Page 29 of Camilla & Dallas
“The rodeo’s back next weekend,” Marcus pointed out between bites of fried chicken. “Are you going to set me up with someone like you did last year?”
Dallas glanced from Marcus to Camilla. It had been stupid to get so close to her in the barn yesterday. He’d nearly talked himself into backing out of dinner today. Roman had insisted he come for Nikki’s fried chicken, and at the time Dallas had been thinking it would give him a chance to talk to Camilla.
But then she’d shown up in the barn full of apologies and gentle touches. He hadn’t been prepared for any of it, and it had shown when he’d nearly crossed the line and kissed someone else’s girlfriend.
Camilla wasn’t looking at him. She’d avoided making eye contact since the moment he’d shown up. He couldn’t tell if she was angry with him or just hurt. Maybe a little of both. Then again, since she hadn’t spoken to him nor had she looked in his direction, maybe it was apathy.
Marcus groaned at something Camilla had said. “Come on. It’s tradition.”
She snorted. “You’re right. It is. I’ve set you up with my friends for the last four years, and each time you’ve made a fool of yourself. None of them want to go out with you because you always leave them hanging.”
“Blind dates aren’t supposed to turn into relationships,” Marcus insisted. “You can’t know you’re in love after meeting someone one time.”
Camilla’s eyes darted to Dallas and that one look had heat unfurling in his chest. He’d known he was in love from the first moment their gazes had locked. He’d told her as much. Dallas tore his focus from her and glanced at Jason, who was seated with another cowboy at a different table. There had to be something wrong with the guy. If Dallas had been dating Camilla, he would use every excuse he could to sit right beside her. As it was, the only people at this table were her siblings Marcus, Isabelle, Roman, and his fiancée Olivia.
He’d sat down with Roman before he’d known Camilla planned to sit there. How had he gone from chasing this girl to rekindle whatever he could to wanting to avoid her at all costs? His eyes slid over to Jason, and he frowned. Okay, he knew the answer to that question. The man in all his glory—the new boyfriend. He was the reason Dallas was regretting every decision he’d been making since he’d arrived.
“You have to know someone. I’m guessing there are loads of girls you could match me up with.” He tapped his finger on his chin, and then his eyes lit up. “What about that girl you set Roman up with? What was her name?”
Olivia choked on the water she was drinking. Roman looked like he was about to throttle Marcus for bringing him into the conversation. Camilla didn’t look too far off from mirroring her brother’s sentiments.
“Melody. That’s it.” Marcus grinned at his older sister. “I know she’s a little older than me, but man, she was…” He mimed a chef’s kiss.
“Not going to happen,” Camilla snapped. “Besides, Melody doesn’t go for guys who don’t know what they want in life.” She tilted her head, her expression more thoughtful. “But I think she’s got a younger sister.”
“Perfect.” Then Marcus pointed at Dallas. “He seems to know whathewants. Maybe you should set Melody up with Dallas, and we can all go to the rodeo together.”
If Dallas didn’t know any better, he would have thought he saw Camilla pale at the suggestion. Roman shot Dallas a warning look that was so short Dallas wasn’t sure he’d seen it correctly. And Isabelle’s wide eyes were bouncing from Dallas to Camilla with curiosity as if she had a secret begging to be spilled.
Dallas coughed a little and picked up his drink. “I wouldn’t mind being set up.”
If possible, Isabelle’s eyes widened further, and she elbowed Camilla in the side.
He slowly dragged his attention from Isabelle to Camilla. “Like Marcus said. We could make it a group thing. You could bring Jason.”
This time Dallas didn’t miss the dark look Roman glared at him before he got to his feet and left the table.
“Jason?” Camilla asked, her focus shifting to the other table. Her boyfriend must have heard his name because he perked up and looked over at their table. A grin spread across his face, and he sauntered over. He leaned his hands on the table, his eyes darting from Marcus to Camilla and back.
“What’s up?” Jason asked. “Need something?”
Before Camilla or Dallas could say a word, Marcus chuckled. “Want to come on our group date? Camilla needs a plus-one.”
Jason grinned at Camilla. “Sure. Sounds fun.”
Dallas watched the guy through slightly narrowed eyes. He definitely wasn’t acting like a boyfriend. Had Cheyenne gotten it wrong? No. That couldn’t be possible. Camilla was her best friend. Cheyenne would know who Camilla was seeing.
“There, it’s settled,” Marcus announced. “Camilla, you call Melody and see if her sister is available. Then we can all go to the rodeo next weekend.”
Marcus and Jason were all smiles. Olivia looked confused. Isabelle was clearly about ready to burst with something. And Camilla wasn’t meeting anyone’s eyes.
Dallas wanted to say something. To ask her why she suddenly looked sick to her stomach. But he kept his thoughts to himself. This was better. He needed to move on. He couldn’t be the person who came between Camilla and her relationship.
At least that was what he’d tell himself when all he wanted to do was pull her into his chest, inhale her scent, and kiss her like there was no guarantee of tomorrow.
Dallas couldn’t denythat Melody was objectively attractive. She had a lot going for her. Besides her job as a nurse, she liked to volunteer in the community. She was tall, slender, and looked like she belonged on the cover of a magazine rather than in a small town like Copper Creek.
There was just one thing wrong with her.
