single cell on my left side. I took in a deep breath and began toying with the napkin wrapped around my silverware, wondering when my drink would get here.

“Is that a nice way of saying he’s your fuck buddy?” Cameron asked Lauren pointedly.

My cheeks burned and I was sure my lips parted in shock. Had he really just asked that? My eyes snapped to Lauren and Jimmy; the question hadn’t seemed to faze either of them. In fact, Lauren glared at Cameron and smirked.

“As a matter of fact, it is,” she answered. She pointed between Craig and him. “So, how do you know Craig?”

“Oh, we go way back,” Cameron informed her. “I’m an old family friend.”

“Our parents were old friends,” Craig corrected him. His head was down, and he was digging his thumbnail into the tablecloth in an attempt to scratch off some goop left by the previous occupants. “You and I are no such thing.”

Two waiters with our margaritas and cheese dip came to the table, saving us all from hearing any more hostility float from the mouths of the guys I was sandwiched between.

“You had two more join. Can I get you two something to drink?” our waiter asked, eyeing Cameron and Eva with a smile.

Cameron leaned against the tabletop and stared into Eva’s blue eyes. “Wanna have just one margarita with me, sexy? I know I said I wouldn’t drink tonight, but one won’t hurt.”

A burning sensation slid through my stomach at the sound of him calling her sexy. Prickles of unease swept through me as I was caught off guard by my reaction. Licking my lips, I took a large swig of the margarita that had been placed in front of me. Its frozen coldness slipped down my throat and chilled the emotion bubbling in my stomach I had no right to feel.

“Absolutely.” Eva smiled.

“Two margaritas, please,” Cameron ordered. He nudged his shoulder with mine, and I felt sparks of electricity shoot through my body from the touch. “Is it any good? There’s this place I used to go to, Verde Guacamole—in Coldcreek. It has the best margaritas I’ve ever had in America.”

“I love that place. It’s the best.” I smiled as I met his stare. His eyes were so much greener than brown right now. It was as if they absorbed the color of his shirt and reflected it back to me.

“You have good taste, then.” He leaned on his elbows a little more and shifted in his seat. His knee brushed against mine from the motion for only a moment before he pulled it away and repositioned himself. “So, how’s the margarita? Does it compare?”

I took another sip, wishing he’d left his knee in place. I liked the sensation that coursed through my body from the contact. “It’s good. Really good.”

“In America, huh?” Jimmy asked. My eyes snapped to him, and all the wishes and thoughts from a second ago involving Cameron floated from my mind as though they’d never occurred. “Have you traveled much, then?” Jimmy’s accent was thick and a little difficult to understand, but Lauren swore that was one of the things that made him sexier.

“Whoa, listen to that accent.” Eva reached for a chip and dipped it in the cheese. “You’re definitely not from around here.”

“No, you’ve got to be…let me think, European?” Cameron leaned back in his chair, his knee nearly touching mine again as he shifted around to get comfortable. I could feel the heat sparking in the inch of space he’d left between us.

Jimmy pointed a finger at Cameron and smiled. His teeth were perfectly white and straight. “Greece to be exact, but very good. Have you been?”

“I have,” Cameron answered. I shifted to get a better look at him and felt Craig place his hand on my thigh, reminding me he was here. “I’ve been twice actually. Beautiful place. The buildings were what I found most fascinating, well that and the people who sit outside their doors shaping sponges.”

“Shaping sponges?” Jason made a face as if it was the most idiotic thing he’d ever heard.

“Yeah, they have big buckets of them sitting just outside their doors. They use little scissors to cut off the scraggly ends and give them shape,” Cameron explained. “They move their hands so fast I always found myself mesmerized, standing there watching for hours.”

“Probably didn’t help that you were most likely high as a fucking kite on something while watching,” Craig blurted out. He chuckled as though he’d meant it as a funny jab, but it came out too harsh and cold.

I pressed my body back against my seat. Craig had ruined the mood. He sounded like a complete ass and I hated it.

“While that may have been a distinct possibility, it doesn’t mean it’s okay to blurt shit out like that. Especially not tonight of all nights, asshat,” Eva scolded him.

My eyes widened. Had she really just told Craig off? Maybe I shouldn’t be so judgmental and hate her because she was stunning. She’d just gained some bonus points in my mind.

“Damn!” Lauren shouted, and slapped her hand down on the table. “I think I just met the newest addition to my best friend list. Anyone who uses the term asshat is all right in my book.”

Eva chuckled and her cheeks turned the prettiest shade of pink. “I’m glad I didn’t offend anyone. Sometimes my mouth can get the best of me.”

“You’re in good company, then, because that’s Lauren’s problem all the time.” Blaire grinned and took a sip of her margarita.

“The beaches are what I miss most,” Jimmy said. It was almost as though he’d been lost in the memories of his homeland the entire time. Not even Lauren’s loud smack on the table had shaken him.

“The beaches were great,” Cameron agreed.

Craig’s hand tightened on my thigh, and I placed mine on top of his, hoping he’d loosen his death grip a little. He shifted to face me and flashed me a small smile. Leaning in, he whispered, “Let’s make this a quick one. I don’t feel like being here much longer.”

I nodded. “Okay.” Even though that was the last thing I wanted.

I wanted to have some fun with my friends, laugh, and cut up, but Craig had ruined it for me. His tension from the beginning of the night had weighed me down too much to enjoy myself.

My mind wandered as I took another sip of my drink. Craig’s thumb began to circle lazily across the bare skin of my thigh, and guilt swept through me. I should be thankful he’d come at all tonight, especially when I already knew he really hadn’t wanted to.

I sipped my drink and smiled at something Jason had said when everyone started laughing, even though I hadn’t heard him. My mind was somewhere else, frozen in a room of disappointment.

CAMERON

I heard Craig mention to Paige he didn’t want to be here much longer, and I felt a little sliver of satisfaction slide through me. I knew I was the main reason for his sudden mood shift. Paige took another long sip from her margarita, and I picked mine up for a taste.

“Damn, these are pretty good.” I nudged her elbow with mine and grinned. It wasn’t as potent as the ones at Verde Guacamole, but the salt-to-tang ratio was spot on for me. “You were right.”