Page 15 of Laila Manning
“Mrs. Lupold.” I nodded, relaxing my hand near my gun, but not on Laila’s arm. I felt her tense when I responded, and she slid her hand into mine and squeezed like she was on edge. “What can I do for you?”
“Always so formal.” Clarissa Lupold sucked her perfectly white teeth as she eyed me up openly. Her flawlessly curled blonde hair framed every inch of her face, perfectly made up, a picture of polished beauty.
She looked porcelain and perfect for her role as a Senator’s wife because of it all.
But I knew there was a slimy, repulsive creature that lived beneath her perfect appearance.
Clarissa smiled brightly and flicked her bright blue eyes to the figure standing behind me, still clinging to my hand.
“Out for a stroll today, Zeke? Or were you coming over for a visit?” Clarissa tried again, “I hardly ever see you outside of those massive gates. Well,” She paused with a smirk, “besides at special functions, that is.”
I tensed at her thinly veiled statement and scowled at her, which only made her sickly smile deepen.
“Have a nice day, Mrs. Lupold.” I nodded, turning back to the sidewalk, keeping my body in front of Laila’s.
“Oh, I will,” Clarissa called from the window as we walked away. “Until next time.”
Laila’s hand shook in mine as she peeked over her shoulder to where Clarissa’s car started back down the street, pulling into the driveway of the estate Laila had been staring at when I found her.
“Who was that?” Laila whispered as I finally looked down at her, finding those eyes rounded as she stared up at me, fulfilling that sexually deviant side of my soul again.
“No one,” I replied, as my eyes flicked down to her plump lips that were parted in surprise from the entire encounter. “She’s a nobody.”
“She called you Zeke,” Laila whispered, staring up at me while still clutching my hand like she wasn’t even aware that she had touched me. “I’ve only heard Carly and Ellie get to call you Zeke. Every other woman calls you Mr. Evans.”
“Everyone but you.” I reminded her. “You call me Zeke.”
She licked her lips and swallowed, suddenly aware of our closeness and the intensity burning between our bodies. “Why did you block me when you talked to her?”
“I didn’t know who she was at first,” I admitted. “If she were a threat, I needed you behind me to protect you.”
Laila dropped her eyes, staring at my arm before shaking herself free completely, abandoning my hand and creating space between our bodies again. “She’s related to that Senator.” She glanced back down the sidewalk toward the estate again. “The one who lives in that house.”
“She’s his wife.”
“Yet you sleep with her.” She replied instantly and then tensed.
My brows rose in surprise, and my first inclination was to deny it. But something made me want to be honest with her. Perhaps giving honesty would get me honesty.
“I have in the past.” I acknowledged. “How did you know?”
She rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Curse of the trade.” She said, not elaborating, but I knew what she meant.
She could read sexual situations because of her extensive time in the sex work world. Just like Carly could.
But Laila’s experience was never her choice, yet she still gained the same sixth sense from it.
My phone rang in my pocket as I started to respond, interrupting me and destroying the honest moment between us. Looking at the screen, I sighed.
Jed.
Exactly the man I didn’t want to talk to at the moment.
“Thanks for the five minutes,” Laila said, drawing an end to our impromptu friendship as she backed away down the sidewalk. “See ya around.” She smirked a tiny smile. “Zeke.”
I couldn’t resist the smile that burned my cheeks as I shook my head at her brazenness. “Have a good therapy session.” I nodded to the sidewalk, and she tipped her head back and chuckled.
“Mmh. Will do.” She saluted and then turned around and walked away from me. I stood rooted in place, unable to move as she got further down the street before she turned the corner and walked around the block, disappearing completely.
