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“You sure I can’t pay you for taking care of the house and the animal while I was gone?”
She cocked her head. “I wouldn’t say no if you want to take me to dinner this weekend.”
“I wish I could. I’m pretty sure I’ll be working.”
“Another weekend, then?”
Trees hesitated, then sighed. “Madison, you know you’re a good friend, right? But I—”
Suddenly, the big black dog barked and turned in Laila’s direction with a growl before darting straight for her. Laila gasped and tried to shut the door, but it was too late. The big dog crashed inside and took up a stance in front of her, ears peeled back with a growl.
She froze. What should she do to do to make sure a dog this size didn’t decide she was a snack?
Trees was there in an instant. “Heel.”
The dog sat, but he didn’t look happy.
“Good boy.” Trees petted the beast behind his ears. “You okay?”
“Fine.”
Madison approached, giving her a discreet once-over.
Laila knew what the woman saw—a brown girl with an unruly mane of dark curls, wearing a dirty tank top and short-shorts that barely concealed the essentials. Trees’s friend would probably think she was gutter trash. A nobody. She wasn’t wrong.
Madison turned back to Trees. “I didn’t realize you had company. I’m sorry.” She faced Laila again, hand outstretched. “Hi. I’m Madison.”
“Laila.” She took the woman’s hand cautiously.
“I’ll leave now and let you two get back to your…evening.” Madison flashed them a big smile.
Laila didn’t believe it. Or maybe she only felt that way because she couldn’t bring herself to smile back at the pretty flirt who batted her lashes at Trees.
“I’ll walk you out,” he offered, then turned to the dog. “Come.”
The canine gave her another narrow-eyed stare before he headed out her bedroom door. Trees followed, then turned back to her, his gaze questioning.
Laila didn’t know how to answer. How could she explain why she had been spying and eavesdropping when she didn’t really understand herself?
“I’ll be back,” he said finally, then left.
From the cracked door, she watched Trees guide Madison with his big hand on the small of her narrow back. In the foyer, they disappeared from view. The front door opened and closed.
Laila raced to the window that overlooked the front of the house. She could just see them around the shrubs. Madison said something with a smile. Trees nodded solemnly. Then she rose on her tiptoes and threw her arms around his thick neck, planting a kiss on his cheek before hopping into her little car and driving off with a wave.
Suddenly, the front door slammed. Laila jolted as she heard Trees lock it.
He headed straight to her bedroom.
She held up her hands. “I am sorry. I did not mean to pry.”
“Why did you? The fewer people who know you’re here, the better. I don’t want to put Madison in danger for knowing things she shouldn’t. She didn’t ask for that.”
Madison hadn’t, and Laila felt guilty for not realizing that her curiosity could put someone else in danger. “You are right.”
She felt terrible. Madison’s only sin was her “friendship” with the bodyguard who intrigued her more than she liked.
He sighed. “It’s my fault, too. I didn’t know she was coming over, and I should have explained why you needed to stay out of sight.”
It would have helped, but ultimately, her inexplicable jealousy had been to blame. “She likes you.”
“She’s nice,” he said neutrally.
“I mean she is interested in you as a man.”
He hesitated. “Maybe, but I don’t think she’s into me specifically. I think she’s looking for something.”
“Love?”
“More than that, I suspect.”
“She would warm your bed if you wanted.” Laila hated to point that out, but surely he knew.
He merely shrugged.
“I understand. She already has.” Laila wished she had never brought it up.
“No. We’re just friends. Only friends. I don’t know what she needs, but I know what she doesn’t. Me. I could never make her happy.”
So far, he seemed kinder than most men, so his assertion made no sense. “Why?”
“It’s complicated. Why are you asking? Do you want me to fuck her?”
Laila gave a noncommittal shrug. “It is none of my concern.”
He grabbed her shoulders. “But there’s a reason you’re asking.”
“I merely pointed out the obvious. She wants you.”
His eyes narrowed. “No. You want to know if I want her, too. And I don’t. That’s why I’ve never touched her. I never will.”
“Despite the fact that she would say yes to you without hesitation?”
“I told you, I’m not interested.”
It seemed Trees was actually telling the truth. Madison had given him subtle hints that she was quite willing to be more than his friend. Trees apparently had never taken her up on the offer. That amazed Laila.
Back in Mexico, Victor had often bragged about tumbling local women. One in particular, he laughed about every time they’d fucked. He claimed he had to close his eyes because she was so ugly, but her amazing tits made up for it. Victor’s attitude was despicable, but she had expected nothing less from him. From either Ramos brother, really.
