Down London Road (On Dublin Street #2)(50)

'Can you imagine me?' I scoffed as we neared the bar. 'I'd be screaming about breaking a nail within five seconds.'

Cam gave me a look as he held the wrought-iron gate to the basement stairs open for me. 'See, that's the kind of bullshit other people believe. I know better.'

'Oh, you do, do you?'

'You were sitting chewing a nail last night after dinner.'

'Yeah, but I filed it and repainted it for work this morning.'

He flashed his teeth at me. 'Whatever, Walker. I know the truth.'

'Evenin', Jo, Cam,' Brian greeted us as we came down the stairs. He stood beside Phil, who was grinning at me like always.

'Hi, guys.'

'Brian, Phil.' Cam nodded at them.

As I made to pass them, Phil stopped me with a hand on my arm. He ran his eyes down my body. 'Still with Malcolm?'

'Persistent Philip, I am still with Malcolm.'

He winked at me. 'Persistence will win in the end.'

'And so will an STD,' Cam put in drolly, gently pushing me forward with his hands on my back so that Phil had to let me go. 'But you already know that, right, Phil?'

I tried to stifle my giggle as we walked into the bar to the sounds of Brian howling with laughter and Phil swearing at him. 'It was only that one time. Fuck! I'm never telling you anything again, Bri.'

'Euch,' I whispered to Cam. 'That was more than I needed to know.'

'Correction: that was the one thing you needed to know.'

I laughed again and we sauntered into the staff room, barely getting a 'hello, goodbye' out of Su, who came racing out of her office at the sight of us and disappeared as quickly as she'd materialized.



       
         
       
        

'It amazes me that anything gets done around here,' Cam said, shrugging out of his jacket. 'She's never here when she should be.'

I grunted at that, completely used to Su's physical absence and as always grateful for it.

The bar soon started to fill up. As usual on a Tuesday, there weren't many customers, but we were kept relatively occupied.

We weren't busy enough to diminish our attraction to one another, however. For some reason, being behind the bar together seemed to heighten the tension. Was it the confined space? I didn't know. All I did know was that I spent half the time with one eye on my work and the other on Cam.

Joss was right. I was absolutely aware of every move he made.

And speaking of Joss, I wasn't at all surprised when she stopped in at around nine thirty. I was surprised she was alone, but she explained that Braden was working late and Ellie and Adam were on a date.

'So you were bored and thought you'd come to work?' I asked, sliding her a Diet Coke as she settled on to a stool at my end of the bar. I didn't think so. I thought she was worried about me.

Joss just smiled and then nodded in greeting to Cam, who had just noticed her presence, but he was too busy talking to a customer to come over. No, not a customer. My eyes focused more carefully on the girl he was grinning at so flirtatiously. Becca and a friend. She handed him his aviator watch and Cam leaned over and pressed a soft kiss to Becca's lips.

I felt an ache rake across my chest, unfamiliar and brutal.

My eyes slid back to Joss and she had one eyebrow raised at me. 'What you're feeling  …  it's called jealousy. It's a vile emotion, I know. However, it also tells you that Cam is definitely more than just someone you're attracted to.'

'We barely know each other.'

'From what you've told me, you know each other better than almost anyone else does.'

Somehow, this was the truth. I leaned forward on the bar, frowning at my friend. 'Yeah, how did that happen?'

'How did what happen?' I turned my head to see Cam approaching, fastening his watch on his wrist. Becca and the other girl were gone. He waited for an answer, his eyes curious on mine.

I decided to hedge. 'You really are a nosy bugger, aren't you?' I teased.

Cam tipped his head to the side, contemplating me. 'Deflection?' His eyes glittered as if something had just occurred to him. 'You were talking about me, weren't you?'

I wanted to wipe that cocky smile off his face.

Joss groaned. 'You and Braden should be forced to join a club for men who need to get over themselves.'

My eyes slid to her in amusement. 'Blatant displays of egotism will be punished in the form of making them wear Speedos in freezing-cold conditions.' 

'And possibly withholding food.'

'No. Sex. Withholding sex.'

Joss bit her lip. 'I don't know if that would work for me.'

I eyed her incredulously. 'Are you telling me you couldn't go without sex for a few days?'

'I don't think so.'

'Where is your willpower?'

My friend took a swig of her Diet Coke. 'Hey, you haven't had sex with Braden Carmichael.'

No, I hadn't, although I almost blushed remembering I'd definitely tried to get myself into the position to do so. 'Yeah, but I've had perfectly good sex and I could still abstain for a few days.'