“No.”
“You want to get out of here?”
“That’s just going to make it worse,” I whisper.
“I don’t care, Paisley. What I care about is you. If you’re over this, we’ll leave.”
“That’s going to give him more ammunition,” I tell him.
He drops his fork and lifts his hand to cradle my face. I hear Mom sigh and Dad grunt, but I ignore them. “You are my priority,” Cameron says. This time, his voice is strong and no longer a whisper. “Say the word, baby. I’ve got you always,” he says, leaning in to press his lips to my forehead.
“Mr. Taylor, can you remove your hands from my daughter?” Dad seethes.
“No, sir,” Cameron answers, never taking his eyes from mine. “She’s upset.”
“Princess?” Dad asks. This time his voice is soft and a reminder of the man who raised me. Not this stubborn brute who is trying to scare off my boyfriend.
“Dad?” I reply, turning to face him.
“What’s wrong?”
“Really? Are you going to sit there and ask me that? You’re being an ass, Dad.”
“Paisley,” he warns.
I look across the table. “Thanks for dinner, Mom. Parker, Peyton, I’ll call you both soon.” With that, I push back from the table and stand. Cameron eases back his chair and does the same, placing his hand on the small of my back.
“Sit down, young lady,” Dad says, his voice stern.
“I’m a grown woman, and you no longer get to dictate my life. Cameron is a good man. The best I’ve known next to you. He’s good to me. He puts me first. I don’t know what more you could ask for? Call me when you decide to be reasonable.” With that, I turn and walk away.
When I feel Cameron’s hand drop from my back, I stop and turn to look for him. He’s still standing at the table, his eyes locked on my father. His arms hang at his sides, but I can tell he’s upset. Not sure what’s going to happen, and not wanting to cause any more of a scene, I rush back to him, lacing my fingers with his.
“Cam?”
“Your daughter is the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. She’s kind, loving, and her smile lights up my world. I happen to agree with you. I’m not good enough for her, but you’re missing something.” Cameron pulls his gaze from my dad and turns to look at me. His eyes soften before he looks back at my dad. “I’ll fight every damn day to be the man who she deserves. I know what hard work looks like. I know what it’s like to have a dream and work your ass off to make that dream happen.” He presses his lips to my temple. “Ready, baby?” he asks softly.
All I can do is nod. I’m too overwhelmed with emotion. With my hand locked tight in his, Cameron leads us out of the restaurant. We don’t stop until he’s at the passenger door of his truck. He opens the door for me and waits until I’m buckled in before closing the door and making his way to the driver’s side. He climbs behind the wheel and grips it tightly.
“I’m sorry, Paisley. I’m so fucking sorry. I should have kept my cool in there, but I couldn’t stand that he was giving you a hard time because of me.”
“Cameron.” My voice cracks, which has his head turning to look at me. Panic dances in his eyes.
“I’m so sorry.” He leans over the console and slides his hand behind my neck, resting his forehead against mine.
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I say through my tears. “You told me you would have my back, and you did. You didn’t let the fact that you were sitting at dinner with Easton Monroe sway you. You were really there for me. Not my father.”
“Of course I was there for you.” He pulls back and stares deep into my eyes. “I’m in love with you, Paisley. I meant every word I said to him. I know I don’t deserve you, but I’ll do my best to be a better man every day. A better man for you.”
“You’re perfect for me.”
“No one will ever love you the way that I do,” he says softly.
“I love you too.” I do. I love him. I know our relationship has been a whirlwind, but I feel it in my soul that Cameron is my other half.
“Let’s get you home.” He kisses me softly before pulling away. I watch him as he puts on his seat belt and starts the truck. I keep my eyes on him all the way home. He glances over a few times, giving me a sexy smile, which only makes my heart feel like it’s going to burst open with love for this man.
When we pull into the parking spot in front of our building he turns off the truck. “Your place or mine?” he asks.
“Yours.”
“Do you need anything from yours?”
“No. I just need you.” Five words we both feel deeper than the surface of their meaning. I resisted him at first, and he fought for me. He fought for us. He’s proven that there is no ulterior motive. Just me. He just wants me.
“You know how to bring a man to his knees, you know that?” he asks.
“You look fine to me.”
He places his hand over his heart. “Right here, baby. This is where your words hit me. Deep, Paisley.”
“You were wrong, back at the restaurant. You’re good enough for me. You’re the first man I’ve ever dated who was really with me for me. Well, besides poor Nick. He never really had a fighting chance.”
“He did, but he wasn’t willing to take it.”
“We were eighteen,” I remind him.
“I’ll give him that.” Cameron smiles.
“We were kids.”
He shrugs. “I would have fought for you.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Neither do you,” he counters.
My phone rings, and I pull it out of my purse. Dad flashes on the screen. I turn the phone to show Cameron.
“Answer it,” he urges.
“I’m not ready to talk to him.”
“Maybe not, but he loves you.”
“Why are you defending him?”
He shrugs. “I’m trying to put myself in his shoes. He has three beautiful daughters, and he’s famous. He has to be worried about men taking advantage of you, even without his fame. Maybe cut him some slack.”
“After the way he treated you?”
“I got to defend myself. I also got the girl.” He winks. “Come on, let’s go inside, and you can call him back.” He climbs out of the truck, and I do the same. “I was going to get your door.”
“I know how to open doors, Cameron,” I remind him.
“I know you do. It’s not about you not being able to. It’s about me spoiling you and showing you in small ways, like opening your door, how much you mean to me.”
“Silver tongue,” I mutter, making him laugh.
“Come on, beautiful.” He places his hand on the small of my back and leads me to his door. He unlocks it and pushes it open, allowing me to walk in first.
As soon as we step inside, my phone rings again. “It’s him again,” I tell Cameron.
“Answer it, baby. You’ll both feel better once you do. I’m going to go change.” He kisses me quickly before walking down the hall to his room.