Page 26 of Camilla & Dallas

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“What?”

“Camilla. She went out with Isabelle to run errands. So, if you’re here to talk to her?—”

Dallas cleared his throat. He thought about telling Roman that he had no need to speak to Camilla but realized it wouldn’t do him any good. “I won’t lie to you. It’d be nice to see her. We have some… unfinished business to talk about.”

Roman sighed. “Dallas?—”

“But I get that it’s going to be on her terms. You know as well as I do if I’m not here, I don’t have any chance of getting her to open up to me. So if that’s not okay with you, you might as well kick me to the curb now.”

He appraised Dallas, clearly warring with some desire to do just that. Then he shook his head with a sigh. “You have no idea how much you hurt her.”

Dallas swallowed the painful lump in his throat. “I might have a small idea.”

Roman strode forward, closing the gap between them. Dallas refused to be intimidated—or at least refused to let Roman see that was exactly what he was doing to him. When Roman got into his personal space, his voice lowered to a near-menacing growl. “You were an idiot, you know that?”

Nodding, Dallas waited for Roman to say his piece.

A sharp finger poked him in the chest three times. “She deserved better.”

Another nod.

To anyone observing, they looked to be in a clear standoff. Dallas nearly stepped back, relinquishing the power to Camilla’s brother in a sign of humility. But then Roman’s shoulders sagged, and he was the one to step away. He scowled at Dallas for a moment before his expression softened as well. “Camilla hasn’t been the same since you left. No one was able to make her… shine… like you did.”

Dallas perked up at that. Was Roman actually telling him that he had a chance to get her back? What about Jason? Was she not happy with him? The hope that flared to life in Dallas’s heart should have made him feel equally guilty.

But it didn’t.

Roman dragged a hand down his face. “A year ago, I would have pummeled Mateo for even entertaining the idea of you coming here. But I get it. He wants Camilla to…”

“Get closure?” Dallas finished for him; that word seared into his heart far too deep lately.

“Yeah.” Roman peeked at Dallas. “I don’t know what’s going to happen between the two of you. Camilla gets to decide whathappens.” He shrugged. “Honestly, I think Camilla should show you the door. But she’s stronger than I give her credit for most days.”

Dallas held his breath. This was it. This was the moment Roman gave him any indication that Camilla could forgive him.

“If you ever hurt her again…” Roman’s eyes flashed with warning. “If you ever make hercryagain?—”

“I won’t,” Dallas croaked.

Roman studied him again. “But if you do… I’m not going to be held accountable for my actions.”

The warning was clear. Roman wouldn’t be holding back. Dallas could hold his own in a fight, but Roman wasn’t any average Joe. He was built, and he wasn’t the type to pull his punches.

Dallas nodded. “Understood.”

They stared each other down for long moments once more. Then Roman gave him a sharp nod. “Now, let’s get that feed unloaded.”

12

Camilla

Camilla covered her face with her hands.

“You realize you’re sorta being ridiculous, right?” Isabelle pointed out.

“Yeah, I have to agree with her.” Charlie chuckled.

Camilla glanced up at her friend. Before Charlie got married, she’d been a Keagan. With eleven older siblings—most of which were brothers—she was used to the men in her life meddling with her relationships. Out of everyone Camilla thought would be on her side, she’d thought Charlie would be it.