Too Wilde to Tame

Chapter Ten

CAMERON'S home office printer spit out the report he'd just typed up, and he tucked the statement of recent events into the Shelton file to courier to Doug on Monday, along with copies of the pictures he'd taken of his wife and the woman he now knew as Margot Talbert, a graphic artist who worked for a reputable firm in Chicago.

Thank God he'd manage to shake the lustful fog after Mia's erotic lip service last Wednesday night enough to remember to get a close-up shot of Margot's car and license plate, which had enabled him to find out her name and home address. Doug didn't know who Margot Talbert was, so it was up to Cameron to discover what the other woman's relationship was to Trish. A casual acquaintance? A business associate? Or something more?

He typed up a few more case reports, answered e-mails, and downloaded some information he needed off the Internet before deciding it was time to call it a night. It was nearly ten p.m., and even though it was Saturday and the weekend, he'd spent the day doing background checks on a few witnesses, tracing a lead on an insurance fraud case, and meeting with Wesley at the office to follow up on the cases he and Steve had given the other man to work on.

So far, Wes was proving to be a huge asset to the company, especially when it came to computers and electronics. The kid could hack into a computer in the blink of an eye, and he knew the ins and outs of surveillance equipment like the back of his hand-including planting bugs and hidden cameras. Wes's knowledge blew Cameron away, and both he and Steve saw this as the perfect opportunity to expand the business to include a security division.

Done for the evening, Cameron shut down his computer and stretched his arms above his head to pull the kinks from the muscles along his back and shoulders. He needed a long, hot shower, and a good night's sleep-but not until after he called Mia for the evening.

It had become a nightly ritual to check in with her. His days were swamped, and she knew he was reachable by cell phone should she need him for anything, but he hadn't had the chance to see her since the night he'd followed Trish. There had been no more incidences with Mia, and despite her contrary nature, fear had her laying low at home per his instructions. He didn't want her out on her own after dark with the possibility of someone watching and stalking her.

They'd skipped going to The Electric Blue this past Friday because Cameron had a meeting with a client. Besides, even though he knew frequenting the popular bar was their best shot at finding the person behind the pictures, he didn't like using Mia as bait or as a plant. Not until he discovered who was harassing and scaring her.

Unearthing the person intimidating Mia wasn't turning out to be an easy process. For one thing, the pictures she'd received weren't traceable, and he only had a few key people as viable suspects-with Ray topping the list. And he was proving to be a very difficult man to track-a man seemingly without a past beyond his life in Chicago.

Releasing a tired sigh, Cameron pushed away from his desk, and from across the room his gaze landed on the hummingbird stained-glass design he'd bought from Mia a week ago for his sister's birthday tomorrow. He'd set the piece up against the window for safekeeping until Claude's party, and in the mornings when the sun shone through the window, the cut glass cast prisms of vibrant, sparkling colors across the walls and ceiling.

Every time the dazzling artwork caught his eye it reminded him of Mia, her talent, and her secret, erotic pieces no one knew about except him. He'd watched her excitement and enthusiasm that night and had known, without a doubt, that this was what she was meant to do.

He wasn't an art collector by any means, but unless he was missing something, he couldn't imagine her artwork not appealing to everyone on different levels. The range of her designs were so broad-from subtle, to striking, to extravagant and even eccentric. She even did custom work, and the erotic stuff… man, he knew that once the right people got wind of her specialty and the word spread, she'd be set. If only she had the confidence to take the risk and follow her dreams of making a living with her designs.

She needed to get her designs out there for people to find and buy-and not just in a consignment shop. She needed something bigger, with more exposure and the right clientele. And he had an idea of how she could accomplish exactly that.

With his mind still on Mia and her stained-glass designs, he headed to the master bathroom, stripped off his clothes, and stepped beneath the steamy-hot spray of water to take a shower. He'd purchased the hummingbird piece for Claude because he honestly knew she'd love the design and the way it lit up in the sunlight. But he had to admit he'd had ulterior motives in mind, because his sister's good friend owned an art gallery in the city that showcased everything from paintings to sculptures and anything else that could be interpreted as a rare and one-of-a-kind collectible. He was hoping Claude would see the potential in Mia's creations and possibly put in a good word for Mia and help give her that initial boost she needed to get started.

