send him away for scaring her to death. It wasn't normal to walk into someone else's house.
But what if it was a burglar? Or Askook?
She silently moved, putting her bare feet on the floor. Holding the knife at her side, she stepped over to the far wall. She reached up with her free hand and grabbed the curtain.
Footsteps grew louder. She slowed her breathing.
When the steps quieted, and she sensed someone at the door of the bedroom, she yanked the curtain open, knowing the glow of the street light would shine in.
Her shoulders fell in relief. Paco.
He needed to stop scaring her to death. It was hard enough living on her own but knowing Askook believed she belonged to him and could come after her, even off the reservation, was dangerous for Paco. What if she'd stabbed him?
"Josie?"
She stepped out into the light from the street. "You can't break into my apartment anymore."
Glad she wore a short nightgown to cover her naked body, she set the knife on the chair by her closet.
"You want me to go?" He remained by the door.
Her throat closed. Of course, she wanted him to stay. It was the way he went about seeing her that turned her off.
"The last time I saw you, you told me to stay away from you." She shrugged. "If you don't want—"
"I want you."
She walked over and turned on the light. Not allowing him to hide in the dark, she wanted to see his face when he explained why he came into her apartment again.
"You only want me in the privacy of the apartment and not out there around your club." She crossed her arms underneath her breasts. "There are women at the clubhouse who looked more than happy to do what I can do."
His mouth hardened. She wasn't going to let him use her.
The one night they'd spent together was enjoyable. More than enjoyable. It was the best night of her life, but she wasn't looking for a complicated relationship or to be someone's convenience. It would be different if he wanted to share time with her, and it came with mutual respect.
But half the time, she had a feeling Paco didn't even like her.
"The other women, aren't you." He stared at her chest. "I can't sleep."
Realizing what he'd gone through killing one of the men who'd taken her and Cami, she softened. She wasn't the only one having a hard time accepting what had happened.
She held out her hand. He looked at her, questioning her silently after she'd told him he couldn't be with her.
"Lay down with me. I'll watch over you while you close your eyes," she whispered.
He slipped his fingers into her hand. She pulled him to the bed. There was no reason to get under the covers. She wasn't going to sleep tonight, and he was fully dressed.
She climbed up on the bed. "Take your boots off."
He sat on the edge of the mattress and bent over. She studied his broad back, the patches on his leather vest.
They were so different. He was older. She was younger. He adorned himself with black leather, bulky rings on his fingers, and ink on his skin. She never wore makeup, kept her hair straight, and preferred to wear one beaded necklace in her mother's colors. She had one tattoo.
She reached up and rubbed the back of her shoulder. The symbol for Thunder bird.
At sixteen years old, she'd had an older boy at the Rez give her a tattoo. She'd picked Thunder Bird because she liked to think that someone was watching over her, guiding her, and keeping her focused on the future.
How little she knew at the time. Now, because of Paco showing up in her life, she believed it was a sign—one she was reluctant to believe in.
When Paco finished removing his boots, he stretched out beside her and pulled her against him. She snuggled, holding him close, and hummed in the quiet of the night. A song her mother used to sing her when she was little and wasn't feeling well.
She closed her eyes, comforted by him being here despite knowing in the end, they had to stop seeing each other. Even now, her body warmed and molded against him as if made to have sex with him. She'd never had an attraction that was more powerful than common sense.
Falling for someone who would never match her life was something careless women would do. Not her.
She had too much to fight for.
Paco stroked her back.