Page 21 of Hammer’s Fall

“No.” Camila said with a shake of her head. “I’m getting settled here. I like everyone. I think I’m finding my place. If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay.”

Hammer felt like every muscle in his body went weak. He squeezed her hand again, silently reassuring her he was still there and he wanted her to stay. He’d held off until she’d given an answer, but now that she had, he wanted to pick her up and spin in circles while he laughed. He didn’t of course, but that didn’t stop the desire to pull her into his arms, to feel her against him.

Bulldog watched her for several seconds and Hammer wished he knew what the older man was thinking, what he was looking for. The president nodded once.

“Very well. Is there anything you need? Anything we can get to make you more comfortable?”

She shook her head.

“Everyone’s been great. I don’t want to put anyone out.”

“Very well. If you need anything, Hammer can tell you who to go to. That’s all.” Bulldog looked back and forth between the two of them as he leaned back in his chair. “If you have nothing for me, then you’re free to go.”

Hammer stood then tugged Camila to her feet.

“Come on, cariño. How would you like to go for a ride?”

“A ride?” she asked, her voice uncertain.

“Come on, I’ll show you.” He led her outside to his bike. He’d been thinking about this all day and he couldn’t wait to get her on the bike at his back.

Chapter Sixteen

“This is a motorcycle.” Camila stared at the large machine in front of them.

“It is. This is my bike. Ever been on one?” Hammer asked, not looking at her as he went to the machine, picked up a helmet off the seat, and held it out to her.

“Never.”

“Put this on, and I’ll show you why I ride.”

She took the helmet and stared at it as she tried to figure out how it went on.

“Here,” he helped her with it, gently tipping her head back so he could adjust the straps. “This helmet is Winter’s, but we’ll get you one of your own. I thought we might ride for a bit and see how you like it first.”

Camila didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing. She watched as he climbed onto the motorcycle, then motioned for her to get on behind him.

“Foot here, then swing your leg over like I did, there’s another peg on the other side.”

She followed his directions and soon found herself seated behind Hammer on the motorcycle, not sure what to do with her hands.

“Hold on tight, cariño. I don’t want you to fall off.” He reached back and pulled her arms around his middle. “Lean with me. Let my body lead yours. If you need anything, just shout, I’ll hear you.”

She nodded, then realized he couldn’t see her with his back to her. “All right.”

“You comfortable?”

Holding on to him so tight made heat pool low in her belly. She wouldn’t exactly call it comfortable, but she didn’t want to admit to it, or know how to make it stop, so ignored it.

“Yes.”

“Then let’s go.” He cranked the engine and the motorcycle seemed to shoot forward. Camila tightened her hold around his middle. She watched as they pulled out of the gate and out onto the road. They’d been riding for a little while before she started to relax. It took a bit but as she started to look around, her stomach fluttered, then her chest tingled and the tingle spread. She wanted to laugh out loud but was afraid of startling Hammer.

She didn’t know where they were but as the number of vehicles on the road around them started to dwindle, she relaxed a little more and by the time they’d been riding for a half hour they were surrounded by fields and only a few cars. She let her hold on Hammer loosen a little as she straightened her back and took in the country around them. It was beautiful, and while it was a lot flatter, mostly, than where she came from, it was also a lot greener. And it wasn’t all that far to mountains taller than what she was used to.

“You all right?” Hammer’s shouted words pulled her back to the present.

“Yes,” she shouted back, not sure what else she should say.