man trafficking pipelines. She has faced murders in broken warehouses, risking it all to reduce the restless crime. Yet not even the bruises prepared her for this- a hosepipe sto

ch profit always visits the store for the figures. Hosepipes, pressure fittings, water valves but nothing illegal on the books. No known shipments abroad, no flagged suppliers. "This i

nd went inside the store. As soon as she opened the door she stumbled upon a tall man who entered the store, addressing the workers. And by that moment, she knew he was the manager of the store. The man was wearing simple clothes-a grey T-shirt stretched across a well -built chest, dark jeans rolled slightly at the ankles. His skin was sun warmed olive, his arms strong, with veins like roots beneath smooth skin. His face was sharp and deliberate, the kind you'd expect on a man used to con

Luca dismissed the meeti

ith a deep voice but gentle.

uncomfortab

looking for irrigation

hat it is as beautiful as your

ust waiting patiently for

, he extended his arm to reach for t

f. My name is Luca Everett, and

dly, "Maya Carter. Do

ew up in this place, and I love

ighborhood." She re

u, Maya." Smilin

" She replied wi

e looked at how he moved his hands with so much focus, not in a hurry. Just doing everything in a relaxed manner. Luca confidently asked for her numbers and Maya did no

walk up to her car. He was looking at her perfectly sculpted curves, with a tiny