Page 21 of Freeing Camila

“Yes. He was gracious enough to help me out. And no. That was my first time climbing a tree. And probably my last.”

“That’s probably wise,” Jeeves said.

“So, Wade told you how we met, huh?” A look crossed her face that Jeeves couldn’t interpret. Something between shyness and wariness. It was the wariness part that concerned him. She had nothing to fear from him. He had to show her, somehow, that she was safe with him, that the guardedness in her eyes was misplaced, and that he meant her no harm.

“Yup. Therefore, I couldn’t resist meeting you tonight,” Eggs teased. “Only a special kind of woman dares to climb trees.”

Cammie waved him off. “I’m nothing special.”

Snorting, Eggs responded, “I bet this guy would beg to differ.” Cammie’s eyes widened in surprise as her gaze met Jeeves’s, that ever present connection sparking between them. “How am I doin’ as your wingman?” With intentional mischief, Eggs whispered in a way that was deliberately too loud.

“Fuck off,” Jeeves mumbled, then insisted for Eggs’ ears only. “It’s not like that.

“Ha. Keep deluding yourself,” Eggs replied, his voice low and laced with amusement.

A crescendo of music and the rhythmic thumping of feet on the dance floor caught their attention. Cammie’s expression changed to one of childlike wonderment, filled with awe and curiosity.

“One of us should ask her to dance,” Eggs suggested.

“No.”

“Fine. I’ll do it.”

“Do you wanna dance?” Jeeves blurted the words, a sudden, unplanned eruption that left him reeling before he could consider the impact and left his friend laughing.

Her head whipped around, her surprised gaze landing on him. “Oh. I can’t. I don’t know how.” A hollow, resigned quality in her voice betrayed her disappointment.

Overriding his reservations and acting on a sudden impulse, he disregarded his better judgment, snatched her hand, and pulled her from the stool. “I’ll teach you.”

Her hands trembled, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and excitement, as she resisted his pull toward the dance floor. The rapid thump of his heart, a frantic drum against his ribs, he feared had nothing to do with the music’s bass that vibrated through the room, shaking the floor beneath his feet. An overwhelming compulsion to hold her in his arms, even just for the duration of one dance, washed over him.

“I don’t think?”

“Come on,” he interrupted. “Take a walk on the wild side.”

CHAPTER9

Little Victories Bucket List No.17: Walk on the wild side

She was so farout of her comfort zone, it wasn't funny. Her heart pounded a frantic rhythm against her ribs, and a cold sweat slicked her palms, leaving them clammy and trembling. She grasped his hand, the rough texture a stark contrast to the clammy sweat on her palms, and a nervous laugh, tight and brittle, was all she could offer.

But after her rescue, she’d promised herself to live life to the fullest, embracing every new adventure with open arms and a sense of thrilling anticipation. Taking a deep breath, she followed him to the dance floor with Eggs cryptically calling out, “You’re welcome.”

They managed to find space amongst the other dancers, who were enthusiastically performing the dance steps. They squeezed between the others, the rhythmic beat of the music vibrating through the floor and up into their bodies. The air was alive with the energy of the dancers, a powerful current that pulsed around her, while a potent mixture of sweat, perfume, and beer sharply filled her nostrils.

A heady sense of excitement and anticipation washed over her as she took her place next to Wade. He towered over her, a looming figure whose size was almost overwhelming, yet she felt inexplicably safe in his presence. The man was a mountain of muscle and bone; despite his imposing stature, a sense of calm radiated from him, reassuring her and calming her nervousness. A scent of woodsmoke and leather clung to him, pulling her in, but it was the surprising gentleness in his eyes that captivated her and held her attention completely.

“So this is an easy one. Just match my steps,” he instructed. She watched his feet as he moved through the first steps of the dance. Her body felt stiff as she tried to follow him. “Relax,” he urged.

“I’m trying,” she muttered as she fumbled one of the steps. She stumbled and lost her balance, tripping over her own feet, and was only saved from a fall by his quick reaction to catch her. Her nerves intensified, as did embarrassment. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this; the doubts crept into her mind like insidious whispers, filling her with uncertainty. Obviously, the necessary skills needed for this endeavor eluded her. The initial bravery she experienced when Wade took her hand to lead her to the dance floor was now dissipating, replaced by a rising tide of anxiety.

“You can do this,” Wade encouraged. “One step at a time.”

One step at a time.It was words she’d told herself countless times as she recovered from her abduction. There had been days when she didn’t think she’d make it through. The odds of coming out of what happened to her as a healthy, well-adjusted individual seemed stacked against her. That’s when her new friends rallied around her. Elodie and the others gave her the courage to continue?one step at a time.

Wade’s words settled inside her. Shecoulddo this. She concentrated on his steps, occasionally looking at the other dancers until something clicked. With each footfall echoing in the space, the repetitive nature of the steps became clear to her. Grasping the moves finally, her joy overflowed, and bursts of laughter punctuated her movements. She let go of her worries and anxieties, feeling the tension melt away as she fully immersed herself in the moment and enjoyed the simple pleasure of being carefree.

With Wade’s steady support, she felt like she could float across the dance floor, his hands in hers a comforting presence. The music flowed around them and she lost herself in the rhythm. When she faltered, they laughed it off, and he was there to catch her each time. She’d never felt so free.

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