Page 79 of Paco
Paco opened the glove compartment and pulled out a key fob. “Take this and keep it with you always.” He put it in her hand and pointed to a red button. “This is what you press if you’re in trouble. It’ll send an alert to my phone. Don’t ever be without it, okay?”
“Okay.” She slid the fob into her pocket.
Paco came over and helped her out. The front door opened and her mother, dark-haired and petite, ran down the porch steps.
“Chelsea!”
She ran up the sidewalk, meeting her mom halfway, and they embraced. Her mother squeezed her so tight she could hardly breathe. She laughed and cried at the same time.
“I missed you so much, Mom.” Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she felt her mother’s tears mix with hers.
A tall woman with sandy brown hair and chunky blonde highlights came out.
“Chelsea.”
“Kate? You’ve grown. I can’t believe it’s you. You’re beautiful.” The last time she’d seen her sister, the girl had only been eleven years old. Kate came over and her mother pulled her into the hug, the three of them standing in the middle of the sidewalk embracing and crying.
Her mother wiped Chelsea’s cheeks and looked over her shoulder at the street. “Is that your friend who brought you home?”
Chelsea turned around and saw Paco leaning against the SUV, his legs crossed at the ankle, his head cocked, and his silver earring shining through his brown hair. Happiness filled her. She nodded. “Paco, come over here.”
He pushed away from the vehicle and swaggered up the walkway, coming beside her and putting his hand in the small of her back. His touch sent an electrical jolt through her.
Her mother held out her hand. “I’m Linda, Chelsea’s mother. Thank you so much for bringing my daughter home.” Her brown orbs brimmed, and she took a tissue from the pocket of her blouse and dabbed the corners of her eyes.
Paco shook her hand. “I’m Paco. You’re welcome.”
“I’m Kate. I’m Chelsea’s sister.”
“I can see the resemblance.”
Chelsea smiled inwardly—she knew Paco hated all of this. He wasn’t the type of man to engage in chitchat. She lowered her hand and pressed it against his thigh.
“Let’s go inside,” Linda said, tugging her jacket closer. “It’s freezing out.”
Chelsea started to follow her mom and sister, but Paco pulled her back. “I’ll be there in a sec, Mom,” she called over her shoulder.
“I’m gonna take off.”
Her insides lurched. “So soon? Don’t you want to come in and have a drink? You’re going to miss seeing my room.” She laughed dryly.Don’t youdarecry. I mean it.
“You need some time alone with your family. You got my number. I’ll give you a call later tonight.”
“Am I going to see you again?”
“Of course.” The whole time he talked, his gaze darted all around.
“What’s wrong?”
“Just making sure no one’s around. Take care of yourself. Don’t go out. And when you talk to the badges, don’t mention the club… or me.”
“My mom just met you.”
“You know what I mean.”
“I won’t say anything about the club or that you’re a member. I’ll say you just picked me up on the side of the road and gave me shelter until it was safe for me to come home.”
“Good girl.” He kissed her too quickly on the forehead. “Go on in. Your family keeps looking out the window.”
