Making Promises

By Michelle Grotewohl

Four years ago, Oz Wilson lost the love of his life when she 'caught him' in bed with a friend. Now, Camilla's back in town, and Oz is determined to show her he never betrayed her. But Cam refuses to listen, and instead of proving his innocence, they end up tearing up the sheets. But for Oz, its not enough; he wants it all with her. Can he prove he didn't cheat, or are they doomed to part again?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Michelle Grotewohl
• Release date: Oct 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311625779

Michelle Grotewohl

I currently reside in Colorado with my husband and three children. I would love to hear from my readers, as writing has always been a dream of mine, and I am thrilled to finally be published! Thank you so much to everyone who has downloaded or purchased a book for supporting my lifelong dream!

Book preview

Making Promises

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2015 Michelle Grotewohl

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

* * * * *

Camilla Hicks walked out of her boyfriend’s bedroom, a satisfied grin on her face. Oz was right behind her, grinning just as broadly. He followed her towards the front door of his little apartment, which was over the mechanic’s shop where he worked, but caught her around the waist halfway to the tiny foyer, spinning her around and into his arms.

She smiled up at him, love shining in her eyes. It was brightly reflected back at her from his. What are you doing? she asked as his teeth nipped at her neck.

Trying to convince you to stay. Just a little longer, he murmured, flicking her ear with his tongue.

She sighed and leaned into him, then remembered she had to go and tried to pull away. He held her fast and brought her tighter against him. Stop that, she said, laughing when he grazed his fingertips lightly over her lower stomach.

No. I’ll do anything to keep you with me, even if I have to chain you to my bed and keep you sexually exhausted so you can’t leave.

His words sent chills over her, and she shivered. Knowing she was close to giving in, Oz smiled, hiding it by burying his face in her strawberry blonde hair. But Camilla knew him too well, and slapped at his arm lightly.

You think you’re winning, but I really do have to go. She pulled back from him and looked into the nearly black eyes that matched his midnight black hair. He was so dangerous looking, and people in their tiny town thought he was, a falsehood not helped by the fact that he rode a motorcycle. But if they knew him like she did, they’d know that he was the sweetest, most honest person in the world.

Nothing like the father who had left him and his mother twenty years ago for another woman, shortly after his birth, leaving his mother to work herself to death to support a baby and herself all alone. He hadn’t shown his face once since he’d lit out so long ago, but Camilla knew Oz didn’t want anything to do with him, anyway, and that he fought to resist any urges he thought might be from his old man. People expected him to turn out just like him, and had always treated him like an outsider, even though he’d been born right there in town.

Camilla felt for him, right down to her toes, and the love she felt for this man, who’d lost his mother to a heart attack right after graduating high school, swamped her just then, bringing her heart even more into her eyes. He frowned slightly, looking down at her, picking up on her suddenly somber mood.

What is it, baby? he asked softly.

She reached up and brushed a lock of his dark bangs off his forehead, and sighed with love when he closed his eyes at her touch and leaned into her hand. I love you, Oz, she said softly.

His smile was slow and genuine. I love you, too, Cam, he said, then lowered his mouth to hers to kiss her, igniting a fire inside her that she knew only he could put out.

She let herself be seduced for a few minutes, letting him lean her back over his arm to give him better access to her mouth. Common sense returned to her slowly with him playing his lips over hers, but return it did, and she lightly shoved at his chest until he stood, bringing her with him. Gently, she removed his arms from around her waist, and backed toward the door, keeping her eyes on his as he stalked her the whole way.

She opened the door, turning the handle without looking, then stepped outside. He looked so lost, like she was leaving him for good, every time she walked out the door. And she knew that with his past, that was what he expected, for her to finally come to her senses about him and listen to the townspeople, leaving him before he did what they expected and left her pregnant and alone.

Before she closed the door behind herself, she said to him, I’ll come back as soon as I can, then slammed the door when his eyes flared with lust all over again. She leaned back against the door momentarily, laughing quietly, then walked down the wooden stairs to her car.

She didn’t get back for nearly two days, and hadn’t been able to call him. Her mother- on her father’s orders, she was sure- had been very careful to keep her busy as much as possible, from sun up till sun down, helping her plan a wedding for her small business. Camilla knew it was just an attempt to keep her from seeing Oz- They wanted her to go to New York for business school- and wondered what her parents would say if she told them she intended to marry him. If he'd ever ask, she thought darkly.

She knew Oz didn’t expect her to stay, but she did everything in her power to prove to him that she would always be there. Hopefully he was getting it, and would ask her to marry him soon. They weren’t getting any younger, she thought with a laugh. Of course, she was only twenty, and him twenty-one, but she wanted to start a family with him, and he was very careful to use protection whenever they were together.

Sighing, Camilla turned into the parking lot behind the shop, spotting another car she recognized as his friend, Annette’s. A dark feeling came over Camilla at seeing the car there. She knew Oz and Annette had been friends in high school, and nothing more than that, but Camilla saw the way the woman looked at Oz when she was around: Annette wanted him.

But whenever Camilla told Oz this, he laughed it off, saying they’d been friends for too long for that to be true. Camilla wasn’t so sure, but knew she couldn’t be the kind of person who told him he couldn’t see Annette anymore. Camilla was sure he’d stop, but he wouldn’t like it. She had to trust him, or he’d always doubt her feelings for him.

Sighing again, she shoved open the door to her car and went up the stairs.

Using the key he’d given her months ago, she let herself in and found them sitting on the couch, one at each end, facing each other. Annette was dressed like always, in tight jeans and a baby doll t-shirt, her makeup and hair done to seduce. Oz, too, was dressed like always,