Chapter 7
Kensie
“What? I told you everything.” Too tired to undress, I kicked off my sandals and collapsed on the bed.
“Why are you calling me? Your future billionaire husband just accomplished a huge feat today. It’s rare for a NASCAR driver to be eligible for a Formula One race, and even rarer when it’s a Black man, because we usually don’t have the money to compete.
You should be congratulating him the way only you can. ”
“That’s the thing. We agreed to refrain from sex to keep it simple.”
“Why in the hell would you do that?” He paused. “It must be your idea. So afraid of a little heartbreak, you won’t allow yourself a chance to be happy.”
“I am happy. Ugh . . . Tired of hearing that a woman can’t be happy without a man.” I covered my head with my forearm.
“No one can be truly happy without love. Can you learn to live without it and be content? Of course. But why, when it feels so good? I saw how you looked at each other at the restaurant. I’ve lost count of how many times I watched the video .
. . and watched it for him.” He snickered.
“Not you. You can feel the chemistry between you even through the screen. You have that fire, and pretending otherwise will only make you want each other more.”
My stomach clenched at the hunger I’d seen in Canaan’s eyes, even when he seemed angry with me.
I groaned, “Or remind me that Canaan is a handsome, rich, charming, and talented man used to having his way with women. The type who will disregard me once he finds a new toy to manipulate in ways he can’t do with me. ”
“Even if he is that guy, what’s so wrong with enjoying the moment?
All you do is talk about wanting to be with men who don’t want commitment, and ding ding ding .
. . Canaan is that man with more frills than any man you know.
Just admit you’re afraid to love him. That you’re probably halfway there if not all the way there. ”
I pushed to sit up and shouted, “I rebuke that. No way am I in love with him.”
Saraj scoffed. “Shouting it doesn’t make your words true.”
Falling back on the bed, I chuckled and admitted softly, “He’s like no man I’ve ever known.
He’s so damn seductive, like a vampire slowly reeling me in for the kill.
Just one day in his world, and I’m emotionally drained.
Between the party, pics, questions about our relationship, and the soulful looks he gives me, like we are real, messes with my head.
I needed this quiet.” I rolled onto my stomach and put the phone on speaker.
“Saraj, I could’ve sworn he had no clue about the video when I first saw him.
He only seemed surprised to see me. Then later, he made it clear he’d seen it.
I think his joy at winning pushed his temper aside.
He says he trusts I didn’t leak the video.
However, I suspect it will come up again sooner or later, once everything settles down and he has had time to process.
He knew you were my friend, so I don’t know if he guessed or did some digging.
I don’t know what he will think if he knows you have anything to do with my career.
” I took a deep breath to release the nagging thought. “Did you leak the video?”
“Um . . . You told me you did nothing but talk to Canaan, remember? Why would I think there was something to leak? It was probably some worker who saw you and him and made some nice coins,” Saraj replied. “I should be mad that you would think I would ever do that to you, but I get why you ask.”
Relief sank me deeper into the mattress. “Good. It’s bad enough I’m not that close to Emme anymore. I don’t want to lose you too.”
“You’re stuck with me,” Saraj reassured me. “And you have three months to ask him if he has some investigator and if he really trusts you.” Saraj paused again before asking, “So, you really left him alone on his victory night? Maybe your no-sex rule begins once you make it to Miami?”
“He still had more interviews, so he told me to get rest and that he would call me in the morning. He’s probably going to celebrate more with his crew. Crap.” I popped up again in bed.
“What?”
“He is alone. None of his family is here. And I doubt any of his friends. He only introduced me to his crew and staff.” I grew pensive. “You think he concocted this engagement story so he wouldn’t be alone in Miami? Making history is a pretty big deal.”
“All I know is that you’d better go and be with him. Have sex or don’t have sex, but this is the one night he needs you. Call me with the deets. Later.” Saraj clicked off the cell.
Within thirty minutes, I’d showered and changed into a strapless, bodycon dress that hugged my curves like a glove.
My long, thin braids hung low down my back, and I dusted my face and bare skin with glitter.
I ignored the butterflies swirling in my stomach as I walked down the cobbled path.
