Marie Hudson
BELLA
I walk out of the office, start back with my tables again, get drinks, and take dirty glasses back to the bar.
Brad looks at me for a second before he dips behind the bar. “I see you’re still here. That’s a good sign, then. His confession didn’t run you off.”
“No. I know it’s not the best life for most people, but I don’t mind it. He also wanted me to move in with him permanently,” I say, blushing hard.
Brad drops the glass he has in his hand, and I help him clean it up. “Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?” I look over his legs and hand.
“Uh, no. Um, it just surprised me, that’s all. He’s never asked anyone to do that before.” He picks up a chunk of glass beside his foot.
“Never asked anyone what?” John has slid up to the other side of the bar.
“He wants Bella to move in with him permanently.” Brad looks over at him.
John’s mouth drops open, and he stares at me.
“What? What’s wrong?” I ask.
“Why is everyone standing around staring at Bella? Close your mouth, Brad, you might have something fly into it.” Cameron has walked up to the bar now.
“Bella just told us you wanted her to move in with you. We were just shocked,” Brad says as he shakes the shock off.
“I want to have her closer, and we’re going to start dating. I have asked her out, and she’s agreed to be my girlfriend. What’s wrong with that?” He crosses his arms, glaring at the two guys.
“Okay, back up and repeat. You have a girlfriend? When did this happen?” Brad is waving his hands down low like a stopping motion.
“Earlier.” He grins, then looks at me. “I asked her out and told her that I want to take our relationship beyond being friends. She then agreed to take the next step.”
“Uh, okay! Wow! Um, so congratulations?” Brad is now staring at Cameron like he has two heads or something.
“Why are you stuttering?” I ask him.
“Boss man is not the kind of guy who normally does things like this. He dates, but that’s it. He’s never taken anyone to his house, and nobody has ever been asked to move in with him.” John is still staring at Cameron.
“Things change, man,” Cameron says, shrugging his shoulders slightly.
“As we talked, she understood me for who I am, and she’s not throwing herself at me either. She wants to take things slow, so I’m up for that. I told her I wanted to spoil her as my girlfriend should be, so she agreed.”
He’s still smiling.
“So, this is the one who stole your heart to where you’re doing everything you said you never would.” Tony has now walked up to the group.
“Tony, you have seen me before. Why are you so surprised?” I look at him with a question in my eyes.
“I know, but he’s just going way off the rails, and we’re not used to it. You’ve done something that we didn’t think we would ever see with this guy.” He grins.
“Okay, enough teasing me. Yes, I know this is all new, but hey, when you find someone special, then you will go through the same thing as I am right now.” Cameron’s voice has dropped to a warning tone.
“There are a few women who I have my eye on, but I haven’t made a move yet. Just waiting till the time is right.” Brad looks down at the floor.
“Oh, may I inquire who?” I step closer to him.
“Nope.” He grins. “Only I know right now.”
“I know one.” Cameron gives him an evil look and grin.
“Don’t you dare open your mouth! I haven’t made my move yet.” Brad glares at him.
Cameron chuckles and shakes his head. “I won’t. That’s for you when you’re ready, man.”
“So you’re going to leave us hanging,” John looks at him with a pout. “Not cool, man.”
“Hey, I promised not to say who it was when he came to ask advice from me one day. I can’t. It would break my word and my bro bond with him,” Cameron takes a step back.
“Damn straight,” Brad looks at him. “You know better.”
I make another round as the guys are still ordering, so I get more drinks for them. Then, as I walk past a table, one of the guys watches my ass closely. I feel eyes cutting through me, and when I turn around, he smirks at me.
Cameron has stepped up beside me and whispers in my ear, “I’m watching him. If he even tries touching you, he’ll regret it.”
“Thanks, I appreciate that. He gives me the creeps.”
“Do you trust me?” He looks at me with his eyes sparkling.
“Uh, yeah, why?” I wonder what he has in mind.
“Can you play along and not get mad?” He takes my tray and sets it down.
“Ha, boss! Really? She’s going to love this,” John is propped against the wall.
Cameron looks at me, grabs my waist, and pulls me to him. He looks at my lips and slowly lowers his head, then starts to kiss me. My whole body is on fire, tingling from his touch and kiss.
He grabs the back of my neck then sweeps his tongue over my bottom lip. I open my mouth, and he takes advantage of it. He plunges his tongue in my mouth, and our tongues dance together.
When we pull apart, we both are breathing heavily.
“Wow!” His face is a little flushed. “That was amazing.”
“I’ve never felt that way before.” My face feels like it is burning red.
“You felt it too, huh? My whole body was on fire,” he says as he licks his lips slowly.
“Yeah!” I try to get my body under control. “That was just…wow.”
The man watching me has a scowl on his face but finally goes back to his drink. The guys chuckle lowly, and my cheeks are burning red right now.
Cameron takes his hand and slowly runs his finger along my face. “I’ll do anything to protect you. No man will be able to touch you while you’re with me. If they do, they will pay for it dearly.”
I drop my head and blush harder. His touch sets my body on fire.
“Don’t be embarrassed, baby. You’ll get used to it. Guys will be very jealous that I take you.” He pecks my cheek as I slowly back away from him.
I start my round for the last time, and then we clean up. The last customer finally leaves, and I take the last set of glasses to the dishwasher area.
They’re run on the quick cycle that steams them good. We dry them with rags, finally putting them back up for the next night.
Cameron walks up behind me and kisses my neck. I shiver, and he smiles against my skin.
“Come on, let’s get to the house. I’m ready to go.” His voice sounds tired.
Jewel looks at me with a smirk. “I’ll see you tomorrow, girl. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t.” She winks at me.
Brad laughs, then looks at her. “Come on, Jewel, let’s get you home.”
“You know I don’t do that. I’m not like you,” I say, pointing my finger at her, then smiling big.
“Don’t be jealous that I always get the good-looking guys.” She flips her hair at me.
“Um, what am I?” Cameron looks at her with a smile. “Swiss cheese?”
Jewel looks at me with an evil grin. “No, boss, you’re hotter than hell. She just has never been into dating guys much and always has kept herself busy with work.”
Cameron looks at her with a shocked look on his face. “So how many guys has she dated?”
I glare at Jewel, but she ignores it while her mouth keeps babbling.
“Only like four in all. Her best friend has tried to go out with her for years, but she has shut him down. I told him she just wanted to be friends. She’s still a—” I cover her mouth while my cheeks have gone bright red again.
“Jewel, what were you going to say?” Cameron looks at her and crosses his arms.
“Nothing,” I say, still keeping her mouth covered. “She just gets carried away sometimes and just talks.”
“Come on, I want her to finish that sentence!” He looks at me with a grin. I know he probably finished it himself but wants to hear it out loud.
I beg her with my eyes, but she shrugs. “I think you can fill in the blank with what I’ve told you.”
“You were going to say virgin, correct?” he asks in a tone that I cannot place.
I cover my face and drop to the floor. I’m so embarrassed right now that if it opened up and swallowed me it would be perfect. He squats down in front of me and smiles. “It’s okay. I’m impressed, to tell you the truth.”
I still have my face buried in my hands, and my words sound muffled. “God, I am so embarrassed right now. I didn’t want everyone to know that detail about me.”
“Come on.” He scoops me up in his arms. “Let’s go home. You can get some sleep, and then tomorrow morning we’re going shopping.”
He walks out, puts me in his car, and shuts the door. After starting the engine, we head to his house for the night.