Page 22 of Camilla & Dallas
Camilla juggled the bags, pushing them into one arm, and then she pushed herself into the cabin. It was dim inside, the curtains still drawn. It was nine in the morning and quiet. One look around the space made it clear Dallas wasn’t there.
She couldn’t decide if she was disappointed or relieved.
Maybe a little of both.
With arms full, she backed into the door to shut it, wincing when it slammed closed. Then she headed toward the kitchen. She placed the bags on the counter and hummed to herself as she withdrew the apples and carrots. Dallas had once been a health food nut. He preferred snacking on raw produce rather than the processed junk that she had a tendency to buy. There was no telling if he still liked this stuff, and that thought had her pausing her work.
Shoot! She barely knew the Dallas who was here now. What if he’d changed? He sure seemed like the same man she’d fallen in love with, but that had been seven years ago.
“Camilla?”
She screamed, tossing the bag of carrots she’d been scrutinizing into the air. Her eyes darted to the darkened doorway of the only bedroom to see a disheveled Dallas standing in only a pair of pajama bottoms.
Her eyes swept over his torso without thought until she realized what she had done and forced herself to look away. He lookedgood. Better than good. Dallas had filled out. He’d been attractive before, but now? Dallas turned heads without even trying. Her face burned hot with embarrassment. It wasn’t like she hadn’t seen him this way before. They’d spent those last few months before he left doing all sorts of outdoor activities, and there wasn’t a single hot day when he hadn’t shed his T-shirt to be more comfortable.
Her heart practically did an acrobatic flip in her chest, making her wonder if it wouldn’t be smart to go to a doctor.
“Camilla,” he said more firmly, moving into the room. “What are you doing here?”
She cleared her throat and her hands shook as she attempted to hurry along with her task. “I was… I thought… Groceries.” She shut her eyes tight as she turned from him and placed the applesinto the fridge. Then she snatched the bag of carrots from the floor. “You were always bad about keeping your fridge stocked. And I wanted to make sure you were set.” Was her voice shaking too?
For goodness sakes! She really should have never come here.
At least she’d been right. The fridge was as bare as ever, with only a few items. Either he didn’t eat much, or he’d been going elsewhere for food.
She felt his presence at her back and the heat that came off him only made her heart race faster. “Sorry. I didn’t know you were…” Camilla caught his eye and that was the second mistake she’d made today.
Dallas stared at her openly, his eyes tracing her face like he wanted to memorize every single freckle, every eyelash, everything that made her unique. He’d looked at her like that when they’d been together, and nothing and no one had managed to replicate the way it made her feel.
Her mouth went dry, and her throat closed up. It took every ounce of self-control not to look down at his chiseled body or to reach out and touch his face. He’d barely been back for a couple weeks, and it already felt natural to have these feelings for him return.
One corner of his mouth quirked upward. For a moment she thought he might step closer to her and take her cheek in his palm like he used to do. When she looked down at his hand at that thought, she noted the way his fingers twitched.
But he did no such thing. Instead, his lips thinned and he took a decided step back. The amusement in his eyes faded and any emotion she might have been able to get a read on disappeared.
“You got me… groceries?”
Her face burst into flames. “Yeah.” And that one word seemed to come out in a squeak.
“You didn’t have to do that.”
She shrugged, moving to gather the other items she’d brought. Most of it was nonperishable. But she had gotten him some eggs, milk, bacon, and bread.
The air felt thick and heavy. There was so much she wanted to say. The side of her that wanted to erase the last seven years threatened to escape the chains she’d put it in. Dallas had a lot to make up for. If he wanted to rekindle what they’d had, then he’d have to work for it.
Wait a minute. Was she actually entertaining the idea that she might let him in again? Was she being ridiculous?
“Camilla,” Dallas whispered.
Her head snapped up. They’d spent more time in each other’s company lately. Mostly talking about the last seven years. Dallas hadn’t made a move since that night at the country club. They’d had several moments when the tension between them was drawn so tight it nearly snapped.
Maybe she did want the chance to explore what they had again. Would it be so bad? She’d been head over heels in love with this man.
His large, warm hand pressed against the side of her face, and she gasped, her eyes darting up to find him staring at her with knitted brows. “Camilla,” he whispered again, sending her whole nervous system into overdrive. There were so many unspoken words hanging between them—so many unanswered questions.
Dallas opened his mouth and then shook his head, his hand dropping to his side. She felt the loss of his warmth immediately, and no amount of chasing it would fix the hole it tore through her heart. What was wrong with her? She couldn’t keep doing this to herself. Anytime she was within a few feet of this man, she allowed herself to succumb to the fairytale they’d once shared.
“I—I’d better… go. I think you can find a place for the rest of these groceries.” She moved past him but didn’t get far when his hand reached out and wrapped around her wrist. Camilla stared up at him expectantly.
