Chapter 45
forty-five
CALLAN
Months have passed since the accident. Months of physical therapy, patience—not my strong suit—and Bree somehow managing to keep me from climbing the damn walls while I was stuck on crutches.
But today’s the day. No more crutches, no more aching ribs.
Everything is healed, and I’m as close to normal as I’m ever going to get.
But the truth is, Bree’s the one who’s really changed.
She’s been going to therapy every week, like clockwork. She still tries to downplay it sometimes, like it’s just a thing she’s doing, no big deal. I see her, though. I see the way her breathing evens out faster now, the way she lets herself feel things instead of bottling them up.
I’m in awe of her. Not just for doing the work, but for choosing to. For sticking it out, even on the hard days.
She still gets overwhelmed and has moments where I can see her brain spinning a mile a minute. But she talks to me now. She lets me hold her when she needs to fall apart and doesn’t apologize for it after.
I remember the girl who tried to keep everything stitched tight, who said, “I’m fine,” with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
This Bree? She’s fucking brave, and I don’t tell her that nearly enough, mostly because she gets all squirmy when I do. But I think about it all the time. How lucky I am that she chose to stay. That she keeps choosing it.
And now, today’s the day I get back on my bike. No big deal. Just, you know, confronting some trauma.
Totally fine. No pressure.
And seeing Bree in that leather jacket and boots I got her doesn’t hurt. Goddamn, she’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. It definitely makes it all worth it. And that’s not even getting into the plans I’ve got for her on that bike later.
I take a deep breath, forcing myself to calm down as I hear her footsteps coming down the stairs.
“Ready to hit the road, handsome?” Her voice rings out with the kind of excitement that never fails to make me smile.
She stands there, all confidence and curves, wrapped up in a leather jacket that fits so well it should be illegal. My pulse goes completely rogue.
“Bloody hell, woman.” My voice comes out rough.
I close the distance without a second thought, hands finding her waist, fingers curling in to feel the heat of her beneath the leather. “You look lethal, love.”
My mouth crashes into hers before she can respond, all heat and urgency, a kiss that’s been waiting for far too long.
She tastes like trouble and home all at once, and I’m completely lost to it.
My tongue sweeps along her bottom lip, coaxing out a soft sound that shoots straight through me, setting every nerve on fire.
When I finally pull back, mostly because oxygen is a necessary evil, she’s staring up at me, her lips parted, her breath uneven.
“You ready?” I ask, still unwilling to let her go.
Her fingers skim along the edge of my jacket before fisting the fabric, holding me close. “I think so?”
I press one last lingering kiss to her mouth, my lips brushing against hers as I whisper, “Do you trust me?”
Her gaze softens, and she smiles, but there’s that hint of curiosity in her eyes. “Always. But can I ask why we’re doing this so late at night?”
“You’ll see.”
The garage light flickers as we step inside, casting long shadows across the floor. Bree stops short. Her gaze locks onto the bike. I can see the storm behind her eyes, the war between past and present, the tightrope walk between fear and trust.
I take a slow step closer to her. “I know it’s hard, but we’ve got this. And I swear, I’ll be careful.” I reach for her hand, squeezing gently. “I’ve got precious cargo, after all.”
Her fingers twitch in mine. She doesn’t pull away, but she doesn’t move, either.
I wait.
Her lips part like she wants to speak, but it’s her eyes that do so as they search mine, asking the question she hasn’t voiced. Can I do this? Can I trust this again?
I lift her hand to my chest, right over my heartbeat. “You’re safe with me. Always.”
The tightness in her shoulders eases. Her breath comes slower. Then, finally, her eyes lift to mine.
“I love you,” she whispers.
“I love you more.”
Bree swallows hard, her eyes flickering back to the motorcycle. Her fingers tighten around mine.
“I thought I’d be ready,” she whispers, “but seeing it again…”
I brush my thumb across her cheek. “Look at me, not the bike.”
She does, those gorgeous eyes meeting mine.
“I’m right here,” I tell her. “Whole and healed. And I promise you, I’ll stay that way.”
She takes a deep breath, straightening her shoulders. I can see her working through it, that beautiful mind of hers battling with her heart.
“You’ll drive slow?” she asks, her voice stronger now.
“Grandma slow.”
A laugh breaks free from her lips. It’s the kind that makes you forget everything else, like the world’s suddenly right, just because she’s laughing.
“Okay, then. Let’s do this.”
I climb on first. There’s a moment where my muscles tense with the memory of impact, but I push through it. This bike isn’t my enemy. It never was.
“Come on, love,” I call over my shoulder, holding out my hand.
Bree hesitates for a heartbeat before her fingers slide against mine. Then she’s climbing on behind me, her body pressed against my back, arms wrapping around my waist.
With a deep breath, I fire up the engine and ease us onto the road, letting the wind whip past, her grip tightening around me in a way that makes me feel ten feet tall.
And then, I see a glimpse of her smile in the mirror. She doesn’t ask where we’re going because she doesn’t have to. The way she squeezes me tells me everything.
She’s figured it out.
It’s not long before I pull up to the lookout point, killing the engine and tapping the kickstand down before sliding off my helmet. I glance back at her. “Remember this place?”
She takes off her own helmet, her hair a wild mess from the wind, and I can see that far-off look in her eyes as she stares out at the sprawling landscape below.
She’s stunning.
“How could I not,” she says softly. “I think I fell in love with you here that night.”
I’m taken aback, my heart catching in a sudden skip. The way I remember that night, the first time we were here, she was a mess. Sad. Scared. And I just wanted to fix it, to make her feel safe. Never did I imagine I’d be the one leaving a mark that deep.
“Really?”
“Really.” A slow smile spreads across her face. “You brought me to this beautiful place, and you were so concerned for me. Someone you hardly knew. I knew in that moment that I could never settle for anyone who wasn’t…just like you. Confident, caring, sexier than hell.”
I let out a quiet laugh, but it catches in my chest, right where pride knots disbelief and awe.
She looks around, taking in the view, resting her chin on my shoulder. “It’s just as beautiful as I remember. More so, really.”
It’s dark and still around us, the world holding its breath. The only sounds are the whisper of the night and the rapid thrum of my heartbeat, loud enough that I’m sure she can hear it, too.
“That’s because you’re looking at it, love,” I say, turning to face her fully. “Everything’s more beautiful with you in it.”
She rolls her eyes, but the blush spreading across her cheeks gives her away. “Smooth talker.”
“Only stating facts.”
I take her hand, leading her to the edge where the guardrail meets the cliff. “I wanted to bring you here again to make new memories. Better ones.”
Bree leans into me. “I like that idea.”