“Did you hear their conversation?”

  “Only some of it,” he replied.

  “Same here. They mentioned not wanting Anthony to find out about something. Seems like his suspicions could be true.”

  “We still need proof,” Cameron said. “I’ll schedule in some time to follow them this week.” His eyes found mine, and I was brought back to the moment we shared in the steam room before Lydia and Quentin interrupted us.

  “Are you tired?” he asked softly, his voice changing to that tender tone he sometimes used with me in private. I tried not to let him see how much it affected me.

  I gave a light chuckle. “Do you think I looked tired?”

  “A little bit,” he answered. At least he was always honest.

  “I guess I could use some sleep.”

  He turned in his seat, giving me his full attention. “You’ve not been sleeping?”

  “Not as well as I should be.”

  “Any reason?”

  Because I miss you, a voice in my head whispered. It seemed silly that I was losing sleep missing a man I’d never truly had to begin with.

  “The way Rory’s been acting has been weighing on me a little,” I answered. At least the statement was half true. “I’ve been thinking of reporting him to HR, but I just hate the idea of any more drama.

  Cameron’s expression grew serious. “You should do it.”

  I glanced at him, unsure. “You think so?”

  He nodded. “You’re still under the illusion that you have to quietly suffer so as not to cause a stir. Well, forgive my language but fuck that. Rory’s a little shit and he deserves some comeuppance. You should’ve reported him long ago. In fact, if you don’t do it, I will.”

  I bit my lip a little too hard. “But he could be fired. I don’t want anyone to lose their job over me.”

  “He’s acting unprofessionally. It’s his own fault if he loses his job because of it. Not yours.”

  “It’s not that simple though. What if he has a family at home he needs to support? Or, I don’t know, a sick grandmother or something? Not everything is so cut and dried, Cameron.”

  “If you must know, he’s single and lives alone. But like I said, it’s his own fault if he gets fired.”

  I rubbed at my temples, feeling stressed, mostly because Cameron was right. I should have reported Rory at the first sign of hostility. The problem was, for years it was merely little things. Snide comments, general rudeness, taking my help for granted, but now it was turning into something bigger, something more vicious and sinister.

  “Okay, I’ll do it, but…I just don’t understand why he hates me so much,” I said, mostly to myself.

  “I might have a theory,” Cameron replied, and I glanced at him curiously. “Before you came to work at James & Peterson, Rory interviewed for your job.”

  This was news to me. “He did?”

  “He didn’t pass the interview though. Georgia told him he didn’t have the qualifications or the instincts for research. Then you came along and filled the position he wanted, so he channelled all his disappointment on you, blaming you for his own failure. And now that you’re moving up the ladder and becoming a PI, I imagine his resentment has doubled.”

  I shook my head, astounded I hadn’t known this before. “That actually makes a lot of sense.”

  “People like to blame others for their own shortcomings, when it normally boils down to the fact that the successful person is merely doing things the unsuccessful person is not. They prefer to wallow in self-pity and think that others have stolen what should’ve been theirs.”

  There was a wisdom in what he said, but it still didn’t make me feel much better. “He’s going to lose it when he finds out I’ve reported him. Wait and see.”

  “If he does, he’ll have me to deal with.” A pause as he studied me. “You’re not on your own in that office, Maisie. You know that, right? I have your back whenever you need me. All you have to do is ask.”

  His earnest expression made my heart thrum. Without thinking, I reached out and fingered the wet strands of his hair like I’d been dying to do since I entered the car.

  “Thank you,” I whispered. “That means a lot.”

  He held my gaze, his eyes softening even more. We were both silent for a long moment, merely staring at one another. I continued to stroke his hair back, and he emitted a low, barely perceptible grunt from the back of his throat. The tiny sound made my thighs quiver.

  “Cameron,” I said oh so quietly.

  “What it is, Maisie?” he asked thickly.

  “I like touching you.”

  “I like you touching me.”

