Chapter Nine

The cab pulled up outside Cameron’s villa and Nina climbed out after Isla. Music plus the sound of people splashing was drifting along the breeze from the pool area. Isla started dancing as she made her way down the path toward the door. Nina smiled. It was good to see Isla getting back to her normal self. Nina had spoken to Noah about how Isla had been feeling, and he’d gotten the ball rolling once he’d been discharged, having a heart-to-heart with Isla then talking to the label to organise some support. They were going to have a meeting with Isla’s manager upon her return to the UK. There was a long way to go, but at least it was the start of the journey to improve Isla’s welfare.

Shaking Zac had also been good for Isla’s mental wellbeing. Nina was pretty sure that his toxicity didn’t take long to start festering in a woman’s psyche. With a spike of anxiety, she thought about Ash and hoped she’d manage to rid herself of him too.

They made their way into the villa. There were groups of people scattered through the first floor, chatting over drinks. Some of them Nina recognised. However, there was only one person she was interested in seeing, and she couldn’t spot him anywhere. She’d spoken to Cam on the phone since their tryst but hadn’t seen him in person. She scanned the room and locked eyes on him. He was speaking to Noah. She started toward them, but as she approached, someone else tapped Cam on the shoulder and led him over to another group outside. Nina hesitated, not knowing whether to follow him.

Isla caught her and gave her a nudge. “Go talk to him. He’s on the terrace, so it’s your natural making-out habitat.”

Nina laughed then tried to stifle it when Noah approached. He gave Isla a kiss on the cheek and they seemed to share an intimate look. Nina smiled. “How’re you feeling?”

“Great, thanks,” he said. “It’s fantastic to be one hundred percent again.”

“Do you need any more treatment?” Nina asked.

He shook his head. “I had some ultrasound to break up the stone and it’s been fine since. I’m just lucky that my guardian angel saved me, because I didn’t fancy a trip home on a plane when the insurance company refused to pay out for the treatment.”

Nina’s eyes widened. “I didn’t realise that. They wanted to send you home to an NHS hospital?”

Noah nodded. “But my fees were paid for me.”

“Wow,” Nina said. “The label did that? Very generous.”

Noah shook his head. “Generous, yes. Label, no. It was Cam. But don’t tell anyone, because he’s being all humble about it.”

Nina glanced out to the terrace where Cam was chatting with people. Her heart swelled. He was so kind. How on earth could she have thought any different at their first couple of encounters? She watched him run a hand through his hair and could tell that it was taking all his effort to socialise to this degree. She smiled.

Noah got them a couple of drinks and they began speaking to various people. Nina kept checking on Cam, but each time she did, he was with a new group. She wanted to speak to him on his own without getting in the way, because it was an industry event and many professionals connected with the label were there. Also, she didn’t even know what she’d do if she were alone with him. She’d already told him that nothing more could happen. That fact was solidified by hearing back from Matt that she’d interview for his post once she got home and that they viewed her as a shoo-in. Her path was set. My father’s daughter.

She turned to head to the restroom with a sigh. Why was it such a struggle? Why was the thought of leaving the island and never seeing Cameron in the flesh again so painful when it was just a crush that she’d harboured for a few measly days? I know why. Because it’s much more than just a crush.

She washed up in the bathroom, strangely unable to meet her own eyes in the mirror because the truth was dawning on her, and somehow avoiding her own gaze helped suppress the discomfort of knowing that she soon would have to tear herself away from the man she was falling for. Plus, he didn’t return her feelings, at least not with the same strength.

She wandered into the living room, looking for a distraction. Unfortunately, it came in the form of Zac, who was lounging on the sofa, sipping a beer. Nina rolled her eyes and turned to leave.

“Hey,” he said, “where’re you going?”

“None of your business,” she replied, turning to face him as he stood.

He laughed. “Still feisty. I like that.”

She shrugged. “I don’t care what you like.” His smug grin was infuriating. She remembered the tears on Isla’s face and the torment that he’d clearly given Ash over a prolonged period, and her anger intensified.

He moved toward her and she stood her ground.

“What are you even doing here?” she said. “Pretty shitty, coming to the party of a guy whose girlfriend cheated on him with you.”

Zac shrugged. “What goes around comes around. Anyway, I’m the same label as Isla. They invited me, and it’s their shindig, not his.”

Nina gritted her teeth.

He smirked. “Revenge is sweet. I’m enjoying taking stuff that’s his. His girlfriend.” He lifted his bottle. “His beer.” He suddenly raised his hand to touch her cheek. “Maybe his new girlfriend.”

In the split second before she could flinch away there was a noise at the door. Nina turned and Cameron was standing there. The colour drained from his face and he walked off, heading quickly up the stairs behind him.

Nina snapped her head back round and smacked Zac’s hand away.

