Page 73 of Camilla & Dallas
“Besides, I didn’t know the full extent of what she was doing to your relationships. And when they didn’t work out, I really wasn’t willing to come between you and the person you needed to lean on the most. The two of you needed each other.” Pain laced her words and Camilla frowned.
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry for what?” Isabelle scoffed. “You’re my older sister by a couple of years. I didn’t expect you to want to hang out with me when you had someone you connected with better.” She smiled. “But I wouldn’t say no to hanging out more now that things are… different.”
They certainly were different. Cheyenne was keeping her distance—a fact that Camilla appreciated. Right now, she neededto give herself enough time and space to think clearly. She knew she’d forgive Cheyenne someday because that was the right thing to do. But in the meantime, things were sort of muddled.
Her eyes lifted to Isabelle as she continued to sit in her own thoughts. Then Camilla sat up a little straighter. “Can I ask you something?”
Isabelle’s eyes drifted to meet hers. “Okay.”
“What do you think about Dallas? I know you were more on his team after everything blew up than you were with Cheyenne. But now that the dust has settled…”
“Oh, I’m still definitely on team Dallas.” She grinned. “He’s… well, let’s just say that I’m not going to deny there’s a little bit of jealousy on my part.”
Camilla’s eyes widened, and then so did Isabelle’s.
“Oh, not like that. I’m not crushing on him or anything.” Her lower lip popped out as she seemed to be considering her words a little more. “It’s more of a jealousy of what you two have together.”
Camilla snorted. “Lies and broken dreams?”
Isabelle rolled her eyes. “No. I’m talking about the connection. That spark, you know? Like…” She glanced up at the ceiling and the sigh that burst from her sounded like it belonged in a romantic comedy. “It’s the way he looks at you when no one is paying attention. The way his eyes turn three shades brighter when he talks about you. It’s the way his smile can bring literal warmth into the room just because someone says your name. I swear, Camilla, he’s so totally gone for you, and I wish…” She sighed again, locking her eyes with her sister. “I wish I could find something like that.”
Isabelle wasn’t big on dating. Then again, Camilla had been so wrapped up in her own problems that she hadn’t been paying attention. Had Isabelle had some serious boyfriends that Camilla wasn’t aware of? The one person Camilla noticedIsabelle spending time with was Charlie Keagan, now Charlie Ashton. Maybe her friend would be able to enlighten Camilla the next time they saw each other.
Isabelle laughed quietly and looked away. “Don’t look at me like I’m some hopeless creature. I’m not.”
“I never said you were,” Camilla said. Then she leaned forward and placed a hand on Isabelle’s hand. “You’ll find your happily ever after, too. There’s someone out there who will look at you with the kind of adoration you deserve. I know it.”
Isabelle nodded and looked away, blinked a few times, then returned to eating her apple. She let out a shuddering laugh, then grinned at her sister. “You need to get over yourself and forgive the guy. He’s desperately in love with you, and it’s pure torture seeing him day in and day out waiting for you to offer him crumbs.”
Camilla gasped, her mouth falling open. “Hey!”
“It’s true. Even Marcus can see it. I’m telling you, that guy isn’t going anywhere. I’m pretty sure he quit his job or something because he was definitely supposed to leave.”
“Quit? No. Dallas loves his work too much to quit.” Didn’t he?
Then again, she’d seen him around more often lately. They’d gone on horse rides and hikes almost every day. He hadn’t given much of an explanation beyond that his next assignment was up in the air.
“You love him, don’t you?” Isabelle asked.
She glanced at Isabelle. “Of course I do.”
“Then what’s holding you back?”
That was a very good question. What was holding her back? Dallas had made mistakes, but in the grand scheme of things, they hadn’t been earth-shattering. Trust was a big issue, but it was fixable. Especially now that she knew the whole story.
“I don’t know,” she answered.
“He’s a good man, Camilla,” Isabelle whispered. “Better than most of us deserve.”
That had Camilla staring at her sister sharply. What a strange way to put it. But before she could ask her sister what she meant by that comment, the doorbell rang.
Isabelle glanced toward the front of the house, then back to Camilla with a knowing smile. She was fully aware of who was at the door.
Incessant fluttering exploded in Camilla’s chest. There were two truths she couldn’t ignore or deny.
Dallas Thorton was in love with her.
