Page 10 of Camilla & Dallas
Apparently, she couldn’t get past the fact that he’d broken her best friend’s heart.
A built-up breath escaped his throat as he shoved his way out of the car and headed for the man who had given him the green light to come.
“Dallas, good to see you, man,” Mateo called out, a grin on his face.
“You’re looking good.” Dallas pulled Mateo into a short hug and a clap on the back. “Married life suits you.”
Mateo chuckled. “It does.” He looked Dallas up and down. “No offense, but you look a little worse for wear. They don’t have razors and shaving cream where you’ve been staying?”
Dallas chuckled, scrubbing at the beard he sported. His last assignment hadn’t given him much opportunity to stay groomed, and he’d come straight here after it was done. He’d planned on getting a haircut and a decent shave before arriving at Winding Creek Ranch, but Cheyenne was in a rush and she was his ride. “I don’t suppose that cabin out in the woods has running water?”
Mateo grimaced. “There’s a pump outside that you have to prime. And there’s an outhouse. Sorry.”
Dallas merely chuckled. “I’ve had worse.”
This camaraderie was strange to say the least. The last time he’d seen Mateo was when he’d asked for Mateo’s blessing to marry Camilla. Mateo had told him it wasn’t his call but that he’d happily welcome him into the family.
Mateo never asked what had changed, for which Dallas would be eternally grateful. From the sound of it, he hadn’t told anyone, either. Dallas’s plan to propose had remained a secret. It was for the best.
His friend slung an arm around Dallas’s shoulder and led him toward two waiting ATVs. “I’m sure you’re itching to get out there and check it out. If you want, you can come back for supper?—”
“I appreciate the offer, but I’m good.”
Mateo’s smile faltered. “She’ll get over it.”
Dallas flinched. “That bad, huh?”
“I’m not gonna lie. She doesn’t want you here.”
Nodding, Dallas fought the urge to look toward the house where he felt a distinct pair of eyes drilling into the back of his head.
“If it’d help, I’m happy to ask her to help out?—”
“Don’t,” Dallas muttered. “I’m not going to force her to spend time with me. It’s not like I’ll be here that long anyway.”
The look Mateo gave him made it clear Mateo didn’t approve.
“Besides, she’s moved on. We both have. It’s better if we don’t rip open any old wounds, you know?”
“Alright,” Mateo conceded. “But if you change your mind?—”
“I won’t.” Dallas tossed his duffle onto the back of the ATV. “Let’s start the grand tour, okay?”
Mateo nodded. “Yeah, man. Let’s head out.”
Against his better judgment, Dallas glanced toward the house. He didn’t see her. Of course he wouldn’t. And while he knew it would probably backfire, he already knew he wouldn’t be able to stay away from her.
At the bare minimum, she deserved an apology.
6
Camilla
Her palms were sweating.
Why on earth were her palms sweating?
Just because Dallas was back in Copper Creek didn’t mean a thing.