He shampooed his hair and washed his body, thinking that the introduction and recommendation had to be done in a way that didn't look like an obvious setup. He knew Mia and that stubborn streak of hers well enough to know she'd never accept what she perceived as charity. He needed the idea to be introduced casually and naturally, in a way that didn't come across as planned or contrived.

As he got out of the shower and dried off, he decided the best way to accomplish his goal was to invite Mia to his sister's birthday get-together tomorrow afternoon at his parent's place. When Claude opened her gift, he'd let her know Mia had created the design… and then he'd let things play out from there and hope for the best.

He laughed to himself as he thought about his family meeting Mia for the first time, and how they might react to her wearing something as sexy and wild as those lace-up boots of hers. And then there was her outrageous personality that had the ability to shock, and her open sensuality that was evident in the way she walked, talked, and dressed. Outwardly, Mia was the complete opposite of his mother and sisters in just about every way. And he was certain those contrasts were bound to make for an interesting and amusing evening.

FOR the fifth time in the past half hour Mia glanced at the clock on her nightstand to check the time. Like a school girl with a huge crush on a guy, she couldn't wait for Cameron to call. It was silly, really, to feel so excited and eager, but no matter how hard she tried to concentrate on the romance novel she'd curled up in bed with-which was a poor substitute for Cameron actually being with her-there was no ignoring the anticipation fluttering in her belly.

She hadn't seen him since Wednesday evening, though she spoke to him every night when he called to check in on her and be sure she was doing okay. Now, she looked forward to their easy, and sometimes amusing, conversations.

Funny how she'd spent years trying to break free from her family's protective ways, but with Cameron it was different. He was genuinely concerned about her, but he wasn't overbearing about it and he never made her feel smothered or pressured. And because of that, she found herself relaxing and opening up to him-more than anyone else in her life.

It was a scary prospect, considering their relationship, their affair actually, was a temporary deal that would last only as long as it took to figure out who was stalking her. Then they'd go their separate ways, back to their own individual and vastly different lives, and revert back to casual acquaintances. And because she knew the separation was inevitable, she'd do well to protect her heart and emotions in the meantime.

She was so lost in her thoughts that the ringing of her phone made her jump. Grateful for the interruption, she picked up the cordless receiver, a smile already forming on her lips.

"Hello," she answered, much too breathlessly.

"Hey, there," Cameron said, his deep, sexy voice wrapping around her like soft, warm velvet. "What are you doing?"

Those giddy flutters hatched full-fledge in her belly, like a dozen butterflies being set free. "I'm in bed, reading a book."

"Something good, I hope?"

"Mmmm. It's more entertaining than anything that's on TV right now." Marking her page, she set the novel aside and snuggled beneath the covers. "What would be even better would be having you here. I've been home alone all day, and I'm starting to forget what it's like to socialize with a real person."

His low chuckle traveled through the phone line, and she closed her eyes to savor the husky sound. "Feeling cooped up and restless?" he guessed.

She sighed, not at all surprised he'd accurately pegged her mood. The man had an amazing insight when it came to her. "Yeah, I guess I am."

"Sorry 'bout that," he murmured apologetically. "I know this is tough, but I really don't want you going out by yourself. Especially at night."

"I know, and I'm okay with it." Surprisingly, that was true. "Really."

Something rustled in the background, as though he was trying to get comfortable in his own bed. Mia's imagination took flight, and in her mind's eye she could see him sprawled lazily on his bed with one hand tucked behind his head. He'd be shirtless, his chest bare, with a pair of soft cotton shorts riding low on his lean hips. And under those shorts, he'd be wearing nothing at all…

"I was thinking," he said, cutting into her enjoyable fantasy. "How would you like to get out for a few hours tomorrow afternoon?"

"Sure." Not only was she going absolutely stir-crazy, she was also dying to see him again. "What did you have in mind?"

"It's my older sister's birthday, and there's a small get-together for dinner at my parents'," he said, his tone casual. "Why don't you come with me?"

Her heart picked up its beat at his personal invitation and what meeting his family might imply. Then she realized he was just being nice and responding to her need to get out of the apartment.

