Page 42 of Camilla & Dallas
“I love you, too. So much, Camilla. You don’t even know?—”
Her smile cut him off. Or maybe it was the look in her eyes. Either way, there was something he saw in her expression that had him wanting to just drink her in. She was everything, and maybe she already knew it.
“Good news, kid,”the voice on the other end of the call said. Dallas glanced over at Camilla as she unloaded the things they’d brought with them on the ATV. She glanced back at him and smiled as he turned his attention back to the phone call.
“And what’s that?”
Mack had been his supervisor for the last two years on their research team. “After you’re done with this assignment, I’m sending you to Canada.”
“Canada?” The word scratched his throat, burned his insides. “What? Why?”
“Don’t sound so excited, kid. This is what you wanted. What we all wanted. We’re collaborating with a team in Alberta, and they requested us.”
Under normal circumstances, Dallas might have been over the moon. But one look in Camilla’s direction had his stomach twisted. They were finally getting back to a good place. How was he supposed to tell her that he already had a new assignment in the works? He’d been planning on contacting Mack about the possibility of taking on a job that wouldn’t require as much travel, but apparently, he’d waited too long.
Dallas shoved down the feeling of trepidation that came with this new revelation. Maybe it wouldn’t be all bad. Maybe Camilla would consider coming with him to his next assignment.
He still had the summer to figure out how he wanted to deal with this situation. Until then, he wouldn’t bother stressing Camilla with the news. For now, they’d enjoy every second they had together.
18
Camilla
“Hey, you! I feel like it’s been forever!”
Camilla winced as Cheyenne’s happy voice came through the receiver with far too much pep for seven in the morning. It was late where Cheyenne was in China. She’d probably had a fun day with her teaching program and was buzzing with energy. But that was always how Cheyenne had been.
Camilla, on the other hand, had stayed out far too late with a certain someone and hadn’t been prepared for the sun to make its appearance. But it wasn’t only the lack of sleep that had her cringing at Cheyenne’s happy voice.
Guilt clawed at her, unfurling its ugly talons in her chest. This was Cheyenne—her best friend—and the twin to the guy Camilla was in love with.
“Camilla? You still there?”
“I’m here,” she said, pinching the bridge of her nose as she took a seat on a porch chair. The men who worked for herbrother were up and getting started on their tasks. She half expected to see Dallas but then reminded herself he was out by the cabin. There was no reason for him to show up at the main house when he was supposed to be working at the edges of the property. “I’m just tired.”
“You? Tired? You’re never tired. Unless…”
Camilla cringed again.
“Camilla! Did you stay out late? With a guy?” At least she sounded happy about it. Cheyenne had never been a fan of the guys that Camilla dated. As soon as Dallas left, she’d gotten really picky about who she gave her stamp of approval.
Sighing, Camilla settled back on the chair with her legs sprawled out in front of her. “Yeah.”
“Anyone I know?”
Was she mistaken or did Cheyenne’s voice carry an edge to it?
No, that would be weird, right? It wasn’t about whether or not she knew the guy. Cheyenne’s protectiveness had everything to do with the opinion that no one would ever be good enough for her best friend.
“I don’t know,” Camilla lied. “But enough about me. Tell me more about what you’ve been up to. You’re nearly halfway done. How does it feel?”
Silence was the worst—especially when it came from Cheyenne. She was more intuitive than anyone Camilla knew. She could sense things that no one else could, and she was really good at it. She probably already knew about Dallas and wanted Camilla to admit to it.
“Is my brother leaving you alone?”
Camilla shut her eyes tight. “Cheyenne?—”
“I mean it, Camilla. He shouldn’t be bothering you. He came for his job, and he’ll probably disappear when it’s over.”
