Running Interference by Elley Arden Page A

case, she hoped she was wrong.
    “So … ” She wedged between MJ and Jillian in front of the mirror and lined up her hair products in order of use. “Enough about me and Cam. What I really need is advice about the gym. I have ‘til noon tomorrow. After that, I don’t know if Pop’ll wait much longer to accept the offer to sell.” Her throat sort of collapsed on the last word. “I’m thinking about taking a personal day tomorrow and going to the bank to see if I can get a loan on my own.”
    They both faced her, but she continued to look at them in the mirror.
    “He won’t be happy about you going into debt for him,” Jillian said.
    “No, but once I sign on the dotted line he won’t be able to refuse the money as easily as he can refuse money from Tag or Cam. I’ll have it, and I’ll have to pay it back no matter what. It’ll sort of force his hand.”
    “Sounds risky.” MJ faced the mirror and looked Tanya dead in the eyes. “A lot of risk here, T. You could end up with debt amounting to thirty grand plus interest and still not save the gym. I don’t want to sound like a broken record, but please think about this.” She patted her back, and then walked away. “I have to go. I told Tag I wouldn’t be too late.”
    When the door swung shut on MJ, a fully clothed Jillian jumped up on the countertop and shook her head. “That ring around her finger has strangled the fun right out of her. She’s old and married before she’s even old and married. Sad.” She huffed and then she wound her blue-tipped hair around her finger and smiled. “I, on the other hand, think it’s a great idea. In fact, I think you’ve been full of great ideas lately.” She bobbed her brows. “Where are you going after this?”
    Wherever he wanted to go, which was what she’d told him after he’d all but propositioned her in the ring. He had some showing off to do.
    She bit back a smile. “None of your business.”
    “Well, technically it is if you plan to come back to our place. Wouldn’t want our booty calls to collide.”
    Ha!
That would be hysterical. She wasn’t sure how Cam would react to Jillian’s usual suspects—pierced, sullen, and androgynous. “Do you need the apartment tonight?”
    “Nope.” She grinned. “All yours.”
    When they finally made it out of the locker room, Cam was leaning against the cement block wall wearing a sinfully clingy T-shirt and baggy sweatpants. He’d showered too. Maybe at the exact time she’d been showering. Her breath caught on the thought of him soapy and naked. Separated by a measly six inches of wall.
    “I’ve been waiting for you,” he said. The rumble in his deep voice revved her engines, and she squeezed her thighs together.
    Jillian sauntered past him, and then she glanced at Tanya. “Don’t forget. I have tickets for Sock Monkey tonight, which is the craziest concert around, so don’t expect me home until late—tomorrow.” She bobbed her brows. “Use the time wisely.”
    Subtle, real subtle.
    Cam chuckled. “That woman is a piece of work.”
    Tanya coughed a laugh. “Ya think?”
    He placed his hand against the wall beside her head. “So about that thing I said in the ring … you still interested in a little demonstration?”
    The smell of his aftershave was making her dizzy. “Hell yeah.”
    “Good.” He leaned in, so close she could taste him in the air. “You know for a minute I was worried. Thought you might’ve changed your mind.”
    Her knees buckled the slightest bit. “Why would you think that?”
    “You took a long time in there.” His gaze flickered to the locker room door. “So long I would’ve come in after you if you’d been alone.”
    She trailed a hand down his front and slipped a finger into his waistband. “I could always go back in.”
    “Baby, where you lead, I follow.”
    She pushed her backside against the locker room door and dragged him along by the waistband.
    His shirt was over his head before they were safely