eyes wide with concern.
“It can make a man sterile if he’s not careful,” Doc said gruffly, frowning at Griffin. “You hear me? And call me at once.” His last order was directed at Camille.
“I will, Doc, I promise.”
Doc said his goodbyes and left. The only noises in the room were the children’s. Neither Griffin nor Camille spoke.
“Cookie!” Elizabeth shrieked, reaching for the plate again.
The twins took up her cry, and Griffin looked at Camille. “Do we let them have another one?”
“I don’t think it will hurt. After they each take one, put the rest away. Maybe if they can’t see them, they won’t want any more.”
Griffin did as she asked, but he recognized the same theory she’d tried last night. If the kids were as crazy about the cookies as he was about wanting Camille, he didn’t think hiding them would work.
Camille suggested he stay in the den with the three that were well, while she cleaned the kitchen and kept an eye on the two that were sleeping.
Griffin did as she suggested, only stopping by his bedroom to get his laptop computer. He could work on his stock portfolio at the same time.
Half an hour later, Camille came to the door of the den. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah, but I need to talk to you.”
He’d debated this move almost the entire time since he left the kitchen. A stock he’d been keeping an eye on seemed ready to make a big move. He’d decided to place some of his money in the stock, and some of the Randall Corporation money that Jake had insisted he invest for them. He felt he should do the same for Camille.
But in view of her past experience, he wasn’t sure she would trust him.
“Cammy,” he began, unconsciously calling her by her nickname, “there’s this stock I’ve been watching. I think it’s going to go up quite a bit. I’m putting money in it and, well, I want to invest some of your money, help you get back some of what you lost.”
She appeared stunned by his words. “You want me to invest more money in the stock market, after what happened to me?”
“I’m good at what I do. I wouldn’t steer you wrong,” he assured her. For some reason, it was important to him that she trust him.
Camille had to say no. “Even if I wanted to, I don’t have enough to make a difference. Besides, we both know there’s always a gamble, even if the stockbroker is honest.” She paused but couldn’t keep from saying softly, “I do trust you, Griff. I believe you’re honest. But I’m not investing in the market again, not unless I’m in control.”
“We’ll pretend you gave me the money. You can pay me back later if it pans out.”
“Griff, no. I won’t let you do that.”
“Cammy, I’m not your fiancé. I won’t lose your money.” He reached out to take her hand. “Remember what I said last night? I analyze. I deal in facts. I know what I’m doing.”
Camille stared at him. She could use an increase in her financial state, but she wasn’t taking pity from this man.
“Thank you, but I don’t need charity.”
“You’re being bullheaded.”
She gave him her sweetest smile. “It takes one to know one.”
“What can I do to convince you?”
“What can I do to convince you that leaving the Randall family would be a mistake?”
He appeared stunned by her question. “The two have nothing in common!”
“Yes, they do. We each have a prejudice, me against investing in the stock market, you against families.” With an ironic curve of her lips, she walked out of the room. If she stayed any longer, she would be too tempted. To trust Griffin, not the stock market.
Griffin stared at the door, willing her to return. But nothing happened. Ridiculous female! Determination surged through him. He’d prove her wrong. He’d set up the account in her name, loan her the money and when it surged, as he expected it to do, he’d prove his point.
Then she’d have to acknowledge he was right...without him having to do the same. His
“It can make a man sterile if he’s not careful,” Doc said gruffly, frowning at Griffin. “You hear me? And call me at once.” His last order was directed at Camille.
“I will, Doc, I promise.”
Doc said his goodbyes and left. The only noises in the room were the children’s. Neither Griffin nor Camille spoke.
“Cookie!” Elizabeth shrieked, reaching for the plate again.
The twins took up her cry, and Griffin looked at Camille. “Do we let them have another one?”
“I don’t think it will hurt. After they each take one, put the rest away. Maybe if they can’t see them, they won’t want any more.”
Griffin did as she asked, but he recognized the same theory she’d tried last night. If the kids were as crazy about the cookies as he was about wanting Camille, he didn’t think hiding them would work.
Camille suggested he stay in the den with the three that were well, while she cleaned the kitchen and kept an eye on the two that were sleeping.
Griffin did as she suggested, only stopping by his bedroom to get his laptop computer. He could work on his stock portfolio at the same time.
Half an hour later, Camille came to the door of the den. “Everything all right?”
“Yeah, but I need to talk to you.”
He’d debated this move almost the entire time since he left the kitchen. A stock he’d been keeping an eye on seemed ready to make a big move. He’d decided to place some of his money in the stock, and some of the Randall Corporation money that Jake had insisted he invest for them. He felt he should do the same for Camille.
But in view of her past experience, he wasn’t sure she would trust him.
“Cammy,” he began, unconsciously calling her by her nickname, “there’s this stock I’ve been watching. I think it’s going to go up quite a bit. I’m putting money in it and, well, I want to invest some of your money, help you get back some of what you lost.”
She appeared stunned by his words. “You want me to invest more money in the stock market, after what happened to me?”
“I’m good at what I do. I wouldn’t steer you wrong,” he assured her. For some reason, it was important to him that she trust him.
Camille had to say no. “Even if I wanted to, I don’t have enough to make a difference. Besides, we both know there’s always a gamble, even if the stockbroker is honest.” She paused but couldn’t keep from saying softly, “I do trust you, Griff. I believe you’re honest. But I’m not investing in the market again, not unless I’m in control.”
“We’ll pretend you gave me the money. You can pay me back later if it pans out.”
“Griff, no. I won’t let you do that.”
“Cammy, I’m not your fiancé. I won’t lose your money.” He reached out to take her hand. “Remember what I said last night? I analyze. I deal in facts. I know what I’m doing.”
Camille stared at him. She could use an increase in her financial state, but she wasn’t taking pity from this man.
“Thank you, but I don’t need charity.”
“You’re being bullheaded.”
She gave him her sweetest smile. “It takes one to know one.”
“What can I do to convince you?”
“What can I do to convince you that leaving the Randall family would be a mistake?”
He appeared stunned by her question. “The two have nothing in common!”
“Yes, they do. We each have a prejudice, me against investing in the stock market, you against families.” With an ironic curve of her lips, she walked out of the room. If she stayed any longer, she would be too tempted. To trust Griffin, not the stock market.
Griffin stared at the door, willing her to return. But nothing happened. Ridiculous female! Determination surged through him. He’d prove her wrong. He’d set up the account in her name, loan her the money and when it surged, as he expected it to do, he’d prove his point.
Then she’d have to acknowledge he was right...without him having to do the same. His
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