Page 40 of Rami

“It’s empty right now. Gigi said I can start taking things over if I want and—” She tilted her head back, which was a mistake. Rami’s crystal eyes rivaled the clearest tropical seas. “And, uh,” she stammered. “Since you have a truck,” she said, managing to regain the use of her tongue, “I could probably get a good chunk of things over.”

“Sure, if that’s what you want.”

No, I want you to spread me out on that bed and devour me.

She nodded, not speaking the words that taunted her.

He glanced at his watch. “I guess we’ve got all day. We can head to your apartment and then pick up lunch on the way back.”

She followed him out of the house and locked up with the set of keys Todd had given her. Rami opened the passenger door of his truck.

She cocked an eyebrow as the sweet scent of spruce air freshener wafted from the black interior. “Nice truck. Little big?” She’d have to use the side bar to get into the vehicle.

“Thanks. Just bought it last month and lifted ’er up six inches. The extended cab is handy.” His words rang with pride.

“Is this bulletproof, too?” she asked, as she climbed in.

“Nope. This one’s for personal use.” He shut her door and rounded the vehicle then got in the driver’s seat.

She gave him the address of her apartment building and he rolled out of the driveway. Twenty minutes later he pulled into her spot in the underground parking garage. After Ivy had been kidnapped, Gigi had arranged for Ivy’s car to be driven to her house and stored in the garage. So the space where Ivy’s clunker was usually parked was wide open.

In the elevator, Ivy tried valiantly not to make silly small talk—but god, dude was hella quiet. Did he not want to be her security detail? Had Gigi backed him into a corner?

She’d be mortified.

Once they reached the fourth floor, she went down the hall and unlocked apartment432. The day after she got back, she’d had to get a new set of keys from her landlord and had been inside only to collect some of her clothes.

She pushed open the front door, waited for Rami to enter behind her, and then flicked the lock into place. The scent of thieves essential oil hung in the air of the small space. She loved using her diffusers. The breakfast bar in the eat-in kitchen held her tea mug, but other than that the white laminate counter was free of clutter.

“Nice place,” he said. “Just the one bedroom?”

“Yup. I only need one.” She went to the living room, where Gigi had dropped a stack of flattened boxes and some packing tape.

“Where should I start?” He folded open one of the cardboard boxes. The tape gun screamed while he secured the bottom.

She tapped her lip and glanced around while he shaped a few more boxes. It was hard to imagine not coming back here. But the only thing worse than moving out would be living alone. “Um, kitchen?”

“’Kay.” Rami busied himself packing her dishes while she took a cardboard box into the bedroom.

As she folded up her bedding, her gaze drifted to the large window that overlooked a green space. She always kept her curtains open because she loved the view of the trees and grass. She might have a fancy backyard to admire from Gigi’s guesthouse, but this view was hers.

She floated to the window and tears rushed to her eyes. A few weeks ago, she’d been ready to get on some dating sites. Had hoped to settle down with someone to share her life with, maybe get a dog. And now she was moving in with her sister, who in a couple of months would be a newlywed.

“Everything okay?” Rami said, coming up behind her. Close. So close.

She turned, bringing herself to face his watchful gaze. She leaned back against the wide window ledge that held her favorite snake plant—the only one she’d managed to keep alive.

Sinking her teeth into her bottom lip, she nodded. “Yeah, why?”

He braced his hand on the window ledge, boxing her in. “You seem sad.”

She lowered her gaze because looking into his searing depths would tempt her to spill every heartache she’d ever endured.

Why does he have that effect on me?

“I guess it’s tough. Leaving my apartment.” She swept her gaze over the cream-and-purple-hued room. “I love it here.”

“Then why are you moving?”

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