"I missed you." She looped her arms around his waist and stayed close to him.
Only four hours ago, she'd crawled out of bed with him and got ready for work. The days when they both went their separate ways were the longest, and she looked forward to the weekends when they could linger in bed and enjoy each other.
He smoothed her hair away from her face. "Everything okay?"
"Busy." She sighed, kissing him again. "Payday."
He grunted, acknowledging her answer. "I'll be here until it's time to close."
"Is there a problem with your motorcycle?" She glanced over at his bike.
"Tuning it up and changing the oil out." He looked over her head into the garage. "I'll be able to follow you over to the tow yard when you pick up Cami, and then I need to swing by Promise."
She'd been to the bar once last week with him. He hadn't gone to drink but talked with other Tarkio members for a few minutes. While she was busy, she and Cami visited with two of the employees, Jenna and Stephanie, who knew all the bikers.
"I'll check with Chrischris and see if he has any plans to be hanging out with Cami tonight. If not, you'll both need to go to the bar with me before we head back to the apartment."
"Will you be long?"
"Nah."
She smiled. "We'll go. Or, at least I'll go if Chirschris and Cami don't want to."
He squeezed her ass in approval. She kissed him again. "I better get back to work."
"When's your lunch break?"
"In an hour." She rubbed his chest and stepped back. "I'll see if you're busy. If you are, I'll eat inside and leave you to work."
His gaze warmed as he continued to stand there watching her. "Walk for me, sweetheart. Give me something to see."
Her stomach warmed. She looked over at the others in the garage. None of them were paying her and Paco any attention.
Paco pointed at her and twirled his finger. She bit her lip, turned, and walked into the garage, putting distance between them.
There was a little extra sway in her hips.
A little more air in her steps.
A little more arch in her back.
At the door, she fought from looking back to see if he still watched. Smiling to herself, she knew he was. There was no reason to check.
Banks came out of the office as she slipped inside. Alone, she inhaled deeply and let loose of her happiness by hurrying to the desk. The sooner she got done with her work, the quicker she could spy on Paco from the window.
The man was a stud, especially when tinkering on his motorcycle.
By the time noon arrived, she had everyone's check sealed in an envelope and sitting on Banks' desk. Grabbing the sack containing her lunch, she went to the window to check on Paco.
Banks, Slick, Chrischris, and Paco, huddled near the tool rack in the back of the garage in conversation. She stepped back from the glass, keeping an eye on the group. Roddy and Elliot, who'd she'd met before, had come to the body shop that afternoon and joined them.
In a sea of black leather, the members of Tarkio were an unnerving sight if she hadn't gotten to know them. She swallowed, apprehensive about them all meeting together. Part of her hoped they were discussing her situation with Askook and would refuse to let Paco try to attack the casino by himself.
The longer she could keep him with her, the safer he'd be.
Going back to her desk, she opened her bag and took out her sandwich. Now that Paco was involved with what was happening at the casino and knew more of her background and what Askook wanted, she kept an eye on the private conversation, wishing she knew what they were talking about.
For how much she wanted Askook dead and out of her life, losing Paco in the process struck fear within her.
She was falling in love with him. That was the only way she could explain how she was feeling. The guilt that she was the reason behind his desire to wipe sex trafficking out of Montana stopped her from fully depending on him.
It would be easy to let him take care of her.
She longed for his company. He made her feel beautiful and safe. After living a life believing in customs that gave her the security she craved, she'd had everything ripped away when her dad sold her.
She doubted everything.
Paco seemed to accept her. Faults and all.
Sometimes, like now, she worried about Paco and his ability to kill. But hadn't she wanted to murder Askook?
That would be her guilt to deal with. It was unfair for her to put Paco in a position where he wanted to take care of her and remove Askook from her life. Living with that crime, if he succeeded, would be much harder to live with than if she killed Askook.
A wrench flew through the air of the garage and hit the wall, sticking in the sheetrock. She whipped her gaze to the group of men and found Paco clasping his hands behind his head and turning away from them.
Then, he stormed out of view.
She jumped from the chair and rushed to the window. Afraid he was rushing off in a fit of anger, she changed direction and ran out the door. In the garage, she ignored the others and speed-walked outside, only to catch Paco roaring off the lot on his motorcycle.
She palmed her forehead, wondering if she should get her car and follow him. He'd made her promise not to leave work during her breaks unless he or one of the other members was with her. But someone needed to make sure he wasn't going to run headfirst into trouble.
Could he be going to the reservation? Was he upset? He'd done so well not drinking too
