This Would Be Paradise (Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

totally would. “Thanks for having my back out there.”
    The towel over his head muffled his response. “That’s the whole point of community, isn’t it? To have each other’s backs?”
    “Sounds good to me.”
    Chloe bounded up to me with Amanda on her heels. The girl broke off to run to Roy.
    “You okay?” Chloe asked, her eyes wide.
    “Yep, just a little cold.” I smiled down at her.
    “They’re back!” the doorman announced as he opened the door.
    A drenched Tim and a barely wet Karla walked through the door. Mac stood a little straighter, and I suspected he had a thing for Miss Eastern European Karla.
    “Well?” Roy prompted.
    Tim ignored him and instead addressed the crowd. “We’ve secured the area. There’s nothing more we can do until the rain clears. Once it does, we’ll send out another party to clean up the mess and get a better handle of what’s out there. For now, return to your rooms and keep the light and noise to a minimum.”
    People scurried back to their rooms as ordered. Tim was definitely military but didn’t lord it over everyone. I doubted he liked acting as the leader and having people look to him for answers. Not that I could blame him—leading people was a big responsibility. Maybe that’s why he let Roy head the pack.
    Tim walked by us without another word, Karla right behind him. Elaine, who’d been peering at us the whole time, her expression unreadable in a sea of concerned faces, approached us with her hands full.
    “Here are some dry clothes. They should fit you.” She passed me the folded clothes.
    “Thanks.”
    “You can use my office to change in.”
    I turned to Chloe. “I’ll be right back. Meet you in the common room, okay?”
    “’’Kay. Go get dry before you catch a cold,” she scolded.
    I put my hands up in defeat. “I’m going.”
    When I got to Elaine’s office, I closed the door behind me and unfolded the clothes she’d handed me. They were clearly too big, even though she’d said they should fit. That bitch.
    I guess they would have to do since I’d left the rest of my packed clothing in the car, thinking we were only staying for the night. Looked like our trip would be postponed until the rain cleared.
    With a deep exhale, I stripped off the sopping clothes and tossed them aside. They landed on the desk with a wet splat, spraying water everywhere. Oops, clumsy me.
    After I dried off some more, I pulled the baggy shirt over my head. Just as I got my head through the hole, the door burst open. I whirled around, trying to yank my shirt down fast.
    “Ever heard of knocking?” I demanded as I struggled like a drunk with the shirt.
    Tim looked at the ground. “Sorry about that.”
    I quickly pulled on the pants. “There, I’m done.”
    Tim looked directly at the spot on my torso where my scratches were hiding under my new shirt. “Where’d you get those marks from?”
    “Really, peeping Tim? That’s what you start with?” I placed a hand on my hip.
    Geez, no shame with this guy.
    He ignored my comment and prompted, “They come from a sick person? It looks like it’s been healed for a long time.”
    These were a nosy bunch of people. “Yes, I got scratched by an infected woman months ago, when this all first started.”
    “You’re immune.” He said it so casually.
    “Don’t know about that. Maybe they have to actually bite you to infect you?” I shrugged as I gathered up my wet clothes.
    “I’ve seen people turn from a mere fingernail prick by a sick individual.”
    “Do I look like I work for the CDC? How would I know?”
    He regarded me for second. “Thanks for helping out there and for rounding up those guys. They’re not the tightest team I’ve had.”
    “Looks like they did okay to me.”
    “You know how to use that?” His eyes flicked to my gun.
    Oh, and on top of being nosy, they were rude. Why do they think I can’t shoot?
    “Thanks for your concern,” I said dryly. “But I was taught by the best.”
    I felt