  “I won’t stop then,” I went on, running my fingers through the silky wet strands as his hand went to my knee then slowly travelled up my thigh. Up and down his hand gently stroked and a lump of arousal sat heavy in my throat. I knew we shouldn’t be doing this, but I simply couldn’t stop.

  Unbidden, a breathy sigh escaped me. “I should leave,” I said when his hand ran up my hip and side, lingering just below my breast.

  “Not yet,” he protested.

  “I’ve never had sex in a car,” I blurted. Why did I say that?

  Cameron’s mouth curved devilishly. “Is that so?”

  “Not that that’s what I want to do right now or anything. Obviously, we can’t do that now.”

  “Obviously,” Cameron agreed, a smile in his eyes that made them crinkle at the edges, his thick, dark eyelashes casting irresistible shadows on his face.

  I loved his eyes. They said so much even when his expression was placid. A small look, a flick of his gaze and I knew he was thinking about me.

  “What were those women saying to you in the class?” I questioned, unable to help my curiosity.

  “Nothing important,” he replied dismissively, his attention on my chest. I felt like I was breathing way too fast. “They wanted to know if I’m local, what I do for a living, whether or not I’m single.”

  That last one made my chest pinch. “Did any of them ask you out?”

  “No. I told them I was married,” he said, his hand moving higher, his thumb brushing under my breast.

  I almost gasped from the touch, my eyes lowering and noting for the first time that he was wearing his fake wedding ring.

  “Tonight was another type of scenario where being perceived to be taken worked in my favour.”

  “Oh,” I breathed, eyelids fluttering when his fingers brushed the curve of my bottom. I was wearing thin leggings and his touch was blazing hot. “And what…what did you tell them you did for a living?”

  Now he grinned, leaving my self-control in ashes. My hands moved down his neck before coming to rest on his collarbones. “I told them I was a librarian.”

  My lips twitched in a smile. “Stealing my old job, huh? I wonder if there are women who enjoy a sexy-male-librarian fantasy.”

  “I’m sure some of them do,” Cameron said, his eyes darkening now.

  I knew what that look meant. He wanted me. Unfortunately, we were sitting in a busy, brightly lit car park. Also, we were supposed to be holding off on all this…sexy stuff until my training was complete, though more and more I was losing my sense of control on that front. When I was around him, all I wanted to do was touch, taste, breathe him in.

  Summoning my willpower, I dropped my hands and shifted back in my seat. Now was not a good time to be feeling up Cameron Grant. After all, we had a case to solve.

  Cameron, sensing the mood change, slotted his keys into the ignition and turned the engine on.

  “Do you need a lift home?” he asked quietly.

  “No, I drove here,” I said and made to open the door. Cameron reached across and caught my wrist before I could turn the handle down.

  “It’s just a few more months,” he whispered, and I got the impression he was finding all this just as difficult as I was.

  I mustered a smile for him. “I know. We can do this.”

  “Yes, we can,” he said and let go of my wrist. I stepped out of the car and looked down at him still watching me. I was about to turn away when he spoke. “By the way…”

  “Yes?” I asked, eager to hear whatever else he wanted to say. I ate up his words like they were the final few I’d ever hear.

  “Can you refrain from discussing arse exercises with clients in the future?”

  It took me a second to realise what he was talking about, the whole “glute” conversation with Anthony Silverstein. I burst out laughing and Cameron gave a hint of a smile.

  “I’ll try my best,” I said.

  I could be mistaken, but I was sure I heard his deep, quiet chuckle as I walked away.

  Twelve

  The Night Out

  January 23rd

  “Congratulations! You’ve officially completed your training,” I told Damien the following afternoon. “I think this calls for a celebratory cup of tea and some chocolate biscuits.”

  “That sounds great, but I have a better idea. How about we go out for a drink after work?” he suggested.

  “Okay,” I replied, smiling. Today I handed over the reins of my old position to become a trainee investigator full-time. It was an important moment in my career that deserved to be marked.

