Chapter 6
“The way I am so proud of you, Kyd!” Paisley squealed.
She looked at him in awe as he drove her car, swerving in and out of traffic. It had been a week since he’d been released from prison, and every day had been led with purpose. Kydrick clearly had a plan, and he took care to take the proper steps to get there.
“Let’s go to dinner to celebrate.”
The day had cause for so much celebration. That morning, his funds from his parents had been deposited into his bank account. Paisley knew how much that money meant to him for so many reasons. She could tell he was highly uncomfortable with living off her, and this money allotted him way more freedom than he had without it. Proud wasn’t even the word Paisley had to describe Kydrick. She was happy for him, amazed by his resilience, and though she tried, she couldn’t ignore the fact that she was turned on by him too.
On top of him getting his money, they had spent the day at the halfway house nonprofit she started. It was his first day, and she showed him the ropes. Though he had the money from his parents, he still insisted on working at the nonprofit to give him some experience and also to pay some of his wisdom forward.
Paisley assumed she would need at least a week to get him settled, but he caught on quicker than she expected. When he helped a newcomer freshly released from prison with so much authority but also kindness, she knew he would be alright. The decision to let the manager on duty guide him tomorrow while she went back to the law firm was an easy one. Kydrick had proven he didn’t need her hovering, and she knew she needed to let go.
Kydrick glanced over at her with one hand on the wheel and the other on her thigh. He squeezed it and said, “You still ain’t cook for me yet. I been out a whole week, and we been eating at restaurants and shit. I’m starting to think you can’t cook for real.”
Paisley smacked her lips and punched him on his muscled arm, wincing slightly at the pain in her knuckles from the impact.
“I can cook. Have you forgotten that you’ve kept me busy this week? We’ve been running errands every day.”
He nodded with a grin, and she almost melted into the seat. He’d been opening up little by little each day. Small glimpses of the Kydrick she knew appeared more and more, and she loved it. Their friendship pretty much picked up right where it left off, but there were subtle differences. An underlying tension seemed to heighten whenever they were in the same room. They had yet to talk about his comments before the family dinner last week, but Paisley decided she would wait a little longer to bring it up again. The most important thing was keeping him comfortable and allowing him time and space to get adjusted.
Kydrick grunted. “So, you’re too tired to cook tonight?”
“Did I say that?”
He chuckled. “Bet, then we’ll go to the store off Orange Street so you can get whatever you need to make me something.”
Paisley giggled. “You always were bossy.”
Kydrick licked his lips and glanced at her. “It’s because I’m older.”
“By a few months.” She rolled her eyes.
They’d been having this debate since they were old enough to talk. Janelle was older than Kydrick by one month, and Paisley was younger than him by four. She always got the short end of the stick because she was the so-called youngest, even if it wasn’t even by six months.
“You gon’ cook for me or not, Paisley Pooh?”
When he called her that, he knew he could get anything out of her. She huffed out a breath and muttered, “Fine, but you’re cleaning the kitchen after.”
“Aye, don’t be making a big mess for no reason either.”
She giggled and sat back in her seat. It only took them five minutes to get to the store, and Paisley demanded he stay in the car so she could get the ingredients without him seeing them. When he finally agreed to be surprised, she made quick work of grabbing everything before rushing back out to the car.
The ride back to her place only took another ten minutes, and as soon as they parked, Kydrick got out and opened her door.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Welcome, ma’am,” he said before grabbing the bags from the back seat.
“Don’t peek either.”
He chuckled, and she knew it was because he sure as hell was about to. When they made it into the house, he carried the bags into the kitchen and set them on the counter.
“You need to be supervised so you don’t burn the kitchen down?”
“Boy, get out of here. Go relax. You just had your first day of work… ever . Unwind. I got this.”
“You sure?” he asked, genuinely looking like he wanted to stay and help her or even just be in her presence.
She walked over to him and gently pushed his chest. “Bye, Kyd.”
“Aight, okay. I’m going to shower and throw some sweats on. Holla if you need me.”
“I won’t,” she called out after him as he left the kitchen.
After taking all the groceries out and putting them away, she got to work. Cooking had always been therapeutic for her. It reminded her of afternoons with her mom and sister, experimenting with food and cooking big feasts for the family. When Kydrick went to prison, Paisley took a semester off from school before changing her major. During that time, she cooked a lot, and she liked to do it alone. It allowed her space to think and process whatever was on her mind.
That night, it was Kydrick and the growing tension between them. It was a good kind of tension. The kind of tension she wouldn’t mind exploring, but she was hesitant because the last thing she wanted to do was ruin a friendship over a crush she’d had for as long as she could remember. Paisley was so in her zone she didn’t realize Kydrick had entered the kitchen freshly showered and smelling just like mahogany teakwood.
“Smells good in here.”
She jumped slightly and turned to look at him with wide eyes. “Why you sneaking up on folks?”
He swaggered over to her and held her from behind for a brief second as he kissed her cheek.
“I ain’t mean to scare you, Pooh.”
