Breakaway, page 17
part #5 of Northbrook Hockey Elite Series
Camila took her sweet time opening the door when he knocked, but the wait was more than worth it.
She wore a dark-pink cocktail dress. The silky fabric followed her curves, then fell in a soft swish just above her knees. Her high heels put her nearly at eye level with him. No hat. No ponytail. Her blond hair was in some sort of updo, and wisps of hair framed her lovely face.
She smiled coyly at him as he ogled her. “Finished?” she teased.
“Can we change our plans?” he asked. “I want you to myself.”
“Sorry, Mr. Rivera, we’re expected elsewhere.”
He stepped over the threshold and bent to softly kiss her pink lips.
“Watch the makeup,” she murmured.
“Bring extra,” he whispered back and kissed her again, his fingertips skimming up her arms.
She smiled against his mouth, then stepped back. “Sorry. You’re going to have to be patient.”
Declan gave an exaggerated groan, and she laughed.
By the time they reached the event center, where it appeared that Paige had invited all of Denver, Declan had stolen a couple more kisses from Camila.
She linked their hands as they walked into the ballroom that was decorated to a T with lights and gauze and glittery decorations. Declan liked the fact that Camila was holding his hand. It told him she was feeling some of the same things for him that he was feeling for her. The woman at his side was truly amazing, and he was more than happy to be a part of her life.
“Oh, there’s Paige,” Camila said, tugging him forward. “You can meet Brady too.”
Declan had heard enough about Brady to know that Paige had him wrapped around each of her fingers. Maybe at one point Declan would have scoffed at a guy being so whipped over a woman, but not now . . . not with how he was sure he’d do anything for Camila Brandon.
“Paige,” Camila squealed.
And Declan endured Camila releasing his hand and hugging her friend. Paige was decked out in a silvery dress. His gaze connected with the shorter, dark-haired guy at her side. When Brady gave Declan a knowing, tolerant smile, he decided he liked the guy.
“I’m Declan Rivera,” he said, extending his hand.
“I know.” Brady shook his hand. “I think Paige talks more about you than our own wedding plans.”
Paige and Camila had released each other, and Paige elbowed Brady. “Hey.”
He laughed.
“The decorations are amazing,” Camila said. “And we can’t wait to try the food. Especially Declan.”
Brady laughed again. “I think we’re all going to get along just fine.”
Camila slipped her hand into Declan’s. “Well, we’re going to make the rounds and say hi to people.”
“Sit at our table when you get your plates,” Paige said. “It’s the table with the number one on it. The event planner said seats had to be assigned.”
“Okay, great,” Camila said. “Oh, there’s Dimitri.”
And that began the tour through the crowd. Declan knew he wouldn’t be able to remember any of the people he was introduced to, but he stayed friendly and polite, all the while counting down the time to when they could leave.
“There you are,” a woman said behind them.
Camila turned, and Declan looked over to see Angela—the woman married to Mr. Brandon.
Angela air-kissed Camila, but the conversation was stilted.
Soon, Mr. Brandon himself appeared. After shaking Declan’s hand, he said, “Come with me. I’ll introduce you around.”
It was a heady experience to have Mr. Brandon being so solicitous. Declan was caught up in one conversation after another, so that soon, he’d lost track of Camila. Not that she wasn’t surrounded by people she knew. But still, he’d rather be at her side, holding her hand, hearing her talk.
The event progressed, and people were eating and dancing. Eventually Paige and Brady got on the PA system and thanked everyone for coming. They told the story of how they met, and everyone applauded at the end. Then the dancing started up again, and people resumed their eating and socializing.
It had been long enough since Declan had been with Camila. The two guys he’d been talking to were in some sort of debate about the results of March Madness. Declan scanned the crowd and finally spotted Camila.
She stood with a group of women who looked around her age. He could only describe them as Barbie dolls, since he wasn’t sure if any of them had a real bone in their bodies. Yet none of them held a candle to Camila.
She smiled when their gazes met, then she held up her phone and pointed to it.
Declan pulled out his phone from his pocket. It had been on silent, and it looked like he’d missed dozens of texts from the Pit, and one text from Camila.
When are you going to ask me to dance, Mr. Rivera?
He smiled and met her gaze again. Then he sent a text: Right now?
Her reply came seconds later: Good answer.
Declan pocketed his phone, then excused himself from the conversation he’d been a part of but had long since lost interest in.
He walked right up to Camila and held out his hand.
Without a word, she set her hand in his. Together they walked to the middle of the dance floor. The song was mellow, and that was good enough for Declan. He wanted Camila in his arms.
