are so we can protect Josie better as well as give the info to the FBI. But then that’s not our concern. Just as long as we keep your girl safe, the others can have the case.”
They were quiet for a moment before Tate finally asked, “She is, isn’t she? Your girl? I’ve got to admit that she was handling tonight well. At first, she paced, and I wondered if she would be able to handle you on a mission. But then I realized as she talked through her anxiety, it wasn’t really how it affected her, but how everything affected you.”
“Never figured on this when I came down here,” Cobb admitted. “But yeah, I can see her fitting into my life easily.”
“And you fitting into hers?”
He had wondered when Tate was finally going to ask what was on his mind. “You’re going straight to it, are you?”
“We haven’t had a Keeper leave the group yet.”
Cobb hardly needed Tate to remind him of this, but he remained quiet.
Tate continued, “Not that that won’t happen sometime. There will always be a first. Whether it’s from a new job offer, something personal, or a woman.”
“If that’s your way of asking if I’d consider staying in New Mexico for her, I can’t say it hasn’t crossed my mind.” Cobb scrubbed his hand over his face and sighed. “This place doesn’t feel like home anymore. It hasn’t for a long time. But I’ve got family here.” He dropped his head back and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds, then slowly shook his head as he dropped his chin and held his friend’s gaze. “But I can’t see leaving Maine. And I sure as fuck can’t see leaving LSI.”
Tate remained quiet, the silence of the night moving between the friends. Finally, he said, “Then if it’s meant to be, she may have to relocate. From what I’ve seen, she can handle the life like our other women.”
Snorting, Cobb shook his head again. “Gone are the days where a woman is expected to pick up and travel wherever the man goes.”
“You don’t have to tell me that. Nora was a nurse who’d grown up and lived her whole life in Wyoming. I had no clue how it would work and just lucked out that she was ready for a life change.” He shrugged. “Maybe Josie will feel the same.”
“Yeah, but I don’t know if it’s even fair to ask her to do that.”
“You’ll never know if you don’t at least ask.”
“On that somber note, I think I’ll find my bed.” Inclining his head toward the hall, he said, “The spare bedroom is ready for you, I’m sure. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll have you on Josie detail again. I’ll head to Albuquerque. While Bert is at work, I want to take a look at his apartment. He may be family, but I don’t trust him… or at least not his friends.” With that, he turned and headed to the main bedroom, desperate for a shower and to curl up around Josie’s warm, sleeping body.
Josie woke the minute Jorge slipped underneath the covers, aligning his large body with her much smaller one. Warmth immediately infused her as his front pressed against her back, his knee nudged between her legs, and his arm curved around her waist, his hand tucked just under her breasts.
“Are you okay?” Her words came out in a whisper, and she wanted to turn around to face him, staring into his dark eyes lit only by the light of the moon coming through the window. But the tightness that had been in her chest since he left caused her to lay still, facing away as uncertainty moved through her.
“Yeah, babe, I’m fine.” His arm squeezed her waist gently. “You?”
She nodded, feeling his chin pressed against the top of her head. “I probably made Tate crazy, pacing the floor after you left. I admit it was weird to have you out and not know exactly where you were or how you were.” He remained quiet, and she stumbled on, words that had crowded her head now all wanting to get out. “I couldn’t help but think about the other Keepers’ women… the ones that you told me about. They all sound so strong. Capable. And yet I wondered how I would be compared to them.”
“Josie, I wouldn’t want you to be anything other than yourself—”
“I know, I know, Jorge. That’s not it. Please, let me finish.” Gathering her bravery, she shifted