She grunted her response. Mainly because she felt flustered from his touch… no matter how brief it was. They had been doing this same song and dance all week. Small touches here and there, light flirting, and lustful gazes. It was at the point that Paisley felt like she might actually burst if she had to endure another night like that.
Slowly, she put the last fried pork chop on the plate with the others so the oil could drain before she turned. Kydrick still stood directly behind her, and they were now so close that if she took in a full breath, her nipples would brush against the top of his abs.
“I made your favorite. Well… it used to be your favorite. Your mom always made it for us. Fried?—”
“Fried pork chops, mashed potatoes, buttery corn, and…” His brow raised in question, and she giggled.
“Yes, I even made the homemade biscuits.”
“Aw, hell.” He ran a hand down his face, and Paisley could tell he fought between tearing up and laughing from excitement. “Do you know how many times I dreamed of this meal since she passed?”
“I can imagine,” she whispered. “I thought it might be a nice way for you to feel her presence. I just hope I did her justice.”
“The way it’s smelling in here…” He looked up at the ceiling. “I don’t know, Ma. You might have some competition.”
Paisley threw her head back and giggled. She loved seeing this lighthearted version of Kydrick. He only seemed to be that way with her. Around everyone else, he was closed off and serious, but this Kydrick… this man… he was who she had fallen in love with all those years ago.
When she looked back at him again, his gaze turned serious as he took her in, which caused her brows to pull in.
“What’s wrong?”
“Do you know how beautiful you are?”
Her breath caught in her throat. Kydrick had never outright told her she was beautiful before, and somehow, she always understood why. Crossing that line felt scary for them both, but the more time she spent with Kydrick since he was released, the more she wondered if crossing that line was inevitable.
“I’ve been told,” she managed to mutter.
A frown etched on his face. “Who been telling you that?”
Paisley looked at him incredulously. “A lot of people tell me that, Kyd. You jealous?”
He peered at her for a moment before placing his hand on her cheek. “I don’t have a reason to be jealous.”
The cocky statement coming out of his mouth caused her pussy to clench tightly, but before she could fully process what was taking place between them, Kydrick leaned down and kissed her. She froze at first as her mind tried to conjure up many reasons this shouldn’t be right, but she quickly pushed those thoughts away as she leaned into the kiss. Their lips parted, allowing their tongues to do a slow, sensual dance.
When he finally pulled away, Kydrick smirked down at her, and as if they hadn’t just shared a soul-altering kiss, he asked, “You want me to plate up the food, or you got it?”
That kiss had stayed on Paisley’s mind all night and all morning. Here it was pushing noon, and she had barely gotten any work done on her first day back at the office.
Last night, they ate dinner, and Kydrick finally stopped teasing her for not being able to cook and gave her props for throwing down on their meal. After, they laid around on the couch and watched some movies since they’d already finished Bridgerton and Queen Charlotte , but Paisley didn’t miss the lingering touches and the stolen glances between them. She wanted to kiss him again, but she had the feeling he didn’t want to take things further than a kiss.
They’d said goodnight and went to their separate rooms. She didn’t know about Kydrick, but Paisley had a hard time sleeping. Still, she woke up excited to see Kydrick that morning. He ended up driving her to work, letting her know he needed to run an errand on his lunch break and asking if he could use her car for the day and pick her up after work. She didn’t mind loaning him her car. The fact that he was slowly adjusting to the world again made pride swell within her. She couldn’t believe he was going to his second day of work without her and driving himself around. Kydrick was doing far better than most people in his position, and it spoke to the kind of man he was—resilient, adaptable, hardworking, and ambitious. Some important qualities she wanted in her own man.
Her thoughts turned to what it would be like to be with Kydrick in that way, with nothing holding them back. She wondered if they could get to that point. She wondered what her family and even Janelle’s family might say about it. She wondered how much time Kydrick would need before exploring what was between them. She desperately needed clarity on the situation.
Just when she made her mind up that she would put her big girl panties on and have a conversation with Kydrick about it that night, Steven popped his head into her office.
“Ms. Whitaker, have you been avoiding me?” he asked as he stepped into her office and closed the door.
Paisley stiffened. Steven had never really been rude to her before, but he made her feel uncomfortable. He was relentless in his pursuit, and he wasn’t shy about his attraction to her. She also wasn’t shy in her honesty that she simply did not like him in that way. She barely liked him as a human being because he abused his power as her boss.
With a deep sigh, she said, “How can I help you, Steven?”
He sat in the chair across from her sleek black desk and grinned. “I’m here to cash in on our deal. Today’s the day. We’re going on a date.”
“I—”
She couldn’t even get a full word out before he held his hand up and spoke. “I made sure Kydrick got out of prison, and it’s time for you to agree to a date.”
Paisley leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her chest, her Cartier bracelet glinting off the sunlight coming in through her window. “Technically, you didn’t get him out. Annie’s confession got him out.”
Steven chuckled. “Come on. Would going out on a date with me be so bad? Am I ugly or something?”
He really wasn’t, physically at least. It was his demeanor and attitude that was a huge turn off for her. It had been since she met him.
