Page 24 of Sophia & Cameron

Her arms folded across her chest, and she tilted her head. “You have something for Sophia, don’t you?”

Cameron frowned. If she’d noticed and Roman had noticed, then it was only a matter of time before Mateo figured it out. According to Roman, that was something he needed to avoid. Cameron shoved his hands into his pockets and shrugged. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

She snorted. “I’ve seen the way you look at her. It’s pretty obvious.”

Man. How could everybody tell how he felt?

“Whatever you think you’ve seen, I can assure you?—”

“Whatever, dude. I don’t care. Honestly, it’s probably a good thing.”

“It is?”

She nodded. “You’re clearly a little obsessed with her.”

He stiffened. That didn’t soundgoodat all.

This time, she laughed. “Relax, dude. After what she’s dealt with, I think the only guy she would trust is someone who clearly only has eyes for her.”

There was so much to unload with that statement. He moved closer to Sophia’s sister. “What has she been through?”

At that point, she seemed to have realized that she had said something wrong. Her cheeks blushed, and she glanced at the house with worry before she brought her gaze back to him. “I’m not supposed to know about it.”

“What happened?” he said gently. “I’m really trying to figure out what’s going on—why she seems to hate me so much.”

She worried her lower lip. “I probably shouldn’t say anything.”

His hand reached to touch her arm before she thought to escape. “Please,” he whispered. “I do care about her. You caught me. But I can’t get close to her if she won’t open up to me, and if there’s a way for me to help her, then I want to know how.”

Sophia’s sister glanced to the house once more, then nodded. “Fine. All I know is she was really close with her high school sweetheart. They were seeing each other for the longest time. I thought they were going to get married. I think Sophia thought so, too. But then within days of my brother’s fiancée leaving him at the altar, Sophia’s boyfriend stopped hanging around. Sophia sorta withdrew. She didn’t act like herself. One of my friendsheard rumors that her boyfriend was cheating on Sophia with like three other girls. Well… he was technically cheating on all of them. They just didn’t know because they went to different schools. I don’t know how Sophia figured it out. But…” She shrugged her shoulders.

Cameron hadn’t realized his hands were balled into fists until the bite of his nails brought his attention to it. No wonder she didn’t go on second dates. She didn’t trust that men would stay faithful. She flirted with everyone and didn’t get attached.

Sophia had said she didn’t trust easily. It was one of her reasons for turning him down. But this didn’t answer the burning question as to why she’d agreed to a second date, only to leave him hanging.

“You okay?”

The girl’s soft voice yanked him to the present and he stared down at her with a grim expression. “Yeah. Fine. Thanks.”

She nodded, then turned to head past him, but he stopped her.

“Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”

Turning, she flashed him a small smile. “Isabelle.”

He watched her hurry toward the house and breathed out a sigh as he turned in the direction of the wranglers’ cabin. After that interaction, he could use another run, but it was getting late. He’d have to wait until tomorrow.

Cameron riskedanother glance at Sophia. She didn’t look pleased with him, and why would she be? The last time they’d spent time together, he’d glowered at her until she left in a huff. He really needed to work on that. He wasn’t going to draw herin if he was constantly angry. Sophia was the light, and she drew every unsuspecting man to it, including himself.

He breathed out a sigh and forced his expression to relax. She was allowed to have a life here. There would always be competition until he finally won her over. With that in mind, he leaned against the stall door beside him and flashed her a smile.

She glanced up at him just in time for the door to creak and give beneath his weight. It hadn’t been latched, and he stumbled into the empty stall with a crash.

Sophia snickered. It was Friday, and what he really wanted to do was ask her out. To get her to open up. He scrambled out of the stall and folded his arms as he leaned against a pole instead.

“You think that’s funny, huh?” He glanced up at her with s small smile on his face. “I was thinking?—”

She eyed him momentarily, then held up her hand. “Save it, Cameron. We work together because wehaveto. That’s it. Let’s not pretend that we’re anything but adversaries.”

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