Ruining Mr. Perfect (The McCauley Brothers) Read online

  “Whoa. You okay?”

  “I don’t know. That’s twice today that’s happened. Not sure why.”

  “Used to happen all the time to my sister when she was pregnant. Not that I’m saying you are, because you’re thin and all.”

  She blushed. “No. I’m not…pregnant.”

  “Well, you should definitely get your blood sugar checked.” He released her. “You sure you’ll be okay? I can walk you out if you want.”

  “No, I’m fine. Thanks. And um, don’t mention this to John. I don’t want him to think I’m sick and can’t handle his business. I skipped lunch today. I won’t do that again.”

  “No worries. Yeah, not eating will do that to you. Good luck working with my cousin, Vanessa. It was nice to meet you.”

  He left her, and she grabbed her groceries, feeling numb. She paid for them and took them to her car, feeling as if she’d entered a Twilight Zone episode. I can’t be pregnant. I’m on the Pill. Hell, I haven’t missed a day in five years. Yet she’d been sick lately, hungry at odd times, and God, horny.

  No. Not possible. She refused to consider the prospect and drove to Cameron’s. As she rode the elevator to his floor, she gauged every breath and beat of her heart, listening for anything different. She rang the bell and let herself in at his shout.

  “Put the stuff on the counter,” he called from inside the unit.

  She shook off her worries, dismissing them as silly, and put the cold things away. Then she joined him in the bedroom.

  She caught him buttoning up his shirt, his hair damp from a recent shower. The sight of his bare chest reminded her of what she’d been hungry for the better part of the day. It hadn’t been a turkey club.

  Without pausing to say hello, she walked up and kissed him. Not a hi, how was your day kind of kiss, but an I want your body now meeting of the mouths. She tugged the back of his neck, drawing him in closer as she unbuttoned his shirt and pushed it off him. Then she deepened the kiss, rewarded by his moan, and unbuttoned his jeans. She reached between them and dug into his underwear to grip his swelling cock.

  Cameron groaned and rocked into her hand before turning them around and backing her against the wall. He tugged at her jacket, and she had to let go of him to lose it and her blouse. In seconds he had her bra undone. Then his mouth was there, around her nipple. He bit down as he plumped her other breast, and she was perilously close to coming. The sudden arousal hit her hard, especially when he shoved his hand up her skirt and into her panties.

  “You’re so wet,” he whispered as he slid a finger inside her. “So hot.” He licked her ear and whispered more naughty things he planned on doing to her.

  Before she could take action, Cameron moved with purpose. He impatiently peeled off the rest of her clothing, then pushed his pants down to his thighs. When he rose, he lifted her up over his erection and eased into her body with a sigh and a plea.

  Vanessa wanted it hard and fast, but Cameron, damn him, was taking his time as he thrust into her.

  “Faster. Make me come,” she demanded and tried to ride him.

  “My show. Slow down,” he rasped and gripped her hips hard as he continued to pump inside her.

  Not having it, especially after the day she’d been cursed with, she pinched his nipples and kissed him soundly. She owned him, using her tongue to show him exactly what she wanted.

  Lord love him, Cameron caught on quick. He growled into her mouth and pushed himself deeper. He fucked her harder, slamming into her with force while she continued to rake her fingers over his chest and nipples, sucking his tongue, teasing his lips, and squeezing her inner walls to stimulate him into doing what she wanted.

  He ground against her, and she was nearly there…

  “God, Cam. Fuck me. So good,” she moaned.

  He thrust again and slapped against her clit, and she shattered while he rode her furiously to his own orgasm.

  They stayed locked while they recovered.

  “So how was your day?” Cameron asked with a chuckle. “’Cause mine just got a hell of a lot better.”

  “Mine too,” she said on a breath and moaned when he withdrew. She wanted him to stay inside her, filling her up and surrounding her with himself. His body, his come, his scent. Instead, the practical part of her found a towel and cleaned herself up. She accepted the sweats he handed her to wear, a pair she’d accidentally left behind a few days ago.