Canaan’s villa was a ten-minute walk away, and it was a beautiful, balmy, and starry night.
I finally could breathe and celebrate the turn of events.
For the next three months, I would be in sexy Miami with a man who made my body ache, and my career was about to be so fiery hot.
I prided myself on being strong, and I would kick back feelings other than lust. When our arrangement ended, I would walk away with my heart intact.
A man like Canaan Jackson left me with no choice.
His scar would be much deeper than the one my ex left if I didn’t protect my heart at all costs.
Feeling inspired, I pulled out my phone, went to my Instagram page, checked my face in the twinkling lights lining the path, and went live.
“Hey, sorry I haven’t posted in the last few days.
I know there’s been a lot of buzz about a leaked video.
Yes, it’s me and the number one racer in the world, Canaan Jackson, in that video.
No, we didn’t leak it. I may be slutty, but I’m not a slut .
. . well . . . at least not anymore. My dating life is always intentional for those who read my book.
” She quirked one eyebrow. “Anyhoo . . . I know Canaan from way back. We’ve been dating on the low for a while, and it got hot and heavy quickly between us.
I’m here with him in Daytona, and if you haven’t heard, he just won the NASCAR race today.
We’re headed to Miami the day after tomorrow to prepare for his first Formula One race.
History in the making in Miami, Flo-Ri-Da.
” I grinned as viewers quickly hit over a million and waved at the screen.
“I might have a few new followers. Welcome to my world as we talk all about the mad love we crave that might just lead to being hooked forever.”
“Tysha93 warned me to hold on to my man.” I laughed.
“I’m Kensie, ‘never-the jealous-type’ Garrett.
He knows what he has.” More comments. “Mattie says that she can’t wait for my next book.
Me either. Not sure yet what it will be about.
But I’ll detail everything that happens for the next three months while Canaan trains for his race.
Have to keep following me to stay up to date on the latest.”
Another viewer asked if we were engaged, and I smiled wider.
“He announced it to the world earlier today when he won, so I guess he won’t mind me saying it now.
But yes, we are, and I couldn’t be more excited.
We met in college at Prairie View years ago—Go Panthers—reconnected New Year’s Eve, and now we’re here.
” I turned the camera away from me to show the dark Atlantic Ocean lit by the full moon low in the sky.
The camera then spanned the colorful, sprawling villas of the resort, and some tourists waved at me and the camera.
“I can’t believe everything that’s happening right now.
This is so amazing, and Canaan’s freaking amazing.
” I refocused the camera on my face, and the way my face shone bright, even in the night, made me look happy.
And maybe for the first time in a long time, I really was happy.
“Stay tuned. Time to celebrate with my future husband. Talk to you soon.”
My joy didn’t last long. The closer I neared Canaan’s villa, the more the loud music and chatter of a party became apparent, and the bliss quickly turned to irritation. “I can’t believe him,” I muttered.
Canaan sent me away so he could be free to celebrate without me.
He was so not alone tonight and probably had a woman.
More than one, if the looks the women kept giving him while I stood by his side were any indication.
And the reality is, I didn’t really matter.
We were a ruse. He could be with anyone he wanted, and I had no right to be mad—except I was livid.
At least he could keep his word for one damn night.
I marched up to the villa and grabbed the door handle.
“You shouldn’t be walking alone after dark.
Sex trafficking is real. You shouldn’t be alone.
Period.” His voice appeared out of nowhere.
I stepped back, searching for him in the darkness.
My heart jumped when I spotted him leaning against a nearby tree, dressed in cargo shorts and an unbuttoned yellow Cuban shirt, the breeze doing sweet justice to his chiseled chest. “What have I done now? Miss Garrett is angry with me again.”
I moved closer to him. “Having a party without inviting me.”
He chuckled. “I wasn’t invited either. That’s my crew. My place is the one next to it. I had too many drinks with them, but it’s not my party.”
“Thought you were violating our agreement already.”
Canaan pushed his hands into his pockets. “Which one? The one where I’m with another woman, or you and I make love on the beach?”
“Let me guess . . . When you win, you like to have celebratory sex?” I asked more to pretend his last words didn’t burn a fever through my veins than wanting an answer.