Still, the situation made her feel uneasy. "I appreciate you asking, but I don't think that would be such a great idea."

"Why not?"

Did he honestly not see how awkward the situation could turn out to be? "It might be a little uncomfortable having me there."

"For whom?"

Frustrated by his persistence, she blew out an upward breath. "Uncomfortable for me. You. Your family. I mean, it's not like we're dating, and I don't want your family getting the wrong idea about the two of us."

"Mia," he said softly, and with way more calm than she was feeling at the moment. "My family doesn't speculate about my relationships, and there's nothing wrong with me bringing a woman friend to a family party."

"Why? Do you do it often?" Her tone was light and teasing, but oh Lord, was that a pang of jealousy clenching her stomach? She feared it was, and she'd never, ever been the jealous type. That it was Cameron who sparked such a telltale emotion wasn't a good sign.

"No, I don't bring women to family gatherings that often at all," he said, and Mia could swear she heard amusement in his voice. "And certainly not lately."

She bit her bottom lip, refusing to read anything deep or meaningful into his words. She felt incredibly torn-wanting to be with Cameron, yet unsure how his family would feel about her. Even as just his friend. It surprised her that their opinion mattered, when she normally didn't give a damn what people thought of her.

"I'd really like for you to go with me, for a number of reasons," he said, as if sensing she was on the fence about accepting his invitation. "It'll be good for you to get out for a while and have a good time, with no pressure involved. As for my family, they'll love meeting you. Especially because you're Steve's cousin. And if you say no, I might just have to kidnap you and take you by force."

She laughed at the playful threat, though she wouldn't put it past Cameron to do exactly that-and enjoy every minute of being in control of her and the situation. "All right, all right, I'll go."

"Good." His smug satisfaction was unmistakable, the arrogant man. "I'll pick you up at four, and wear something casual and comfortable."

She smiled. "I'll be ready."

"I'll see you then." His voice dropped to a low, husky pitch. "Good night, sweetheart."

She closed her eyes as his endearment drifted over her like a warm, sensual caress. "Good night, Cameron."

MIA double-checked her appearance in the tall, six-foot-long mirror hanging on the back of her closet door and scrutinized her final choice of attire-because Cameron was due to pick her up in just a few minutes and she had no time to change yet again. After spending the past two hours trying on an assortment of skirts, pants, and dresses in her quest to find the perfect, meet-the-parents kind of outfit, she'd finally settled on a pair of white jeans with a pink sleeveless turtle-neck top. Accessorized with a pair of pink suede heels and a matching Kate Spade purse, the look was simple yet sophisticated-the exact image she'd been striving for.

There was nothing overtly sexy or flashy about her outfit, and there wasn't any cleavage to be seen. She managed to be comfortable yet look feminine and pretty as well, and she was pleased with the end result.

Due to the negative photos she'd been sent and the revealing conversation she'd had with Cameron the night they'd sat in his truck together, Mia had spent a lot of time thinking about her overall appearance and personality. She didn't like the self-image she'd seen in those derogatory pictures, and it had become a startling eye-opener for her. Not to mention making her more aware of how she chose to dress and the more outlandish ways she sometimes behaved.

She'd come to the conclusion that maybe it was time to make some changes, to shed a bit of the wild, bad-girl persona and redefine who she was on the outside. That didn't mean she was going to start dressing like a nun. She still enjoyed her sexy clothes, the way they looked and made her feel, and she wasn't ready to give up everything in her wardrobe.

But a part of her felt as though it was time to make some necessary adjustments; let go of the reckless, attention-grabbing girl she'd become after her mother's death so long ago; and embrace a classier, stylish image instead. And tonight would mark the beginning of her new transformation to a subtler, more refined appearance.

The ringing of the doorbell, followed by a brisk knock, jump-started the nerves she'd managed to keep at bay throughout the afternoon. Quickly, she slid a pair of diamond stud earrings into her lobes and put her favorite silver bangle bracelets on her arm. She swiped pink shimmering gloss across her lips and fluffed her hair with her fingers one last time before heading for the foyer just as he knocked again.

