Page 39 of Rami

One-sided or not, he’d keep his hands off Ivy Hastings.

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Holy mother of god.

Ivy watched Rami stride up the driveway from his large black truck. Tattooed and muscled arms strained the seams of his white T-shirt. Broad shoulders tapered down to a narrow waist and jean-clad thighs. Dude looked fit enough to be a prototype for the new-and-improved G.I. Joe action figure.

Okay, so she’d been aware he was hot—a hot angel—but her previously muddled and abused mind hadn’t fully registered he was this hot.

“Well, lucky you.” Gigi waggled her eyebrows at Ivy. They stood at the front door as Gigi waited for Todd to get his suitcase.

A sense of overwhelm dried Ivy’s throat. She’d wanted to see Rami again. Craved it. But now that he was here—because of events she’d put into motion—trepidation had her wanting to turn and run. Just what exactly was she supposed to do with all that macho manliness?

“This is your doing.” Ivy shook her head as Rami and his chiseled jaw approached.

“You can thank me later,” Gigi said with a wink. “And FYI you look hot.”

Ivy tried not to groan. Gigi had convinced her to wear a brown floral, airy maxi dress. The thin straps swooped down to expose just beneath her collarbone, and the tiny white flower pattern was super pretty. But right now, she felt like she was trying too hard.

Was she? She hadn’t protested much when Gigi had practically shoved the material over Ivy’s head. Rami walked up the steps and her tummy swirled with excitement. Too late to change now.

“All set.” Todd carried his suitcase down the stairs. His wire-rimmed glasses sat high on his nose and his brown hair was combed back neatly from his face. As always, he looked dapper. He wore a light-gray suit and blue-checkered dress shirt. He screamed high-powered attorney without even trying.

He brought an arm around Gigi and she smiled up at him. Todd was the opposite of Rami in many ways. Though attractive, he lacked the ferocious demeanor, tattoos, and hot-as-hell scowl.

Todd gave Ivy a sympathetic smile. “You sure you’ll be okay?”

Rami knocked on the door and every bone in Ivy’s body stiffened. “Yeah. I’ll be fine.”

Gigi stepped out of Todd’s embrace to swing open the front door. “Hiya. Thanks for coming. Come in.”

Her sister’s enthusiasm made Ivy want to gag.

“No problem.” He strode into the foyer and set down a red duffel bag.

Gigi quickly went over the security system details and gave him the code for the garage while Rami clearly only half listened. He seemed far more intent on drilling Ivy with his heated gaze.

After a bone-crushing squeeze from Gigi, Ivy was alone with Rami.

He scratched his head. “Wanna show me around? It’s best I have a good feel of the layout for security purposes.”

“Sure.” She led him through the main level then gave him a tour of the second floor. He checked every exterior door, including the one leading to the balcony of the primary bedroom upstairs and the patio door leading outside from Ivy’s room.

“Be sure to keep these locked.”

She leaned against a patio door and glanced outside at the warm early-summer day. “Do you think I’m still in danger?”

He shook his head. “Very unlikely.” He stood two feet away, yet the energy coming from his body collided with hers and seemed to want to suck her in like a vacuum. “So, what’s the plan over the next few days?”

She lifted a shoulder. Keeping busy would be best. Idle hands would get her into trouble. And Rami was dripping with trouble.

She needed his trouble like she needed a hole in the head.

“I’m moving into my sister’s guesthouse.” She pointed through the glass to the eight-hundred-square-foot cottage nestled behind a row of cedars beyond the pool.

He moved close, his chest falling directly behind her shoulder. His aroma surrounded her, invading her senses. Leather and soap and the scent of rain made her want to pull his mouth to hers.

He leaned to look at where she was pointing. “Hmm.”

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