“You’re not ugly,” she admitted with a heavy sigh. “But I’m also not interested in you in that way. I’ve told you this before.”
“And I’ve told you to just give me a chance. What’s the worst that can happen? I’ll even allow it to be a lunch date. We can go right now so you can get home to the man living in your home.”
Paisley’s brows pulled together because that sounded an awful lot like an insult. They stared at each other for several long seconds before Paisley huffed out a breath, realizing he wouldn’t take no for an answer this time.
“ Fine , but I’m picking the place.”
She grabbed her purse from the hook on the wall behind her desk. Steven hopped up and gestured for her to walk ahead of him out the door.
“I’ll drive, princess.”
Something about him calling her that made her cringe, but she straightened her shoulders and sauntered out of her office with Steven on her heels. She could feel him looking at her ass, which irritated her, but what did she expect? She had on a tight fitting white and black dress suitable for the office, but it still showed off her curves. The black pumps she wore only defined her legs and made them look like they went on for days. It was in her DNA to make sure she was on point when she went to work or had something important to do. She had her mama to thank for that.
Other than a few curious stares at them leaving together, the walk to his car was uneventful. As they got into the car, she could tell he wanted her to be impressed by how expensive it was so bad, but she wasn’t. Money didn’t move her. She thanked her parents for that. They may not have been the richest, but they always made sure she and her siblings had everything they needed.
“Mind if I play some music?”
Paisley shook her head, which had started to hurt from his overpowering cologne.
Steven turned on some slow jams. He was no doubt trying to set the mood before he pulled out of his assigned parking spot, which just so happened to be right next to hers.
“Where to?”
“Prime & Ember,” she replied without hesitation.
Steven nodded, and Paisley felt a little irritated that he didn’t bat an eye at her request. It was the fanciest steakhouse in Ellwood, and though it was pretty easy to get a seat during the lunch hours, it was still very expensive no matter the time of day. Her goal was to put a dent in his pockets, but she should have known he wouldn’t care about the money. He had lots of it, and he also liked to flaunt it.
Thankfully, they listened to the music in silence for the duration of the drive. When they made it to the restaurant, Steven made a big show of opening her door and helping her out of the car. He even tried holding her hand as they walked to the entrance, but she shut that down by pretending she was looking for something in her purse.
“Welcome to Prime & Ember. Do you have a reservation?” the hostess asked as soon as they walked in the door.
“We don’t. We’re hoping you have a table for two,” Steven responded, but Paisley’s eyes were stuck on a table just behind the hostess stand in a quiet corner.
A small pain ricocheted through her chest as tears cradled her eyelashes. Betrayal shouldn’t be what she felt at that moment, but she did. She felt a deep betrayal, and a seed of doubt blossomed within her.
Janelle and Kydrick had always made a good looking couple, and time had done nothing but refined that notion. She watched as they sat in deep conversation over expensive looking steaks and seafood.
“You coming, Paisley?” Steven’s voice broke through the sound of her shattering heart.
“Can we go somewhere else?” she whispered. Her eyes were still trained on Janelle and Kydrick. She couldn’t help but notice how handsome he looked in his button up and slacks, and of course, Janelle was put together and looking like a million bucks.
Steven followed her gaze before placing a hand on her shoulder. “Come on. We can go somewhere else.”
He turned her around, and they walked out of the restaurant, not bothering to say anything to the hostess.
When they got into his car, Steven didn’t start it right away. Instead, he took that opportunity to give her his two cents.
“I was afraid of this happening.”
Paisley looked at him with confusion written all over her face.
“What?”
Steven sighed dramatically. “Guys like that are no good for a woman like you. He has to play catch up now, and he’s going to need some time to date around. Not to mention, he needs to get his life together.”
“What are you talking about, Steven?” she snapped. At this point, she was ready to go home and end the day early.
“I see the way you look at him. How hard you went for him all these years. You love him, don’t you?”
Paisley opened her mouth and then snapped it shut because her feelings for Kydrick were none of her boss’s business.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to admit it, but I know you do. I was always trying to save you from going down that path though. You deserve a man like me, someone who is all about you and already has his life together. That girl… That was his ex, right? Janelle. She was a character witness and also there the night he was arrested.”
“Yeah,” Paisley muttered, feeling more and more like a fool.
Steven nodded. “Thought so. It’s only natural that he see what’s up with her now that he’s out.”
“She’s married.” She said the words while looking out the window, refusing to allow Steven to see the tears in her eyes that threatened to fall.
“It didn’t look like that meant much. Look, we can do this date another time, but soon, okay? I don’t want our time to be sullied because of another man. If you want, you can take the rest of the day off.”
“Actually, I want to go back to work.” She didn’t even need to think about that response. The last thing she wanted to do was go home and be alone with her wandering thoughts. Being at work might not be much better but at least there she would have plenty to distract her.
She felt his eyes on her, but she didn’t say anything more, prompting him to finally speak. “No problem.”
He subtly placed his hand on her knee before starting the car. She cringed slightly and shifted out of his reach, ready to forget this whole lunch date ever happened.