4. Off the Cuff #2
At that moment, I was happy Geoff didn’t join us, since he told me he had an emergency at the bank.
I could only imagine how intimidated he would be at not being the center of attention around Cairo.
Although I rode Lena for being mean to Geoff, I didn’t mind admitting that his quirks were sometimes problematic.
“Are you ready?” Mr. Kinney flashed a megawatt smile my way when the crowd thinned enough for him to return to his bodyguard’s side.
“Of course. Right this way.” I extended my arm and pointed toward the administration building, three buildings ahead of us.
On the way to our destination, I gave a brief history of the university and several landmarks around us. When we reached the third floor, I greeted my assistant and directed them to my office. Cairo placed his hand on top of Luther’s black leather coat to hold him back.
“This is a private meeting between Dr. Langston and me.”
I looked between the men, confused at why I needed to be alone with Mr. Kinney when Luther had stuck to him like glue all day.
“Mr. Kinney, I have no problem with Luther being in the room with us. If you trust him, I do too.”
“It’s not that. I prefer to discuss our business…privately.”
A chill went down my spine as Mr. Kinney raked his tongue over his teeth and looked at my chest so quickly that I thought I must have imagined it.
“Luther doesn’t mind waiting in the lobby, do you?” He shot a glance Luther’s way, giving him some kind of nonverbal exchange I couldn’t decipher.
The thick-framed bodyguard, who carried himself like a retired boxer, furrowed his brow at Mr. Kinney before he gave his boss a sharp nod. I played what that was off, turned to Whitney, and smiled.
“Whitney, please make sure Luther is comfortable.” She nodded and directed him to our small kitchenette, where an assortment of beverages and snacks were laid out.
On her way there, she held out a pink sticky note, which I accepted. I stepped to the side and read the note, which read That man is hotter than hell fire. If you don’t want him, I do , followed by a tongue drawn in ink.
I crumpled the note and raised my head to give Whitney a reprimanding look, but all I saw was the back of her black and white houndstooth dress as her black patent leather heels clicked toward the kitchenette with Luther.
I plastered a quick smile on my face and led Mr. Kinney to my office, closing the door behind me.
I motioned for him to sit next to me in a walnut brown wingback chair that mirrored the one parallel to mine.
Once settled, he stretched his long legs out and rested his hands on his knees.
His pensive look had me fidgeting again as his eyes leisurely traveled from the top of my head to my neck, then my torso and legs.
Once he returned his eyes to my face, I crossed my legs at the ankle and pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose, holding my body tight and still so I wouldn’t draw unwanted attention to other parts of my body.
“Thanks for your generosity, Mr. Kinney. I wasn’t expecting the day to turn out as it did.” I smiled, genuinely appreciative of the philanthropy of the man who had cemented his position as the most generous donor in the school’s history.
“My pleasure. And it’s Cairo. I’ve read up on you and your strategic plans. I know the foundation’s funds will be in good hands.” He threw the prettiest smile I’d ever seen my way.
Although warmth overtook me, I refused for him to disarm me. That charm of his crossed a boundary. I’d bet a month’s salary he knew he wasn’t being 100 percent professional. Since he was being informal, though, I would match his energy too.
“Thank you. And in that case, please call me Zora.” I offered a genuine smile. “I know you’re a busy man, so thank you for going above and beyond to bail me out of what was turning into a public jam.”
Maybe my vulnerability would make him pull back a little by catching him off guard the same way he did me.
“Dear Zora, it is my absolute pleasure to support such a captivating leader.” His voice oozed even more charm as he undoubtedly flirted with me.
When Cairo reached toward me for a handshake, I offered my right hand in appreciation. I should have realized it was a trap, though, as he clasped it in both of his hands and held it firm, stroking my inner palm with his thumb and staring at me with an intensity that had me shifting in my seat.
“Do you ever wear your hair down? It’s beautiful.”
I sucked in my breath and blushed, startled at the turn of the conversation. I pulled my hand from Cairo’s grasp and folded my hands in my lap to prevent myself from playing with my hair. I hoped that my bun was as intact as I thought it was.
