Not the Placeholder: A BBW New Adult Serial Romance (Not the Hot Chick series Book 4) by N. Raines

Not the Placeholder
    Cameron Cleary strode into his living room, wearing only a towel wrapped low around his hips. With another towel, he scrubbed his wet hair.
    He flashed a grin at Layla, settled on his futon. "I'll be ready to go in a sec."
    She grinned right back. "Take your time. I'm in no rush."
    Wasn't that the truth. She could happily watch him, with or without clothes, all day long. Her mouth watered at the roll of his shoulders as he dried his hair. His skin glistened, still damp from the shower. A drop of water trickled down his chest. How she'd love to lick it off.
    God, she was a ho. Though she'd spent the night at his place, and they'd slept late this morning—which hadn't involved much sleeping—she still couldn't get enough of him. She might be sore, but it was a good kind of sore. She'd jump at the chance of another go.
    Layla felt no shame whatsoever. Yep, a ho for sure.
    She nodded at the towel. "Why the sudden modesty?" It wasn't like she hadn't seen everything he had to offer.
    His dark eyebrows lifted. "Why, Ms. Messner. Are you suggesting I traipse around butt naked?"
    "You bet. You're depriving me of my favorite view."
    "Really. Well, then…" He swiveled his hips, fingering the edge of the towel hanging there.
    She groaned. "Come on, don't tease."
    Imitating a drum roll, he loosened the towel and flashed a hip while keeping the best parts hidden. "Ba bum bum ba bum."
    An instant later he flung the towel and it landed in her face. By the time she snatched it off, he had already turned and was headed down the hall.
    "Aw, no fair." At least she got to ogle his sexy ass as he ambled toward his bedroom.
    They'd been going at it like bunnies the past couple of weeks. Since he worked mostly nights as a bartender and she was a teacher, their schedules didn't exactly line up. During the week they grabbed what time together they could, but weekends were a different story. Then they made up for lost time, tumbling into bed and barely emerging till Sunday afternoon.
    They were taking a short break today, though it was only Saturday, to go ice skating at the Water's Edge. "Hey, make sure your hair's dry before we go. You don't want to catch cold."
    "Yes, Mom," he called.
    "Smart-ass."
    She waited, scrolling through messages on her phone. A knock sounded at the door. "Should I get it?" she called.
    "Yeah, would you?"
    Layla opened the door to a petite, slim young woman with short, dark hair and a mischievous smile. "Hi. Is Cam here?"
    Who was this? Layla knew Cam had no sisters. "Uh, yeah, he's—"
    Without waiting for further invitation, the pixie skipped past Layla into the living room. "Hey, Camster, where the hell are you?"
    "Paige?" Wearing jeans and a long-sleeved T-shirt, he stood in the bedroom doorway. The girl rushed down the hall and leaped at him. He instinctively grabbed her as she threw her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips.
    "I can't believe how long it's been!" she cried.
    Cam gently hugged the slender young woman in his arms while Layla looked on silently. "Paige." His voice was tender.
    The girl planted kisses on his cheeks and chin, hanging on him like a monkey as he carried her into the living room. "Oh, I've missed you so, so much." She tilted her head back and grinned at Layla. "Hi."
    Layla, the third wheel, glanced at Cam in confusion. "Hi?"
    Cam lightly patted the girl's behind. "Get down now."
    Paige gave him a playful pout before planting her feet on the floor. "You haven't changed at all. Still the same old stick–in–the–mud, respectable Cam."
    Huh? Layla gaped at him. The hookup king of the 'tenders respectable? A stick–in–the–mud? Had she fallen into some kind of parallel universe?
    "And you're still a brat." Cam's voice was less than robust, and his trademark grin was crooked. He'd gone pale. A ripple of unease coursed through Layla as he avoided her gaze. The hairs on her neck prickled.
    The pixie swatted him on the arm. "I come all the way here to see you