Finally, he understood. She didn’t want to weep in front of him, but trying to hold back made her cry harder. “Yes.”
Trees pulled her into his lap and gripped her chin until she met his gaze. “I’m here for you, little one. I know I’m not your sister. I know you want to see her, and I don’t blame you. But it’s not safe. Once it is, I’ll take you to her myself. But until that day comes, I’m here and I won’t let anything come between us. Do you hear me?”
She still didn’t trust him completely, but he was all she had in the world right now. And he seemed determined to take care of her in a way only her sister had ever tried to. “I do.”
He released her chin and kissed her forehead before he dragged her bowl across the table. “Good. Eat up.”
Then he fed her patiently, one heaping bite at a time. Taking food from his hand was so intimate and oddly comforting. She followed the stew with a bottle of water. Once her bowl was empty and her stomach sated, her lids felt heavy. It took all her will not to lean against his reassuring strength, cuddle into his warmth, and drift off.
“You’re tired. I’ll do the dishes.”
“No.” She leapt to her feet. “We made an agreement. I will uphold my end of the bargain.”
“You don’t have to. I won’t demand anything from you.”
She almost believed him. “I will still do them, as I promised.”
As she cleared the table and made her way to the sink, his phone dinged. He glanced at it with a curse, then shoved it in his pocket. “I have, um…a friend dropping by. Why don’t you rest in your room? I’ll finish this.”
“I told you. Because it is my responsibility—”
“I need to talk to her alone.”
Her. Laila’s heart stuttered. A girlfriend? A lover? Everything inside her balked, and that fact stunned her. She should be happy if he gave another woman his attention and desire. She didn’t want either.
Deep down, she feared that was a lie.
“Leave the dishes. I will finish them after she leaves.” But what if she didn’t tonight? The thought of this unnamed “friend” spending the night shot a hole in Laila’s chest. “Or tomorrow.”
“All right.”
It was a good time to put distance between them and figure out why what this man did with another woman mattered. Why was she having feelings for him?
But her feet didn’t want to move.
“Laila—” His phone beeped in warning, interrupting him. “Fuck.” He punched in a code, then hit the screen a few times. Headlights flashed through the living room windows, which overlooked the front of the house. Then a little sedan came to a stop and a stylish brunette with a fresh balayage stepped out, wearing a trendy blue sweater and jeans that respectably covered every inch of her legs. Slim leather boots with chunky heels and a designer purse completed the look.
She was pretty, put together, and refined. Of course Trees wanted someone like her.
“I…will go.”
Trees looked at her like he wanted to say something, but the woman knocked on the door, breaking the moment. “Thanks.”
Every footfall felt heavy as she headed to the bedroom Trees had provided her and shut the door—mostly. She should not want to eavesdrop. It was nosy. It was rude. It was wrong.
But she couldn’t help it.
Was this jealousy?
“Hi, Madison. Come in.”
“Hi, big guy,” the woman said with a sweet, soft Southern drawl.
Laila told herself not to, but she cracked her door a bit wider to peek at the two. Trees hugged the woman with familiarity, resting his chin on her head. She laid her cheek on his chest and closed her eyes with a smile.
Something ugly speared Laila. It very much felt like jealousy.
When had she started caring about Trees?
After he pulled away, Madison smiled up at him with obvious fondness. “I brought your key back.”
She dropped it in his outstretched palm, and he pocketed it. “Thank you for looking after the house and the dog while I was gone. I owe you.”
“You don’t. I’m always happy to help. You know that, right?”
Was Madison flirting?
“You’re a sweetheart. Did Barney behave himself?”
“He always does because he’s a good boy. He scarfed up all his food in nothing flat every night and loved the scratches behind his ears.”
Trees laughed, then opened the front door again. A big black dog with brown jowls and happy eyes barked at Madison before planting in front of her with a whine. “He likes you.”
She shot Trees a teasing stare. “Barney always lets me know he’s happy to see me. You…I have to guess about sometimes.”
He forced a laugh. “Would you like a drink? You hungry?”
“No. I’m fine. I know you just got home, so I won’t keep you.” She petted the big dog, and he wagged his tail. “I just got off work anyway, and I need to stop off and check on Daddy.”