Inhaling a deep, calming bream, she opened the door, her delight at seeing Cameron after so many days apart affecting every one of her senses in a heady, overwhelming rush of awareness. That disarming grin curving up the corner of his sensual lips. Those striking green eyes that made her melt inside. Then there was the arousing scent of his cologne that wrapped around her like a seductive spell.

The man was just too gorgeous for his own good. He was wearing casual khaki pants and a collared shirt, and his dark blond hair was slightly mussed, as if he'd combed the strands with his fingers right before he'd knocked on her door. Either that, or he'd driven over to her place with the car windows down to enjoy the balmy afternoon breeze.

"Hi." It was all she could do to keep from throwing herself at him and kissing him liked she'd dreamt about the past four days.

"Hi, yourself," he drawled in a low, intimate tone as his gaze slowly traveled down the length of her, then back up again. "You're dressed very… nicely," he said, a stunned expression on his face.

She laughed at his careful choice of description. No doubt he'd expected her to wear one of her normal racy, skin-baring outfits. "Nice and conservative?"

"You could say that." He leaned against the doorjamb but was close enough to reach out and run a finger along the high collar of her turtleneck, making her shiver from his touch. "Don't get me wrong. You look great no matter what, and for as much as I love how sexy you normally dress, you'll fit right into my family wearing a sensible, attractive outfit like this."

The thought of fitting into his family, or rather, not fitting in, made her stomach knot with anxiety. She so wanted to make a good impression with his parents and siblings. She wanted them to like her and accept her, and she hated that she was so worried they'd judge her and find her lacking. It was a stupid insecurity, but it was there nonetheless.

And it was too late to back out now, despite her concerns. "Let me grab my purse, and I'll be ready to go."

Once she returned with her handbag, she walked with Cameron out to his car. He'd driven his Porsche today, and she slid into the passenger seat and fastened her belt while Cameron rounded the front of the low-slung vehicle and settled himself behind the wheel. The sports car started on a smooth purr of sound, and with a shift into first gear, they were on their way.

Mia's mind was still on the conversation they'd just had at her apartment door. "So your family is more on the conservative side?" she asked, wanting to know what to expect when they arrived at his parents.

"Pretty much. That's probably why I'm so stuffy, boring, and uptight," he teased and flashed her a quick grin.

She ducked her head sheepishly, because she'd made many references to him being all those things over the year or so of them skirting their attraction-mainly, to provoke him, she had to admit. But she'd learned a lot about Cameron and his personality over the past few weeks of being with him. Although Cameron definitely had this serious, focused side to him, he wasn't nearly as straitlaced as she'd once believed.

Resting her head against the seat, she glanced toward Cameron, admiring his strong, handsome profile. "Give me a quick rundown on your family so I know what to expect."

"Okay," he agreed easily. "There's my mom, Barbara, who works for the school district, and my father, Ed, who's an insurance adjuster. The two of them have been married for more than forty-three years."

She was surprised to learn that his father wasn't connected to the investigative business in any way. "With your father working for an insurance company, how did you become interested in being a private investigator?"

"My first year of college, I took on an apprentice-type job at the local police department as an assistant to a detective doing grunt work." He turned the steering wheel as he spoke, and the car took a swerve in the road with ease. "It started as a part-time job to make some extra cash, but I came to realize that I was incredibly intrigued by the whole investigative process. I've always been one of those kids who loves puzzles and mysteries and solving them, so becoming a P.I. was the perfect career for me."

She had to agree that he was good at his job and seemed to really love what he did. She envied him that. "And your sisters?"

"There's three of them. All older than me. Like you, I'm the youngest."

She hadn't realized they had that in common, both of them being the baby of the family. "Except I'm sure you didn't have to worry about your sisters being overly protective of you, checking out your dates in high school, and threatening them with bodily harm if they dared to touch you."

He grinned, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "No, I suppose it's very different being the only boy, as opposed to being an only girl with older brothers. But trust me," he went on, his tone wry, "I had my own share of headaches having to deal with three hormonal girls in the same house." He shuddered for effect.

She laughed, and because she'd been one of those hormonal teenagers at one time, she could easily imagine what he'd had to deal with-times three. "Are they married?"

