Page 26 of Freeing Camila

What she got was Marilyn Lenzer. She had the kind part down, but Cammie never imagined the grandmother would smell like patchouli and sugar. Instead of the gentle wisdom Cammie expected, a torrent of bawdy jokes and playful innuendo poured from her mouth, the words thick with laughter and a hint of mischief.

And yet, she couldn’t help but love the woman. She only wished Marilyn’s embarrassing words hadn’t been directed at her. And especially not in front of Wade.

“What should we check off your list first?” Wade asked, thankfully ignoring Marilyn’s suggestive comments.

“I was wondering if there was a place to rent bicycles around here?”

“Bicycles?”

“Yeah. Number nine on my list is to ride something with two wheels.”

A slow smile spread across Wade’s face, crinkling the corners of his eyes, and transforming him into something beyond handsome. “I have a better idea.”

He took her hand, and with a decisive pull, led her across the cracked asphalt of the parking lot to his large black truck. He opened the passenger door and helped her up into the massive vehicle.

“Where are we going?” she asked once they’d pulled out onto the street.

“You’ll see,” he answered with a grin.

After a few minutes, they drove down a residential street full of quaint little houses she could only dream of owning someday. To her surprise, he pulled into the driveway of the last one. Gazing upon the charming Cape Cod house, which boasted a gently sloping roof and an inviting front porch, she readily envisioned herself relaxing on a porch swing as the sun dipped below the majestic mountain range in the distance, painting the sky with vibrant hues.

So lost in her daydreams, she hadn’t noticed Wade had exited the vehicle and walked to her side until the door opened beside her. The detached garage stood open, revealing shadowy depths within, and he led her inside. Straight to a motorcycle.

Alarm filled her eyes as she quickly glanced up at him, her heart pounding in her chest. “When I said something with two wheels, I didn’t mean . . .” With a sharp break in her speech, she flung her hand out towards the gleaming black and red motorcycle, its chrome glinting in the sunlight.

“Trust me. You’re gonna love it,” Wade said, grabbing an extra helmet from a hook on the wall.

“But . . . I’m not sure . . .”

“What do you have to lose?”

“Um . . . my life?” she answered nervously.

“Not gonna happen. You’re safe with me. I promise.”

Wow. He couldn’t know how much those words would possibly mean to her. She’d never felt safe with anyone except for the SEALs who rescued her. And that was only because it was theirjobto keep her safe.

For this man to talk about keeping her safe—when safety had always been a distant, unreachable thing—wasn’t just kind. It was something rare, something sacred. It wasn’t just the words—though they were steady and sure—it was the way he said them, low and earnest, like a vow whispered against her scars.

All her life, safety had been a locked door she never had the key to. She’d learned to be her own armor, to expect abandonment and abuse, to brace for the pain before it came. But now, here was this man—eyes soft, hands gentle, voice like warmth on a winter night—offering something she’d stopped believing in.

She didn’t know how to trust it, not completely. But still, her heart leaned in, drawn to the warmth in his voice, the promise in his eyes. Maybe safety didn’t come from the absence of danger, but from being seen—truly seen—and still held gently. And maybe, just maybe, she was ready to be held. Ready to believe in that elusive thought of safety with a fragile hope.

“All-alright,” she said, deciding to give this newest adventure a chance. Her gaze followed him as he pushed the machine out of the garage and into the bright afternoon light. It was quite a sight to behold. The powerful muscles in his biceps strained and bulged noticeably against the tight sleeves of his black T-shirt. Unable to resist, her gaze drifted down his muscular back, settling on the tight roundness of his rear. Seeing his firm buttocks made her mind wander to uncharted territories. Her body vibrated with an unfamiliar, intense longing, a need that pulsed through her veins like a second heartbeat.

Her cheeks burned, and she snatched her gaze away from his butt as he faced her. “Here. Wear this,” he said handing her his leather jacket she hadn’t seen him grab. He helped her into the too-big jacket sleeves, then gave her the helmet, making sure the chin strap was fastened securely. With his own helmet on, he kicked his leg over the worn leather seat of his motorcycle and glanced at her over his shoulder, a silent question in his eyes.

Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, she walked toward the motorcycle, carefully considering the most effective and graceful way to mount the powerful machine. Wade directed her, and she settled on the seat behind him. He reached around and hooked her behind her knees, yanking her body closer until her chest was pressed tightly against his back. The impact stole her breath.

“Wrap your arms around my waist,” he said, and she complied, her fingers tracing the contours of his abdomen before clasping together on his stomach. With a few deft maneuvers, the engine growled to life beneath her, a low, thrilling rumble that vibrated through her spine and made every nerve stand at attention. He glanced over his shoulder, giving her a crooked smile that made her stomach flip. “Hold on tight,”he said, and then they were off.

Initially, his speed was slow as he navigated the residential area, but once he reached the less-traveled back country roads, he opened it up. As their speed increased, the world blurred into streaks of color. Wind whipped through her hair, tugged at her clothes, and wrapped around her like freedom itself.

Every curve in the road sent her pressing closer, her arms instinctively clutching him like he was the only solid thing in the rushing world. And maybe he was. The scent of leather and something unmistakablyhimfilled her lungs, and the thrill of speed gave way to something deeper—a quiet, breathless trust.

And somewhere between the heartbeat of tires on pavement and the warmth of his back against her chest, she realized she wasn’t scared anymore. She felt alive. She felt free.

The engine slowed, the deep rumble fading into a gentle purr as they rolled to a stop. Wind still whispered around them, carrying the scent of pine and something crisp from the valley below. The sun was dipping low on the horizon, spilling gold and rose across the sky, painting the mountains like something out of a dream.

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