Page 18 of Hammer’s Fall

Camila took the phone and put it in her pocket.

“Thank you,” she said, glancing up at him as if gauging his mood and what he was thinking before turning her attention back to what Wrench was showing her. “Is there an extra sheet of paper where I can take notes?” she asked the older man.

“Sure,” Wrench opened a desk drawer, pulled out a legal pad and handed it to her. Hammer stood and watched them for another minute then headed back to the clubhouse.

Chapter Fourteen

“Well, how was your first day?” Wrench asked as he walked with her toward the clubhouse from the mechanic shop where she’d spent most of the day fumbling through, struggling to remember what he’d told her when someone called or came in.

“I don’t know. I feel like I asked for help too much.”

Wrench waved one wrinkled hand. “That’s to be expected. You’ve never spent time in a shop like this, so you’ve got no knowledge. That will come with time.”

“I don’t know. I felt like all I did today was ask for help. I don’t know if I will end up saving you time or just costing you more.”

“It might in the short term, but you’re bright. You’ll catch on. Like I said, give it a week. You’ll pick it up faster than you think.” He patted her shoulder in a way she’d seen on TV. She’d wished Papá was like that, but she couldn’t remember the last time he’d touched her without hurting her. For a moment, she wished Papá could have been a little more like Wrench—her childhood would have been much more pleasant. But if he had been kinder, gentler, then maybe she wouldn’t be here now and something deep inside told her this was where she needed to be. Where she needed to stay. She just needed to figure out what she needed to do to make that happen.

Inside the clubhouse she looked around and didn’t see Hammer, so she headed back toward his office. She wanted to check with him before she did anything else. He might have something he wanted or needed her to do. She found the door standing open and stood for a moment, watching him.

His hands seemed to fly over the keyboard while his gaze flicked from one screen to another. She didn’t know if her movement caught his eye or what but after a moment, he turned to look at her. A grin spread across his face when he realized who his visitor was.

“Hey, there you are.” He reached one hand toward her, which she took as an invitation, and closed the distance between them, dropping one hand in his. He squeezed it, then released her. “How was your first day? Did you hate it?”

Camila shook her head. “I don’t hate it, but I don’t think I’m very good. Wrench says it will take a little time and I’ll get better, but I just don’t know.” She sighed and wanted to lean into him, to borrow some of his strength and determination. But she didn’t know how he would take that, so she maintained the distance between them.

“Did he give you a time, how long to try before giving up?”

“He said give it a week.” She sighed. “I don’t know. I feel like I’m failing.”

“Cariño,” his voice was gentle, but that wasn’t what caught her attention. That was the job of what he’d called her. Why would he call her that unless, maybe, he felt even a little of what she was also feeling? “Failure is part of the process. Every time you fail at something, you learn something else. It’s a process that can’t be rushed. But that’s okay. We all know this is something new to you, and it will take you a little while to pick things up. And even if you don’t, we can find you something else. There are a lot of options. We’re not going to kick you to the streets because one job didn’t work out.” He reached and took her hand again, then tugged her closer.

“How were the guys? Did they behave? Did you come back from the shop alone?”

Camila frowned. “They were fine. They worked out in the shop and only came in a few times. And no. Wrench walked me back, but is there a reason I shouldn’t make the trip alone? Is it dangerous?”

“It’s not dangerous, but you’re new here and not all the men know your face yet, much less know you’re not club ass. They might approach you or harass you a little. All you’d have to do is say no, but I don’t want you to have to worry about it. I’m glad Wrench walked with you.” One corner of his mouth quirked up. “Making sure you made it back without anyone stopping or propositioning you is probably the only thing that got him out of the shop before midnight.”

Her eyes went wide. “Does he often work that late?”

“Sometimes. He also naps in his office when it gets late, and he doesn’t want to bother making the trip back.” Hammer shook his head. “I keep telling him he’d rest better in a bed, but he’s a stubborn old shit and insists this is working for him.” Camila thought the way he watched out for the older man was endearing. It showed his tender side, even if the way he went about was more rough and masculine than she might.

She stepped closer to where he still sat in his wheeled chair. They were almost eye to eye, despite that she stood to his seated.

“You’re sweet.” She cupped his cheek, ignoring his scowl as she leaned in and kissed the end of his nose. His hands shifted to rest on her hips.

“You sure, cariño?” Hammer’s voice was as gentle as his touch.

She nodded then leaned in. She pressed her lips against his, hoping he would take over and show her what to do. All she knew was what she’d seen on the porn her father had made her watch, and what had been in the books she’d managed to get a hold of, despite the security he’d put on the internet.

When Hammer’s tongue pressed against the seam of her lips, she didn’t hesitate. She opened to him, the intense feelings and emotions rushing through her sent her mind swirling. His arms went around her, tightening a bit as her head spun. Maybe it wasn’t just in her head. Her knees went weak and she pushed her fingers into his hair as she held on to him, not wanting this to stop, ever.

“Don’t you two already have a room?” A voice behind her brought Camila back to the present, where they were and what they were doing, in an instant. She jumped and jerked her arms away from Hammer, but he didn’t release her. Instead, he gently ended the kiss, then lifted his head and looked past her at whoever had spoken.

“This is my office, asshole. It’s a lot better than the common room like you prefer. What the hell do you want?”

Common room? It must be Goliath. He was the only one she knew of who liked public sex, at least so far, and not that she and Hammer had gone that far, hell, they’d barely touched each other. Still, her face heated. She pressed it into Hammer’s shoulder to keep Goliath from seeing that he’d embarrassed her. Hammer’s arm around her waist tightened for a moment. As if reassuring her that he had her. That he wouldn’t let anything happen to her. She liked that he protected her rather than treated her like a commodity to be used to his benefit.

“Bishop sent me to tell you dinner’s ready then he wants to see the two of you in his office. But if you’re going to continue, can I watch?”