A Sticky Situation (Xcite Romance) Read Online Free PDF

David Riley made his flesh creep. The guy had so many marks on his hotel bedposts that the staff probably thought the bed had woodworm. Cameron would have laid bets on him having used his famous “I saw you here last year” line. He had to think fast. No way did he want Sally alone with that man. It had been bad enough seeing her giggling away like a child with David as she wiped the champagne from his sleeve. Of all the people for Sally to be serving when her clumsiness struck, why did it have to be Riley?
    Cameron glanced at his watch, it was already gone nine. They weren’t likely to be required for more than another hour; whatever he was going to do to stop Sally seeing David, he would have to do it soon. The problem was that Cameron was sure whatever he did would make Sally think even less of him, rather than more.

    Outwardly, both Sally and Cameron worked as an excellent team. They moved around their stand, communicating without really speaking as they chatted and advised their potential customers. When one didn’t know an answer to a question, the other did, and when one noticed the champagne was running low, it was only to find that the other had already seen the situation, and was arranging for more bottles to be iced and ready.
    Sally couldn’t help but wish they could operate so well privately; but there was no point in wishing. He’d made it perfectly clear her clumsy nature drove him mad, and that he resented the fact she was so good at her job in spite of it.
    Other traders were beginning to close up for the night, and as Sally began to tidy up a pile of prospectuses, she spotted David. He was propped at the bar, at the far end of the hall in which they stood. Drink in hand, he was leaning in close to a tall dark woman, who was playing with her hair as they spoke.
    ‘He’s a letch, Sally.’ Cameron spoke softly, without a hint of accusation. ‘I know you have no reason or desire to believe me, but the man is notorious.’
    Sally bristled, but kept her eyes on David as she replied, too tired for another argument, ‘He’s just talking to her. At least half the people here are women, for goodness sake.’
    ‘Have it your way, but he’s trouble.’ Cameron walked behind the stand and began to clear up, ‘I just felt I should warn you. That’s all.’
    Sally glanced at Cameron as he began to knock together piles of paper, surprised by how genuinely concerned he’d sounded. Carol’s words echoed in her head, “Give him a break honey. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he has the hots for you.” No. That was ridiculous. He just didn’t like David. Maybe he’d lost a girl to him in the past. The scientific world was small, and if Carol had understood Graham’s secretary correctly, Cameron had been a scientist himself once upon a time.
    Deciding against commenting, Sally went to help him tidy up their stand. Everything needed boxing up and taping closed, so it could be stored safely for the following afternoon’s session.
    Although it hadn’t taken long for everything to be stowed beneath the stand, they were still the last traders to be ready to head to the bar. Sally didn’t mind though, for that probably mean that Zelcon had had a more successful day than anyone else.
    ‘All the champagne’s gone.’ Cameron picked up the empties and headed to the store cupboard at the back of the room, which had been put at the trader’s disposal for the week. That just left the two ice buckets, which, now that the majority of the contents had turned to water, sloshed a little as Sally gingerly poured the contents of one into the other, with no more than minimal splash back, and stacked one bucket into the other. Carrying them with extreme care, she headed to the cupboard.
    Cameron peered around the cupboard door. He was sure Sally would be on her way. The only thing he’d left her to do was empty the ice, then she was free to join David. He still wasn’t sure how wise the action he was about to take