6. Love
LOVE
I had to keep my goddamn hands in my pockets, so I wouldn’t be tempted to reach out and touch her. My heart doubled in speed when I turned the corner and saw her sitting there, pretending to read a magazine.
I was mesmerized, my eyes glued to her for longer than a few minutes, but I made sure to stay outta the way of the window. The last thing I needed is Lauren catching on to something she shouldn’t.
Baby looked better than I remembered, and that’s a problem for me. Because I don’t know how the fuck I’m supposed to work around her now.
The same way I was looking at her, I noticed T.
K’s cousin, Tank, in the corner with his eyes locked on her too.
He just got home from a ten-year bid for armed robbery and attempted murder.
I counted every goddamn star in the sky, lucky as hell he didn’t get assigned to me.
He’s bad for business, and ain’t no doubt in my mind he’ll end up back in prison soon.
He too fucking money hungry for his own good.
When she stood up, her curves were the first thing I noticed. The way her skin glowed caught my eyes next. I wanted to run my hand down her arm to see if it was as soft as it looked, which was why I had my hands tucked away right now.
Her brown eyes held an innocence of a girl who hadn't experienced much in life, but ain’t no way that’s true about her, considering what she just went through.
We sized each other up and the way she looked at me with hunger in her eyes, I can tell this attraction ain’t all on me.
I waited until she got close before I turned and walked away. Glancing over my shoulder every now and then, just to make sure she was following me, I noticed how nervous she seemed. But ain’t no reason for her to feel like that. She’ll always be in good hands with me.
I can’t lie. I was hurt knowing she ain’t remember a nigga, because I figured she would’ve caught on by now.
When we made it inside my office, I closed the door for more privacy, then walked around to sit down. She stayed standing, like she was waiting for me to tell her what to do. I had a few ideas, but not one of them muthafuckas were appropriate.
“Have a seat,” I requested, pointing to the chair across from mine.
She averted her eyes to the ground as she sat down. For some reason, I hated that she wouldn’t look my way. I needed her to be in this moment with me, for her to feel everything I'm feeling.
Opening her file, I peeked inside, even though I read through the muthafucka three times this morning alone.
“Lemme start by introducing myself.” I leaned forward and clasped my hands together. “I’m Love Hamilton, and I’ll be your parole officer for the rest of your sentence.”
Now that she sitting so close to me, I’m able to watch every expression that comes across her face. I ain’t miss the way her eyebrows dipped when she heard me say my name. It’s some recognition there.
She sat up straighter in the chair and made eye contact with me.
“I’m Baby Wilcox.”
I thought the hardest part of taking her case was just being around her, but I was wrong. The toughest thing is treating her like any other parolee.
Pulling open the bottom drawer, I grabbed a clear plastic cup.
“Baby.” Her name sounded good on my tongue. She didn’t respond but peered up at me through her lashes to let me know she heard me. “I need you to go pee in this.”
She jerked up, nibbling the side of her lip. She seemed embarrassed that I asked, but my position was no better than hers.
Reaching out, she grabbed the cup from my outstretched arm. A part of me wanted her to put up a fight like D-Low, just so I can get some kind of reaction outta her.
She mumbled, but got up and walked away, closing the door behind her.
Groaning, I laid my head back and pinched the bridge of my nose.
I don’t know what kind of self-control I thought I had, but it’s getting harder to hide what her presence was doing to me.
My dick was stiff in my slacks, and I tried readjusting myself to relieve the pressure.
I never wanted to fuck a bitch so bad in my life.
When the door creaked open, I thought it was her coming back, but it was Lauren.
“Nah, not today,” I declared, walking around the desk. “You know damn well I got a parolee in here.”
She strolled up to me and palmed my dick through my jeans.
“Five minutes and we’ll be done,” she claimed, lifting her dress to show me the thong she had on. “It’s edible.”
I lunged forward to pull it down.
Looking over her shoulder at the door, my heart pounded hard. I was gone loose my shit if Baby strolled in and saw this.
“Stop playing, girl.” I popped her hand when she grabbed ahold of my belt loop, tryna loosen it up.
“You stop playing,” she responded, a grin on her face. “You know you want me.”
“Aye! I’mma report yo’ ass.” I glared at her, a scowl forming on my face. “Sexual harassing a nigga and shit.”
I looked again over her shoulder, and I probably shouldn’t have. Lauren ain’t slow by no means, so when she peeped how nervous I was, she made up her own assumption about what’s going on.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “You like that convict, huh? You don’t want her seeing us together or something?”
She ain’t too far from the truth, but it ain’t none of her damn business.
This what I get for thinking with my dick and not my head.
I knew better than to fuck with this bitch, especially in a place where I make my money.
Her words struck a nerve inside me when she called Baby a convict.
I was getting ready to snap on her ass for being so judgmental, but Baby peaked her head in, just in time.
“Should I come back?”
Her small voice tugged at me. I don’t know what it is about Baby that’s drawing me to her, but it was dangerous, and I needed to know how to make it stop. This can’t happen. Not like this. Now when I'm who I am, and when she’s who she is.
I looked in Lauren’s direction. “You can come in. My supervisor was just leaving.”
I had to make it known to Baby, who Lauren was to me. I didn’t realize until it was too late, that I unintentionally gave Lauren the answer she was looking for this whole time.
She stomped her feet all the way out the door. She was mad at me, but she needed to be mad at herself. I told her I wasn’t ready for a commitment. It's her fault for thinking she could change me.
Baby came in with the cup behind her back. I motioned at the small slot on the side of the door and told her to drop it inside there. Somebody usually comes and pick those up by the end of the day.
She plopped back down in the chair, placing her hands under her legs. I wasted no time explaining what she should and shouldn’t be doing while on parole. I just want to finish this quick, so I can get her ass up outta here. Every second she was in my presence, the more I wanted her.