Customize My Heart (2 page)

CHAPTER THREE

Cameron went over the schedule for the upcoming car show in Las Vegas when he heard Vince shout
“you’re fucking kidding me?!” He went over to him and raised an eyebrow, Vince held up his hand for him to wait.

“Alright, call me when the truck leaves so we can be prepared. Let Sam know she’s responsible if something happens to the vehicles.” Vince ended the call and looked at Cameron “Sam got wind of Nickie’s actions and she’s pissed.”

Cameron narrowed his eyes “what did she do?” Vince sighed “she called the main house in New York and has five of her top cars coming down for the car show in two weeks. Samantha wants them painted with the CV logo and used as show pieces for all the car shows.”

Cameron closed his eyes, trying to calm his temper. He knew there wasn’t enough time to get five cars striped and up to show quality with the show in just two weeks. What was she thinking getting them in this kind of bind? Vince went over to the printer and pulled up pictures of the cars.

“The inside of these cars are immaculate and don’t need much in touch up, it’s the paint that we’re going to focus on.”

He handed Cameron pictures to a 1932 Ford Roaster, a 1964 Chevy Impala, a 1963 Corvette, a 1969 Shelby GT500 and finally a 1970 Lamborghini Miura.

Cameron looked over the pictures again then back at Vince “she owns all of these?” He nodded “those are just five, she actually owns fifty, that’s including Shannon.” Cameron thought about it then laughed “Gone in Sixty Seconds?”

Vince rolled his eyes “the chick loves that damn movie for those cars and yes they all have the names from the movie. She did however change out some of the cars from the movie for her own tastes. Shannon stayed with the Hemi and Eleanor with the Shelby of course.”

Cameron chuckled “of course. Now, how are we to get these cars stripped and painted in two weeks?” Vince was ready to answer him when there was a knock on their door. “Hey boss, Mike Sanford’s here to see you.”

Vince grinned “I guess our answer’s here.” Cameron raised an eyebrow as Vince got up and greeted Mike. “Hey man, so what’s going through Sam’s head to get you involved?”

Mike went over to Cameron and extended his hand. “Mike Sanford, I’m Samantha’s vice president of marketing. I’m here to get CV Customs going on supersonic speed.”

Cameron looked at Vince then back to Mike “and how does Samantha’s cars help?” Mike chuckled “boss wants the cars to travel the circuit with CV Customs to all the car shows nationwide so you can get the word out as well as showing your work up close to the audience.”

Vince groaned “she can’t be serious. I mean its cool Mike that Sam’s going all out, but she has to understand the clientele we deal with won’t be able to afford a lot of the work we offer.”

Mike smiled “she’s not sending you to the local car shows. The car show you’re going to in two weeks caters to the top money makers here in Nevada. It’s by invitation only and the clientele are pre-screened. You’ll have only nine other vendors at the show. The next big event you’ll be attending will be in Chicago that’s in six weeks.”

Cameron shook his head in disbelief “how in the hell am I to leave the shop and go to these car shows. I don’t have the time or the man power to get that type of project going, much less getting the apparel store opened at The View.”

Vince put a hand on his shoulder “let me handle this Cam. The store is a no brainer, Lily will help out with hiring the crew for that. The problem we have to find techs to work for the garage.”

So far they had only six employees at CV Customs, that’s including Cameron and Vince. Mike chimed in “Jay spoke with Sam, he’s bringing his boys to Vegas, and they’re looking for work.”

Cameron looked over at Vince, he grinned. “Jay was my former boss and the Da’Vinci of cars. Rob and Trey can strip a car and put it together in a day. We’d be insane not to hire them.”

He rubbed the back of his neck then looked over at Mike “they’ll take orders from me and Vince, right?” Mike smiled then nodded.

“Samantha made it crystal clear, she’s not getting involved with the day to day dealings of the garage nor the apparel store. She’ll be sticking with traveling to the auto shows with you Cameron.” Cameron smiled “alright then, let’s get together with our guys and get ready to be busy for the next two weeks.”

“Alright Emma, let Auntie Sammie have her cellphone.” Samantha tried to coax the two year old to give back her cellphone. Emma gurgled then put the phone back in her mouth, she sighed. “Fine, but your daddy is going to pay for my phone if you short circuit it girlfriend.”

Lily laughed as she handed Samantha a glass of wine. They were back at Vince and Lily’s house after an afternoon of shopping for Emma and Lily.

Samantha loved it that Lily didn’t bitch at her when she spoiled her and Emma and right now with the struggles they were having the past year, they needed a good shopping spree with Auntie Sammie.

They were chatting about the house Samantha was interested in when they heard the front door. “Where’s my sexy Lily!” Vince called out, Samantha laughed. “She’s in here with her sexy best friend.”

