Page 38 of Rami

“Okay.”

Dammit. He’d made it awkward. He scrubbed his fingers across his brow. “What time does your sister leave tomorrow?”

“Eight in the morning, I believe.”

“Sounds good. I’ll see you then.” They disconnected and he dropped his phone on the desk.

Tension pulled at his neck muscles and the need to get up and pace hit him. Instead, he rubbed his eyes with his thumb and fingertips. Maybe he was doing the wrong thing. Scaring her. After all she’d been through and—

“The fuck is your problem?” August’s voice made Rami lower his hand and roll an annoyed glare his way.

“Your ex.”

August grunted. “Not exactly my ex. But she has that affect. Glad she’s into buggering up your life and not mine. What’d Gigi Hastings do now?”

Rami shook his head, not wanting to go into all that plagued him but also needing his team to know he’d be off for four days. Not an easy feat but also nonnegotiable. He’d covered for Toth when his friend had needed time. Hopefully Toth could hold down the fort until Tuesday.

“Dropped a bomb in my lap.” The answer came out on breath of fatigue.

August sipped from the paper coffee cup in his hand and leaned against the doorframe. “Anything I can do to help? Does this involve Ivy?”

“Yes, and yes.”

Toth rapped on the door. “Hey, how’s it going?”

Rami motioned for him to come inside. “I’ll be gone from tomorrow morning until Tuesday. Ivy Hastings needs a bodyguard over the weekend while her family’s away.”

Toth nodded. “Sure. Send her the contract and I’ll see which of the guys can rotate with you—”

“Nope.” The word came out forcefully.

Toth cocked an eyebrow.

August smirked. “This is a personal call.”

“Shut up,” Rami blurted.

August raised his hands. “What? It is. Don’t shoot the messenger ’cause you’ve got your panties in a bunch over a woman.”

“Eat shit.”

“All right, all right,” Toth cut in. “Is this falling under our business or not?”

“No.”

“Fine.” He waved. “See ya Tuesday. We’ll handle it while you’re away.”

“You sure?” Rami asked, only because he didn’t want to be a total fucking asshole to his business partner.

“Yeah. We’ve got it.” Toth gave him a knowing look. “Gotta say. I’ve never seen you bent out of shape over a woman before.”

Rami picked up a pen and tapped the pointed end on a sticky note. “I’m not bent out of shape. I’m doing her a favor. Ivy went through hell and it’s not my fault she feels safe with me.”

Toth hooked an eyebrow. “So it’s all one-sided?”

Rami pursed his lips. Hell no it wasn’t one-sided. If anything, all the attraction was on his side. Everything else Rami had said was true. He was the one who’d pulled her from that godforsaken trailer. Removed her from the hell waiting for her.

She felt safe with him. And he’d be damned if he destroyed that for her.

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