“Excuse my directness, but the way I wear my hair has nothing to do with university business.”
“I’m sorry for offending you. It’s just that your online photo doesn’t do you justice.” The twinkle in Cairo’s eyes gave me what was now a routine warmth that drew me deeper into the sticky web that was Cairo Kinney.
He tilted his body my way and lowered the volume of his voice so I had to lean in too.
“Zora, I have a simple request for you.”
I took in the wholeness of his carriage, which reminded me of a crouching tiger ready to pounce.
Given how I had been off my game all afternoon, I knew not to poke the bear, but curiosity got the best of me.
I mirrored his posture and smiled, inhaling his clean scent like it was a drug.
My eyes gravitated to the pink tongue that briefly traced his bottom lip as he wet it.
I kept my voice low as if we weren’t the only people in the room.
“What’s that, Cairo Kinney?”
“Have dinner with me at my house.”
Oh, hell no.
Cairo’s words snapped me from my trance.
Did this man give all that money to Liberation for a booty call?
I should have known his philanthropy was too good to be true.
I chuckled openly and settled back into my seat, quickly processing how I could maintain my dignity and retain Cairo’s seven million dollars for our students.
“We have dinners with donors all the time. We enjoy giving our students opportunities to thank our benefactors personally, especially since you live in town. I’ll invite three to five students who can tell you more about their majors and LU experiences.
They would love to meet a bona fide celebrity.
Whitney will coordinate with your people to schedule something at your convenience.
It will be fun.” I offered a big grin and positioned my body to stand.
“As a matter of fact, let me get her so we can take care of that right now.”
Cairo distorted his face and wrinkled his brow, quickly alerting me that he wasn’t pleased.
“No.”
I sat on the edge of my seat and brushed imaginary lint off my skirt to gather myself. I squared my shoulders.
“No?”
He examined his nail bed in a slow, methodical way. When he finished, he threw a steely look my way. I couldn’t understand how a stubborn man could still be so fine, even when he brooded.
“Madam President…Zora.” He dragged my title and name out as if he was reprimanding me, causing my lower body to tingle. “I am requesting your presence at my home.” He stretched his words and spoke them with great care, his eyes raking over my body again. “Only you.”
I clutched my pearl necklace and bit my bottom lip at the gentle, yet forceful request.
“I don’t understand.”
“You’re a brilliant woman. What don’t you understand about dining with me in my home? Privately?”
I dropped my hands to my lap and put on a guarded smile. What was Cairo asking me to do? Had I just made a deal with the devil? Did he make a habit of inviting single women to his home to seal the deal on business arrangements?
“I appreciate your invitation, but as a single woman, I don’t make it a habit to dine alone with men in their homes after hours. It compromises my position as president of this university. Surely you understand decorum as a public figure. Eyes are on me at all times.”
“I fully understand what it’s like to be in the public eye, Zora.
I assure you I am a man who believes in upholding one’s reputation.
And I pride myself on discretion. No one will see you enter or exit my home.
I can guarantee that. If you’re worried about my donation, don’t be.
I am a man of my word. As I said, this gift represents my commitment to my beloved Cece’s legacy.
I will not dishonor her memory by breaking a promise to support students in need.
Liberation’s donation is secured regardless of your decision. ”
Cairo’s bluntness impressed me and threw me off.
I loved how he loved Cecelia Kinney beyond death.
Like Geoff, he didn’t mince words about what he wanted.
Unlike Geoff, Cairo gave me the option to fellowship with him, not demand it.
If I said no, I believed he wouldn’t withdraw his commitment to our students. Because of that, I made up my mind.
“Tell me when and where.”
He gave me the precious gift of his magnetic smile again. I smiled back.
“Excellent. As a bonus, I’d like to invite you to a Torch game. You can sit in a suite and bring a friend if you’d like.”
“That’s…generous.”
He stared at me. I sensed he had more to say, but I didn’t want to press him.
