Chapter 17
I was a little behind schedule. I’d told Dima I would be at his apartment around seven, but my nail appointment lasted longer than I thought it would. I had taken my nail design to another level this time, and I was obsessed.
They were long stilettos with a fairy-inspired design.
I wanted the theme to give enchanted forest, and that was exactly what it gave.
I’d been with the same nail tech for years, and she always brought my vision to life.
For this look, she used raised gel and decorated the nails with mushrooms, flowers, moss, and leaves.
I gave them one last once-over before I knocked on Dima’s door.
“What’s up, gorgeous?”
He swung open the door, wearing some gray sweats and a crisp white tee. My eyes darted straight to the print in his sweats that was too big for me to ignore. Dima was blessed in all the right places.
“Hey, handsome.”
I loved when he blushed and that one little dimple popped out. I didn’t believe in complimenting men, because some of them were already too damn high on their own supply, but Dima was different. I would compliment him every moment of every day to see that sexy ass dimple.
“How has your day been so far?”
“It’s been good, but I can see it’s about to get better.”
It was my turn to blush when Dima stepped to the side, and I could see what was behind him. He’d decorated his entire living room for what I assumed was a date night. I followed him as he led the way further into his apartment.
The coffee table had been draped in a white tablecloth.
There was a single red candle lit in the middle of the table and two pillows on either side.
There was a bouquet of sunflowers on top of the pillow that I had now identified as mine.
The food was already out on the table, and I hoped it didn’t get cold while he waited on me.
“Oh my God, Dima, this is gorgeous.”
“I’m happy you like it. I didn’t like that we had to cut our date short last night. I thought I would make up for that by cooking for you. You like salmon? I probably should have asked before I cooked it, huh?”
“I love salmon, so no worries. I hope it didn’t get cold waiting on me.”
“Nah, I waited until you said you were close before I plated it. Have a seat, baby girl.”
Dima picked up the flowers and handed them to me, and I sniffed them on instinct. They were gorgeous and smelled so good. I took my seat as he went over to his side of the table and did the same.
“This food looks amazing. Let me find out you’re a mechanic and a chef.”
“Nah, I’m far from a chef, but I do know my way around a kitchen. That was one of the things my mama taught me early. She said a man should always be able to feed himself if he needs to.”
“Your mother is right about that. It’s nice to have a woman cook for you, but it’s also nice to know you won’t starve without one.”
“That’s exactly what she said. Ain’t no woman gone be able to starve my baby.’”
Dima mocked his mother, and we both laughed. Boy moms didn’t play about their sons. I couldn’t help but wonder where she was now since this was the first time he’d ever told me anything about his family.
“Where is your mother now?”
“She don’t live here anymore. She left the country when I was young and never came back. My father raised me for the most part.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Dima. I can’t imagine what it feels like to have a mother still walking this Earth and not being able to see her whenever I like.”
“It used to bother me as a kid, but I understand why she did it now. My father wasn’t a good husband. Hell, he’s not even a good man. Getting away from him saved her life.”
“And do you still keep in touch with your mom and dad?”
“I talk to my mother almost every morning. After I turned eighteen, she tracked me down, and we’ve been building a relationship ever since.
She’s the same sweet person I remember her as and nothing like my pops wanted me to believe.
I don’t talk to that nigga at all. If I seen him on the street today, I would walk right past him. ”
“Dang, my father is not the best, but I would never cut him off for good. You don’t think there’s anything left in your relationship to salvage?”
“Nah, I don’t want nothing to do with him. Your father is a saint compared to mine.”
“Are you high? On what planet would Bishop Moore be a saint?”
“One where your father beat your mother every day of your childhood. My pops not only terrorized my mother, he terrorized me and everyone else around us. That nigga is really a menace behind closed doors.”
“I’m sorry to hear that, Dima. Bishop is not the best, but he would never put his hands on me. Everyone tells me he worshipped my mother too.”
“You are blessed. Trust me. No matter what Bishop does in the streets, he would never let it touch you. Speaking of your pops, I think it might be time to tell him what’s up with us. I don’t want him to feel like we doing some shit behind his back.”
“If that’s what you want to do, but I hope you don’t think he’s going to approve. He has never approved of any man I’ve ever considered dating.”
“I’m not looking for his approval. I just want him to hear about it from me.”
“And what if he tries to have you killed?”
“Nah, I don’t think he will, but I’m a hard nigga to kill. I’ll be straight.”
“Dima, you’re joking, but I don’t want anything to happen to you.”
“Nothing is going to happen to me. I don’t like feeling like I’m sneaking around to be with you. I get what you’re saying, but I still want to tell him man to man.”
“Okay, but be careful.”
“I will.”
Dima leaned over the table to kiss my lips, and I kissed him back. We settled into a comfortable conversation as we ate our food. Everything was just as delicious as it looked, and I was now telling myself he really was a chef. I knew who would cook for us if we ever moved in together.
Dima’s phone rang, and it brought me right out of the bliss I felt.
Just like last night, he ignored it before it rang again.
This shit couldn’t be happening again. I knew Dima was a busy man, being a part of my father’s organization, but damn.
This made me feel like carving out time for each other would be impossible.
“Let me take this. I’ll be right back.”
Everything in me told me to stay seated.
To listen to the R&B melodies playing softly in the background while Dima took his call.
I wanted to listen, but the rebel in me said get the fuck up.
I had to know who called him this time and why it was so important for him to take the call and leave me sitting here alone.
If this was what I had to look forward to in a relationship with Dima, maybe telling my father wasn’t the best move. If I didn’t tell Bishop, this thing between us wasn’t real, and if it wasn’t real, whoever was on the phone was none of my business.
But I wanted it to be real.
I got up from my pillow and padded softly toward the room Dima had just walked into. I could hear him trying to speak quietly, but I was skilled at eavesdropping. I had worked on this shit my whole life since I always felt like my daddy hid something from me.
I put my ear to the door to get a better angle.
“Agent Fitz. This is the last time I’m going to tell you this. Don’t call my fucking phone again. I’m going to wrap this case up on my own, and when I bring Bishop Moore in, I will do it by myself.”
I couldn’t believe what I heard. I knew something was different about Dima from the first moment I laid eyes on him, but I never imagined this. He was a fucking Fed. Not only was he a Fed, but he was sent here to build a case on my father and had used me to do it.
I didn’t even let myself fully process what I’d heard before I gathered my things.
Dima was still deep into his phone call, so I only had a few minutes to get out of his apartment.
I rushed out of the door and to my Jeep as fast as I could.
How the fuck was I going to tell my father I had fallen in love with a federal agent?