Samantha watched as Vince walked into the kitchen with Cameron, she blushed. “Well it’s good that you’re here, we need to chat Ms. Maxwell.” She looked at Vince and snorted “yeah right, be grateful I gave into the staying out of the garage and store.”

Cameron rolled his eyes “sending us cars to custom paint and get ready in two weeks is hardly getting involved honey.” She laughed “oh please, at least it’s only five cars. Now that I’m moving here, I’ll have to find a home for the other forty four cars.”

Lily looked at Samantha and asked “why don’t you sell them Sam?” They all looked at Lily like she was high when Samantha glared at her. “Because those cars are sexy. You of all people know how long it took for me and my dad to get all those cars.”

Vince chuckled as Cameron sat next to Samantha. He looked at her wine glass and smiled, she handed it to him so he can take a drink. “Besides Lil, Emma would be pissed if I sold her inheritance.”

Cameron and Vince both choked on what they were drinking. “What do you mean Sam?” Vince asked, she shrugged. “You know it would be Emma and her siblings and whatever kids I have that will take over Maxwell Enterprises, hell she’s grooming for the job of CEO now.”

She pointed over at the two year old who ate her phone while banging on Samantha’s IPad. “She won’t give me back my tools to do my work.” Cameron laughed “I think she wants Auntie Sam to take a break from working when she’s home.”

Samantha grinned as she picked up Emma and placed her on her lap. “Want to let Auntie have her phone back pretty girl?” Emma looked at her and shook her head, Samantha sighed. “You’re buying me a new phone Vince.”

Vince chuckled as he helped Lily start dinner. “You’re both staying for dinner?” Cameron looked at Samantha and then back at Vince “Sure, if you don’t mind.”

Lily rolled her eyes “you know you’re always welcomed Cameron and Sam isn’t going anywhere since she has no home.” Vince looked at Samantha and scowled “what do you mean no home?”

Samantha made a face “I’m staying at the hotel doofus. I just need to make time and inspect the property I know will fit all my stuff.”

Cameron grinned “I hope something with a garage to store your cars?” She nodded “I need a lot of space and a helipad.”

He looked at her in disbelief, she waved her hand dismissively “I’ll be traveling a lot this year. I have hotels opening in Tokyo and Bangkok.”

Cameron frowned “so I won’t see you much?” She smiled “well I’m not leaving just yet. We have a car show in two weeks and Chicago in six. I think I’ll be sticking around for those.”

He smiled as Emma held her hands out for Cameron to pick her up. “Come to Uncle Cam baby girl.” Emma squealed as she launched herself into Cameron’s lap, Samantha laughed.

“Hope you have better luck getting my phone from her.” He gave her a cocky smile as he looked back at Emma “can I have the phone baby girl?” Emma frowned then handed Cameron the phone, Samantha scowled.

“I’ve been trying for an hour to get my phone back.” Vince chuckled “Emma’s crazy about her Uncle Cam, she listens to him over us.”

Samantha gave Cameron a mock glare as she wiped her phone on the dishcloth Lily placed in front of her. “Just because your charm works on a two year old doesn’t mean it’ll work on me.” Cameron gave her a smirk “I know you didn’t just challenge me honey.”

She blushed as she got up to get another glass and the wine bottle. She poured Cameron and herself another glass of wine as Vince and Lily looked at her and grinned, she paid them no attention.

“Alright if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go call my office and see what I’ve missed. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” When Samantha was out of earshot Lily looked at Cameron. “So, I see you’ve got a thing for Sam.”

Cameron chuckled “is it that obvious?” She laughed “don’t worry, she thinks she’s not good enough for you so you’re perfect for each other, since both of you are so damn insecure.”

Vince laughed as Cameron scowled at Lily “I am not insecure, I just think she can do so much better.” Vince rolled his eyes then looked at his wife “he’s worried Sam might think he’s after her money.”

Lily snorted out a laugh “last thing Sam cares about is her money. Now mess with her cars, well you saw her response.” Cameron smiled “a girl after my heart.”

Vince took a swig of his beer then pointed the bottle at Cameron “just don’t break her heart or I’ll forget about the business and break your face, we clear?”

Cameron chuckled “I know brother, I don’t have any intentions of breaking anyone’s heart.” “That’s good because if you do, I know places where I can bury a body and you won’t be missed.”

Samantha said as she sat back down next to Cameron. Lily laughed as Vince rolled his eyes. Cameron took Samantha’s hand in his, brought it to his lips, and kissed it gently “like I said, that’s the last thing I’d want to do.”

She blushed then smiled. He gave her a sexy grin as Emma continued playing with the IPad she hasn’t surrendered back to her Auntie Sammie.

CHAPTER FOUR

“Sam, why don’t you stay with us until you find a
place?” Lily asked as they cleared the dinner dishes. Dinner was a pleasant variety of cutting up and having fun razzing one another about the business and upcoming changes.

