Page 51 of Guarding My Love

She started to laugh. “What was white? His shirt or pants?”

“Shorts,” he said. “And white leather shoes with no socks.”

“I hate that look,” she said. “I used to try to gently urge him to wear something else and he’d tell me I had no style. That it came from having no class or money like him.”

He snorted. “If money buys you that style, you’re better off.”

West wouldn’t be caught dead in anything like Landon was wearing.

His brother had his suits that cost more than rent in Manhattan that he wore when he needed to, but most times he was laid back and casual.

There would always be an air of power behind West. One that Foster tried to emulate and it never worked.

Foster showed his power with his anger and that had been worse.

Thankfully that was in his youth and well behind him.

“I’m better off now in general,” she said. Her hand started to move down between his legs.

“Is that all you wanted to talk about?” he asked. “I’d like to get it out of the way before we move on to other matters.”

Her hand stopped moving and he wanted to kick himself for doing that.

“What is it we’ve got here?” she asked. “I know I came onto you and asked for this, but I’m not a friends-with-benefits type of person either.”

“I don’t know what we’ve got,” he admitted. “What is it you want? A commitment?”

“I told myself I wasn’t going to get involved with anyone for a year,” she said.

“How long has it been?” he asked.

“A little over nine months,” she said. “I can’t even stick to my own goals.”

“Goals are there to aim for, but would you want to push something off or away to stick to a timeline that you just pulled out of the air?”

“You’re right,” she said. “I like this thing we’ve got even if I don’t know what it is. I guess I need to know there is no one else. I don’t do well with cheaters and liars. I’ve had enough people in my life play me or lead me along. I want someone to be honest with me.”

He hadn’t lied to her once. He just didn’t give her everything.

That is how he was justifying things.

“I like what we’ve got too,” he said. “I’m on the slow end. There are no other women in my life. You’d know if there was. You’re on my property enough.”

“I told Amanda that when she asked.”

Which meant she’d been thinking about him about as much as he’d been thinking of her.

“I don’t believe there are any other men in your life,” he said. “Other than your ex that won’t leave you alone.”

“No one,” she said. “I showed you the texts that were one-sided. I should block him. I’m going to.”

“Don’t,” he said.

“Why?” she asked.

“Sometimes it’s better to have a trail. If you’re okay ignoring him, just continue to do it.”

“A trail for what?” she asked.

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