Bad for Business (Pembroke Hills, #2)

by Kat Singleton

I want to let him in, but I’m scared to. I’m not good at letting people in, but the way Ryker looks at me right now makes me want to try.

She raised an incredible son.” His eyes close for a moment. “I don’t know about that,” he says, his words coming out barely above a whisper. “But I’m trying to be.”

All I can do is hope that she doesn’t throw them back in my face. I have to trust her not to.

My words are said so quietly, my voice so hoarse and thick with emotion, that I wonder if she even heard them. If she didn’t, I can’t repeat them. Saying them out loud once was hard enough.

“I had to watch the cancer steal everything from her. It was so quick and harsh, and all I wanted to do was switch places with her. Seeing her like that, it destroyed

It was months ago, but I still remember every detail. “I was on my second drink, drowning in my grief at the thought of starting the year without my mom. Then I saw you. You walked in, and it’s like I felt the entire room shift.”

I reach up and tuck a piece of her hair behind her ear. The last few days, she hasn’t taken the time to style it. In fact, she hasn’t gotten ready at all. I don’t know why, but I love the fact that she doesn’t feel the need to get done up for me. I’ve spent enough time with her this summer to know she gets ready for everything, so it feels special to know she feels comfortable enough to skip doing that for me.

“I’ve never felt a connection in my life like that. You didn’t know it, but you were healing a small part of me. I was smiling—laughing—for the first time since Mom died. It was the first time I felt that maybe my life could go on without her.”

“All this time, we were upset with each other for something that was just a misunderstanding.” She shakes her head as if she can’t believe it.

The way Ryker kisses me right now will forever be burned in my mind. It’s passion and heat and so many things that I can’t even describe. It’s perfect.

“The easiest thing I’ve ever done is like you, Cami. Even when I thought I hated you, I liked you.”

Tears

I’m not known to be the most likable person. People don’t gravitate toward me the way they do Ryker, or Jude, or Emma. I’m not liked, but all I want is for someone to see me for who I am and still like me…still choose to stay.

“I’m sorry that you’ve met people in your life who made you feel like you’re unlikable, but that’s the furthest thing from the truth. And if you’ll keep letting me in, if you don’t run the moment you get scared, then I’ll keep proving to you how much I mean it.”

“I’m not going to say anything else because I don’t want to scare you away. But I need you to know that I plan on staying as long as you’ll let me.”

For once in my life, I’m going to lead with my heart instead of my head and hope that I don’t end up hurt in the end.

I think we’ve both been holding back, afraid to get hurt. Now, it’s like we’re both ready to suffer the consequences as long as we at least get a taste of what it’s like to cling to each other instead of pushing one another away.

The worry is written all over his face. I fight a smile. He looks absolutely adorable right now. I love that he’s concerned about me. His eyes narrow. “Why are you smiling?” “Because I think I like you,” I answer, deciding to be honest with him.

His lips turn up in a wide smile. “Fuck, princess, you have no idea how good it feels to hear you say that.”

But did it actually annoy me? Or was I annoyed by the effect it had on me?

I should’ve asked if it was okay to kiss her after what I just did, but she doesn’t seem to mind. If anything, her mouth opens wider.

All I know is that I can’t imagine ever even looking at another woman.

Camille circles her hips, forcing me to rip my mouth from hers as I let out an unexpected moan. The twist of her hips takes me by surprise. She does it again, driving me absolutely fucking mad from how damn good it feels. “Baby,” I croak.

He smiles and there’s something about it that goes right to my heart. It’s sleepy and sexy and a little lopsided. It might be my favorite smile of his. “Don’t knock it until you try it.” “I’m not trying it. I can tell you that right now.”

“I lost my mom too. When I was a young, barely a teenager. I think she was the only person who ever loved me. Sometimes, I’m terrified I’m unlovable. And the only love I’ll ever know was that of a mother’s…and even that was taken from me.”

I pull my gaze from his, needing to look away from the intensity in his eyes. He places his finger under my chin and tilts my head up to look at him.

