Free Temporary Home by Aliyah Burke Page B

table.
    How she knew, he didn’t know and couldn’t explain. What he did know was he was upset with the interruption. He walked out only to re-enter the kitchen and kiss Roxi until her curves sank into him. If he’d thought his cock was hard before, it was nothing compared to right now. Roxi’s gaze was glazed and he couldn’t help the arrogant smirk he felt flash across his face. He headed for the door, untucking his shirt as he went. He opened it to find Roxi had been correct. It was Laila.
    “Hey, Sam.”
    He ran his gaze over her. “Laila.”
    She stared at him before launching herself into his arms. He caught her instinctively and held her close. Backing up, he closed the door on the cold, rainy night. A sound from behind him had him turning his head. Roxi stood there watching the two of them before she disappeared down the hall.
    Damn it!
    Setting Laila away from him, he then led her to the sofa. She didn’t give him any room, just clung to him crying. He was out of his league. Crying women weren’t anything he’d had extensive experience with. But this was Laila. His sister in every way that mattered.
    “Is it Dean?” he asked with trepidation.
    She shook her head against his shoulder and relief swamped him. One thing off the list.
    “Is it money?”
    “No.” Her single word was muffled by his chest.
    “Laila. Tell me. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what the problem is.”
    The woman in his arms hugged him tighter. He thought back to the first day they’d met. Laila burrowed closer.
    “Do you remember the day we met? Dean brought me with him to your house. You and your mom had been baking all day.” He drew back and smoothed her hair away from red, puffy, teary eyes. “Your hair was in pigtails and you had flour on your nose, as well as all over your apron.”
    As he’d hoped, she cracked a smile at the memory. “You were surly.”
    Surly was putting it mildly. Dean had picked him up from the home saying he had a surprise for him. They’d ended up at Laila’s house. It was really Dean’s birthday celebration but he’d made the day about the kids. Still, as the odd child who’d been tossed about so often, he hadn’t been able to let down his guard. Terrance and Lenore Atkins had never seemed put off by his attitude and had welcomed him into their home with the same enthusiasm as they had Dean. Their sole daughter had been another story entirely.
    “You punched me in the nose,” he reminded her.
    “You laughed at me.”
    He nodded. “I did.” A deep breath. “What’s wrong, Laila?”
    “Do you like Roxi?”
    He wondered where this was going. “Yes. She’s a very nice person.” And oh so responsive to me in bed.
    His cock twitched at the thought and he forced himself to remain focused on Laila.
    “I see the way you watch her, Sam.”
    This time he did set her away from him. “What are you talking about, Laila?”
    She played with her necklace and refused to meet his gaze. “You stare at her with hunger in your eyes. Have you slept with her?”
    He shook his head. “Oh, no. I’m not having this conversation with you, Laila. I don’t know what’s bothering you, but you’re not about to come over here and start that kind of stuff.” Shifting so he faced her on the couch, he rested one arm along the back. “Roxi is a very beautiful woman, I’m not a blind man, Laila. I see her appeal.”
    “You like her.” This time it wasn’t a question.
    “Let’s say I do, Laila. So what?”
    She chewed on her lower lip for a minute. “She told me to kick Dean and the others out of the house. That you’re more my family that he is. I got so mad at her, I told her she couldn’t possibly know what it was like to lose her parents and not have family.”
    He stiffened at the mention of Dean Jr but kept his mouth shut about him. “You know that wasn’t nice, Laila. You have family. You know I’m always here for you, you know that, right? Now, you have Dean and his brothers as