“You know how I feel about being a house guest. Besides, I own two hotels on the strip. It’s fun freaking out my employees when I show up in the middle of the night. They think I’d fire them if they’re goofing off.”

Vince laughed as he picked up the empty glasses. “I swear Sam, I don’t know why they’re so worried. I loved it when I worked for you in Jay’s garage.”

Samantha, Lily and Vince were friends most of their lives. Samantha’s mother died in childbirth so her father hired Mary, Lily’s mother.

She answered an ad in the newspaper Samuel had placed looking for a nanny.  When Mary informed him she was a single parent as well, he offered her the job on the spot as Samantha’s nanny and a place to live with her daughter.

Mary was not only a mother figure for Samantha but she raised both girls as sisters as well as taught Samuel to be a good father.

Vince joined the duo when his father got a job at the estate as Jay’s assistant in Mr. Maxwell’s private garage. Vince was eight years old.

Sam, Lily and Vince were all in college when Samuel passed away from a stroke. Lily’s mother was devastated from the loss of not only her employer, but her best friend. The girls knew that Mary loved Samuel and when he died, she died along with him.

A year later on the anniversary of Samuel Maxwell’s death, Mary Castellano died in her sleep of a massive heart attack, but Samantha and Lily knew it was from a broken heart.

Vince went through his own drama with his dad when Vince Senior was informed that Mr. Maxwell left his fortune to his daughter and nothing to his employee’s daughter.

He got into a shouting match with Vince, stating he should get close to Samantha and marry her and not sniff around a poor girl like Lily.

After Vince punched his old man in the face, Vince Senior packed it up and took off. Last Samantha heard from her private investigators was Vince Senior was in Florida, living with an elderly widow.

Since then they’ve been family to each other. Samantha was Lily’s maid of honor while Jay was Vince’s best man when they married.

When Vince decided to move to Las Vegas to get his business going on customizing cars, Sam brought their first home and gave him the money to get the business started.

Vince met Cameron at an auto show and they hit it off. He was surprised when Cameron stated he wanted to open his own custom shop in Las Vegas.

After a few beers and heavy negotiating, CV Customs came to life. Three years later, they’ve become best friends. 

Samantha looked at her family and was happy she was moving closer to them. “I think I was easy on you because Jay was such a hard ass on all of us.” Vince chuckled “wait until he’s at the shop and has to deal with me being the boss.”

Lily rolled her eyes as she put the last of the dishes in the dishwasher. “You be nice to Daddy Jay Vince. Hey, does he have any idea on where he’s going to stay?”

She nodded “he’s going to stay at The View and once he finds a homestead for him and the boys then he’ll buy.”

Vince he handed her another glass of wine. “Well I’m glad we’ll have the entire family here.” He looked up as Cameron came back into the room and sat at the kitchen bar. “Emma’s finally asleep. Your daughter conned me into reading her two stories before she passed out.”

Samantha smiled as she took a seat next to him. “She’s a demanding little girl, I may have to start training her for my job so I can retire early.”

Cameron chuckled as he took her wine glass and took a drink. “Oh believe me honey, she doesn’t need training, I think she’s a natural.

Samantha grinned then looked down at her watch and scowled. “I need to get my butt moving. I have a six am video conference call with Tokyo and Bangkok, then I need to head over with my agent to look at a house on Tomiyasu Lane.”

Cameron raised an eyebrow “That’s horse country baby, you sure that’s where you need to go?” She nodded “There’s a six bedroom house up for sale with stables and a car showroom.”

“Can we tag along?” Cameron looked hopeful, he was adorable. Samantha gave a dramatic sigh like it was a big burden on her when she said it was alright. He chuckled then looked over to Vince.

“Want to go check out the place tomorrow?” Samantha scowled at Cameron “hey, we’re looking at a house, not storming the countryside.”

Cameron laughed as Vince grinned then looked at Lily, she nodded. “I guess we’re all going Sam, what time.” She was checking her schedule on her IPad. “I’ll be free at eleven. We can do lunch then head out and meet my Realtor at one o’clock.”

Cameron yawned as he got up from his seat. “Want me to drive you to the hotel?” She smiled “can you handle Shannon?” He laughed “I’ll handle her like I handle all my woman, she’ll be purring for me.”

Samantha rolled her eyes as she went to Vince and Lily and gave them hugs. “I’ll see you at eleven.” They walked Cameron and Samantha out and smiled, hoping their friends were going to pursue their attraction for one another.

They pulled up to the valet at The View Towers and were greeted by the paparazzi. “Ms. Maxwell, can you tell us who your new man is?” “Ms. Maxwell, is it true that you’re off the market.”

