Chapter 1 #3
I cut my eyes in the direction of the table with the fine ass man with locs and looked at my best friend. She was very flustered when she returned from their table, which made me concerned. Regancy never got flustered over anything. Whatever old boy said to her must’ve pissed her off.
“Anyways, what’s up with Vee?” I questioned.
Vee was her guy back in New York. They were on and off, so I never knew.
He didn’t believe that he was getting all of her, but considering what she’d gone through, he should’ve been grateful for what he got.
It took a lot for Regancy to open up to anyone, so he should’ve been honored that she gave him what she did.
“Not a damn thing. Vee is too demanding, and I don’t have time to keep playing the hot-cold game. He wants me to need him, but I don’t. I can’t put myself in a position to need any nigga.”
I shook my head because she was right. “So, what happened over there?” I nodded my head in the direction of old boy and his friend that she’d just encountered.
“I don’t even feel like explaining.” She rolled her eyes to the ceiling.
“Well…” I studied her.
“Bash?” She batted her eyes and looked at me.
I rolled my eyes at the sound of my fiancé’s name. “I’m starting to believe he asked me to marry him only so he could stay in my business. It’s completely baffling. Then he called and told my dad on me the other day, and I swear I wanted to fight him.”
She busted up laughing, and so did I.
I chilled and talked with my girl for a while until I needed to go finally face my irritation.
My irritation was my so-called fiancé who would rather call my father and tell on me than actually talk things out.
I didn’t feel like dealing with that my entire life, so either we talked about things, or he could take his ass and propose to my father.
Either one would be perfectly fine to me.
Once I hugged Regancy goodbye, I walked out front to find my car.
I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn’t realize that I had a shadow until I was damn near to my car.
When I reached it, I turned around and leaned on it before looking at the handsome man from the bar.
“If you planned on killing me, the best time would be when it was dark and with no one around.” I looked him over, stifling the need to lick my lips. He was even finer closer up.
“Ain’t nobody tryna kill yo’ ass.” He mugged me.
I giggled. “Then why did you follow me to my car?”
“Because you acted like yeen hear me call out to you before you walked out of the door.”
I frowned. “Here I thought you had lost your manners and were talking to the waitress. Hmph.” I unlocked my car door. He didn’t have manners at all. His rugged demeanor was intriguing and sexy as hell.
“I ain’t finished talking to you.” He caught my door before I could close it.
I probably should’ve felt threatened or unsafe, but I didn’t. In actuality, I felt the complete opposite. I was somewhat a good judge of character because I believed what a person felt was always in their eyes. His eyes told me that he meant me no harm. “What do you need to talk to me about, Mr—”
“Fuck outta here. You know what I need to talk to yo’ fine ass about.” He trapped his bottom lip beneath his teeth.
“Nah. I don’t, but if you don’t enlighten me, I’ll be glad to scream.”
He laughed. “You think I give a fuck? Shorty, these are my fucking streets. If you scream, they’ll be here to arrest you instead of me. Now, I’m tryna see what you think you’ll be doing tonight around seven.”
He was forward, and I liked that, but it didn’t matter. “Well, I know I’ll be home, prepping for a case.”
He licked his lips. “Nah. You’ll be sitting in front of me at this lil’ steak house on State.”
“Thank you for the invite, bu—”
“It wasn’t an invite, bae.” Yes, he’s very forward.
I pursed my lips, just looking at him. He was fine, but I didn’t know him enough to play those games. Hell, I was way past the games, I had a whole ball and chain already.
I guess I didn’t respond fast enough for him. “And if you don’t show up, I’ll make it a mission of mine to show up wherever you at and act the fuck up.” He stepped into my doorway and was close enough to make me nervous and give me a whiff of how heavenly he smelled.
I nodded my head and chuckled. “But you don’t know me.”
“You’re right. I don’t. Not yet at least. However, I’m trying to if you stop being so damn difficult.” He had a smirk on his face when he said that.
“So, how would you find out where I am?” I quizzed.
“Because it’s nothing to find out what I wanna know in my city.” His eyes danced around my face, rendering me temporarily speechless. Finally, I caught my footing and locked eyes with him. I liked the aggression in his claim to ownership of the city. It was sexy.
“Then do that. Maybe then I’ll do lunch with you.” I pursed my lips.
He chuckled. “Is that a deal?”
I nodded.
“Then seal it and let me feel ya lips.”
I laughed. “You don’t know me, and I definitely don’t know you. Why would I put my lips on you?” I questioned.
“You’re right. I don’t. But I been wanting to feel ya lips since I watched ya ass take a seat back in the bar. So do a nigga the honor.” He smiled. “If it make you feel any better, I ain’t got shit.”
I studied him for a few seconds before leaning forward and allowing his lips to touch mine. I expected it to be quick, yet it was everything but. The moment his hand firmly gripped my neck and he pulled me closer to him, I knew I was in trouble.
Never mind the fact that I allowed a stranger to tongue me down in the parking lot of my girl’s tavern.
For me, it was the fact that I was taking my ass home to deal with my fiancé.
The man who I agreed to marry, and he hadn’t left my place since.
Right then, and ever since I said yes, I’d been looking for the small things about him that annoy me the most. At that point, it wasn’t him; it was me.
I wasn’t used to having somebody in my space so often.
I didn’t like it either. I was never the type to wanna party and be around people.
I purposely stayed in the house and spent my time on studies and or travel.
In the end, it worked out for me until I realized that the only thing I was willing to dedicate my time to was my career.
I wasn’t the type to like coming home to somebody.
I liked taking my ass home to my empty condo.
I liked my peace and ability to be my own damn company.
I thought Sabastian understood that, but truth was, he didn’t.
Once I walked into my place, I immediately rolled my eyes. He was sitting at my island, waiting for me to get in. He looked like he wanted to talk, like he had some pressing matter on his head.
“Hey.” I set my purse on the island and went to wash my hands.
He smiled in my direction before that needy ass frown flowed in. “Do you love me, Lane?” he questioned.
I nodded. “Of course I do. Why do you ask that?”
“Because… well, it’s like you keep me at an arm’s length. Then—”
“Is this something else that you discussed with my father first?” I questioned.
That was probably a petty jab, but he deserved it.
“I don’t keep you at an arm’s length. This is my personality, and I don’t like to be smothered.
I told you this when we first started dating.
” I glared in his direction. I was pissed that he had the audacity to start with me when I was just getting in.
I stepped out of my heels and just looked at him.
“So now I’m smothering you?” he questioned.
I looked at him, and as much as I wanted to yell the word yes, I couldn’t. Instead, I looked at him and shook my head. In actuality, I really did love Bash. I think.