There are red smudges all over my hands and arms after frantically wiping the message, I'm watching you slut, off my windshield. Kyle had to tear me away as tears filled my eyes while I angrily smeared the letters into an illegible stain across the glass. Now, pedestrians stare since I must have put on a hell of a show hyperventilating in Kyle's arms. He leaves my side to ask if any of them saw who defaced my car, but none of them did. So, he proceeds to ask in the surrounding businesses.

Meanwhile, I sit on the curb crying. Who would do this? I'm not sure if I should call the cops or just drive home, but my body knows what to do as my fingers scroll for Enzo's number, and dial. 

"I'm not far from there," he says as soon as I explain what happened. "I'm heading over now. It's going to be ok, Mara." 

The cascade of tears flowing down my cheeks slows to a trickle from the soothing sound of his voice, and I exhale a breath when we end the call.

It doesn't take long for my Knight in Shining Armor to arrive, and his driver, Charlie, double parks in the street as if Enzo can't wait to get to me. The car isn't even completely stopped when he opens the door and steps out. I sprint over and throw my arms around him with a cry of relief. He squeezes me tight.

"We'll get this sorted, don't worry," he whispers.

"But the car. You just bought it."

"I don't care about the car." He cups my face and wipes my tears with his thumbs. "Are you ok?" 

"Mara," Kyle says behind me. "Who's this?"

In hindsight, I should have called my brother, because now my two worlds are colliding and I'm full of regret as I turn to face him. His jaw is tense, but there is also a shadow of hurt in his eyes. Instead of relying on him, I called another man for help.

"This is my friend, Enzo Esposito," I say.

"Hi..." He steps forward. "I'm Kyle Cameron." He holds out his hand and Enzo shakes it.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Kyle."

"How do you two know each other?" He asks, but Enzo's gaze shifts to me, so I clear my throat.

"From Penthouse," I say.

"I see..." Kyle's hand goes to my lower back, and it almost feels possessive. "Well, none of the businesses have security cameras facing this way, so we're out of luck as far as surveillance footage goes." 

"That shouldn't be a problem," Enzo says, his thumbs rapidly swiping across his phone's screen. "I'll get to the bottom of it. Carmine's son, Mario, works for SFPD. He'll help us if I ask."

"Thank you," I say.

"Well, isn't that kind of you," Kyle grunts.

"I want to get your car over to the shop to fix the window, and I want Bishop to keep an eye on you, too."

"Bishop?" I ask.

"Carmine's daughter Noelle. She used to be in the military. She won't mind looking after you."

"I don't need a bodyguard, Enzo."

"Yes, you do. First, you get mugged, and now this. I'm afraid whoever is behind this is just getting started."

I suck in a breath. "Do you really think so?" 

"Let's not scare the girl." Kyle weaves his arm around my waist, pulling me into his side. I stiffen. "She's already terrified."

Enzo is still texting on his phone, but his eyes shift ever so slightly to study Kyle holding me. I internally cringe and want to wriggle free. 

"Better to be safe, than sorry," he says, and tucks his phone back into his inner breast pocket, then looks directly into Kyle's eyes. "I won't take any chances when it comes to Mara. I want her safe. You should, too."

"Of course, I do," Kyle huffs.

"Glad to hear it." Enzo's gaze returns to me and he gently brushes away a stray tear with his thumb. "Time in Vegas will be good for you." 

"Vegas?" Kyle says.

"Uh, yeah. This weekend." I smile nervously. 

"My family has a resort in Vegas. You should have told me. I can arrange a penthouse suite for you and your friends, Mara."

"She's not going with her friends. She's going with me on a business trip," Enzo says.

"Business trip?" Kyle's jaw nearly drops.

"Yes." Enzo nods and focuses back on me. "Anyway, Mara, would you like Charlie to give you a ride home while I take care of your car?"

"I'll take her home," Kyle says, and practically pounds his chest. "After all, we did come here on a date."

Enzo's attention darts back to him, and for a second there's a flash of irritation, but then he pats Kyle's shoulder. "Then you should make sure she gets there safely." 

