Page 11 of Guarded

Not when I’ve already noticed the way multiple women stared at him when we walked in. Their mouths wide open and eyes caught in a trance. He was the epitome of the bad boy they craved.

The leather vest gave him the edge, the steel-toed boots went with his confident strides, and the jeans. God, those jeans were so tight on his ass. I refuse to sneak another peek. Instead, I take a deep breath and walk down the cookie aisle. I grab an off-brand package of iced oatmeal cookies and throw them into the cart.

“Those look full of GMOs.” Nero teases.

I roll my eyes.

Judge and thoust be judgedth or whatever Jesus said.

“I haven’t had a complaint about my body either.” I declare with the sweetest smile I can muster up.

I immediately regret the words because the look he gives me sends heat rising to my cheeks. My eyes follow his, down to my pink Nikes, over my bare legs, jeans shorts, and the casual pink button-up I paired with a pink Dodgers cap.

My breathing is on the verge of shattering when his dark eyes return to mine.

“I would have to agree. The gym is suiting you well.” He says before grabbing the cart and moving down the aisle.

His words leave me baffled andwarm.

Attention shoppers, clean up in aisle five.

I can’t help wanting to cry over a simple compliment. Was it even a compliment, or am I just that desperate for attention?

It was something about the way he lowered his voice to say it. Like he knew, the words would instantly bring a head rush of dopamine.

I don’t even know how to react to it. He exits the aisle before I can even mumble a thank you. I wipe the stupid smile off my face and follow him to the next aisle.

We finish up our list, saving the bouquet of pink carnations for last. I walk to the checkout counter and place a divider between all my stuff and Nero’s two items. He reaches down and removes the divider. I look up, confused.

“You made all the meals this last week. I got it.”

“Are you sure?” I ask.

It’s not that I feel uncomfortable with men paying for things. I just don’t expect it.

“It’s not a problem, Ariella.”

I swallow and nod slowly. I’m broke as hell and could use the money to get a manicure since Axel convinced my parents to cut me off.

I don’t mind being Nero’s charity case for the day. Not when a bitch is balling on a budget.

Moving around him, I begin to bag the groceries in my reusable pink bags. I hear the cashier laughing at something Nero said. My brows furrow, and I look back down.

Eavesdropping, I listen as the woman in her mid-forties talks to him in Spanish. He responds with an authentic accent I could only dream of having.

“Que les vaya bien.”She says, giving Nero his change.

“Igualmente.” he replies.

Nero flashes her a smile before walking past me with the cart.

“El Valiente Caliente.” I tease, following behind him.

His lips tip at the corner. I open the car to my Lexus and flop into the passenger seat, pulling out a bag of cookies from my purse and taking a bite. Nero puts the groceries in the trunk and then takes his place behind the wheel.

“I didn’t know you were so smooth with the ladies. Where did you learn to speak Spanish?” I ask.

“My mom.” He says dryly.

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