Page 25 of Guarded

Most of her schooling was paid for, but her living expenses were not, which is why she works here at night.

Aries sun, Gemini moon, and Leo rising. Whatever that means.

She rants like me when she’s passionate about something like why men get to vote about women’s bodies.

I’m making the list as fast as possible to keep up with her rambling when she stops abruptly in front of the lobby elevator. Nero is standing with Jasper and another man I don’t recognize. When he sees me, his eyes zoom in on me, and he stalks toward me.

“Where the hell were you?” he growls.

“See what I mean, 100% most effective birth control. I’ll catch you later. Oh, and that is adorable.” Cooper says, pointing to Guapo in the pink sling around Nero’s torso.

She leaves, and I can’t help but giggle.

“It’s the only way I could get him out of the house,” Nero grumbles.

“Muy Valiente,” I say, leaning down to kiss Guapo’s head.

“Where were you, Ariella?”

“I told you I had a class this morning.” I cross my arms and watch as his scowl turns to realization.

“Shit. I forgot. Why didn’t you wake me?”

“I’m pretty sure your job description doesn’t include aerobics. Plus, it’s your day off.” I shrug.

I’m not sure why he’s making a fuss. He goes to reply but then looks back at Jasper and the other guy. He removes the sling and hands me Guapo. I cuddle him like a little baby, and he licks my cheek.

“Mi amor. Did you miss me?” I say, smothering him with kisses.

Some people were really annoying the way they treated their animals like their children.

Hi, it’s me, I’m people.

“Pobrecito mi baby. Did Mr. Big Scary Man try hurting you?” I say just in time for Nero to hear as he makes his way back to us. He rolls his eyes, but I laugh at my own joke.

“How was the class?” He asks.

“It was good. People actually showed up.” I say.

“I knew they would.” He says before flashing me a quick smile.

It stops me in my tracks because Nero, whatever the fuck his last name is, does not smile. Not like this. This is a rare, never-seen-before smile. My heart does a whole backflip in response because it’s sexy as hell.

It’s not his fake smile, the smug smile, or the cocky smile. No, this one is different. This smile reaches his eyes. The same eyes that lighten in response while a dimple I had no idea existed appears on his left cheek. I swear some child choir starts singing amazing grace in the background. It’s a quick flash of joy, and it’s gone as soon as it appeared.

We stand there staring at each other before he breaks eye contact when he sees something behind me. Before I can turn around to see what brought back his cold, stoic glare, he whips me around and pulls me toward Tres Coronas.

“Nero! What are you doing?”

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