Chapter 5
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I didn’t want my father knowing that I was hanging out with Uno, so I chose to meet him at the restaurant.
The entire way there, my nerves were on ten.
It was true that I didn’t want anything serious with Uno, and I appreciated him inviting me to brunch.
On the way there, however, it dawned on me that I didn’t know a whole lot about him.
The attraction was there for sure, but I didn’t know if I was ready to just bust it open for him.
Trying to be a city girl had me writing checks that my ass probably couldn’t cash.
When I arrived at the restaurant, I pulled up in front of the valet stand, and I saw Uno getting out of a dark grey BMW truck.
It was nice as hell and so was he. Damn Uno was one fine specimen.
After a few bottomless Mimosas, it might not be too hard for him to get in between my legs.
Only time would tell. The valet attendant approached my car, but Uno said something causing him to step back.
I couldn’t hear him, but it was soon obvious that he told the attendant that he’d open my door.
When he did so, I emerged from the car and gave him a genuine smile.
I left the key fob inside the car, so after giving the valet attendant my name and phone number, I followed Uno to the entrance of the restaurant.
He held the door open for me and then went to the hostess stand to give his name since he’d made us a reservation.
We were seated, and I ordered a strawberry Mimosa to drink while he simply got orange juice.
“You’re going to make me feel like a lush drinking alone.”
“Nah, do you. I smoked before I came, and too much too early will have me asleep. When Ace gets out of church, we’re going to find something to get into until it’s time for me to drop him off at home.”
“How many more kids do you want and what do you want?” I propped my chin on my fist and leaned forward ready to hang onto his every word.
“I think I want two more. If not two more than one is okay. I don’t think I could handle mad girls, so if I’m going to stop at two, a girl would be nice. If I have three or more, I want the boys to outnumber the girls. Females are something serious. I’m good on a bunch of daughters.”
I chuckled. “Now that’s stereotypical. Boys can be just as bad if not worse than females.”
“I don’t doubt that. The thing is, if my sons get out of line, I have no problem putting belt to ass. With a girl though,” he shook his head. “All she’ll have to do is pout and poke that bottom lip out, and I’m gon’ fold every time.”
“That’s definitely how my dad is with Kiwi. She can do no wrong in his eyes. So, yeah, stay safe my boy. Have sons.”
Uno laughed as the server set our drinks in front of us. “You funny as fuck. A woman with a sense of humor is a breath of fresh air.
“I do what I can,” I replied with a smile.
The fact that Uno was such an amazing father was sexy as hell to me.
I wasn’t big on praising people for things that should be the norm, but being a single mother made me very appreciative of men that stepped up to the plate and was there for their kids.
From his interaction with Ace to the way he talked about his son, I could tell they had an awesome relationship and once again, I felt a pang of sadness knowing that Kiwi didn’t have that.
And she never would. At least not with her biological father.
“What do you like to do for fun?” Uno questioned after we ordered our food.
“Kiwi and I like going to the movies. We see almost every new movie that comes out that’s age appropriate for her. I’m currently teaching her to skate.”
“Nah,” Uno chuckled and shook his head. “What do you like to do for you? Something that you enjoy that doesn’t have anything to do with you being a mother?”
That was a hard question because my life literally revolved around my child and working.
“I like to read. I love to read actually. I don’t have time to sit and read like I used to, so I listen to a lot of audio books while I do hair.
I used to love to travel, but time doesn’t permit me to do the kind of traveling that I want. ”
Uno gave a curt nod. “Bet. So, next time we hang out, we’re either hopping on a flight, or we’re going to the bookstore.
And yes, I know, you just want to use me for my body, but I’m not going to just bust you down without getting to know you first. I think that would be some rude ass shit,” Uno smirked, and my panties instantly became soaked.
“Are you like this with all the ladies?” I questioned with a hiked brow.
“Nah. Are you like this with all men?”
“Touché asshole. Touché.” I clicked my tongue and finished off my Mimosa while he laughed.
Keeping Uno at arm’s length and only dealing with him on a physical level might prove to be harder than I anticipated.
