Camilla & Dallas - Palmers of Copper Creek Book 4 (EBOOK)

He was her first love... and her best friend’s brother who left without a word. Now he’s back in Copper Creek asking for a second chance.

Camilla Palmer is sunshine in boots. She’s steady, kind, and just fine on her own. She pours her heart into training pups for the ranch and keeps romance at arm’s length. After all, the only man she ever loved disappeared without a goodbye, and she’s not interested in repeating that lesson.

Dallas Thorton spent years chasing fieldwork and telling himself it was for the best. He never stopped loving Camilla, and the letter that should’ve explained everything never reached her. He’s back in Copper Creek and ready to stay—if he can convince the woman he left behind that this time he means it.

When old sparks reignite, one truth threatens everything: another assignment could take Dallas away again. Camilla refuses to be left this time—so she ends it first. But Dallas refuses to let history repeat, and plans on doing whatever it takes to fight for the only future that ever felt right.  

Don’t miss this small-town, second-chance love story in Camilla & Dallas, Palmers of Copper Creek Book Four.

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.
“Could we…” He rubbed the back of his neck with his free hand. “Do you think we could get dinner sometime? For old times’ sake?”
She blinked. Was he for real? Dallas was asking her out on a date?