Chapter 3 #2
Instead of continuing to protest, I rolled my eyes and sighed for the hundredth time before turning the key again.
“Do you have a mechanic in the area? I have a guy that’s not too far from here.”
I shook my head. “No, thank you. I can handle it.”
“Do you have someone on the way?”
“I literally just found out that it wouldn’t crank. I haven’t had the chance to call anyone.”
“Give me a second,” he said, standing to his full height and taking a few steps back.
“No,” I fussed as I pushed the door open and stood toe to toe with him.
“Hold on, Jameela,” he said, holding up one finger like I was interrupting him.
Within seconds, he started a conversation with whoever was on the other end of the phone.
I fell back against the door of my car as I listened to him arrange to have my car towed to his mechanic friend’s shop.
Not that I had the money to pay for it, but I was grateful to be able to get my car out of the store parking lot.
As stubborn as I wanted to be, I actually did need and appreciate his help.
I just hated to ask for help. What would he want in return?
When he ended the call, the overbearing stranger took a step forward to close the space between us.
I took a shallow breath, hoping to fight off the intoxication of his cologne.
Whatever that scent was along with the cocky half smile that seemed to be permanently etched on his face was a deadly combination.
“I’m Nicholas, by the way.”
“You really didn’t have to do that, Nicholas,” I told him, unsure of what else to say.
“What kind of man would I be if I were to leave you out here in distress without trying to do something to help you?”
“I’m not a damsel in distress.” I contested.
“And I’m not a knight in shining armor, habibti.”
“Either way, thank you for helping with my car. I knew she was on her last leg, but I was hoping I had a little more time. I don’t even want to think about what this is about to cost me.”
“You’re welcome. Don’t stress yourself about prices. I made the call to the mechanic.”
“That doesn’t mean anything. It’s still my responsibility.”
Smiley took that as his cue to walk over to check on me. I was mortified enough without a growing audience.
“You good, Ms. Jameela?” he asked as he jogged over to me.
“Yeah, I was just having a little car trouble. He was nice enough to get my car towed for me,” I explained as I passed the small, brown bag holding his vodka.
“OK, then. I just wanted to make sure you was straight. Me and PeeWee gon’ be in the back for a while. Holler if you need me.”
“I will,” I said as he continued on his journey.
“Have lunch with me,” Nicholas said, catching me off guard by completely changing the subject.
“I’m pretty sure whatever this guy tells me at the mechanic’s shop is going to ruin my appetite.”
He shrugged. “Who said you were going to the mechanic’s shop?”
“It was a given. I have to at least go over there and show my face so I can see what the damage is.”
“My face card is good enough to cover the ticket. The guy owes me a favor.”
“That’s nice and all, but I don’t want to owe you a favor.”
“Have lunch with me, and we’re even.”
“Seriously?” I asked.
He shrugged. “If that’s all it takes.”
“Don’t try to make me sound like a cheap date. Lunch doesn’t include dessert.”
He chuckled, and I got irritated at how sexy it sounded. This would have to be a quick lunch. He was hypnotic.
“I didn’t think it did. What are you in the mood for?”
“It doesn’t even matter right now.”
“Good, because whenever I’m in this area, I have to get fried catfish from Wilson’s.”
“What in the world do you know about Wilson’s?” I asked, narrowing my eyes.
“Enough to know that we just missed the lunch rush.”
I really don’t know what came over me aside from the .22 stashed in my purse. Even if I weren’t a cop, I think I would be strapped, especially now that I was a single mother. I couldn’t be too careful out here with my baby girl.
With that being said, I stood with my arms folded across my chest as I listened to Nicholas confirm that his people could tow my car to their shop in the next thirty minutes to an hour.
Once that was settled, I climbed into the passenger seat of a car that cost more than my salary. Opulence didn’t mean I was letting my guard down. I kept my hand on my purse as I took the short trip down the block to one of my favorite hood fish houses with a man I only knew on a first name basis.
I was surprised that there wasn’t a crowd because most times when I tried to stop by Wilson’s, you could barely get inside for the crowd of people trying to take advantage of the lunch special.
“Let me get two pieces of whole catfish, double fries with no seasoning, a large lemonade, and whatever the lady wants,” Nicholas said to the young girl who was grinning at him like he was a celebrity.