  “Brilliant,” Damien grinned. “Meet you by the lift at five?”

  “Perfect,” I said.

  I made a start on packing up my desk while Damien went to grab lunch. The office was mostly empty, just a handful of people hanging about. I took a few moments to think about all the years I’d sat right here. All the work I’d done in this small space. The chats and cups of tea and coffee Lilah and I had shared. Then, quite mournfully, I realised I’d no longer be sitting in direct view of Cameron’s office, and my heart gave a sharp thud. I had to admit I liked being able to look over and see him sitting at his desk. It was both comforting and exciting.

  “Maisie, we’re going over to the deli for sandwiches,” Lilah said as she approached with Nadia. “Want to join us?”

  I shook my head. “I’m going to try to get as much of this packed up as I can during lunch, but are you two free for drinks later? We’re celebrating Damien completing his training.”

  “Sure, count me in,” she replied enthusiastically.

  “Me, too,” Nadia said and then off they went.

  I still hadn’t encountered Rory today, which felt ominous. This morning I met with Jillian, our HR manager, to make an official complaint. Now I was just waiting for the avalanche to hit. Then again, Cameron was right. Rory’s own actions caused this. He had to face up to the consequences.

  “Need any help?” came a voice.

  Cameron stood close to my desk and I noted that today he wasn’t wearing a tie. The first two buttons of his shirt were loose, revealing a small amount of skin. It was ridiculous that my eyes instantly zoomed in, fixated on the tiny, fascinating change.

  I cleared my throat and looked away. “Uh, sure.”

  He came forward, his elbow brushing mine when he picked up the box I’d just filled. “Where do you want this?”

  “You can bring it over to my new desk,” I said, still not looking at him. I feared if I did I’d do something silly, like grabbing him and burying my face in his neck just to breathe in his smell, which would be creepy and weird and completely uncalled for.

  Without a word, he went and I couldn’t help smiling to myself. Just a few weeks ago I would’ve been shocked to have him offer his assistance, but now it seemed perfectly normal. There was still a certain tension and a little bit of awkwardness on my part, but our interactions were becoming more comfortable and natural the more we got to know one another.

  When he returned, he helped me carry the last of my things over, and I was sad when I peered over at my old desk, empty of all the little knickknacks that used to fill it.

  “Thank you,” I said while Cameron stood next to me. He seemed like he wanted to say something, going quiet for a long moment before he murmured, “I’m proud of you.”

  My heart expanded and shimmered inside my chest, so much so I felt like it must’ve been projected across the entire office. He held my gaze. I felt like he was talking both about the promotion and the fact that I’d gone to Jillian this morning. I was maturing, changing in a way I didn’t think would’ve happened had I not grown closer to Cameron. He’d changed, too, but it was more subtle. Sure, he still wasn’t the most amiable person at the office, but the fact that he’d let me in, opened up to me, felt like a big deal.

  I looked away to study my new desk containing stacks of my things that needed to be sorted and arranged.

  “Thank you, um, again.” I hesitated before I continued, “Me and a few of the others are going out for drinks later if you’d like to join us?”

  “To celebrate your new position?”

  “Well, yes, and Damien finishing his training.”

  Something changed in Cameron’s expression, but it was gone in an instant. I expected him to decline the invitation, since he never went for drinks after work.

  Then, bizarrely, he replied, “Count me in.”

  With that, he left and I stared after him. He was seriously going to come? I guess he really was changing. I spent the rest of my lunch break unpacking my things, and a little while later, I sensed someone’s attention.

  I had the worst luck sometimes.

  My old desk was in direct view of Cameron’s office, but my new desk was in direct view of where Rory sat, and he was currently staring daggers at me. I swallowed tightly. Jillian had obviously called him to her office to have a word. I held his gaze, refusing to cower or look away first. If he wanted to be my enemy, then I was determined to be an opponent.

  I watched as he blinked, seemingly taken aback by my refusal to back down. He frowned and turned his attention to his computer. Huh. That actually worked. I smiled to myself and went back to organising my desk.