  “Not that I mind, but what brought that on?” he asked as he donned his shirt and buttoned it up, righting his clothing.

  Though he and Vanessa had a healthy sex life, they normally instigated it together. Their kisses went from tender to combustible in seconds. But tonight she’d been frustrated and scared and needy. So unlike her normal self.

  “I was thinking about you in the elevator. You know, it has been two days since we last had sex.”

  “I think we can call it making love now. We’re dating, after all.”

  “So good of you to classify it for me.”

  He took a bow. “You’re most welcome. Now, as soon as the blood comes back to my big head, I’ll finish the dinner I was going to make you.”

  She laughed at him, feeling better, and followed him into the kitchen.

  Until he asked her again about her day. “Oh God. It was a nightmare. I worked my ass off, got hit on by my twenty-two-year-old coworker, then ran into Mr. Small Dick at the grocery store.” She deliberately made no mention of her illness, sure she could handle her symptoms herself. She didn’t want to worry him simply because she had forgotten to eat once or twice.

  Cameron froze. He shut the oven door and leaned over the kitchen sink to stare into her eyes across the countertop. “Say that again?”

  She’d expected a burst of jealousy, but Cameron regarded her with curiosity. Nothing more. “You remember Josh? Peterman’s nephew and the kid I was kind of mentoring? Apparently he has a crush. It was so weird, because usually I’m attuned to that kind of thing.”

  “Thing?”

  She shrugged. “I’m pretty good at reading people. I know when a guy is hitting on me. Usually.” She frowned. “He said he loves me.”

  “Oh boy. Did you rip him a new one?”

  She frowned. “I’m not that much of an ogre.”

  He just looked at her.

  “I’m not,” she snapped.

  “You also don’t mix business with your personal life. I take it you let him down easy?” Cameron sounded way too calm as he asked, “He does know you’re not available, doesn’t he?”

  “Yes. I told him I had a boyfriend. I don’t think he cares.”

  “You need me to talk to him, just let me know.”

  She stared at him, somewhat annoyed he didn’t sound more aggrieved that another man had hit on her. Okay, it was just Josh. But still.

  “I can handle Josh, thanks.” She met his stare with a narrowed one of her own.

  After a moment, he shrugged. “Your call. So you saw Willington too, eh? Did he ask you out again?”

  “No. Nor did he ask for, and I quote, ‘a fuck.’”

  Cameron’s lips twitched. “What a dick.”

  “Anyway, it lasted maybe thirty seconds, and it wasn’t awkward at all.” Until I practically fainted. “I did meet his cousin. And surprise, surprise, that guy doesn’t seem to like John either.”

  “Good.” Cameron fiddled with the oven timer, then drew out a bottle of wine. “How about some merlot?”

  She paused. She knew for a fact she couldn’t be pregnant, but her stomach had been acting up lately. “You know, I think I’ll pass.”

  “You sure?” He frowned. “You okay?”

  “I’m fine. I think there’s something going around though, so I’m trying to eat healthy and stay away from bad stuff. I like wine, but it doesn’t always like me.”

  “Huh.” He p
ut the wine away.

  “You can have some.”

  “Nah. I’m good. Water then?”

  She nodded, oddly touched he’d accommodate her so easily. But then, he was always doing things like that. Remembering small details about her. Helping without overwhelming her when she asked for his opinion and, in rare cases, his assistance. Cameron had to be one of the few men who had no problem with his masculinity, because he never gave her grief when she wanted to be in charge…so long as she didn’t monopolize the control.

  “You know, I like you, Cameron McCauley.”

  He turned from the refrigerator with two glasses filled with ice. “Um, thanks?”

  She laughed. “You’re pretty comfortable in your own skin. You always listen to me, and you don’t try to take over all the time.” She made a face. “Sometimes I see Flynn taking over with Maddie. And it’s annoying.”

  “Flynn bosses her around? I hadn’t seen that.”

