Page 14 of Freeing Camila

Marilyn gestured to the machines behind the counter. “Please. Have at it.”

A joyful grin split Cammie’s face as she sprang into action, a thrill running through her. God, she loved small towns, and the trust people had in total strangers. She loved the quaint, welcoming feel, where people greeted each other with a warmth that made her feel safe and at home, even among strangers.

She thought of Wade from the other day and his willingness to help a perfect stranger. And now Marilyn’s trust. In her former life in LA, a daily dose of indifference had become the norm and anonymity was constant. Even among the people in her own household. They would have stepped over her had she been bleeding out at their feet. As evidenced by the callous regard her father had shown her when she’d been kidnapped.

But in small towns, the simple trust people placed in total strangers, the way neighbors helped each other without question, it filled her with a deep sense of contentment. For the first time in her life, a sense of belonging washed over her, a feeling she had never experienced before.

The equipment Marilyn owned was older than she was used to using, but she could make do. She got to work and almost immediately there was a shift in aromas. The sugary sweetness of freshly baked goods gave way to the rich, earthy fragrance of coffee, a familiar and comforting scent that instantly calmed Cammie.

Having meticulously incorporated the final bit of dry foam from the frothing device onto the espresso’s surface, she let out a sigh of contentment, fully appreciating the drink’s flawless presentation. Nervously, she carefully carried the mug to Marilyn and held her breath as the woman took a sip. She watched closely as Marilyn’s brows rose, a slow, pleasant surprise dawning on her face, a subtle smile playing on her lips.

“Ohmigod. This is magic in a cup,” she stated before taking another sip and letting out a delighted moan.

A wave of pride washed over Cammie, so intense it brought a surprising sting of tears to her eyes. She’d never felt anything like it. Throughout her entire life, she had never once received a compliment or any form of praise from anyone. This was a completely new and unexpected experience for her and her emotions were all over the place.

A tinkling sound at the door drew her attention as a customer entered. “Marilyn,” the woman exclaimed, her nostrils flaring slightly as she inhaled deeply. “What is that heavenly smell?”

“That is the creation from my newest employee,” Marilyn declared, and Cammie’s heart soared. She couldn’t keep the smile from her face if she tried.

“Really?” Cammie asked as hope swelled within her.

“Abso-fuckin-lutely,” Marilyn replied, making her giggle. “When can you start?”

“Please say immediately,” the customer begged.

“Um . . . immediately?”

Marilyn smiled and handed her an apron with the Flour Power logo on the bib. “Just what I was hoping to hear.” She then turned to her customer. “Where do pirates get their hooks?” she asked.

The woman, obviously used to the unusual greeting answered patiently, “I don’t know. Where?”

“The secondhand store.” Marilyn winked at Cammie before saying, “It’s pirate day.” A fit of unrestrained laughter erupted from her, shaking her whole body with mirth. As they laughed, the lovely tinkling melody of Marilyn’s bells played on, and with it, Cammie felt a previously unnoticed weight lift from her shoulders.

She dove into her new job with relish. Happily filling orders and basking in the words of praise from the community. Her community. Bell Creek’s charm was settling into her soul, leaving an indelible mark and a sense of belonging and safety unlike any other place she had ever known. In her heart, she offered a silent prayer, a fervent hope that this feeling, this moment, this happiness, would endure.

CHAPTER6

This was a mistake.He knew it. He knew, with a sickening certainty, that nothing good was going to come from this decision. A feeling of imminent disaster loomed, large and heavy, pressing down like a suffocating blanket. Yet, he couldn’t halt his forward momentum, the dense, humid air heavy with the scent of decaying vegetation and damp earth pulling him further into the jungle’s depths.

He tried to reason his choice. They were safe. Nothing had yet happened. The gathering had been peaceful so far, there was no reason to believe it wouldn’t stay that way. Sutton was safely ensconced in her tent. He had no doubt that Liam was with her and that they were, to put it plainly, having sex.

He’d been working non-stop for weeks. He had suffered through the couple’s nightly shenanigans for many months, even though their noisy escapades had dwindled in recent times. He was overdue for some fun, and a break from his routine. A chance to let loose and enjoy himself.

Valeria had promised him that he would have an enjoyable and memorable night.

And she was hot. The captivating promise he had seen in her eyes—that was the reason he was currently pushing through the dense jungle that lay just beyond the village. His dick throbbed in anticipation even as a nagging feeling of impending doom lingered in the back of his mind. He shrugged it off and kept moving.

The sharp crack of a branch to his left stopped him dead, his hand flying to the weapon on his hip. He waited, peering into the dense foliage, the smell of damp earth filling his nostrils, until a figure emerged from the dark depths. Recognizing the person before him, he released a breath and then complained with an expletive, “What the fuck, Liam?”

“What are you doing here?” Liam asked.

A barely perceptible twitch in his friend’s eye was all it took for him to notice something was off. “I could ask you the same thing. Where’s Sutton?” The pair were engaged and had been inseparable for years. At least, they were, until a subtle but persistent change in their demeanor became undeniable. Even still, there was no reason for Liam to be out here alone.

“She’s asleep,” he answered.

“Why aren’t you with her?”

“I . . . ah, I needed some air.” His nervous fidgeting and darting eyes made it clear there was more than he was letting on.

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