  At the end of the day, Damien was already waiting over by the lift and he shot me a friendly smile when he saw me.

  “Hey, are you ready to go?”

  “Yes, we just need to wait for the others.”

  “The others?” His eyebrows lifted curiously.

  I nodded. “I invited Lilah, Nadia, and Cameron. I thought the more, the merrier, right?”

  Damien swallowed then nodded, too. “Right, yeah, the more, the merrier.”

  “I need a glass of wine. Today felt like it went on forever,” Lilah announced as she and Nadia joined us.

  I spotted Cameron and he met my gaze as he approached.

  “Oh, are you coming for drinks, too, Cameron?” Lilah asked sweetly, a knowing look on her face when she glanced at me.

  “Yes, if you don’t mind me tagging along.”

  “Oh, not at all,” Nadia put in. “You’re more than welcome.”

  When we reached the pub, I sat in between Damien and Cameron, while Lilah and Nadia sat on the other side of the table. I watched while Cameron took off his suit jacket and laid it on the back of his chair before rolling up his shirt sleeves. He was now in casual after-work mode, and I think everyone at the table was fascinated to see how he acted outside of a professional setting. We all just kind of…watched him for several moments.

  Cameron looked up, seeming to notice how he was being observed. A vaguely uncomfortable expression passed over his features before he cleared his throat. “What’s everybody drinking? I’ll get a round in.”

  This seemed to please the group.

  “I’ll have a glass of white wine,” Lilah said.

  “Oh, me too,” Nadia added.

  Damien was mostly quiet, which was unusual for him. He was normally so chatty. Finally, he spoke, “A lager for me, thanks.”

  When Cameron looked to me for my order, it took me a moment to answer. “A gin and tonic please.”

  He gave a curt nod. “I’ll be right back.”

  Once he was gone, Nadia leaned across the table, all conspiratorial. “So, Maisie, tell us your secret.”

  For a second, my stomach clenched. “My secret?” I asked, blinking rapidly.

  “Yes, how on earth did you manage to convince Cameron to come out for drinks? This is surely a first. I’ve never seen him socialise with anyone from the office before.”

  I relaxed. It was an innocent question. She wasn’t onto us like I’d feared a second ago. “Oh, well, it’s just because he’s training me at the moment. We’ve been spending a lot of time together. He’s honestly not as scary as everyone thinks.”

  Nadia smiled. “You know what? Maybe I should try becoming an investigator, too. I wouldn’t mind spending some one-on-one time with him.”

  I laughed nervously, while at the same time my stomach twisted at the thought of yet another co-worker fancying Cameron. Lilah studied me, a faint smile on her lips. She knew me too well not to notice I was bothered by Nadia’s comment.

  “So, Damien, how are you liking things at the office?” Nadia asked.

  “I’m loving it,” Damien replied, and then I felt a hand briefly touch my arm. “Maisie’s been great at showing me the ropes.”

  I glanced at him as he withdrew his hand. It was weird for him to touch me. He hadn’t done anything like that before. “I hope I’ve taught you well enough that you’ll be okay going it alone from now on,” I said.

  He winked. “I’m sure I can find some way to bribe you into helping me if the need ever arises.”

  I laughed politely, but the way he looked at me gave me pause. Did Damien have a crush on me? No, I was imagining things. Definitely imagining things.

  Cameron returned with a tray of drinks and retook his seat. My head was still spinning about Damien. I’d gone almost my entire professional life without being fancied by a co-worker. Now I had two who were interested. At least theoretically. There was still a chance I was way off about Damien.

  A tall, dark-haired man approached our table. He wore jeans and a leather jacket, an intelligent gleam in his eye as he took us all in. “Cameron, how’s it going?”

  “Hello, Theo,” Cameron greeted and stood to shake the man’s hand.

  “It’s good to see you,” Theo said. “I didn’t know you drank here.”