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Laine frowned thoughtfully, trying to decide what she should say to hi This was still too hard She should have told hiarden or at the tree; it would have come so much more naturally

“You talk an aame, but you know, I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen you take a risk,” Laine teased, twirling her fingers over his chest hair

“You have to be kidding! You’re the one who plays it safe, cowing to your boss, staying in every night when you could be exploring what they call the City that Never Sleeps”

“I came across an ocean and two continents to decorate your home! I put my job on the line!” Laine pushed her hair back “Do you kno et robbed while people are out of town for a month?”

Aziz shrugged “Okay I suppose you can take a risk or two But I’ot you here”

“Was it really that much of a risk for you? You’d already met me when you made your offer and done all this research on me and my work” Laine propped herself up on her elbows “Really, what did you have to lose? That I ht say no, and you’d have to what? Get another decorator? Pay et me to come?”

“I suppose…”

“And when I think of it,” she said, “you had a bodyguard at our big fountain moment You have all of this et in real trouble if you tried”

Aziz gru his forearms on his knees

“I’ht It’s your turn to take a risk” Laine smiled

“My turn? So this is a ga?”

“I don’t care what it is Invest in an American manufacturer Give Amin a pop the next time he mouths off Date a woman you love for once Get a cat”

Aziz side-eyed her, rose, and crossed his arms as he stared at the Tree of Life Laine looked up at hi the view froument Then he plucked up his clothes and tossed her blouse at her dis for the door

“The rooood work”

Chapter Twelve

Laine felt as though she had been struck Pulling her clothing back on quickly, she scolded herself for trying to push a playboy like Aziz into taking things other than business seriously He lived life for the er than she’d even known hiood