I had to give it to him. Nicholas was handsome and all, but damn, girl; have some decorum. She didn’t know if he was my man or what. She was just skinning and grinning.
Instead of trying to make a decision about what to order, I asked the cashier to give me the same thing that he had ordered. I loved the catfish and usually didn’t eat my coleslaw, so it made perfect sense.
Nicholas got our drinks and led the way to a booth at the furthest end of the restaurant, where I was sure no one ever sat.
Most people ordered to go now. The tables were remnants from a time when people sat in restaurants and smoked while they ate.
That was made apparent by the smoking sign on the wall right next to me.
I slid in the booth with my back to the wall out of habit.
I always liked to face the door in case something went down.
To my surprise, Nicholas scooted in next to me in the same booth and folded his hands in front of him on the table.
Mentally, I checked the box for clean nails.
His hands looked freshly manicured, which was a plus in my book.
“I saw you over there feeding the homeless when I pulled up. Is that something that you do often?” he quizzed.
“Actually, it is. It’s nothing that I feel I need to broadcast or brag about, but yes. We try to come out for a few hours every other Saturday.”
“That’s commendable. Not many people are willing to give up their weekends to give back.”
“It’s not much, but I like to feel like I’m doing my part.”
“If only more of us thought that way. So, what do you do, Jameela? Or is shop talk off-limits on a first date?”
“First of all, this is not a date. Usually, I don’t talk shop until further down the line, but I’ve been on medical leave for a few months. I’m not doing anything currently.”
“Everything good?” he asked, tilting his head curiously.
“More or less. I went on maternity leave, and my bosses are milking it for dear life. I think they see having a single mom on board as a liability.”
“That’s discrimination. There are plenty of single moms who are killing it in every area of the game.”
“I know that, but tell that to the powers that be.”
“How old is your daughter?”
“She’s almost one.”
“I miss that age. My daughter’s six going on thirty-six,” he revealed.
“I bet she’s a daddy’s girl.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
I loved the way his eyes lit up when he talked about his daughter.
I only wished that Tremaine felt the same way about Bella.
I was done begging him to step up to the plate.
Going forward, I would make sure she never had to feel the loss of his absence.
I had to love her enough for both of us.
Hopefully, he would come around before it was too late.
When our number was called, Nicholas stood to get our food. I slid out of the booth and went to the front to help him carry everything.
“I got it, habibti.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that I can carry the food without your help.”
“No, that word you keep using, habibti.”
“It means my love.”
“Do you make a habit of giving the women you meet pet names?”
“I usually know better, but I plan for you to be familiar very soon.”
“Humph, is that so?” I asked.
Nicholas opted for the booth across from me this time.
He removed one of the containers from the bag and placed it in front of me before taking the other for himself.
I doused my fish with a packet of hot sauce from the bag, then opened one of the containers of tartar sauce.
I was excited to be having one of my old favorites.
I looked up, and my eyes were met with an unreadable gaze by the man I was still trying to figure out.
His smoldering dark eyes made me uncomfortable, so I lowered my eyes back to my food.
I could see his posture shift as he started to eat.
With his eyes off me, I was able to relax a little bit.
Why the hell was I nervous? I didn’t get nervous.
“What’s your daughter’s name, habibti?” he quizzed.
“Bella,” I answered without trying to hide my smile.
“That’s beautiful. It also means beautiful, which I’m sure you know.”
“Yeah, it only took a few days for me to settle on that name.”
“I’m sure it’s just coincidental that both of your names mean beautiful. You had never taken the time to find out what your name meant?”
I laughed a little. “That’s actually crazy. I promise I didn’t do it on purpose.”
He grinned. “I believe you.”
The rest of our conversation was surprisingly pleasant, as we ate and chitchat about everything and nothing at all.
I loved hearing how involved of a father he was and how much he wanted to give his daughter the best of everything without making her spoiled and entitled.
Slowly and surely, I fell under his spell a little bit at a time before I realized that I had eaten every bit of my food.
When I was done eating, he chuckled. “You put the mop game down on that plate.”
“I don’t play about good hot food. You have to eat fried fish while it’s hot.”
“I agree. I love a woman who isn’t shy about eating.”
