Page 22 of The Playboy's Playbook

I smile at them just as they notice me. Clay smiles back and runs up, hugging my legs tightly. I gently hug him back, running a hand gently over the top of his head.

“Nice to see you again, ma’am!” Clay beams at me and it’s impossible not to fall in love with him.

“Nice to see you again, Clay,” I answer.

“Are you my Uncle Matty’s girlfriend?” he asks.

I shake my head. “No, I’m just his…friend. I brought a friend of mine who I think you would enjoy playing with.”

Clay’s eyes light up and he jumps even harder. “Who? Who? Who? Tell me!” he shouts excitedly.

I take Nola from Matthew, much to her dismay, and I bend back down to show her to the kids. “This is my puppy, Nola.”

“Our daddy won’t let us have a puppy,” Clay says.

“Yeah, he’s scared of puppies,” the smaller one follows up.

“Well, Nola is super playful and if you promise to be kind and gentle with her, I’m sure your Uncle Matty will let you play with her outside.” I look up at Matthew and he smiles down at me.

Both of the boys suddenly calm down and Clay looks at Matthew, his blue eyes wide and pleading. “We promise to be good with the puppy, Uncle Matty.”

Matthew smiles and nods. “Take her to the backyard. The first time I see or hear you boys being rough, you’re in trouble. Understood?” Matthew looks at the boys seriously, almost father-like.

“Yes, sir,” the boys respond in unison.

I give Nola to Clay and both of the boys walk slowly to the backdoor. Once they set Nola down, all three of them start running around the grassy area of the backyard. I return to my full height and look over to see Matthew smiling proudly at the boys playing outside.

“Uncle Matty?” I ask curiously. Clay called him that at the rodeo, but I was too stunned to even question it.

“This is my friend Luke’s house and those are his sons. Clay is the oldest. The younger one is Jen and he’s nothing but trouble. I’d stay away from him,” Matthew says, a small spark coming to his eyes as he talks about the boys. “I’ve been around since they were born, so I’ve always been Uncle Matty. They think Luke and I are brothers,” he laments.

“You’re good with them,” I praise, meaning every word. Matthew turns his gaze to me and the same firestorm that was raging in them last week is back.

“Yo, dipshit! Food’s ready. And why the hell do my kids have a dog?” a heavy voice sounds, followed by heavier footsteps, as the backdoor slides open.

Matthew closes his eyes and shakes his head. “I’m so sorry about him. I asked him to be on his best behavior.”

I wave him off. “I’m used to a best friend being on anything except their best behavior, trust me.”

A man about Matthew’s height comes around the corner and I’m assuming he’s Luke. He looks just like Clay with blue eyes and curly brown hair. Once he notices me standing there, he smiles sheepishly, embarrassed by his word choice.

“Hi, I’m Luke,” he says, extending his hand.

I happily step forward and shake his hand. “I’m Laila.”

Matthew steps closer behind me, placing his hand on my lower back. “Does Nola have a food and water bowl?” he asks, looking down at me.

At a loss of words at the feel of his hand on me, I simply nod and pass him Nola’s puppy bag with all of her things in it. He takes it from me, his eyes not leaving mine. Matthew walks outside, leaving Luke and I alone in the kitchen.

“You rattle the kid, you know,” Luke says, crossing his arms over his chest, a smug smile on his face.

Snapping back to reality, I shake my head. “I’m sorry? I don’t get what you mean.”

Luke lets out a hefty chuckle. “Trust me, you rattle him. Come on, let’s go outside before my kids try to shove a rib down your dog’s throat. Matty says you don’t eat beef or pork, so he grilled chicken and set it aside for you.”

While we make our way outside, I take a look around his house and notice how clean it is for having two young kids. Not a pillow out of place or a dust bunny in sight. Aside from the toys on the front porch, I wouldn’t have guessed that children lived here. There’s several pictures of Luke and his sons, even a few with Matthew, but none with a woman.

Luke slides the backdoor open, letting me step outside first. His backyard is huge and fit for someone with kids. To the left, there’s a pool with a slide and to the right, there’s a playset covered by a huge shade tree where the boys and Nola are. Clay and Jen are trying to get Nola to sit, but Nola is of course being her typical self and refusing to listen.

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