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She should have demanded that all along.
His eyes narrowed. “Is that really why you stopped me?”
No, and he was too smart not to realize it.
Laila looked away. “I need to know.”
“All right. I promised you proof. Come to the kitchen.”
He was angry. No, that wasn’t true. He hadn’t raised his voice, accused, or threatened. He hadn’t behaved as if he was furious. Like before, he was disappointed.
She was, too. She hated to lie. But the truth gave him too much power…
Wordlessly, she followed him to the kitchen to find laptops strewn across the table, along with several phones and pads of paper.
He tapped his finger on the trackpad of one computer. It came to life. “Your mole is our receptionist’s ex-boyfriend. He was breaking into her laptop in the middle of the night and sending off our company secrets, probably for money.”
Trees explained the scheme, backing up his theory with emails and dates that matched perfectly. Laila couldn’t refute what he’d shown her. It was a huge relief to know Trees had not betrayed her. She almost felt guilty for entertaining the possibility, but it was easier to believe he was like the others than to hope the trust they had been forging was real.
“Thank you.”
“You believe me?”
“Yes.” I’m sorry.
He sighed in relief. “Thank fuck. Now I need coffee.”
She felt horrible. Trees had given up sleep to prove his innocence to her, and she had pushed him away. Sure, she had more space and air now…but since he’d given it to her, she hadn’t been able to truly breathe.
The things she felt for him were terrifying. For the first time, a man was far more than an adversary she should hate. She didn’t know how to handle that.
“I’ll get it.” She bustled to the coffeemaker, poured out the old pot, then started a fresh one.
With a sigh, Trees sidled up behind her and leaned in, hands braced on the counter on either side of her, caging her in. She felt his hot breath on her neck, the warmth of his body against hers, which still ached from his touch. She trembled.
How could she be afraid of desire so sweet? But how could she surrender herself to something potent enough to enslave her?
Laila turned and stared into his solemn eyes. Against her, she felt his erection. Her body answered with a pang and a cramping of her womb.
“Talk to me, Laila…”
“I have nothing to say.” Not until she’d worked these feelings out in her head. She wasn’t making any sense.
“That’s bullshit. What happened—”
“Will not happen again.” It shouldn’t, anyway. Trees was so dangerous to her peace of mind and her heart. Where he was concerned, she was weak…
She ducked under his arm to escape, then stopped short when she caught sight of Zy and a beautiful blonde watching them from the edge of the kitchen. Why were they here? When had they arrived?
“Hello,” she said, horribly aware she was barely covered.
The pretty woman gave her a kind smile without any judgment at all. “Hi, Laila. I’m Tessa.”
The receptionist whose ex-boyfriend had betrayed them? Laila shook her hand. “Nice to meet you. Excuse me.”
She all but ran past Zy and the gorgeous blonde, dashing down the hallway for her clothes. As she left the room, she heard the murmurings of their conversation.
“What did you do?” Zy asked.
“Zip it.” Trees sounded mad.
“Dude…”
“Don’t ‘dude’ me. You’re no saint, either.”
What did Trees mean by that?
“Fine,” Zy snapped back. “I need your help locating Tessa’s ex. We have to find him ASAP.”
Yes. And hopefully, they would make him pay for what he had done.
As Laila brushed her teeth and dressed, she tried to clear her head. But it was still filled with Trees and all the danger swirling around them. Hopefully, coffee would help.
When she returned to the kitchen, Trees, now fully dressed, turned to her with a groan. “This outfit again?”
She crossed her arms over her chest self-consciously, covering what she could of her pale pink tank and her Florida-appropriate shorts. “Nothing else is clean.”
“I can bring you some things,” Tessa offered.
“No, thank you.”
“I already tried,” Zy said.
“She’s too proud,” Trees groused.
Laila glared his way. “You know I refuse to owe anyone for anything.”
Trees rubbed at his head as if it was aching. “Can’t you consider some different clothes a favor, just this once?”
“I did not ask for this favor.”
Trees sighed. “I’m asking you as a favor to me.”
“No.”
Trees shook his head. “You are a stubborn, stubborn woman.”
“I have had to be.”
To her surprise, Tessa laid a gentle hand on her shoulder. “How about as a favor to me, Laila? My baby is missing, time is running out, and Trees can help me. But he needs to concentrate.”
Her child? Laila’s heart froze. She worried about her family’s safety, yes. But Tessa was dealing with her beloved little one actually being taken. “I am so sorry. I will help in any way I can.”