“Well, you’re in luck. My daughter is the same way.”
“I’m working on getting Amira to eat more vegetables. We usually don’t have a problem with fruit, but we go to war about eating vegetables. Her mom doesn’t try to make her.”
“I hope my girl keeps her appetite. She’s sassy enough sometimes without me trying to shove a piece of broccoli in her mouth.”
That made him laugh. “Godspeed.”
“This was good. I know I need to get back home to her now though.”
“She with a sitter, or is dad at home keeping an eye on her?”
“Is that your roundabout way of asking if I’m single?”
“Not at all. I don’t beat around the bush. That’s my way of continuing our conversation. I’ve already established that I don’t care if you’re single. If your man didn’t have enough sense to put a ring on it by now, then he’s out of the game. I’m here now.”
I laughed before I could catch myself. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means what it means. If you have someone you’re entertaining right now, don’t get used to them.”
“Wow.”
I shook my head but never dropped my smile. Something about his blatant arrogance was charming. He was a walking red flag. I knew it was time to get myself out of there when I found myself giggling like a little girl.
“You ready?” he asked when I gathered my things and closed my carryout plate.
“Yeah, I let time get away from me.”
“What do you mean by that?” he asked, wiping his hand on a napkin before closing his plate.
How could I tell him that I had gotten so caught up in the effortless conversation that I forgot to book a ride to pick me up from the restaurant?
“I wanted to make sure my ride was here by the time I finished eating.”
“Someone on the way to get you? I can wait with you,” he offered.
“Thank you for lunch, but you can go ahead. I’m going to get a rideshare back to my place from here.”
“Now you already know I’m not going for that. I’m taking you home, Jameela.”
I scoffed. “I’m not about to have some strange ass man knowing where I live.”
“Not just a strange man but a strange ass man.” He laughed. “Get up, Jameela. Didn’t you say your daughter was waiting on you.”
“Actually, I didn’t, but she is. She’s expecting me to come home alive and not chopped up into a million pieces.”
“Well, let's not keep her waiting. I’m not letting you hitchhike home after our first date.”
He extended his hand and patiently waited to help me stand.
I shook my head, knowing his persistent ass wasn't going to give up.
I knew I should have called my friend Crystal at the first sign that my car wouldn't crank. She was at work, but she was close enough that she would have come through for me in a pinch. I didn’t want her dropping everything and leaving the office to help me.
From the time I got pregnant, it seemed like it was just one thing after another. I was always depending on someone for some type of assistance, even if it was just getting approval to work.
I didn’t want to be the girl that always needed help. I had never been her in all my years, and I wasn’t going to start now. That was what I told myself anyway. Nicholas’s persistence and the careful way he waited for me to take his hand let me know that he wasn’t going for it.
Reluctantly, I followed him out of the restaurant and back to his car. As he backed out of the parking spot, he looked over at me with a lifted brow that I think was supposed to be intimidating but came off sexy as hell. This man was dangerous. I just couldn’t put my finger on it.
“Before you try it, don’t think you’re going to direct me to some remote location. I want to see you go inside.”
I rolled my eyes to the sky. “That’s so reassuring, creepy stranger. I think this is the perfect time to let you know I’m strapped.”
That made him grin. “I think this is the perfect time to let you know I’m in love.”
I successfully suppressed a laugh before responding to the nonsense he spewed every time he opened his mouth. “Whatever. Make a left on Henderson.”
“You would shoot me, habibti?”
“What the kids say? I’ll Swiss cheese your ass to protect myself.”
“Good. I want to know that you can handle yourself. You won’t have to worry about Swiss cheese, but it’s good to know.”
I listened to a mix of old school hip hop as I directed Nicholas to Crystal’s house. She was still at work for the next thirty minutes, but luckily, I had a key. We pulled to the curb, and Nicholas put the car in park.
“I have some VIP packages for Cashville for a two-night stay in a double suite, complimentary drinks and anything else you want. You can redeem them any weekend.”
“Another one of your connections?”
“You can say that.”
“I wish I could come.”
“Saying no isn’t going to get me off your heels, Jameela. I have no issue with chasing you. I actually prefer it.”
“I’ll keep that in mind, kind stranger,” I said before getting out of the car. I could hear him laughing as I closed the door.