Papers Don't Lie (Lavish Love, #1)

by Maeve Hazel

does often, and his eyes soften when he notices me standing at his doorstep. It doesn’t last long, only until they fall lower and meet the much-naked outfit I have on. His nostrils flare, and I think I’ve upset him for a moment until his green eyes zero in on my breasts, turning darker at the sight.

My panties are almost up when I hear the door opening. “Look—” He suddenly stops, and I freeze with my hands on my hips, still with my back to him. “Fuck,” Kai curses under his breath, and I widen my eyes, covering my breasts even though he can’t see them. “You’re naked.” “Yes!” I hiss, waiting for him to go so I can dress before he tells me whatever he has to say. “So were you two minutes ago.” “Yes, but I don’t look as good as you do in lingerie.” I look at him over my shoulder, not believing his words.

But I swallow mine the moment I see the bulge in his sleeping pants. He seems to notice where my eyes went because his spine straightens and he clears his throat, turning with his back at me.

“I wasn’t embarrassed. My body and eyes were enjoying the view,” he says in a deep voice, and I don’t know why, but his words make a hole in my chest instead of pleasing me.

hair. “I don’t think this is a conversation we should be having. We’re just getting to know each other, and if there’s anything you need to know, it's that yes, I’m very attracted to you.”

“He stumbled upon me when I was waiting at a red light,” I say, mixing the truth with a little of my imagination. There’s no way I’m telling a twelve-year-old that her brother and I met because I was running away from a wedding, and he hit me with his car when all I wanted to do was take my shoes off.

throat, her eyes finding me. If she wants something that’s not boring, then the way we met is definitely not. “He ran me over with his car,” I tell her, tilting my head to the side and tracing my upper lip with my tongue.

Well, that’s one point for me for today. Maybe I’ll eventually win her over. I know why she’s so reluctant toward me. I remember the time Naveah got married and I was utterly jealous that someone was taking her away from me. So it might be the same case for Lacey with her brother.

“Hey.” I find the courage to smile. I remove a strand of hair from her cheek and put it behind her ear. “What happened? You’re shaking.” She sits up, taking my palm in hers, her voice trembling as much as mine.

“Just go back to sleep. We’ll talk when you wake up,” I say, my voice a quiet whisper since that’s all I can get out for now. She furrows her brows, shaking her head. “Are you crazy? I can’t go to sleep while you’re like this.” Esmeray squeezes my palm, caressing it with her thumb afterward. “Please, Kai.”

I always win, Esmeray Hamilton—not Graves. See what I did there? Je sais tout. Remember that when you go to sleep. C.

“Esmeray, you won’t like what I’m going to say,” I tell her, folding the note and putting it back on the nightstand. “But you’re not going to sleep alone again. I’ll be sleeping on the chair. I’m sorry, but I can’t rest if I don’t know you're safe.” I can’t rest anyway.

“It’s not just tonight, Ray. It’s every night for the rest of my life. I’m just going to close the window,” I let her know and walk to the window. I close it and shoot Kendrick a text before sitting down on the chair. “Kai?” she asks from under the blankets. “Yeah?” “You can’t sleep on the chair. Come here.” “I’m fine.” “Please," she mutters, and because I don’t want to agitate her anymore, I do as she says, getting into the bed.

My body is as much as possible glued to the edge, not even one of my limbs touching her. She turns to the side, the distance between us growing and killing me. It’s like if she’s not embedded in my skin, I can’t protect her, and for now, the three feet between us isn’t allowing me to do that.

Esmeray doesn’t say anything anymore, just makes herself comfortable in my hug, growing more relaxed when my hand settles in her hair and caresses it—the same position the light of the morning finds me in, where I didn’t sleep a wink all night, jumping at the slightest sound in the room.

When I woke up five minutes ago, the other part of the bed was empty, and shouts were heard all the way from the first floor. I didn’t like that we went to sleep together and I woke up by myself, but I quickly learn the reason when I hear his voice.

That’s how I end up here at the top of the staircase, trying to get a glimpse of Kai. He’s in the living room, more than twenty people lined up in front of him as he paces side to side, not able to keep his control.

“Do I pay you to sleep when you’re supposed to protect my house and the people inside it?” he asks with a calm I don’t believe he holds. No one says anything; they just shake their heads. “Then where were you when someone broke into my wife’s bedroom?!" he screams, making them flinch. “Where were you?” he screams again. “I’ve always treated you with respect, made sure your working hours weren’t too tiring, and you took advantage of me. Don’...