“Ouch,” he said, shaking his hand and still smirking. “That couldn’t have worked out better. Now how about it? You’re obviously the angry type—and I like angry sex.”

Nina’s last gossamer-thin strand of self-restraint snapped. She stepped into him, kneed him in the groin and watched him crumple to the floor. “Good luck having any kind of sex after that.” She turned and hurried upstairs after Cameron.

Nina strode along the hallway and knocked on his closed bedroom door. There was no answer, so she opened it a crack. He was there, out on the balcony staring down at the pool area. She went inside. “Cam.”

He turned to face her as she crossed the room toward him. His face was pinched. “What do you want?”

The sharp tone in his voice was like a knife to her gut. “I want to talk to you.”

“About what?” he said. “That you said you weren’t interested in Zac, told me nothing more could happen between us because you were leaving soon, then you immediately got involved with Zac?”

Her mouth fell open. “That is not what happened.”

He shook his head. “I don’t like being lied to.”

Nina’s need to appease him gave way to anger. “How dare you. Nothing happened between Zac and me except a good hard knee to the balls after you left the room. He’s probably still lying on the floor down there if you want to check.”

Cameron’s demeanour changed and the anger drained from his face. He opened his mouth to speak but she lifted a hand to silence him. “In any case, it’s none of your business if I was involved with anyone else. I’m single, and you and I aren’t anything to each other.” Her emotions were getting the better of her. She was speaking from a raw and unbridled place because of her feelings for him. On impulse, she spun on her heel. She needed to take herself out of the situation before she said something she really regretted.

“Wait,” he called, before she could get to the door. She turned back to him, unable to resist the urgent tone in his voice.

He closed the gap between them. “I’m sorry. You’re right.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions, and even so, what you choose to do is your own business. It’s just…” His voice faltered, and he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Just what?” she asked, moving a little closer.

He glanced into her eyes. “I think you know.”

She shook her head. “Know what?”

Cam swallowed. “I like you. I mean”—he placed his fingers on his temples—“I’m more than just attracted to you.” He took a breath. “I think what I feel is on a deeper level.”

Nina knew what he meant because she felt it too but clearly to a further degree, because she was able to put a much more precise label on her emotions than he had. However, she couldn’t say it out loud. It was too soon and too risky when he didn’t feel the same.

She stepped into him, lifting her hand to his cheek. She sensed his breath catch in his throat. He held her gaze for a moment and the intensity in his eyes sent her heart rate soaring. He leaned in to kiss her and she melted into him.

Cameron stoked her desire with his tongue, kissing her with a sense of abandonment even more intense than the first time. Nina clung to him, desperate for the moment not to end. Her cautious seed of doubt resurfaced, and she crushed it. She wanted him more than anything and she didn’t care what the consequences were.

Nina broke away and took a step back. His breathing was laboured. She pointed at his T-shirt. “Take it off.”

A smile played at the corner of his mouth as he realised what she was doing. Nina admired the way his arms flexed as he lifted the shirt over his head. She ran her gaze over his torso and her pulse rose impossibly further. She could hear it throbbing in her ears.

Cam stood there looking as sexy as hell and awaiting his next instruction. Nina took a breath then pointed at his shorts. He let them drop to the floor, stepping out of them toward her in his boxers. Nina’s gaze skimmed the manner in which they grazed over the muscle of his thighs. The room started to spin a little.

He raised his eyebrow and she read the intention behind his gesture. She managed a smile through the heat that was threatening to overwhelm her and lifted her top over her head then let her shorts fall. She enjoyed the way he raked his gaze down her body, taking in the red bikini she’d chosen with the ulterior motive of getting his attention. He swallowed hard then met her eyes. Nina gestured for him to come to her. He closed the gap in one stride, collapsing them both onto the bed in the process. He kissed her so fervently that she was aware of nothing else but the feel of his mouth on hers and his skin grazing her body with a delicious friction that set her nerves endings ablaze.

There was a palpable sense of desperation as they pulled off the last of each other’s clothing and it served to drive her senses even wilder. Cameron paused to look into her eyes, pinning her with his gaze. He lifted her hands above her head and entwined his fingers with hers. “I really want this. But I need to know that you do too.”

Nina struggled to speak, her mind so fused with emotion. “More than anything,” she said, her voice hoarse. Cam smiled and reached into the bedside drawer, bringing out a condom and rolling it on.

He held her face gently, watching every nuance of expression in her eyes as he started to gently thrust his way inside her, catching her breath with butterfly kisses until they were fully as one. He deepened the kiss, conveying a clear sense of surrender as his movements became more and more urgent.

