Page 11 of Hammer’s Fall

Bishop pulled up a chair and sat, he called one of the prospects and they kept him on speaker while they had him move along the back fence to make sure the compound was secure. They’d just disconnected the call when a knock on the open door to his office made him look up to where Camila stood in the doorway waiting, as if she was waiting for an invitation. “The food is here. Winter wanted to know if we should bring it in here or if you’d rather join us out there?”

“What is it?” Hammer asked, then changed his mind. He hit a couple of keys and locked his computer before standing. “It doesn’t matter. Let’s go out there.” He hated eating anything messy at his workstation, even stuff like bread that dropped crumbs. It ended up in his keyboard and then things didn’t work the way they were supposed to. “I didn’t know you were getting food. Thanks for thinking of me,” he said as he followed her out into the common room.

“Bishop said to get enough for both of you after he suggested we order something,” Camila said.

“Are Winter and Miranda still with you?”

“Yes.” she said without adding to it. He wondered what she was thinking. Did she want him to leave her alone or was she just not sure of her surroundings? She’d been here less than twelve hours. He really needed to give her a little space.

Winter and Miranda had already pulled all the food out and set it out on a table. As he approached, he noticed there were six places. Before he could ask if they were expecting someone else, Ashes came in. That made sense.

“Where do you want me?” Hammer asked as he reached the table.

“There,” Winter said. “Next to your girl.”

Hammer shot her a dark look before he turned to see how Camila took the comment. She didn’t seem fazed. Like maybe she didn’t know the implications of being his girl. It took a moment for everyone to get settled and comfortable. Then they dug in. There wasn’t much talking while they ate. He hadn’t thought to make sure she had something to eat after they’d talked to Bulldog. He’d have to do better.

When they’d finished eating he looked at Camila, wearing the outfit that he’d borrowed from Winter that morning and remembered the girl needed some clothes of her own. He stood, pulled out a credit card and handed it to Camila.

“Why don’t you girls go get some clothes for you? You won’t be comfortable in borrowed things for long.”

She looked up at him with wide eyes. “I can go do the shopping? I can choose what I wear?”

Hammer blinked and wondered exactly how controlling her father had been.

“Of course you choose what you wear. Get what you need. And I’m not talking about just a couple of outfits. Get all the shit you’ll need. Shampoo, lotions, makeup, whatever.” He turned around and looked at Winter. “Can you help her?”

“Sure. Do you want us going out or to order online?”

“Either is fine. I don’t think her father is aware she’s not at home, at least not yet, so there shouldn’t be anyone looking for her, but you know the rules. A prospect or a brother goes with you.” Hammer headed back to his office.

“You got it,” Winter said.

He was almost to the hall when Winter’s voice called out and stopped him.

“You want us to get her riding gear?”

He paused and looked up at the ceiling for a moment. The thought of Camila on the back of his bike did things to him, things that made him glad he had his back to the women.

“No. Don’t worry about riding gear, not yet.” He didn’t like the idea of the women buying her riding gear. He wanted to be there and help her pick out the right things.

In his office, he unlocked his computer and resumed his research.

Chapter Ten

“How was your day?” Camila asked Hammer as she lay in bed that night. He’d come in a few minutes after she had. He’d changed and slid into bed as if they did this every night. She’d stiffened but when he just tucked one hand behind his head and closed his eyes, she’d watched him in the dim light coming in from the window for a moment, relaxing when he didn’t move or touch her.

“Fine. Did you go shopping, get everything you’ll need?”

“We went out for a few things but ordered more. I didn’t want to spend too much but Winter kept insisting if you wanted us to have a limit, you would have said so.”

“She’s right. Any idea how much you spent?”

“I think it was two hundred. That was way too much but she wouldn’t let me stop.”

Hammer snorted.

“That’s nothing. I expected at least double that. Are you sure you got everything you need?”