Page 41 of Camilla & Dallas
Dallas hadn’t been backin Copper Creek long, and if he were honest with Camilla, he would have told her that he’d askedMateo about the best place to take her for the picnic. Specifically, he wanted a place that was close enough to hike to but not on their property—somewhere Camilla might not have visited.
He’d driven them to the edge of the property with the ATV, and they’d crossed past the property line before they’d wandered farther into a wooded area.
Unfortunately, Mateo hadn’t been much help, and it had taken Dallas three days of wandering around to find the place he planned on taking Camilla.
There were little red tags tied to tree branches—a way to help guide him back to the tranquil place he’d discovered only yesterday. Their outing today had been last-minute, and he’d barely managed to get supplies out to the spot he’d discovered. He hadn’t expected to take her there so quickly. Simply put, he was thrilled that Camilla was willing to drop everything to go for a picnic.
She walked beside him quietly, their boots crunching on fallen twigs and bits of crusted dirt. In the shade of the trees, the summer heat wasn’t nearly as bad as it was in the pastures. It was like they’d entered a different world.
“Are you sure we’re going to have enough to eat? Your satchel isn’t exactly the size of a picnic basket,” Camilla teased.
He tossed her a grin. “You know me. I’m more prepared than that.”
“I told you I could handle putting stuff in my backpack. I don’t really consider granola bars and bottled water the makings of a good pic?—”
Right at that moment, he’d rounded the bend in the makeshift trail he’d been leading her through. There was a blanket spread out before them, half beneath the sun and half beneath the overhanging branches of an evergreen. Wildflowers grew in bunches throughout the small clearing. It still smelledlike fresh rain even though it had been days since they’d had any moisture.
A picnic basket waited on the blanket. He’d been wary of leaving anything out—around here, anything with a nose would find it. Even the closed basket wasn’t safe if it sat too long. So he’d timed the whole thing to make sure it was still there and intact when they arrived.
Based on the surprise and light that filled Camilla’s eyes, he’d done well.
Her hand was still in his and he brought it to his lips before he murmured, “I hope you’re hungry.”
Camilla let out a little laugh. That was all she seemed capable of doing as he tugged her toward the blanket. With little beams of light breaking through the shade, it almost looked like the space glowed. It couldn’t have turned out more perfect.
She settled onto her knees at the edge of the blanket, and he released her in order to open the picnic basket. Her eyes remained trained on it until he pulled out the wrapped burgers from Sal’s. Camilla gasped, her eyes darting to his. “You didn’t.”
He grinned. “Double cheeseburger with extra pickles. And…” He reached into the basket and retrieved an entire pie. “Cherry.”
When he glanced up at her, tears were lining her lashes. Immediately, he frowned and put the pie down before rushing to her side. “Don’t you like this anymore? It’s what you ordered?—”
“On our first date,” she said, her voice cracking. “I can’t believe you remembered.”
He took both of her hands in his. “I remember everything about you, Camilla.”
She bit back a sob, and he felt helpless. All he could do was pull her into his lap and hold her. He couldn’t help but think he’d done something wrong. This was supposed to be a rekindling of what they’d had before he moved away. The night he’d takenher to Sal’s for their first date had been one of his happiest memories. He’d known he loved her even then.
“I’m sorry?—”
Camilla jerked in his arms. “What are you sorry for?”
“You’re crying,” he said hoarsely. “I didn’t mean?—”
She let out a teary laugh. “This is perfect, Dallas.”
“But—”
Her hand palmed his cheek, and she shook her head. “I’m sorry I’m so emotional. It’s been a long day.” Before he could ask her if there was anything he could do, she continued. “This is perfect,” she repeated. “I love it.” Camilla made a move to get out of his lap, but he tightened his arms around her.
“Not yet.” He buried his face in her neck. “Just let me hold you.” His body thrummed with nervous energy. They already knew each other well enough that they were past the small talk stage. The only things he didn’t know about her were little details about what she’d been up to for the last seven years. Right now, all he wanted was to hold her close and revel in his second chance.
Camilla relaxed against him. For a moment all that mattered was the two of them. Nothing could make this moment, or others, better than it already was.
“I love you, Dallas,” Camilla whispered.
He stiffened. She hadn’t said those words to him since right before he’d abandoned her. Was he dreaming? He had to be.
She pulled back enough that she could look him in the eye. “I don’t think I ever stopped loving you,” she murmured, her palm to his cheek again.