“I saw the crowd you were dealing with at the luncheon. I can only imagine how hard you work and how much of yourself you give to Liberation. As a token of my appreciation for your leadership, I also would like to set you up in one of my guest rooms and have someone serve you as you need to be served. Could you take off a weekend, maybe a Friday through Sunday when we have a home game? Call it a staycation.”
I stared at Cairo, wondering if he was playing mind games with me. Not even Geoff sowed into me the way he tried to.
“I’m not sure. My schedule is so busy.” I picked up the paper calendar lying on the table and flipped through it mindlessly before closing it.
Cairo’s proposition was ludicrous.
“I cannot accept gifts from donors. It’s a conflict of interest.”
I wasn’t lying. As the president of a public institution, I could not bestow favors on donors.
Without batting an eye, Cairo eyed my phone on the glass table between us.
“Is that your personal phone?”
I nodded.
“Please unlock it and give it to me.”
Like the puppet I was becoming around him, I did as he asked. He thumbed through some apps and typed something with both thumbs. He pressed a button and his phone rang. After hanging up, he typed something else in my phone and gave it back to me.
“I entered my cell number into your contacts, and now I have yours. I’m no longer a donor. I’m your friend.” He flashed all his teeth and smiled.
I couldn’t believe he was so forward, especially at my place of work. I was seconds away from reprimanding him until I noticed the perfection of his bite and flawless skin that made me want to stroke his big body like he was a soft kitten. Had he hypnotized me without my realizing it?
“Zora?”
“Yes?” I shook my head to refocus.
“What do you say?” His soothing voice reeled me into the bubble of concern he created for me.
I wasn’t sure what voodoo he threw on me in such a short time, but I felt as if we were the only two people in the world. I had mountains of work to do but was pricked by Cairo’s words. It was as if he eavesdropped on my conversation with Lena.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor.
The words washed over me as I took in the fullness of this moment. Maybe God sent Cairo to help me slow down and prioritize my life so I could live longer. More than that, if joining him for a staycation at his estate would allow me to learn more about him, I welcomed his proposal.
“Let me clear my calendar. Although this is unorthodox, I want and need to know more about the generous man who has given such a precious gift to my students.”
And I can partake in the gift that is him too.
“Sounds like a plan.”
Cairo rose to his feet. I did the same.
“One more thing.” He fixed his eyes on me, throwing that invisible, yet palpable, charm my way again.
I stopped in my tracks.
“What’s that?”
“How will Geoff feel about my invitation? When he called to invite me to the luncheon, he mentioned that the two of you were an item. He was pretty territorial.”
I blushed, somewhat embarrassed that Cairo picked up on Geoff’s possessiveness.
“We’re not married, so he will support my decision to do what’s best for the university. This is business.”
I hoped my sterile answer would satisfy his curiosity so he wouldn’t ask any more intrusive questions. My belly flip-flopped when a thin smile spread across his face.
“Good. I don’t want another man to think I’m coming for what belongs to him.”
“I belong to no one.” I snapped without meaning to.
Cairo nodded and smirked as if he didn’t believe me.
“With that, Dr. Zora Langston, I must go. I will be in touch about our next steps.” He stepped within inches of me and reached for my hand, which I offered.
Instead of shaking it, he bowed at the waist and lifted it to his lips, locking eyes with me. The warmth of the gentle kiss seared my skin.
“Oh my.” I placed my hand over my heart as Cairo’s full, delicious lips remained pressed to my skin.
Dumbfounded, I held my breath until Cairo rose and released my hand. I had never met a modern man who was that chivalrous and so appropriately inappropriate. I tried to maintain a neutral face that didn’t match the flurries stirring in my belly.
Cairo was a beautifully built guy whose public act of kindness and larger-than-life presence had me flustered like a young virgin.
His height, perfect image, smooth words, and overall swagger held me in a chokehold.
No pre-meeting briefing could have prepared me appropriately for the charisma, sexiness, and allure that oozed from his pores.
At this moment, every stereotype I had about jocks was shattered.
Cairo’s wise words and lovely actions had me seeing life differently. Or at least trying to.
He showed up as a unique and unexpected presence during one of the most stressful times of my professional life. For once, I would channel Lena. It was time to throw logic and caution to the wind.