"Of course, Old Sport."

The two of them glare at each other, and the tension is as palpable as two rams locking horns, fighting for dominance. I nudge my way between them.

"I'm tired. I'd like to go home."

"Right." Enzo shakes his head and steps back as if coming out of an ego-filled trance, but Kyle doesn't budge. "I'll keep you posted about your car. Now go on. Get home safely."

"Thank you." I hug him, and Enzo whispers against my temple.

"Be careful."

On the walk to Kyle's car, he reaches for my hand, but I dodge the attempt by nonchalantly pulling my curls into a ponytail. It was already awkward having Kyle's arm hooked around my waist as if to show Enzo I'm his. So, the last thing I want is to stroll away holding hands in front of him.

For the first few minutes, the ride home is silent, but then Kyle begins squeezing the steering wheel at a stop light. 

"So, how do you know that man again?"

"From the club," I say.

"Yeah, but how did you get to a point where you feel comfortable calling him to your rescue?" 

"We just... became friends." I shrug.

"So, what is he, a father figure to you since your dad has dementia?" 

"Excuse me?"

"That came out wrong." He shakes his head but is still gripping the steering wheel. "I guess I don't understand how a sixty-year-old man you met at the club, is coming to your rescue."

"Enzo is fifty and is a good guy. That's all." 

"I've seen him, you know. At Penthouse. He's a high roller. Sits in the VIP section."

"And?"

"And... young girl." He teeters his hands like a scale. "Old man with money..."

"What are you getting at?"

We reach another red light, and Kyle shifts the gear into park, then turns to me. "Listen, Mara, I know we're not exclusive so I have no right to get territorial—"

"Exactly."

"I just don't want him to take advantage of you. Men like him flash their money so girls like you become attracted to them."

"Girls like me?" I laugh. "And what kind of girl am I?"

"Oh, come on. You know what I mean. Young, sweet, impressionable." He strokes my cheek.  "Next thing you know, a man like Enzo is demanding you do things for him, and because he's been so generous, you feel obligated to say yes. For all we know, he did that to your car so he could come to your rescue, and make you believe he's a hero. Like some sick mind game."

"Don't be absurd," I laugh.

"How did he get there so fast? Was he somewhere watching us and getting off on it?"

"Ok, now you're really being absurd!"

"All I'm saying is, be careful. It happened to my sister when she was younger, when an older man became obsessed with her, and it almost destroyed her. I don't want that for you."

I furrow my brows. "You have a sister?"

"Yeah. She's older than me."

I shake my head. "Why is this the first time you've mentioned her?"

"I've mentioned her before."

"No, you haven't."

Kyle crisscrosses his hands. "We're getting off track. The point is, be careful with Enzo Esposito. Don't let him use you." 

"Enzo isn't like that. He's a good man." I roll my eyes. "Besides, if you're jealous, just say that."

"I am jealous," Kyle laughs. "Come on, Mara, look at you. I'd be a fool not to be crazy about you."

"Well, you have nothing to be jealous about because Enzo and I are just friends. We have never hooked up."

"Never?"

"Never."

Leaning across the armrest, Kyle turns my face in his direction to look me in the eyes. "Good because I haven't hooked up with anyone else either." He caresses my nose with his. "I like you, Mara. A lot."

My stomach twists. I would be a liar if I said I didn't like him too, but my gut says something is off. Kyle is about to kiss me until someone behind us honks the horn. The light has turned green and the surrounding cars proceed through the intersection, except for us.

"Alright, alright," he groans, shifting the gear back into drive as the person continues to lay on their horn.

When we arrive at my parent's house, my mother is outside, gathering bags of groceries from the trunk of her car. Something inside me twists. I don't want her to see Kyle, but it's too late. She stops what she's doing and squints her eyes in our direction, then recognition spreads across her face. 

"That's a lot of bags," Kyle says, unbuckling his seat belt. "I bet she needs help."

"Wait—"

But he steps out of the car before I can properly object, so I have no choice but to step out too since I can't remain in this Subaru forever.

"Need a hand Mrs. Santiago?" he asks.