"Yep. All three of them. To great guys, too."

There was a sense of pride in his voice, as if he approved of his sisters' choice of husbands. Despite him being the youngest of the family, he still obviously had those strong brotherly instincts her own siblings possessed. It had to be a guy thing, she thought.

"There's Claudia and Phillip," he said, giving her a quick rundown of his sisters and brothers-in-law. "Heather and Ryan. Susan and Ted. And a slew of kids among them all."

She found it interesting that he'd remained unattached while the rest of his siblings were married with kids. "And then there's you, the bachelor of the family. How come you're not married, too?" she asked, voicing her thoughts out loud.

"For the obvious reason." He shrugged. "Because I haven't met the right woman yet. When that happens, I'm all for settling down and having a family. But I only intend on getting married once, and I'm waiting to find someone who shares the same values I do."

She glanced out her window as they entered a residential neighborhood. Undoubtedly, Cameron was searching for a woman who wasn't wild and unpredictable and reckless. No, Cameron was the kind of man who'd choose a wife who was sweet and undemanding and respectable. A woman who didn't enter wet T-shirt contests; wear tight, sexy clothes; and dance on tabletops for fun. Mia certainly didn't have a reputation for being the kind of good girl Cameron would expect to have the same standards and values as he did.

"We're here."

She was so lost in her own thoughts she hadn't realized they'd come to a stop at the curb of a modest, single-story house. A group of kids, ranging from young teenagers to toddlers, were playing out in the front yard, and they all seemed very excited to see their Uncle Cameron.

She inhaled a deep breath and wasn't aware of the fact that her fingers were twisting anxiously in her lap until Cameron grabbed one of her hands to stop her fidgeting.

"Nervous?" he asked.

The warmth of his touch and the concern in his voice calmed her immensely. "Yeah, I guess I am. There's just so many of them," she said, meaning the brood of kids waiting for him to get out of his car.

"But they're a great bunch," he said, brushing his thumb along the back of her hand. "Just be your normal, vibrant self, and you'll do just fine."

As Cameron slid out of the car and then came around to help her out of her seat, she didn't have much time to dwell on being apprehensive because they were instantly surrounded by the most animated, friendly kids-all of whom seemed to idolize their Uncle Cameron. Each one tried to get his attention first, and Mia watched as he managed to dole out hugs to each and every one of them.

"Who's the pretty lady you brought with you, Uncle Cam?" This came from a precocious little boy who had the same dark blond hair and green eyes as his uncle.

Cameron ruffled the boy's hair. "This pretty lady is Mia Wilde, who is a friend of mine."

With that explanation, he proceeded to introduce her to each one of his nieces and nephews. There were nine of them in the bunch, and each welcomed her with friendly smiles and boisterous hellos that had her laughing. By the end of the introductions, she was known as "Miss Mia."

Cameron picked up the youngest member of the group, a four-year-old girl named Lucy, with a cherubic face and brunette ringlets, who was looking up at him in wide-eyed adoration. He tickled her neck with his fingers, making her burst into infectious giggles.

"Now, let's go meet the rest of the family," Cameron said and grabbed Mia's hand with his free one.

He laced their fingers and led the way into the house, uncaring of just how intimate their hand-holding might look to anyone who glanced their way. Once they were inside, he let her hand go and set Lucy down on her feet, and Mia followed him into a large, spacious living room where the adults were hanging out.

Another round of introductions ensued, leaving her feeling overwhelmed and certain she'd never remember everyone's names. Between his parents, sisters, their husbands and kids, his family was huge, but they reminded her of her own large clan. And with her cousins Steve, Eric, and Adrian all married off, and recently two of her brothers, even more chaos was added into the mix.

The Sinclairs were loud, openly affectionate, and obviously all very close to one another. Despite Cameron's claim they were on the conservative side, his family was warm and fun-loving and accepted her as Cameron's "friend" without question or speculation, just as he'd promised. And because of that, she was able to relax and immediately felt comfortable with his family.