Samantha looked over at Cameron apologizing, he smiled then squeezed her hand. “Ready to run for the lobby?” She laughed “just ignore them.” He scoffed as he got out of the car.

“Excuse me people.” Cameron said as he opened Samantha’s door and took her hand in his. Cameron pulled her close to him as he muscled his way into the lobby, heading straight for the elevators. Samantha took out a black key card and pushed it in the slot in the elevator.

The doors closed and they shot up to the sixty ninth floor. When the elevator stopped, the doors opened into what Cameron can only describe as a palace in the sky. The three bedroom two and half bath penthouse suite was set up in whites, blacks, tans and gold’s.

The front room was an open floor plan with a kitchen, living room and dining room in the space. In the corner of the living room stood a white baby grand piano, white leather couches spread around the room and an eighty inch big screen LED television hanging on the wall. The dining room was done in elegant whites and gold and was set up for ten people.

The view of the Las Vegas skyline took Cameron’s breath away that he had to ask her if he can later come with his camera equipment to take pictures. She nodded as he walked closer to the windows.

Sam placed her purse and keys down on the bar then walked up to him to take his hand. “Let me show you around Cameron. This suite is not changing, the other two I have Brent redoing the colors and furniture.”

Cameron was awed with the attention to detail they put into the penthouse suite. The master bedroom had a California King bed made up of the black and gold color schemes. The bedroom led into a spacious walk in closet and matching sitting room.

The bathroom was an idea only a woman can come up with. The Jacuzzi tub was in the middle of the room, heated floors, marble his and her sinks, and finally a shower that can fit a basketball team.

She smiled as she watched Cameron’s reaction to the suite. “How much do you charge per night to stay here?” he asked. Samantha shrugged “on off peak they sell out for five thousand a night. On peak and holiday its ten grand per night.”

Cameron shook his head in disbelief “I’m out of my league here baby.” Samantha sighed “it’s a room Cameron. The time I spend here is to sleep and get a shower. Most of my time I’m either traveling, in my office or at Vince and Lil’s house.”

She led him back into the living room and sat down with him on the couch. “Does it bother you that I live like this?” She looked worried and it bothered him that he put that look on her face.

He pulled her closer to him and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “I’m not going to lie to you baby, I am a little intimidated. Give me some time to get to know you and I’ll grow out of it.”

Samantha smiled then nodded “you’ll see. I’m just like any other girl, just with a little more bling.” He laughed “honey you don’t have a little bling, you have Tiffany’s Herzog and Jared combined.”

She rolled her eyes as she snuggled into Cameron’s chest “I’m just me Cam, nothing more, okay?” He kissed the top of her head “I know baby, like I said before, I’d like to get to know you Sam.” She smiled then looked up into his caramel eyes “I’d like that.”

He bent down and placed a chaise kiss on her soft lips. She closed her eyes and he took it as an invitation to continue. He kissed her a little longer, coaxing her to open for him.

His tongue dove into her mouth, tasting Sam, he lost his mind. He growled as he licked and sucked on Samantha’s bottom lip. She moaned as she thrust her body closer. They couldn’t get enough of one another as they got lost in their kisses.

They continue with their make-out session for an hour when he pulled away panting. “I need to go home and let you get to bed before I change my mind.”

Samantha’s lips were swollen and juicy looking that Cameron had to control himself before he attacked her here on the couch.

She was in a euphoric daze when she looked at Cameron. “I think you’re right and yes, I can’t miss my conference call.” Samantha got up then walked Cameron to the door and leaned against it as he entered the elevator.

He stepped out once more and kissed her gently on the lips. “Sleep well baby.” She smiled, “you too sexy man.” He gave his cocky smile as he pushed the button and the elevator doors closed, leaving her alone with a goofy grin on her face.

Cameron stepped out of the elevator into the lobby when he remembered he didn’t have a ride since his car was at the garage. He was ready to give a buddy a call to pick him up when he was approach by the concierge.

“Mr. Davis, Ms. Maxwell called down to inform you to take Shannon home?” The young man looked confused, Cameron chuckled. “It’s her car, thanks man.”

Cameron pulled out his cellphone from his pocket and looked up Sam’s number. “You didn’t have to do that baby.” She scowled “do you know how much Shannon means to me? I don’t trust her not to be scratched or dinged in the parking lot. Please, put me out of my worry and take her home with you. I can pick her up tomorrow after we go see the new house.”

He chuckled “alright honey, get your sexy ass in bed and I’ll see you at eleven.” He ended the call as he headed towards the valet. The Hemi was waiting for him and she had a crowd circled around her.

Cameron grinned as he got into Shannon then handed the car attendant a twenty “don’t tell Sam I tipped you.” He shook his head and tipped his hat to him. Cameron nodded then gunned the engine, leaving The View Towers and anyone trying to follow him home in the dust.