  “No, no. He’s great with Maddie. But she acts so helpless sometimes, and she’s not.” Vanessa frowned.

  Cameron shrugged. “So he gets a kick out of being useful, and she feels good because he cares enough to help. I like the dynamic.”

  “I just meant… Oh, forget it.”

  “No, explain it to me.” The timer beeped and he withdrew their steak. She came around the counter to help him set the plates.

  “See? We work well together,” she said. “I don’t need you to cook for me.”

  He raised a brow.

  “Well, yes, I’m not as proficient at cooking as I could be. But I won’t starve if you don’t make me something. I like you cooking for me.”

  “I like to do it.” He gave her a quick kiss. “What’s wrong with that?”

  “Nothing. I was just trying to say that I don’t need you to do things for me. I like when you do them. See the difference?”

  “I guess.” He joined her at the counter to eat. She enjoyed being closer to him, physically as well as emotionally.

  The domestic scenes were starting to get to her. She found she took pleasure from eating meals with him, being with him, or just arguing for the sake of arguing with an intelligent man. Cameron could talk about anything with a degree of intelligence she’d often found lacking in most boyfriends.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked softly. “Your eyes seem really, really blue.”

  “I’m in love with this dinner,” she said with enthusiasm. “I’m intense because I’m so hungry, and you’re doing your best to fill me up.” Before he could pounce on her unintended entendre, she held up a hand. “Please don’t.”

  The great thing with Cameron—she rarely needed to explain herself. It was like they lived on the same wavelength.

  He grinned. “Oh, come on. A line like that and I have to let it go? No references to filling you before? You know, when you seduced me against the wall?”

  She groaned. “Happy now?”

  “I’m okay, but if I could be happy later, like I was happy earlier? Then you’ll have made my night perfect.”

  She laughed. “You think about sex a lot, don’t you?”

  “I’m a guy. It’s genetic.”

  She snorted. “Speaking of guys and sex, how is your dad doing with your mom?”

  He cringed. “That was just cruel.”

  “I know.”

  As she ate, he filled her in. “So I got most of this from Mike, because Dad is being closemouthed about Mom. More than usual. Anyway, Dad is going to counseling with Mom now, and they’re finally talking.”

  “That’s great.” She felt genuinely happy for the pair.

  “That’s how we all feel, but we’re keeping quiet. No sense in screwing them up by butting in. Or so I told the others when Flynn had some stupid notion to involve himself. Honestly. He needs to remember his place.”

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah. He’s the charmer. Brody’s the crook. Mike’s the muscle. And I’m the calm, reasonable, intelligent, handsome son. The best one.”

  “Of course.” She smiled. “I’m proof of that.”

  “You are?”

  “I only date the best. You, by far, are the best McCauley.”

  “By far.” He held up his glass of water and she clinked it. “Now would you like to hear about the rest of my week, since we’ve missed a few days?”

  “You have more to add? Bring it.”

  “This past Wednesday, my cousin had a huge blowup with a rival at another job, and the woman decided to come to the office to bitch her out. Mind you, I was with a client at the time, so Alex did his best to step in and talk her down.” Alex was Cam’s other associate.

  “Oh boy.”

  “Yeah. Hope was flabbergasted.”

  Trust Cameron to use a word like flabbergasted in casual conversation. Was it any wonder she loved—liked—him so much?

  “The client thought it pretty funny,” he was saying. “A good thing he’s an old friend of mine. Anyway, when even Alex had no luck, I had to threaten to throw the woman out. Then, get this, she started coming on to me. I mean, really. Like I’m going to take her and her double Ds seriously while she’s bug-eyed bitching out my cousin?”

  A haze of rage came over her at the thought of another woman hitting on her boyfriend. See? This is what you should have been feeling when I told you about Josh, Cameron.

  “She hit on you?”

  “It was no big deal. I’m with you.”

