“If you wanted easy, you should’ve stayed with your mother.”
“No, thank you.”
“Why didn’t you want to go there, Lilly?”
She’s silent for several seconds before answering. “I don’t feel comfortable around Ramon.”
That puts me on instant alert. “Why not?”
“I don’t know, Amos. I just don’t like him.”
I make a mental note to look into that. “What else are you doing today?”
“I was going to look for a travel agency.”
“What for?”
“I’m thinking of spending a weekend in Saint Barthélemy before school starts. I could just book the trip myself, but since I’ve never traveled somewhere like that alone, a travel package from an agency seems safer.”
“If you go, I’ll be sending security with you.”
I almost expect her to push back—but instead, she replies, “I wasn’t expecting otherwise. Now that we’ve completed my morning report, I wish you a good day.”
I get home late at night, promising myself I’ll only check in on her to make sure she’s okay since I haven’t seen her around the apartment.
But you know what they say—good intentions pave the road to hell.
The moment I reach her bedroom door, I’m greeted by the sight of a delicious ass in shorts, bent over in front of me as she wrestles with her suitcase.
“I thought you’d already unpacked.”
Lilly jumps, and the movement sends her falling onto the floor.
Two steps and I’ve got her in my arms. “You scare easily, girl.”
We’re so close, I can feel her breath—and it makes my blood temperature spike several degrees.
Fuck.
I should let her go immediately, but having her small body pressed against mine feels too damn good.
“Amos,” she whispers breathlessly—and I don’t think it’s because of the fall. “I didn’t expect you home so soon. You almost gave me a heart attack.”
“Who else would it be? The door only opens with a code.”
“If we’re going to argue, you can put me down.”
“I’m not arguing with you. I’m trying to discipline you,” I tease because I can’t resist.
She’s turned on, and her body’s reaction is making it that much harder to pull away. Still, I’ve mastered impulse control since I was a kid, so I keep my face neutral and set her back on her feet.
“Disciplining me or yourself?”
“What?”
“I talked to a friend, since I’m not exactly experienced when it comes to men. She suggested this tension we’ve been feeling might be . . . physical attraction. Is she right?”
Chapter 16
