To Gerald Jackson, Sr., the man who shows me
what true love is all about.
To all my readers who are participating in the
Madaris/Westmoreland/Steele Family Reunion Cruise, 2007, this one is for you.
To my Heavenly Father, who gave me the gift to write.
Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 15:22
âTake it from someone who almost found out the hard way, Van. Running away never solves anything.â
Vanessa Steele shifted her gaze from the open suitcase to the woman standing in her doorway. Sienna Bradford had been her best friend since grade school, but it bothered Vanessa that at times Sienna thought she knew her better than she knew herself. Unfortunately, some times Sienna actually did.
âI am not running away.â But not even Vanessaâs short, gruff tone could convince anyone that she wasnât getting the hell out of Dodge because a certain man by the name of Cameron Cody was on his way to Charlotte, supposedly to spend some time visiting with her cousins.
âThen please explain what youâre doing if youâre not running away.â
Vanessa sighed and tossed aside the blouse she was about to pack. âIâm leaving for Jamaica because Cheyenne called and asked if I would house-sit while the builders are putting in her pool. She hadnât planned on having to go to Italy for an un-scheduled photo shoot,â Vanessa said of her sister, an international model. âThereâs not a lot happening at work and a vacation in Jamaica is just what I need.â
Sienna arched a brow. âAnd your leaving has nothing to do with Cameron coming to town?â
Vanessa nervously averted her gaze. âI wish I can say one has nothing to do with the other but that wouldnât be true and you and I both know it. Cheyenneâs phone call gave me the out I need, and Iâm taking it.â
Sienna came farther into the room, forcing Vanessa to look at her. âWhat are you afraid of, Van? Why do you feel so much dislike and anger toward one man?â
âYou of all people know why, Sienna. You know what Cameron tried to do to my familyâs business.â
âYes, but that was three years ago. And if your cousins have gotten over it and consider him a friend, why canât you?â
âIâll never consider that man a friend,â Vanessa snapped.
âThen maybe you need to wonder why,â Sienna replied smoothly. âThere has to be a reason for your intense dislike of him.â
Vanessa rolled her eyes. âThere is, and Iâve told you what it is.â
âI only know what youâve convinced yourself it is.â
Vanessa lifted a brow. âAnd whatâs that supposed to mean?â
âOnly that I have eyes. Iâve been watching you and Cameron for a while now, especially at Morgan and Lenaâs wedding last month. What I saw between you wasnât animosity, but a buildup of sexual chemistry of the most potent and compelling kind. And I think the reason you donât like being around him is because, if given the chance, youâd want to have your way with him.â Sienna grinned. âYouâd probably jump his bones in a heartbeat.â
âWhat!â Vanessa exclaimed, folding her arms over her chest and giving her pregnant best friend an incredulous look. âHow can you even think of anything so ridiculous?â
âIs it really so ridiculous, Vanessa? Think about it. Heâs the only man I know who has pushed your buttons since that guy you met in London.â
âWell, yeah, that might be true, but heâs pushing them the wrong way.â
âAnd what if he starts pushing them the right way? What if one day you discover that Cameron isnât as bad as you think and that an affair with him is just what you need to take the edge off?â
Vanessa laughed. âI donât have an edge on.â
âYes, you do, and we both know it.â
Vanessa walked over to her bedroom window and looked out. Yes, she had an edge on, all right. Not that she was counting, but it had been almost four years since that summer sheâd spent in London with Harlan, a man she had fancied herself in love with. But Harlan couldnât hold a candle to Cameron Cody. As far as she was concerned, Cameron was the sexiest, most handsome man aliveâwhich wasnât helping matters. It would be a lie to say she hadnât thought about doing him, because she had. A part of her saw it as the perfect way to get him out of her system. Right?
Wrong.
Another part of her saw it as dominance on his part, a sure victory for him. Eventually heâd take her over just as heâd enjoyed taking over corporations that suited his fancy. He had a reputation that made Genghis Khan look like a choirboy.
âVan?â
She turned back around to Sienna. âAre you suggesting that I engage in an affair with Cameron? Especially after what Harlan said?â
Sienna frowned and rubbed her stomach as she felt her baby kick. âForget about what Harlan Shaw said. As far as Iâm concerned, an affair with Cameron sounds like a good plan to me. Youâre twenty-six, old enough to know the score, and you and Cameron are spontaneous combustion just waiting to happen. Iâve never been around two more volatile individuals. And Iâm not the only one who can feel the intensity, the passion, when the two of you are in the same room. Do us all a favor and finally do something about it.â