  No big deal? Annoyed because she was annoyed, Vanessa forced herself to detach. Hell, if Cameron couldn’t bring himself to care that another man had confessed himself in love with her, she wouldn’t make a big deal about some bimbo with double Ds—nice of him to notice—flirting.

  They spent the remainder of the evening talking and laughing, but for Vanessa, some of the joy had disappeared. The slight retreat she sensed in Cameron didn’t help any.

  Chapter 18

  Cameron couldn’t put his finger on it, but something in his relationship with Vanessa had changed. Due to the heavy tax season, she’d been busier than usual, so they hadn’t seen each other as much the past week. But now, a week and a half since that last dinner at his place, and he knew he had to bridge the strange gap settling between them.

  He’d prepared a meal he planned to take to her at work, but a call from Mike had him detouring. He stopped at his brother’s.

  Mike opened the door before Cam had left his car. “Oh man. Thanks.”

  “Sure thing. What are brothers for?”

  Mike wore his work clothes and had his tool belt in one hand, his keys in the other. “I wouldn’t have asked you but we’re shorthanded at the jobsite and we have the owners swinging by tomorrow for a look-see. There are a few items Rod and I need to hit before that happens.”

  “Can’t use Dad?”

  “Nope. He and Mom are at one of their counseling things, Flynn and Brody are on a job, and I couldn’t reach Maddie or Abby.”

  “Did you try Vanessa?”

  “Are you nuts?” Before Cam could chide his brother for being mean to a woman who’d never been anything but good to his kid, Mike ended with, “It’s tax season. I may not be a genius with numbers, but even I know better than to bug an accountant until after April fifteenth.”

  “Most of her work is corporate, and they have different deadlines.”

  “Uh-huh. So where is your blond dictator?”

  “At work.” He flushed. “But that’s mostly because she’s a perfectionist.”

  “And you love that about her. I know. Gah. You kids make me sick.” Mike winked. “Anyway, Colin’s been fed, but he’s going through some weird rebellious phase. I’m just warning you.”

  “Terrific. Hurry home.”

  “Two hours at most. Maybe three. This job’s in Queen Anne.”

  “Take your tim
e, Mike. I can handle Colin.”

  Mike waved and hurried to his truck parked in front of the house.

  Cam entered and found Colin sitting on the couch, his arms crossed over his chest, a mutinous expression on his face. God, he looked so much like Mike had as a kid.

  “Hey, little man. I’m going to hang out for a few hours while your dad’s at work, okay?”

  “I guess.”

  “Don’t get all flowery with praise or anything,” Cam said drily. “You’re just like Vanessa.” Lately. The woman made excuses not to talk to him, and when they did manage to connect, she wore sarcasm like a shield. And okay, no sex after having his world tilted on its axis by the sexual blond dynamo was killing him.

  “I like her.”

  “Yeah? I thought she was too mean.”

  “She is, but I like her anyway.”

  “Me too.” Cam sighed. “So why are you so angry with your dad?”

  Colin’s scowl grew blacker. “He won’t let me see her.”

  “Vanessa?”

  Colin gave him the McCauley What are you, a dumbass? expression.

  “Ah, her who?” As far as Cam knew, Colin hadn’t finished his anti-girl phase yet. Did the little stinker have a girlfriend?

  “Del.”

  Cam blinked. “Del, as in, blond lady with tattoos?”

  “Yeah.” Colin sniffed. “She was so nice when she came over. We played and she talked to me. She’s so funny.” He smiled, then frowned. “But I heard Daddy yelling at her. Then she yelled back. And she left.” His eyes filled. “She won’t come over, because I can’t ask her to, because Dad won’t let me call her.” He started crying. “I want to play with Del.”

  Astonished that Colin had taken to Del so deeply, Cam weaseled what details he could out of his nephew. When Colin finished filling him in, Cam sat there a moment. Since when had big brother ever yelled at a woman before? One who had done nothing worse than share candy with his kid? Cam recalled how Mike had watched every move Del had made at the bowling alley weeks ago. Clearly his brother had some unresolved feelings about the lady mechanic.