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He sighed.

“Honesty is good,” Tobias said, stepping forward to stand next to Sampson.

As she’d thought, he was a tiny bit shorter and slightly wider. But they would be a near match for each other.

“This is Tobias,” Sampson told her. “He . . . works for Alejandro.”

Immy’s eyes widened as Sampson hesitated over the word ‘works.’ Did he want to insult the other man?

“Hi, I’m Immy.” She held out her hand.

“I guessed.” He took her hand in his, but instead of shaking it, he just held on. Wow. His hand was warm and slightly rough. She bet his girlfriend really liked holding his hand. She’d feel so . . . safe.

“Sampson! Immy!” Jenner yelled out from upstairs before rushing down them. Immy turned, her hand sliding free of Tobias’s.

Cupcakes.

Why did she like his touch so much?

“What is it?” Sampson barked, grabbing hold of her and pushing her behind him.

“There’re strange men in the yard. Call the cops. Where the fuck is Immy? Wait . . . who’re you?”

Immy peeked around Sampson’s arm to see Jenner gaping at Tobias.

“Tobias. Protection. Those are my men. Don’t call the cops.”

She was beginning to see that Tobias was a man of few words.

That was sexy.

Urgh, Immy. What’s wrong with you?

“Protection? Your men?” Jenner repeated.

“Alejandro sent them,” Sampson explained.

“Uh, right. You know, I’m happy to hire security,” Jenner told Tobias.

Tobias just raised an eyebrow. “Alejandro sent us.”

That was all he said. But she understood. Generally, what Alejandro wanted, he got.

“Okay. Right,” Jenner said.

Poor Jenner. Those guys with Tobias had looked rather scary and out-of-place for the neighborhood. Jenner’s neighbors were kind of snobs. And a bit mean.

“Immy, what are you doing?” Jenner asked her.

“Hmm? Oh, nothing. Sampson keeps shoving me behind him.”

She slid out from behind him to smile at Tobias. “So, welcome to our house. Our place is your place. Only, you guys are staying in the guest house. So our guest house is your house.”

“Thanks.” Tobias smiled at her as though she’d done something cute.

“You smile a lot more than I thought a gangster would,” she told him.

Immediately, Jenner grabbed her and pulled her against him. He placed one hand over her mouth and his arm went around her waist.