“I missed you,” he whispered against her ear as she looped her arms about his neck.
“Hm. I missed you too.”
He moved his hands behind her back and pulled her a little closer. “I don’t have any fancy moves.”
Camila lifted her chin to look at him with those green eyes of hers. “Me neither.”
Their gazes stayed locked as they swayed to the music. “Are you ready to leave yet?” Declan asked.
“We just got here.”
“Um, it’s been about two hours.”
“An hour.”
“Okay, an hour,” Declan conceded. “Just know that I’m ready anytime you are.”
She laughed. “Why are you in such a hurry?”
He lowered his face to hers. “Too many people, when I want to be with only you. Besides, I’m not sure how your dad would feel if I kissed you on the dance floor.”
Camila slid her hands over his shoulders, her eyes gleaming. “Okay, I need to say goodbye to Paige first.”
He’d expected more of a delay than this. “Really?”
She smiled. “Really.”
So they walked off the dance floor, and after making appropriate goodbyes, they headed out into the cool March evening. Declan shrugged out of his tux coat and slipped it over Camila’s half-bare shoulders. Then he grasped her hand as they walked toward his SUV.
“I have something to give you,” he said, his pulse moving up a notch. It might be too early in their relationship, but tonight felt like the right time to do it.
“Oh?” Camila squeezed his hand.
Her affection traveled to his heart. “Yeah.”
He unlocked the SUV and opened the passenger door. Before she climbed inside, he opened the glove compartment and pulled out a small jewelry box that had been sitting there for a few days.
Lines appeared between Camila’s brows. “What’s this?”
“Open it.”
She took the box from him and lifted the lid to reveal a silver necklace with a diamond heart pendant. Then her gaze flew to his. “It’s like your mom’s necklace.”
“Close,” he said, gratified that she’d noticed his mom’s necklace. “A little different. My dad gave my mom her necklace when they started dating.”
Camila nodded. “I heard your mom telling Paige about it. She’s never taken it off.”
“You can definitely take this off,” he said with a smile. “If, that is, you want to wear it in the first place.”
Camila took the necklace out of its nestled place. “It’s beautiful.” The silver and diamonds gleamed against her palm.
“I’m glad you like it,” he rasped, his voice tight.
She looked at him again, then she stepped closer. She slid her arms about his neck and hugged him. “Thank you, Declan. I love it,” she whispered against his ear.
He slipped his hands to her waist, beneath his jacket she wore, and pulled her close. “Good, because it represents my heart, Camila. I’m giving it to you.”
She drew away, her eyes luminous beneath the moonlight. “Put it on.” She drew off his jacket and set it on the car seat, then turned around so that her back was to him.
He undid the tiny clasp, fumbling at first, then getting it open. He draped the chain about her neck and did up the clasp. Leaning down, he pressed a kiss on the chain where it rested on her skin.
Camila slowly turned to face him, her fingers touching the heart pendant. “What do you think?” she asked, moving her hand.
The diamond heart lay just below the hollow of her neck. “Beautiful,” he said.
Her mouth curved, and she lifted a hand to his face, scraping her fingers along the scruff he hadn’t shaved that day. “You’re an easy man to love, Declan.”
Declan wasn’t sure he’d heard her right. “You better not be teasing me.”
She rose up on her feet and kissed the edge of his jaw. “I’m not teasing.”
He couldn’t have stopped his grin if he’d tried. “That’s good,” he said. “Because I was afraid I was rushing things.”
“Not at all.” Her hand slipped behind his neck, and goosebumps raced across his skin.
“Then I have a confession to make,” he whispered, cradling her face. “I’m in love with you.”
Her smile was beautiful, her eyes trusting. “You’d better not be teasing.”
“Never.” He kissed her then, and if the night was still cold, he didn’t feel a bit of it. Not only was Camila wearing his heart, but she held the rest of him, and he didn’t want it any other way.
His dad had told him once that the best decision he’d ever made was finding a good woman and making her a priority. It was the best advice Declan had ever heard. Wherever life took him, Camila would be that woman.
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Heather B. Moore is a four-time USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore; her latest thrillers include The Killing Curse and Breaking Jess. Under the name Heather B. Moore, she writes romance and women’s fiction. Her newest releases include the historical romances Love is Come and Ruth. She’s also one of the coauthors of the USA Today bestselling series: A Timeless Romance Anthology. Heather writes speculative fiction under the pen name Jane Redd; releases include the Solstice series and Mistress Grim. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich & Bourret.
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Heather B. Moore, Breakaway