"Sure." My mother hands him a couple of bags, but he laughs and begins gathering all of them. 

"I've got this," he says, his arms full with groceries.

"Mara, quien es éste muchacho?" she whispers, wanting to know who Kyle is when I hug her.

"Un... amigo."

"Amigo?" My mom looks over her shoulder as we walk to the front door, the solar lights illuminating the path. "What kind of friend?"

"A friend, friend," I whisper-hiss.

"Como se llama?"

"Kyle."

My mom grins, and says, "Kyle, you have lovely manners. Thank you for helping."

The three of us enter the house, and part of me wants to tell him to hand me the bags and remain outside since it's too soon to come into my home, where I grew up. It's too intimate, and I don't want my parents to get the wrong idea.

"You have a beautiful home," he says as my mom directs him to the kitchen. 

My dad is in the living room watching an old Western movie, so I give him a warm hug and kiss his cheek. He blinks a few times when he looks at me, uncertainty in his eyes, but then he finally cups my cheek and smiles.

"Mi muñequita," he says.

If only I could hold onto moments like these forever. I give him another hug and squeeze because he remembers me today. For a second, I even forget Kyle is here, but my mom is too excited by the prospect of him being my boyfriend. She bounces over, all smiles with her arm linked through Kyle's.

"Mi Amor, this is Mara's amigito."

"Josh!" My dad stands, smoothing down his shirt with a smile. "Where have you been?"

"No, Dad. Josh and I broke up. This is Kyle."

"Oh..." He wrinkles his brows. "But what happened to Josh? We were supposed to go fishing."

"Dad." My heart sinks. "You did go fishing with him. Several months ago." 

"Oh..." He looks down, confused.

"It's ok." I squeeze his shoulder. 

"Kyle." My mom claps her hands in excitement. "You should come over for dinner next weekend. It's the anniversary of me being declared cancer-free, so I'm making a big feast!"

"You're cooking all by yourself?" he says.

"I'll have some help from the girls."

"Well, I love to cook, and I would love to help," Kyle says which causes my mom's eyes to brighten as her gaze flicks to me.

"I would love that!" she gushes.

But I wouldn't, and my stomach completely plummets. The woman means well, and I don't blame her for being excited about me having a new handsome man in my life after she witnessed the heartache Josh put me through. However, she's pushing something on me that I'm not sure I want. 

If it were Enzo...

I spot Lydia spying on us across the room in the hallway. She ducks away, but I don't miss the judgmental look on her face. My sister barely speaks a word to me these days after that night at the hospital, and I oddly miss her scolding. So, I excuse myself and go after her. She's halfway up the stairs when I call out her name, and she freezes.

"Can we talk?" I say.

"About?" She glances over her shoulder.

"About... us." I hike up the steps. "You can't keep ignoring me."

"I guess I just have nothing to say." She shrugs, but still won't look at me.

"Lydia, please." I take her hand. "Can you at least look at me? You're acting like I'm doing porn on OnlyFans or something. I've done nothing wrong."

She finally turns around and folds her arms. "I saw the Mini Cooper. Clearly, you're doing more than just accompanying Enzo to events if he's buying you things like expensive cars."

"He bought it to protect me. So I don't have to take public transportation at night anymore." 

"Yeah, ok." Lydia nods, but it's clear in her tone she thinks it's bullshit.

"It's true. I didn't have sex for it."

"Right."

"I didn't!"

"And who's this guy?" She motions toward the living room. "Another rich playboy paying you to be his companion. You should be ashamed of bringing him around here. It's disgusting, Mara." 

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me. If you want to be a glammed-up Sugar Baby, go right ahead, but don't bring that shit here under Mom and Dad's roof, where my kids live. Go be a whore somewhere else!"

"Lydia..." I suck in a breath, but she turns her back on me and walks up the remainder of the steps.

How can she think and believe such awful things about me? I know being paid to be Enzo's date is taboo, but I'm not doing anything wrong. They're just dates. Tears sting my eyes, so I take another deep breath to collect myself and go back into the living room, where I pretend not to be hurt by my own sister's words.