I nodded numbly. What the fuck had I done?
“We’ll call you when we’re ready to talk.”
I got up and fumbled my things together before leaving the room as quietly as I could. An extra day in New York City. That meant an extra night, which could mean extra time with Cameron.
I tried to shoot down the idea, but it wouldn’t let go, even though Cameron was the reason the senior partners were now looking at me like I was about to blow up a deal.
I called him as soon as I escaped the building. “Did you have anything to do with this?” I asked as soon as he answered.
“No,” he said. “I swear, Dylan. I didn’t do this. Look, meet me for dinner tonight and we’ll talk.”
I closed my eyes. Dinner with Cameron would never be just dinner. If I was smart I would hang up now and avoid him for another ten years.
“Okay,” I said. “Pick me up at six.”
I was so weak when it came to Cameron. Or maybe it was just that being blindsided today had knocked me off my normal stride.
I rushed back to my hotel.
“Dylan!” one of my coworkers called before I could catch the elevator.
I paused and reluctantly turned toward her.
Katherine was Charles’ assistant. I had no idea if she’d heard about the debacle today or not.
“I hear we’re staying for another day,” Katherine said. “Want to hit the town tonight? No place to party like New York City, am I right?”
“Actually.” I shifted my weight from foot to foot. “I have plans.”
Katherine looked at me blankly. “Plans? With who? You have friends in New York?”
It was common knowledge that I never left Dallas. Not since my mother’s diagnosis, anyway. I could understand why Katherine would be baffled by my knowing someone clear across the country.
“It’s, umm, a couple people I knew in college who moved here.”
“Oh, okay. Good for you, keeping up acquaintances like that.” Her forehead was still wrinkled with confusion.
I wasn’t very good at making excuses, but it would have to do. I could hardly tell her I was sleeping with the lawyer who represented the other side. Oh, and did I mention the other side was now arguing for my promotion?
I cringed and hurried away.
I should call Cameron and cancel. That would be the ethical thing to do. He deserved a chance to tell his side of it, though. He said he had nothing to do with George’s decision, and I wanted to believe him.
I didn’t dress as provocatively as the night before. I wanted to pretend this could be nothing but a business meeting. I’d said I wanted a one-night fling, and I was going to try to stick to that. It didn’t matter that I had an extra night I could stay with Cameron. It didn’t matter that ten years apart hadn’t kept me from falling for him all over again. This is why I’d avoided him for so long. I couldn’t trust myself around him. Couldn’t trust my heart or my judgment.
I couldn’t let any of that matter. My job was more important.
Cameron picked me up exactly on time. I could come to appreciate his punctuality if I stayed in the city longer, but I had to remember that I was leaving as soon as possible. I needed some time and space to build my walls back up and get my head on straight.
I couldn’t leave my home just to be with Cameron. That would be insane. And obviously he wouldn’t leave the city and his fancy job just to be with me.
What the hell am I thinking? There was no Cameron and me. No us. We had no relationship. Our fling was already over. We’d had our fun. There would be no repeat performance tonight. Right, because I’m so good at resisting him.
I climbed into his car and shot him a smile. “Where to tonight? Another fancy Italian place?”
He shook his head. “I was thinking somewhere laid back where we could talk.”
I liked the sound of that. “This isn’t a date,” I said abruptly. “It’s a business meeting to clarify what happened today.”
“Of course,” Cameron said.
I bit my lip. I didn’t believe either of us.
Cameron drove us to a casual Chinese place that was remarkably quiet.
I settled into my seat across from him and studied the menu to avoid looking at him. I couldn’t deal with being attracted to him right now. We have no future, I reminded myself.
The waiter came by, and I ordered water and some egg rolls. No drinking for me tonight.
When he left I finally looked at Cameron and prepared to start the conversation.
“George blindsided me today,” I said. “I could lose my job over this.”
“I know. I explained that to him, and he’s sorry. He didn’t like how the senior partners were treating him and he wanted you to see this through. You’re the one he trusts. His business is his baby. He doesn’t want to hand it to people looking to screw with him.”