Page 104 of Brides and Brothers
Chapter 42
Camille
The feast was over, andafter several games at the kitchen table as a group and a turn helping assemble a thousand-piece puzzle, Camille pulled Daisha to the side so she could talk to her privately. “Go talk to him.”
“Who?” Daisha asked, furrowing her brow.
“You know exactly who I mean.” Camille motioned with her head to the door. “You’ve barely taken your eyes off him the last hour.”
“Benson wasn’t playing the games anymore, and I was concerned he wasn’t having a good time. That’s it.” Her fierce whisper was too defensive to be completely true.
“Well, he’s done whittling that stick of wood, and he’s outside waiting for you.”
“Stop. He is not.” Daisha tried to pull away from her, but Camille pulled her back.
“This is your chance to talk privately with him. Go!” Camille might have messed up her own relationship, but she wasn’t going to let Daisha suffer too.
Daisha’s expression softened, and she stared at the door. “I don’t know. I mean our date to the Playmill went really well. On the drive, I told him about things I’d never told Derek. Who knows what possessed me? He probably thinks I’m a freak.”
“He probably bonded with you and is wondering if he misread the signals. Just give him a few minutes of your time so he knows you’re really interested.”
“Fine.” Daisha blew out her breath and shook her arms to loosen them.
“You aren’t gearing up for a competition. Relax. It’s Benson we’re talking about.”
Daisha pinched Camille’s arm, and Camille swatted her back as they laughed. “I’m going to do it, but I want you to stand at the window in the front room. The one that shows the front porch.”
“Why?”
Daisha’s teasing glint disappeared from her eyes, and her mouth turned down. “Benson is different from other guys, and I want to be straight up with him. I want you to hear what I tell him, ’cause I only want to say it once.”
What exactly was Daisha planning on revealing? Camille bit her lip. “Sure, I can do that.”
“And if Benson freaks out, then I give you permission to interfere and rescue me.”
After everything with Aiden, Daisha hadn’t judged her one bit, and Camille wanted everyone to give Daisha the same courtesy—especially Benson. She nudged Daisha with her shoulder. “Deal.”
A determined look settled over Daisha, and she slipped past the others, grabbed her coat, and disappeared out the door.
As subtly as she could, Camille followed Daisha’s path to the door, then passed it to the empty family room and the nearest window. She parted the drape, giving her a front-row seat to the Benson-Daisha show. Pulling back enough to be out of view, she put her head to the edge of the window to help her hear better.
Benson leaned over the porch rail, his eyes on the stars.
“Wow, the stars out here are even brighter than in Cherish.” Daisha mimicked Benson’s posture against the porch rail. “Do you miss living here?”
Benson turned his head, and his eyes studied hers. Daisha’s nerves were painted on her face, and Camille hoped she’d done the right thing sending her friend outside.
“I miss the time I had with my parents,” he finally said.
“I’m glad you can come here to remember them.” Daisha looked away.
Camille took in the view. If nothing else, the night was perfect. The snow-frosted trees were illuminated by the bright-yellow moon and stars, making it a veritable forest wonderland.
“Is the snow making you feel claustrophobic?” Benson asked.
Daisha grimaced and pointed at the house. “Not the snow but all the people in the house. I was doing fine until I realized I didn’t have a place to retreat when I was done socializing. I might have to retire to bed early every night like Camille.” She said the last with a bit of sarcasm, but Benson didn’t smile.
Camille groaned. If Benson couldn’t handle Daisha’s sarcasm, this relationship wasn’t meant to be.