Before long, his sisters whisked her off to the kitchen, insisting they needed girl time while the guys did their bonding thing during the final quarter of the Sunday afternoon football game. She accepted a glass of wine his sister Susan poured for her, and then she was put to work spreading garlic butter on the French bread while Susan made the salad and Cameron's mom, Barbara, finished up the spaghetti for dinner.

Because it was Claudia's birthday, she was exempt from helping. So was Heather, because she was eight months pregnant and feeling the strain along her lower back and couldn't stand for long lengths of time because of spasms. The two of them were sitting at the counter across from the large wooden island where Mia, Barbara, and Susan were preparing the evening's meal.

As Mia slathered a pat of seasoned butter on a slice of bread, she glanced in Heather's direction. "So you have the three girls, Lucy, Gwen and Alison, right?" she asked, trying to place the kids she'd met outside with their respective parents.

"Yep, that trio is mine." Heather rubbed her burgeoning belly. "Here's hoping this one's a boy to balance out things a bit."

Claudia grinned at her sister. "You mean so your girls have someone to pick on, like we did with Cameron."

"Oh man, we really did torment him, didn't we?" Susan said as she cut up tomatoes for the salad. "Do you remember when Cameron was about five years old and how we used to put makeup on him, curlers in his hair, and dress him up like a little girl?"

Mia had just taken a sip of her wine and nearly choked on the drink. The image of Cameron as a little boy, being coerced by his three sisters to be their miniature-sized doll to do with as they pleased, was just too funny to imagine.

During the next half hour, as they finished with dinner preparations, Cameron's sisters and mother regaled Mia with more amusing tales that had her in absolute stitches. Each story was more outrageous and hilarious than the last.

Hearing how Cameron had grown up, surrounded by fun-loving girls, made Mia realize just how vastly different her life had been with three older brothers watching over her. While the Sinclair sisters had treated Cameron with affection and open candor and acceptance, her own brothers had taken their jobs of protecting her very seriously. Too seriously, she thought, knowing that was part of the reason why she'd rebelled at such an early age.

The kitchen was teeming with feminine giggles and chuckles when Cameron walked in, a playful scowl on his face. "I can hear you girls laughing all the way out in the living room, and I have this sneaking suspicion that I'm the butt of the tales you're sharing with Mia."

"Of course you are," Susan said unapologetically as she grabbed knives and forks from the silverware drawer to set the table for dinner.

From across the wooden island, Mia watched Cameron roll his eyes heavenward. "Did you happen to tell Mia how I had absolutely no privacy in this house and how you'd barge into my room without ever knocking, even while I was changing?"

"Hey, I helped Mom change your diapers when you were a baby," Claudia reminded him with a cheeky grin. "I saw everything there was to see, so it was no big deal."

"Well, it was certainly a big deal to me" he stated with feigned gruffness. "And what about how the three of you hogged the two spare bathrooms for hours on end and used up all the hot water so I had to take cold showers?"

Heather reached out and patted Cameron on the cheek, summoning a sympathetic look. "Awww, poor baby," she said, though it was obvious she was holding in her laughter.

"We were just trying to help prepare you for the future," Claudia piped in as she refilled Mia's empty glass with more wine. "You know, get you used to taking cold showers after your dates."

"Thank you very much." Cameron shook his head ruefully and cast a grin at Mia. "It's amazing that I turned out to be a normal guy without any issues or hang-ups."

"You turned out just fine." Barbara poured the cooked spaghetti into a large bowl and said over her shoulder, "and I have to add that because of your sisters, you learned to treat women with respect. You were a polite boy, and every mother on this street wanted her daughter to end up with someone like you. They knew they could trust you not to take advantage of their daughters."

"Yeah, you were quite the catch during your high school years." Susan picked up the large platter of heated garlic bread and started for dining room.

It was easy to envision Cameron surrounded by a slew of pretty young girls, all vying for his attention. With his good looks and charm, Mia had no doubts he had the pick of the litter. Probably still did.

Barbara placed a big bowl of steaming, fragrant spaghetti sauce in Cameron's hands. "Now help us set the table so we can eat dinner," she said, treating him no differently from the girls she'd had in terms of domestic tasks-even though he was grown man and no longer lived in the house.

He feigned an exasperated sigh, though he was smiling when he glanced Mia's way. "Some things never change."