“You’re not unlovable,” he rasps, his voice thick and heavy.

I shake my head. “No, I’ll get it. Just tell me what you want.” “Whatever you want.” He smiles and it’s just one of those moments where I realize that I’m going to think about this man for the rest of my life.

I need to know that the woman who asked me to stay is still in there.

This man has never shown her love, and yet it’s obvious by the way she looks at him that his opinion of her matters. He doesn’t care about her the way a father should care for their child, but she clearly cares for him, and I fucking hate it. This man doesn’t deserve anything from her.

She doesn’t fight him. It’s so unlike her that it breaks my heart. I’m well aware of how much she likes to argue. How much she can fight back.

Even after finding out that she succeeded at the impossible task he thought he’d given her, she still won’t look at me.

My jaw tightens as my fists clench at my sides. I’m trying to keep my anger in check, but every time Troy opens his mouth, it gets worse.

Ryker takes a step closer to me, I take a step back. I see the pain in his eyes when I do it, and I hate that it’s there because of me.

Ryker and me. He fought for me out there in the kitchen and I want to do the same for him. But my dad’s the only family I have. I’ve spent my entire life idolizing him, even if he hasn’t always deserved it. Even if he’s never deserved it.

“Feel that?” I ask. He nods. “No one’s ever made it race like that, Ryker.” “Cami.” His voice comes out barely above a whisper.

My sadness matches his for a moment as I mourn the day we were supposed to have together.

He never talks about her. I know it’s because he misses her, so I never pushed him to do it. She was the love of his life. The loss hit him hard, but sometimes it felt lonely to not have anyone to talk about her with.

“I should’ve been there for you. I lost the love of my life, but you also lost your mother. And I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive myself for forcing you to deal with that loss alone.”

I stare at him for a moment, not knowing what to say. The thought has crossed my mind on multiple occasions, but I was scared to admit I might need outside help. But knowing Dad went and talked with a therapist makes me wonder if it’s time I do too. I don’t hate who I’ve become as much as I used to, but I don’t think talking through everything with someone would hurt.

I drag a hand over my mouth as I nod once again. She really was the best. I realize that for the first time in a long time, the memories of her aren’t so bittersweet. I still miss her. I’ll always miss her. But now, thinking about her doesn’t just bring pain. I feel lucky enough to have had the time I did get with her.

I didn’t sleep my way to success. I earned it.” Dad scoffs and it’s one of those moments I know I’ll remember forever.

He’s never going to be proud of me, and that’s something I have to be okay with. Because it doesn’t matter. He’s my father, and I’ve tried my entire life to be the perfect daughter so maybe one day, he wouldn’t see me as a burden, but all of it was pointless. I’ve been the perfect daughter. But he’ll never be the perfect father. He’s never really been a father at all.

He’s the first person after Mom passed who really believed in me. Who told me I deserved better. He defended me when he didn’t have to. He gave me the courage to stop accepting how my father treated me.

I roll my eyes at him. “Maybe. I don’t know. Things with Camille happened fast…but also not fast, if that makes sense.” Jude lifts a shoulder. “Doesn’t have to make sense to anyone but the two of you.”

Camille nods. “When you realize you’re falling in love with someone, you want to get back to them as soon as possible.” Time slows as I’m not sure I heard her right. It takes me a moment to really process what she’s told me.

It feels like my heart might leap right out of my chest in an attempt to get to hers.

“I’m falling for you, Ryker Davenport. It’s terrifying and exhilarating and so many other things I’ve never felt before. But this is me trusting you to catch me.” I grab both sides of her face and pull our heads together. “I’m falling right there with you, princess. I’ll always catch you.”

I’m not unlovable at all. I just hadn’t met the right person yet.

I look across the SUV and see so many things as I look into Camille’s eyes. I see my future. I see summers in the Hamptons and winters in Manhattan.

“I want to make plans with you for the rest of my life, princess. Bring on the binders.”