Page 60 of Camilla & Dallas
Her younger sister shrugged. “It’s just that… I’ve seen the way he looks at you. That night…” Her skin flushed.
Camilla was all too aware of what Isabelle was referring to. The night that Dallas had come to the house and insisted on speaking to her. They’d both been deceived. But apparently, Isabelle still thought there was some sort of redeeming quality in Dallas because she was actually defending him.
Gritting her teeth, Camilla turned her focus to the rest of her family. “At least now, I hope you’ll listen to me. I know he still has a few more weeks here to finish up his work. I don’t expect you to kick him off the property. He’s here for a job. But I do expect you to help me with one thing. It’s the least you can do.”
The room was quiet except for Paxton, who tugged on Mateo’s shirt. “Can I have more milk please?”
When no one else spoke up, Camilla nodded. “Right. Well, I want everyone to make sure Dallas stays far, far away from me. I don’t want to talk to him. I don’t want to see him. He weaseled himself into my good graces twice, and both times he broke my heart. Do you think you can do that?”
There were several head nods. Well, all except Isabelle, who wouldn’t meet her gaze. She was still fiddling with her hands in her lap. One day she’d have her own rude awakening. One day she’d realize that even men like Dallas could be manipulative and deceptive.
“Thank you. I’m going to get dressed and get to work.”
25
Dallas
Dallas paced the cabin that Mateo had offered to him. Roman wanted him out, but he wasn’t the one who set up this whole arrangement. Until Mateo came out to the cabin and told Dallas to leave, he’d be staying right where he was.
This could be fixed.
It had to be.
He couldn’t let Camilla slip through his fingers again.
Yes, the first time was entirely his fault. He’d let his sister manipulate him into believing he had to leave. He hadn’t seen through her deception.
A growl of frustration erupted from his chest and his hands clenched tighter at his sides. He should have told Camilla what Cheyenne had done. He’d wanted to.
Oh, how he’d wanted to.
The only thing holding him back was the fact he could tell Camilla wasn’t willing to listen to reason. She’d been hurting.All she could see was the broken promises and the repeated mistakes.
But this time was different. Couldn’t she see that?
He continued his pacing well into the night until his legs ached and his head pounded mercilessly. By the time the sunlight filtered through the windows of the cabin, he’d situated himself on the small sofa.
Head in his hands, he continued going through different scenarios that might have the best chance of getting Camilla on his good side again.
None of them sounded feasible.
Most definitely not the ones where he kidnapped her in the dead of night and whisked her away with him to Canada.
Hadn’t he already asked her about her opinion on leaving Copper Creek? She didn’t want to lose her family. She refused to upend her life again.
For the first time in his life, he abhorred his job. The one thing that used to bring him happiness and purpose was the ball and chain that would soon drag him to the bottom of the ocean as if he’d been tossed overboard from a ship out to sea.
Camilla was smart. She wasn’t unreasonable.
Maybe if he let her cool off, he could speak to her about the options. The assignment in Canada wouldn’t be forever. Would she consider a long-distance relationship?
A knock on the door was the only thing to drag him from his spiraling thoughts.
He hurried to the door, hoping to see Camilla, expecting to see Mateo. But who he saw had him dumbfounded.
“Isabelle?”
She stood on the doorstep with a casserole dish in her hands. What time was it? He glanced at his watch, realizing that he’d lost time today. Two in the afternoon. He blinked, then rubbedat his eyes with his thumb and forefinger. “What are you doing here, Isabelle?”
