Hers to Keep (Irresistibly Bound 3)

“It wouldn’t help,” Denise said. “The thing about Camilla is that she’s so determined not to rely on other people that she pushes everyone away. She’s always been like that, ever since we were kids. And everything she’s gone through with her health has made her even more cynical and blind to all the people out there who love and care about her. Perhaps it makes it easier for her to justify her decision to never let anyone in.”

It was true that Camilla valued her independence. And Lindsey remembered Camilla’s surprise when she realized how worried Lindsey had been after she’d sneaked into Camilla’s rooms that night so long ago. It hadn’t even occurred to Camilla that Lindsey cared about what was going on with her.

“The problem is, on the rare occasion Camilla lets someone in, she falls hard and fast,” Denise continued. “I mean, look at the two of you. It hasn’t even been two months, and it’s clear that she’s already crazy about you. The flip-side of that is that when things don’t work out, she takes it hard. If you break her heart, it will crush her.”

Lindsey, break Camilla’s heart? “Honestly, I think you’re overestimating how serious things are between the two of us,” she said. “I don’t think I could break her heart.”

Denise stared at Lindsey, shaking her head. “You don’t even know what you have, do you?”

There was a knock on the door.

“That’s my cue to leave.” Denise got up and opened the door. Camilla was standing in the doorway. “She’s all yours, Camilla.” Denise gave Lindsey a polite nod, before slipping away.

Camilla sat down on the lounge next to Lindsey and placed a hand on her thigh. “So, was my sister’s apology satisfactory?”

Lindsey nodded. “She seemed sincere.”

“I’m glad you think so. She’s never been good at apologizing. After everything she said to you, I should have just kicked her out of the house.”

“It’s okay,” Lindsey said. “I think she meant well. She was trying to protect you in her own way.”

“The only thing she was trying to protect is the family fortune.”

“That’s not true. She was worried that I’d break your heart.”

“Really?” Camilla looked out the window pensively. “Huh. It looks like we played our roles a little too well.”

Lindsey felt a sinking in her stomach. Right. This is all just pretend. “Yeah. I guess we did.”

Chapter Eighteen

Camilla slipped into the bed next to Lindsey and pulled the silk sheets up to cover them both. “Thanks again for agreeing to this charade.”

“I don’t mind,” Lindsey replied. “It’s been kind of fun.”

Lindsey peered at her Mistress, searching her face. Could Camilla detect the longing in Lindsey’s voice? Could she hear the real meaning behind Lindsey’s words? Could she tell that for Lindsey, this wasn’t a charade at all?

But Camilla’s mind was elsewhere. “I’m just glad Denise is leaving in the morning,” she said. “She’s been getting on my nerves all week. She’s so overbearing and controlling. And I’m going to strangle her if she calls me Millie one more time. She knows how much I hate that childish nickname.”

After Denise’s apology, the tension between Camilla and Denise had settled. But that hadn’t stopped the two of them from fighting like teenage sisters. Lindsey bit back a smile. Camilla was such a contradiction of a woman. Sometimes warm, sometimes prickly. Sometimes she seemed older than her years. Other times she was liable to throw tantrums and indulge in sweet things like a spoiled princess.

“Is something funny?” Camilla asked.

“No, Mistress,” Lindsey repli

ed. “Not at all.”

“Maybe I’m overreacting. It’s just that, Denise frustrates me sometimes.” Camilla folded her hands behind her head and looked up at the ceiling. “But she’s the only family I have left. My parents were older when they had me, and they passed away when I was still in my early twenties, but by that time, Denise was already busy with her own family and her career. She didn’t have time for me. I began to resent her for it, and we grew distant. I sometimes wish we were closer, but she doesn’t want that.”

“Maybe she does, but she’s not good at showing it,” Lindsey said. “She did come here to visit you, after all. You should give her a chance.”

Camilla raised an eyebrow.

“Er, it’s just a suggestion, Mistress.”

“Perhaps you’re right.” Camilla paused. “I was thinking of inviting her family to come stay for the holidays, but I changed my mind after all the drama of this week. Maybe I should reconsider.”

“I think she’d like that.”