Chapter 5 His Place in Her Life

Hayden gave Audrey a quick wink. "Aud, now that you're single, how about I take you out and help you unwind a little?" Audrey blinked. "I'll pass. I'm not really in the mood." But Hayden wouldn't drop it. "Come on, I just opened a new bar. Just show up for me. When was the last time we grabbed a drink together? Fresh starts deserve a toast." She kept saying no, but in the end, he wore her down. She finally agreed. After dinner, Hayden switched cars, rolled up in a flashy red Ferrari, and drove her into the city to his brand-new place, Night Rendezvous. It was obvious he'd gone all-in. The staff looked like they'd been handpicked off a runway, and the place was downright gorgeous. They snagged the best private room in the house and had a line of top-shelf bottles brought in. She figured they were just there to have a few drinks and unwind. But then Hayden slipped out like he was up to something and came back with a lineup of gorgeous men. First came the tall one, all muscle and sculpted abs. Then came the second, all warmth and easy charm. The third guy had slicked-back hair and gold-rimmed glasses, all polished charm on the surface, with trouble simmering underneath. And the last? He was way too pretty for his own good. Honestly, he looked barely old enough to be let in. Audrey's mouth twitched. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Hayden grinned. "Aud, me drinking with you alone wasn't gonna cut it, so I brought backup. These are the hottest guys in my place. Take your pick. Whoever you want sitting on the couch with you tonight, I'm footing the bill!" Then he added, "Ian wouldn't want you moping forever. You ditched that jerk, which means it's time to have some fun, yeah? So, here's your first step." Before she could say a word, Hayden threw the door open and bolted. That was unbelievable! Audrey drew a slow breath. She was about to tell them all to get lost when the one who looked barely old enough to be in the bar ducked his head. "Gorgeous, do you think we're not good enough for you?" he asked quietly, his eyes rimmed pink, the hurt plain on his face. So, this was what a pro-level tease looked like. It was just a few drinks anyway. Audrey gave in, raised her glass, and after a few rounds, she really did start to feel lighter. They were all stupidly sweet, calling her "Gorgeous" every other sentence, flattering her so much it was almost impossible to brush them off. The one who barely looked old enough was unbelievably attentive, downing shots for her, feeding her fruit, and laying on the full boyfriend treatment. Then it hit Audrey. She had money and good looks, but somehow she'd still spent all her time and love on a substitute. She'd been such a fool. She stopped caring, let herself go, and started downing shots with the guys. The door to the private room burst open, and a tall man strode in, the temperature seeming to plummet as he did. Audrey was already half gone, the world spinning through a haze of alcohol. She lifted her head, looked toward the door, and froze. For a moment, she thought it was Ian, but the cold, controlled fury rolling off him said otherwise. He looked more like Cameron. She pushed herself up and stumbled over, clutching his tie. "You're... new? What's with the attitude? Come on, smile for me. I'll pay you." Cameron's expression hardened as he caught her wrist. "Smile? Audrey, what the hell's wrong with you? First, it's Hayden, and now you're out here fooling around? Who said you could lose your mind like this?" The pain in her wrist jolted Audrey back to herself. Her vision cleared, and she finally saw Cameron standing there. Her face turned cold. "What I do is none of your business. You don't get to tell me how to live. We're getting divorced!" Cameron's jaw locked, each word clipped and deliberate. "We're not divorced yet! As long as you're still Mrs. Baker, I get a say!" Audrey looked at him and just thought he was pathetic. She bit out each word. "Cameron, I never once meddled in whatever's going on between you and Macie. Our marriage agreement was clear. "We stay out of each other's personal lives. Isn't Macie still waiting for you at the hospital? So do me a favor and leave right now. You're ruining the mood just by being here." Cameron watched her keep talking, and something tightened low in his throat. A second later, he closed in, their mouths a breath apart. Just before he could kiss her, he pulled back, barely clinging to his self-control. Then he yanked her upright. "Not leaving? You don't get to decide that!" Audrey pounded his back. "Put me down!" Her shouting grated on him, so he set her down on the floor. Cameron stood over her, looking down with pure disgust. "Know your place! Everything you've done was just to get my attention. Well, here I am. What else do you want?" Audrey planted a hand on the floor and lifted her head slowly, a smirk tugging at her lips. He actually thought he was a prize, didn't he? How could any man be that full of himself? Back then, Audrey had been helpless against Cameron's face. She'd fallen so hard for him that no matter what he did, she always found a way to believe he was right. She'd even mistaken that ridiculous possessiveness of his for love. Looking back now, she knew it was her own wishful thinking that had blinded her. She got to her feet, brushed herself off, and said, "Get over yourself. I was blind, so I thought you were easy on the eyes. But now that I can actually see straight, you've got the looks and nothing else." The disgust in Audrey's eyes cut through Cameron like a knife. For three years, she'd looked at him with nothing but love. When did that start to change? Right. It started the day she asked for a divorce, the day Hayden showed up. The air around Cameron turned heavy, and the tension pressed in on all sides. In the next heartbeat, he lunged at Audrey, jaw clenched, and drove her back against the wall. The chill of it made her flinch. He caught that and thought she was recoiling from him, and something in him broke loose. He couldn't even tell why he suddenly wanted to kiss her so badly.