Page 39 of Paco
“I can give them back to her.” For some reason, the thought of him in Lucy’s bedroom bothered her.
“It’s no big deal.” He sat in the recliner and watched as she hung up all her new purchases.
“What’re your plans for tonight?” she asked.
“Nothing much. We usually party big on Saturday nights.”
“That sounds fun.”
“Not for you. We have brothers coming in from other clubs, so it could be a problem for you. They may think you’re a club woman or a hang-around. It’s better if you stay in here for the night. I can bring dinner up to you.”
“You’re going to the party?” She wasn’t sure she liked the idea of him being with the club girls and whoever the hang-arounds were.
“For a bit. I’ll play some pool and have a few drinks. It’s always a good time to see brothers I haven’t seen in a while.”
“Oh. I thought we could watch a movie and order a pizza. I haven’t had pizza in forever.”
He chuckled. “Are you on a mission to eat all the junk food you can in one day?”
“Pretty much.” She folded the empty shopping bags. “So are you game for it?”
For a moment, he studied her intently, a gleam of desire in his eyes, but then he looked away. “I’ve already got plans, but I can pick up a pizza for you and you can order a movie on TV.” He stood up. “What do you want on it?”
She cast her gaze downward. “That’s okay. I changed my mind.”
“Maybe another time,” he said in a low voice.
“Maybe,” she muttered.
The touch of his hand under her chin, tilting her head back, sent a warming shiver through her. She met his gaze and her heart turned over. The tip of his thumb swept over her bottom lip, sending her emotions whirling and skidding. Instinctively, she reached for him, but he stepped back.
“If you need anything, call me.” He pointed to the cordless phone on the nightstand. “I wrote out my number and left it there earlier.”
And then he was gone.
The scent of his cologne lingered in the room. His footsteps faded away, and loneliness pressed down on her like a steel weight. Her thoughts, jagged and painful, were her only companions. For a moment, she’d thought he was going to kiss her, but he walked away.He probably doesn’t want me because he knows what I am. A lot lizard. A whore. But not by choice.Neverby choice.
The windows rattled and a loud rumble filtered through them. Going to the window, she looked down and saw motorcycles galore filling the parking lot. It was an incredible sight: a sea of black leather and denim, the fading sunlight bouncing off the motorcycles’ chrome, women in short skirts and stilettos cozying up to the men. In the midst of all that, she saw Paco, a beer in his hand, talking to one of the brothers. She searched the crowd for Lucy and found her wrapped around a tall, skinny man with a bushy beard. The lines in Misty’s forehead relaxed.
As if sensing her, Paco glanced up. She held her breath as their gazes locked in an embrace. Then a big guy smacked Paco on the back and he turned away from her, the big guy drawing him into a bear hug. The moment had flitted away, and she was left again with her tortured thoughts. That day, she’d enjoyed pockets of time when she’d felt whole again, but then they blew away, replaced by the reality of who she was.
I’m broken, and I don’t know how to fix me.
Misty wrapped the blanket around her and lay down, hugging the pillow close. It would be a long night. She could call Paco and tell him she was afraid, but she wouldn’t. She had to face the demons and who she was on her own.
She owed it to herself.
