Page 44 of Healing Love

“Why? What’s going on?” Cam asked suspiciously.

Marc quickly replied. “Intel’s that they’ve been tearing up the compound looking for the missing nurse. They didn’t make a connection to you at first until they finally started putting two and two together. With the missing vehicle and knowing you had been to the river, they finally got their search going, and located it. Alberto’s been able to find out that they’ve flown a few passes over the river and even taken a boat out to where the river meets the ocean, right where you are.”

Cam sighed, knowing that the news was not unexpected, if unwelcome. “You think you’ve got trouble with our plans?”

“Don’t know. Alberto is coming to provide firepower if needed. From what he can tell, the assumption is that you two are dead, never making it out of the storm, but these fuckers don’t want anyone escaping, so they’re on the lookout.”

“What’s your ETA?”

“Give us about two more hours to get everything ready. Got to check in with Jack one more time to make sure our trip home is ready. I’ve got us cleared with Homeland Security and Blaise has taken care of DEA.We’ll land somewhere unknown and refuel before making it back to Richmond. But warning, bro, it’ll be intense once we get back. You may need to prepare her.”

“Already on it. She knows there will be intensive debriefing.”

“Good.” After a pause, Marc asked, “How’s she holding up?”

“Like a fuckin’ champ,” Cam stated, his admiration evident.

The men continued their conversation for a few more minutes, detailing the rescue. As Cam disconnected, he remained still, looking out over the surf, his mind focusing on the rescue. Thoughts of her slipped back in, but he pushed them to the side.Not now. Gotta focus on getting us the fuck out of here.Sighing once more, he forced his mind to the mission.

Miriam woke, suddenly chilly after having been so warm. She realized that Cam had slipped away, and her body missed him snuggling close to her. Blinking in the early morning shadows with the sunrise barely painting the sky, she saw him standing nearby talking on the phone.

His back was to her and she watched the muscles in his broad back as he moved around the beach. His waist was trim but, with his size, even that appeared powerful. His smooth shoulders were burned into her memory as she held them when he entered her. Sucking in a deep breath,she remembered every feeling of their coupling. The way he took her with such power…and care. Closing her eyes for a second, she forced her mind to abandon those thoughts.

His black hair, lightly curling on the ends, beckoned her fingers. When he turned his head to the side, she could see the dark stubble of beard on his face.

He exuded danger…a man on a mission.Me. I’m that mission.How could a man like that ever be interested in me?She knew she had fallen in love with her rescuer and tried to convince herself that the emotions were only due to their extreme circumstances. But when he held her last night, all doubts flew from her mind, and she knew her love was real. Based on the man and not the mission.Is this one-sided?Doubts filled her, but she pushed them to the back of her mind as she watched him disconnect his call. His face was etched in thought, and she instinctively knew his mind was on the day’s necessities.

Forcing her mind to do the same, she prayed,Please God, help us get home.

Cam walked back over to where he had left a sleeping Miriam only to find her awake and staring at him.

“Did I wake you?” he asked, kneeling in front of her, lifting his hand to tuck a wayward strand of hair behind her ear.

Smiling, she shook her head as she stretched her body from its cramped position. Sitting up, she peeredinto his face searching for his thoughts. His face blank, she asked, “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” he replied, wondering how much to tell her.

“There’s something you’re not saying.”

Chuckling, he deflected, “You think you can read me that well?”

Lifting an eyebrow, she cocked her head and answered, “Um, yeah. I think, Mr. Perez, that after the time we’ve spent together, I know you very well.”

Throwing his head back in laughter, he agreed. “Okay, Ms. Delaro. I guess you’re right.” Lowering his head back to hers, he leaned forward placing a kiss on her cheek. “I reckon you do know me,cariña.”

Her eyes flashed with desire and he wanted nothing more than to take her again, here on the beach, and prove to her the depths of his feelings for her. But regretfully, now was not the time.

She saw his flare of interest and then watched as it died in his eyes. Sighing, she said, “I suppose you’re all business this morning?”

Chuckling again, he replied, “Babe, I’d give anything if we were on this beach as a getaway vacation. Swear to God, I’d be doing nothing but worshiping your body right now in a way that would leave no doubt in your mind how I felt.” Sighing heavily, he added, “But I need to let you know that according to Marc, the cartel definitely knows you and I left together.”

He watched as her expression hardened and he wished to fuck he could make it soft again. Plunging on, he continued. “It was them doing flyovers on the river and checking out the shore last night.” Hearing hersharp intake of breath, he plunged on. “Marc’s ETA is about two hours, so, we need to be vigilant, be ready, and stay on target.”

She nodded slowly, letting his warnings take root. “Okay,” she said softly. Her gaze moved to the blue waters beyond his back and asked, “How does this work?”

Sliding easily into mission planning mode, he answered, “Marc’s bringing our DEA contact along with him to provide extra security. He’ll fly in and maneuver as close as he can, but he may have to stay back from the shore. We’ll need to get to him.”

He watched her face carefully, but so far, her expression had not shown concern…just concentration.That’s my girl.His thoughts stumbled as he realized,My girl. Fuck yeah, she’s my girl.

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