Ben slid an arm around her waist. “Doing okay?”
With certainty, she nodded and said, “Yes. Thanks to Tom and his generosity, I’m not working with pressing financial deadlines, like I might’ve been without the inheritance. Makes for a lot less stress.”
“I’m glad the heirs decided to leave well enough alone,” Ethan replied. “Funny how information in the right hands makes a difference.” He said his good-byes and went over to Jack and Adam.
Ben gestured with a thumb over his shoulder at the dance floor. “May I have this dance?”
Camilla smiled up at Ben. “Do you know we’ve never danced with each other?” The two years before they’d gotten together seemed suddenly far distant.
Ben’s gaze was warm as she placed her hand in his. “I know. Good thing you’re wearing your boots, though, in case I step on your toes, tiny dancer.”
Camilla giggled. “Get while the getting’s good, Ben. Soon enough I won’t be tiny anymore. I’ll be big and round.” Ben skimmed his hands around her waist and rested them on her hips before sliding them just a tad lower, making her smile. The gesture made her feel…like she was his. He gazed down at her as they faced each other on the dance floor. She cupped his cheeks in her palms and lightly touched her forehead to his.
“I don’t care how big you get, sugar. You’ll still be my tiny dancer.” Lady Antebellum’s “Dancin’ Away With My Heart” began to play as he kissed her and then swept her away on the dance floor.
* * * *
Spencer parked her Camaro beneath the security camera and lights in the back parking lot, which had been completely cleared and resurfaced, while Camilla dialed up her voice mail. She’d been a little exasperated when Spencer had shown up on her doorstep to accompany her to the club for the grand opening that night.
She’d told him she was perfectly capable of driving herself, but he’d said that her men had sent him on that errand. They were already at the club, making sure things went smoothly, and had made her go home after lunch to rest and relax before getting ready for the big night.
After Spencer turned off the ignition, he came around and helped her out of her vehicle. As they walked to the back entrance, she put her phone to her ear to listen to the message.
“Hey, Camilla! It’s Emma. I just wanted to wish you a happy grand opening tonight. The guys and I will be in for a little while, but I wanted to tell you that personally. I also wanted you to stop by the office tomorrow. I got the results of your ultrasound, and I wanted to go over them with you. Nothing for you to worry about, so just enjoy yourself tonight, and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
There was no indication in Emma’s voice that it was anything serious, so Camilla made a note in her planner and let it slip from her mind as she walked to the back door. She giggled when she didn’t even have to reach for the doorknob as Cody opened it for her from inside. He gave her that sleepy-eyed sexy smile that he was so famous for and hugged her back.
“Wow, handsome. You’re decked to the nines!”
He was dressed in his black leather jeans, biker boots, snug black long-sleeved T-shirt, and black leather vest. The three of them had gotten together and coordinated their dress code just to please her, and she loved the results.
He helped her slip out of the leather coat she wore over her outfit. The weather had been mild all day, but there was a cold front expected soon, and the temperature was supposed to dip into the thirties overnight. She anticipated being at the club until well after two in the morning.
“You’re not looking too bad yourself, gorgeous. I’ll put your jacket in your office. Your men know you were dressing up tonight?”
“It’s the Christmas season. They should expect it!”
Cody gave her an indulgent smile. “I just hope I’m around so I can see their faces when they get a load of you.”
Standing in her closet that evening, she’d chosen this outfit as sort of a “last hurrah” at her costume days. She’d loosened the laces on the sides of the ruby-red leather corset because it was already snugger in the middle than she recalled it being. Even with loosened laces, she thought her silhouette was still damned sexy. She’d paired it with a matching leather miniskirt and wicked-looking high-heeled boots. Topping off the boots were fishnet stockings. Her hair was a mass of wild curls around her shoulders.
Around her neck, she wore Ben and Quinten’s gift celebrating opening her own club. A gold chain from which dangled multiple ruby teardrops, made by Clay Cook. It was the most beautiful gift she’d ever received from anyone, and she wore it and the matching teardrop earrings with pride.