Page 50 of Healing Love

Cam wanted to offer comfort but knew that if anyone had taken one of his sisters, he would be beside himself with worry and overjoyed to have her returned.

“The last month’s been hell on my family. Never knowing. Jesus,” Jobe continued, pulling back to hold Cam’s eyes. “Owe you. Whatever, whenever. I owe you.”

Shaking his head, he reached around placing his hand on Jobe’s shoulder. “Nah, man. I took this as a mission, but your sister is fuckin’ amazing. She held her shit together, did what she had to do to survive and then, when I got to her and we got out, she was right on point. Never wavered. Never faltered.”

Jobe nodded, but added, “I can’t begin to imagine what the hell you two went through.” He turned to watch Miriam smiling with her parents still hovering. Turning his gaze back to Cam’s he asked, “You think she’s goingto be okay?”

Nodding, Cam responded, “Yeah. She’s going to be fine.” He glanced over at the DEA agents still in the area. “They’ve questioned her pretty hard, and she was checked out by the medical staff when we first landed. She’s exhausted but, for the most part, she seems fine.” He watched Jobe carefully, knowing he had faced issues with PTSD after his time in Afghanistan. “They mentioned that she should seek a trauma counselor and I don’t think that’s a bad idea.”

Jobe’s gaze shot to his immediately, a heavy sigh leaving his body. Rubbing his hand through his hair, he nodded. “They’re right. No matter how she’s coping now, this is going to fuck with her head.”

Cam wanted to tell Jobe that he would be around. That he would be seeing to Miriam personally. That he would take care of her himself. But the words caught in his throat as he continued to watch her with her family.She needs time with them. I need to back off…for now.

Miriam’s tears ceased as she convinced her parents she was not going to disappear in a puff of smoke. While talking to them she watched her brother approach Cam and smiled as the two hugged. She wondered when he would reunite with his family.But he was on a mission, not kidnapped, so his family might not have even known he was out of the country.Biting her bottom lip, she allowed her mind to wonder if he did this often—go to foreign countries to save maidens in distress.Maybe so, but I was special…what we shared was special…wasn’t it?

Fatigue and emotional exhaustion crowded into her thoughts, making them a jumbled mess instead of the clear knowledge that the man who had held her through the night was hers. Hers to still lean on, still need, still…love.

Her thoughts were interrupted when her father declared, “We need to go. We need to get Miriam home. My girl has been through enough.”

Jobe walked over, hearing his father’s words, and pulled his sister back into another embrace. “We’re done here, sis. Let’s go.”

“I…I have to say goodbye to Cam.”

Walking away from her family she approached Cam tentatively, seeing that he was standing with his co-workers. The wall of muscular testosterone in front of her was impressive…and intimidating, but she only had eyes for Cam.

He stepped away from the others and met her in the middle of the hangar, aware he wanted to spirit her away from the curious eyes all around and take her somewhere private. They stopped two feet apart, her head still having to lean back to look into his eyes.

“Hey,” she said softly. “I…I guess my family is ready to go.”

“Yeah,” he answered, suddenly unsure of himself and who they were now that she was safe.

She picked up on his reticence, sucking her lips between her teeth in nervousness. “I want to make sure you know…um…well, how much…well, thank you for everything.” Her words sounded lame to her, but with a crowd surrounding them, she did not dare throwherself into his arms and declare her undying love.

Her uncertainty screamed out to Cam, and he lifted his hand toward her, saying, “The pleasure was all mine, Miriam. I’m glad you’re with your family now and…well…it was very nice to get to know you.”

She looked down at his outstretched hand and, not knowing what else to do, placed her much smaller one into his, accepting his shake.No Cariña. Just Miriam.

He watched her carefully, looking for a sign that she wanted more, but only saw her looking down at their clasped hands.

She battled back the tears, wishing he would pull her in for a hug…something to indicate that what they shared was special to him as well.

With half-hearted smiles, they dropped their hands, neither saying anything.

“Well, um…goodbye, Cam,” she said, trying to make her voice sound stronger than she felt.

Nodding slowly, he added, “Goodbye, Miriam.”

With that, she turned and started to walk away, when he called her name again. Smiling, she moved back. Looking up expectantly, she watched as he pulled out a pen and piece of paper from his pocket. He scribbled something and then handed it to her.

“It’s my phone number, in case…well, if you ever need anything.”

She stared at the paper as she had his handshake a moment earlier, before looking up. Steeling her expression to mask her confusion, she nodded her thanks before walking back to her family. Accepting Jobe’s armacross her shoulders as they walked to their vehicle. Once inside, she spared a glance at the assembly, but only had eyes for the large man who had rescued her…and stolen her heart. And she watched him until he was out of view and another tear slid down her cheek.

The DEA agents, including Alberto, were packing up as Marc walked over to Cam, clapping him on the shoulder. “You wanna tell me what the hell that was?”

Cam’s lips tightened into a thin line as he let out a deep breath through his nose. “Don’t go there,” he warned.

Bart, Blaise, and Monty joined them, each quietly observing their friend.

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