He was different for sure and not in a bad way.
“I think a bookstore would be the safest bet for now.”
“Bookstore it is then.”
The waitress refilled my Mimosa without me even having to ask, and I knew I was in for trouble.
The more I drank, it was harder to be directly across from Uno and not be aroused.
I wanted him to take me somewhere and lay me down, but I had to respect the fact that he was handling me like a gentleman and not the City Girl I was trying to be.
I wasn’t even sure I was cut out for that life. I wanted a family. More kids…
“You and your father. You care to talk about that?”
“There’s not a lot to talk about. It might look like I give him a hard time, but I really do love him.
My father didn’t just spoil me with material things, he was actively present in my life.
He raised me, and I love him. But as I got older, some of the things I saw they just…
” my voice trailed off, and I looked off to the side.
“I couldn’t be a pampered suburban princess and know how to handle home invasions, jack boys, the police.
All of that was a possibility with the way my father lived.
I was freakin’ thirteen with anxiety. I didn’t want to keep living like that. ”
“I get it. Everything comes with a price. The money is phenomenal, but it comes with risks out the ass. Everyone isn’t built for it, and that’s okay.”
Angling my head to the left, I studied Uno’s gorgeous features. “And you? A woman that wants to be in your life, she’s going to have to deal with the risks?”
Uno’s shoulder hiked. “I mean, I guess so, if we get serious before I leave the game. I don’t put anyone directly around what I do.
I don’t keep anything illegal in my home aside from weed and a gun.
I’m not all out in the open with my shit, but things happen every day that are out of our control.
I could work a regular nine to five and be the victim of a robbery or a home invasion. ”
His comment made me think about the break-in at my home.
“That’s true. Do you see yourself leaving the game anytime soon?
” The server came and set our plates in front of us.
The red velvet waffles I ordered looked amazing, and the chicken appeared to be fried to perfection. My mouth was literally watering.
“I don’t have a definite date but maybe the next six months or so.”
The fact that I felt a sense of joy was insane.
It had to be the Mimosas. Even if Uno left the game in the next few days, that didn’t mean we were going to be anything past friends.
But he was the most decent guy I’d met in forever.
Dating him on a serious level might not be so bad.
He was a great father, financially secure, handsome as fuck, and he was a true gentleman.
Uno may as well have been a Unicorn because I didn’t run into people like him every day.
Letting him slip through my fingers would make me feel like I fumbled him real bad.
The food was delicious and after my fourth Mimosa, I couldn’t stop smiling.
Uno noticed it as he walked me to the valet stand.
“Do I need to call an Uber for you?” he was insanely close to me.
So close that it felt as if his cologne was choking me.
The intense way he peered down into my face had my peach aching for him.
“I’m good to drive.” My heart raced as I stared at his lips. Lips that I wanted to suck on.
“Good. Let me know when you get home.” Uno’s gaze traveled the length of my frame, and my knees buckled. “I’ll call you to set up that trip to the bookstore. Make sure you have a babysitter,” he winked at me before walking toward the valet attendant to tip him for bringing my car around.
I played it cool until I got in my car, and Uno was in his. Taking my hand and fanning myself, I blew out a shaky breath. Yeah, fucking with Mr. Uno had me ready to go home and touch myself. Got damn!
I put in my two weeks’ notice at my job, and I was going to leave thirty hours of PTO on the table if I didn’t use them, so I had taken the day off to view some luxury apartments.
My parents had a pool at their house, but I knew Kiwi would love living in an apartment complex that had a pool.
I would enjoy having access to a gym that didn’t require me to leave home while hoping the machines that I wanted to use weren’t all occupied.
I viewed three apartments, and my favorite was the second one that I saw.
The rent was $2,200 a month for a two bedroom, but I wanted it.
Being that I was going to start working for my father and my salary was going to increase by an insane amount, I would easily be able to afford rent, and my other bills, while still saving to buy a home.
By the time my lease ended, I was determined to have a home of my own for me and my daughter.
I wanted a two-car garage and no less than three bedrooms. Maybe even four.