His Other Half (Patches Tarkio MC, #3) - Debra Kayn Page 0,16

her guard again.

Cami walked into the apartment and stopped. Josie followed and shut the door.

"Does it stink in here?" asked Cami.

"It's only because the apartment has been shut up." She put the sacks on the floor. "Let me open the window—"

"No, don't." Cami inhaled deeply. "I'll clean and light a couple of candles. I'm sure you're right, and once I stay here, the smell will go away."

Feeling the same kind of hesitation about leaving the window open, she nodded. The older apartment complex was single-story apartments that ran side by side in a row. Anyone could walk behind the building and enter through an open window. They lacked the security that came with bigger and newer apartments.

Josie yawned. It'd been a long week back at work with the added stress.

"Go to bed." Cami snagged her hand. "You're dead on your feet."

"Put the phone by you." She hugged Cami. "Call if you need anything. Even if you change your mind and want to come over."

"I will." Cami walked her to the door.

She bit her lip to keep from reminding her to lock the door. Cami wasn't forgetful or naive. She knew the importance of staying safe.

While Cami was home, Banks had told them both that Robert Shaw was still alive.

None of that mattered because Cami was back, safe, and the baby growing inside of her.

"Night," she whispered.

Cami leaned her head against the edge of the door. "Go inside, and then I'll shut the door."

Once in her doorway, she smiled at her friend, and together they closed their individual apartments and turned the lock. Standing in the room, she looked around at the space.

The kitchen and sitting room were one area with a bathroom and small bedroom off to the side. As big as most people's living rooms, it was comfortable for her. She only needed a place to sleep and eat.

She kicked off her shoes, leaving the lamp on by the couch, and went into the bedroom. Having taken a shower an hour ago, her thick hair still hung damp past her shoulders. She sat on the edge of the bed, braided her hair, and slipped out of her clothes.

Crawling into bed naked, she grabbed her radio alarm clock on the nightstand and set her alarm for six o'clock. Tomorrow was Saturday, and her Friday at work. She'd have Sunday and Monday off. Her hope to see Paco would have to wait until then.

Scooting deeper into bed, she pulled the blanket over her shoulder and closed her eyes. Each day for the last two weeks, she'd watched for him to show up at the body shop. She never had a chance to thank him for everything he'd done to help her, and she wanted to check and make sure he was okay.

He'd been injured during the rescue. She bunched the pillow under her head. In the off-chance he had no one to take care of him, she could help. When she'd spent the night at his house, he'd let her have his bed while he'd taken the couch. In his room, there were no signs of a woman living with him or even visiting him.

But he could have a girlfriend who had her own place. That was always a possibility.

She couldn't stop thinking about the feelings he evoked in her. Ever since he'd helped her, she went over and over the things he'd said and done. It was as if she was missing something. He acted like they had a connection, and when he looked at her, she almost believed there was something there, hovering around the edges.

But that was crazy. She hadn't known anything about him before, not even his name. She still knew nothing about him.

Every conversation between them, she came away as if he understood her.

With everything happening, she hadn't found time to understand what was happening to her. A big part of her hesitation came from embarrassment.

The time he left her at the clubhouse to go after Cami, he'd spoken about things that she hadn't told anyone. Telling her she was worth it, maybe trying to relieve her burden, and instead, she felt no relief. Only panic.

No one knew what her father had done to her or how deep he was into the crimes committed on the Rez, except Askook and the men who worked with him at the casino.

The shame put on her was too much to bear.

Paco's words wrapped her in warmth when he promised to take care of her. He was a stranger, but