"Well, I think they must be seriously awesome," Mina said, with a wink at Cam that made the parts in question tighten pleasantly. "Is this typical guy talk? Because if it is, I don't want to ever hear another word about me discussing concealers and exfoliating scrubs with my girlfriends."
"I'm trying to convince him to come on Mornings With Wood to talk about his stunt last Wednesday during the contest."
"Brilliant," Mina said. "Because, personally, I'm certain there's more to the story."
"What is the story?" Darryl asked.
"He told me that he just wanted to do something different," Mina said. "But I think there's a woman involved." She leaned over, her hand resting on his thigh as she shoulder-bumped him. "Am I right?"
"Not even close," he lied, surprised his voice sounded normal despite the fact that his entire body felt hotter than the sun and every cell was vibrating wildly.
"I don't believe it." She leaned back, lifting her hand so she could signal for Tiffany to bring her a water. Cam drew a deep breath, grateful for the reprieve, yet frustrated by the broken contact. "I think it was all about reverse psychology."
Cam knew he'd regret it, but he couldn't help asking what she meant.
"You know," she said. "You go write something funny on your abs so that the women in the audience will notice you twice. First, to laugh, and then to say, wow, the words might be funny, but those abs are seriously awesome. I mean, right?"
She leaned toward him again, and this time Cam about leaped out of his chair when she flipped open two of the buttons on his shirt and then slid her hand inside. Her warm palm pressed against his over-heated skin, and Cam's heart started to pound so hard he was certain that she would ask if he was having a heart attack.
"Honestly, the only thing funny about your performance was you thinking this chest could be comic relief." She winked at him. "But I assumed you were being ironic."
For a second their eyes met, and her hand stilled over his heart. Her lips parted, and there was something familiar in her eyes--something hot and needy that called to him, reflecting his own violent craving.
Then she laughed lightly and withdrew her hand, and the moment faded, disappearing like dandelion seeds lost in a windstorm, and Cam was left to wonder if he'd only imagined it.
Probably so, especially since Mina was stealing a hush puppy and laughing with Darryl and Nolan and displaying absolutely no indication whatsoever that she'd felt anything real at all when she'd stroked his skin.
To Cam, though, her touch had been about as real as it gets.
"I'm right, aren't I?" she continued after she'd swallowed the hush puppy. "Cam's abs should have taken the crown." She turned to Cam, all traces of the earlier moment completely erased. "I mean, you only lost to that dude because he's a superstar reality TV show guy."
As she spoke, she grinned mischievously and hooked a thumb over her shoulder to indicate Spencer, the recently anointed Mr. February, who was approaching their table with Brooke at his side.
"Um, excuse me?" Brooke said. "Cam's no slouch, but I'm here to vouch for Spencer's abs." She waggled her eyebrows. "And the rest of him, for that matter."
"I don't even want to know," Nolan said, laughing.
"And why are we discussing my guy's abs, anyway?" Brooke asked Mina. "Especially since I'm pretty sure you're supposed to be silently subservient behind the camera."
"Subservient?" Darryl chimed in. "My little sister's never been subservient a day in her life. She wouldn't even clean her room when ordered."
"Little sister?" She pushed back from the table. "I'm fifteen minutes younger than you."
"Like I said. Shrimp."
Mina made a face, and everyone laughed. Everyone except Cam whose body was still vibrating from the contact.
"Come on," Spencer said. "
We're going to anchor the new bar to the floor and the wall. Can you work the second camera?"
"Hell, yeah," Mina said, then gave a parting wave to the guys as she followed Brooke and Spencer.
"Hey, Meanie," Darryl called, using the nickname Cam knew she hated. "I'm bringing Zachary with me to my surprise party."
"You jerk. Can't you even pretend to be surprised? And who's Zachary?"
"He graduated with me, and he's doing a year with the Fifth Circuit, too, before he moves on to some humongous firm in Los Angeles. He told me his uncle's a big shot at one of the studios, and he's going to do entertainment law. He's a great guy. I think you'll like him."