Second Chances(20)

"But I did not come here to discuss that"

She wasn't entirely sure she believed him. She knew he liked to needle her. She believed that in his mind that he somehow viewed it as flirting.

"Then why are you here?"

"She didn't arrive."

He waited in silence. She stood looking at him, a confused expression on her face. When he did nothing to elaborate she said, "Who didn't? Your mail order bride? Don't keep me in suspense here."

She immediately regretted the words. Her father always said her mouth would get her into trouble and he'd been right about that on more than one occasion. She saw the storm building in Cameron's eyes and doubted highly that any of her assistants would call them sexy now.

"Watch yourself."

"Well I don't know what you are talking about, Cameron. If you have something to say, then say it and stop talking in riddles."

"Paige! Paige did not arrive."

"So? Did she miss the flight or something?"

"No. She emailed Linda and told her she had some things to deal with."

"Linda?"

"Linda Danvers. Our operative. The woman that Paige was supposed to be meeting up with. Paige knows her as Linda Dunn, a college friend."

He was clenching his fists again. He knew that she knew exactly who Linda was.

"Some things to deal with? Like what?"

"That is my question," Cameron replied.

She started to sit on the edge of the desk, but remembered she was wearing a skirt and awkwardly redirected herself back down into her chair.

"What? You think I know?"

"Well?"

"Well what? Jesus, Cameron. How in the hell would I know?"

"How the hell would you not?"

"Screw you. Cameron, I've been working here for ten years now, you've been here for six..."

"Seven," he corrected her.

"Seven. This isn't the first time that...things have deviated."

"I am well aware of that," he said, remembering that he'd told Linda almost the exact same thing.

"Hell things are supposed to deviate most of the time. Isn't that the point?"

"I know that as well, but it's never happened this quickly after we..."

"Guess there is a first time for everything, now isn't there?"

"Julie." The anger was flaring in his eyes.

"I don't know what the hell you expect from me, Cameron. What is it?"

"I know things deviate. Did anything deviate early on? Anything that could have indicated this might happen? Anything you might have done?"

"Why would I?"

"Do I really need to list the reasons?"

"I know my damn job, Kassar. You know why I do it, but that doesn't effect how I do it. Hell, you've had me removed from most of the hands-on stuff. You know I don't even have anything to do with..."

"I better not find out otherwise."

"Are you threatening me, Cameron?"

"If I were, you'd damn well know it. But perhaps your mind has been somewhere else. Perhaps you are having trouble keeping focused on the project, hmm? Maybe if there were no distractions?"

She couldn't suppress her shuddering and this time there was no doubt of the less than subtly implied threat.

"I don't know Cameron. Have the data sent to me and I'll review it, but I am telling you everything on my end went textbook."

"Thank you," he said, flashing that well-practiced smile once more before leaving her alone.

She maintained control until his footsteps had faded then she began to tremble. She reached for the phone, but succeeded only in knocking it to the floor along with several of her folders and notebooks.

"Bastard!"

He knew her buttons, better than she knew his or perhaps it was that unlike Cameron, she actually cared about something more than just herself.

Tears ran down her face despite her best efforts. She had no doubt that Cameron would have one of his smug grins on his face if he could see her now.





CHAPTER FIFTEEN



He considered renting a car, but decided at least for the time being to wait. After all, he wasn't sure how long he would actually be in San Diego. He also didn't know the city and neither did Paige, though apparently her friend had already arranged for an apartment for her.

They picked up the rest of Paige's luggage from baggage claim. Nathan said nothing when he saw there were only two medium size suitcases, obviously brand new. They took a cab to one of the closer hotels. Nathan arranged for them to hold Paige's luggage, while he kept his computer case with him.

They had to wait a few minutes to be seated in the hotel's main dining area, the Eagle's Nest. Nathan asked for a quiet corner, which wasn't a problem as they were just opening for the evening. They were seated by the windows that looked out over the marina. The water was calm, moored boats bobbed gently in the water. Sally, their waitress, practically skipped over to the table and introduced herself. Nathan imagined she had likely been kicked off the cheerleading squad for excessive peppiness.