Nina was vaguely aware of the sound of music and voices drifting in from the balcony. The party was still going on, but she didn’t care. The moment with Cameron was all that mattered. She pushed away the tiny voice that told her the affair would be over soon and that as much as he said he cared for her on a deeper level, it was nothing compared to the feelings she had developed for him. She concentrated on the intensity of his gaze and the feel of his body, allowing herself to be consumed by it. The fire in her pelvis surged higher and higher until it reached climactic proportions and she gave herself to it, calling out despite the open balcony door and party going on below.

Her pleasure rolled over her in wave after wave as she arched her back, desperately trying to get him closer. He wrapped his arms around her, nuzzling her neck, his breathing laboured against her skin. He moaned her name, his body shuddering from the force of his climax. She held him tightly as the tide of their passion slowed and their breathing settled into a satisfied synch.

Cameron rested his forehead against hers, studying her eyes. “I’m seeing stars again. In more ways than one this time.”

She smiled, remembering with a warm glow how he’d told her that her eyes sparkled like stars. She couldn’t remember any compliment giving her such joy before. It wasn’t just the sweetness of the sentiment but the intimacy of knowing that he saw the connection to her father. There’s another reason that his flattery brings me joy. And it’s called being in love. That thought caused the breath to catch in her throat.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, brushing his lips against hers.

She swallowed. “Nothing. Everything is amazing.”

He smiled. “It sure is.”

Nina listened to the partygoers outside. “You should probably get back down there.”

Cam groaned. “I want to stay here with you.” He buried his face in her neck.

She laughed. “We can’t. This is your party. You’ll be missed.”

He stayed where he was, trailing his mouth along her skin.

Nina stroked his hair. “I’ll come with you.”

He sighed and lifted his head. “Fine. But once I’ve delivered the preview of the song, I’m leaving Noah in charge and bringing you right back up here.”

Nina grinned. “Sounds great to me.”

He climbed off her and they both pulled on their clothing, stealing pulse-spiking glances at each other long the way. Cameron took her hand and they headed back downstairs and into the kitchen. Before Nina could say anything further, Cameron was grabbed by someone and led into a conversation with another group. He gestured for her to come with him, but she shook her head and smiled. She didn’t want to cramp his style when he had people to schmooze.

Nina moved over to the kitchen island where Noah and Isla were talking to a few others.

Isla leaned in. “Where’ve you been?”

“Nowhere,” Nina said, glancing across the room and meeting Cam’s eyes. He held her gaze with a smile playing at the corner of his mouth and Nina felt like she might collapse with desire.

Isla narrowed her eyes at her. “Why don’t I believe you?”

Nina shrugged. “Stop being so suspicious.” She lifted a bottle of beer and popped the top, taking a long drink so that Isla couldn’t question her further. She’d tell her about it later, just not now in a room full of people.

Nina listened to the conversation around her, unable to fully concentrate on what they were saying. She couldn’t stop glancing at Cameron as he made his way around the room and she was delighted to find that most of the time he was looking back at her. Eventually he came over to their group and she steeled herself to practise some self-restraint and not grab hold of him.

He drew level with her to address Noah, deliberately grazing her hand with his and stretching out his fingers so that they almost entwined with hers, their hands hidden between them.

Cameron nodded at Noah. “I’ve done my rounds. Time to showcase the track then I’m going upstairs to lie in a dark room while you host the party.” He squeezed Nina’s fingers as he spoke. She studied his profile, able to read what he was signalling.

Noah laughed. “Anything you say. Do you want me to introduce it?”

“No,” Cam said quickly. “Get everyone’s attention, then I’ll introduce it.”

Noah nodded. He turned to the room and clinked a spoon against his glass, with Cam turning down the music via his phone in order to get Noah heard.

“Thanks for coming, everyone,” Noah said. “Logan would like to give you all an exclusive preview of his track, featuring our very own Isla Starr.”

Everyone applauded and Isla did a little curtsey.

Noah nodded at Cam.

Cameron cleared his throat as he lined up the track on his phone. “Thanks, Noah. This is a real labour of love, so I appreciate you all coming to celebrate and listen. Here’s a snippet of the track.” He met Nina’s gaze. “It’s called Stars in Her Eyes.”

Nina’s heart thudded in her chest. Is the song about me? She hadn’t taken in the words before, due to a mix of stress about Isla and distractions like her audiobook and fetching and carrying food. Plus, she hadn’t realised at the time that he saw their bond as anything but platonic.

The music started, punctuated by applause and everyone in the room began moving to the melody. Nina stayed motionless, listening properly to the lyrics for the first time and unable to take her eyes off Cam’s. They were the only two people in the room standing still.

Dark hair like midnight skies,

Her gaze holds mine,

She’s got stars in her eyes.

Nina swallowed, watching him from a couple of metres away. She could no longer kid herself. She was in love with Cameron but she couldn’t have him because they were from such different worlds, and although he was sweet and romantic and wrote songs about her, he didn’t love her. He cared about her, but her feelings eclipsed his—and that was bad news.