Chapter 5
After Starbucks at home, we were in the back seat of a blacked out Eskimo truck headed toward the Caldwell Center. I’d only ever seen one of these trucks on social media. Being driven around in one was a luxury experience all on its own.
When I woke up this morning to find a selection of clothes laid out in just the right sizes, I could admit it softened me toward Romani. He was sweet and thoughtful. Despite the circumstances, I’d never felt safer with another man. Everything from the way he carried himself to the gentleness in which he spoke disturbed all the chaos raging within me.
I was much too damaged for him. That truth kept me on a tether with reality. Something about Romani had me believing in fairytales though. That was dangerous territory to be when I learned long ago there were no happy endings for girls like me.
I braved myself to steal a glance at him. He was buried deep in his phone, so I used the opportunity to admire him. I hadn’t noticed the small tattoo of a broken heart on the top of his cheek. There was an edge to him that told the story of a man who’d been through a lot. I couldn’t help but wonder what exactly his story was. He swore I was so wrong about him. The way he handled me suggested it could be true, but I still wasn’t sure. I needed to do real research on his business if I was going to get to the bottom of things and save the community center.
I smiled as we pulled into the parking lot. Lifting my wrist, I checked the time on my Apple watch. It was going on 8:00 a.m., which meant I had an hour to get set up. Glee filled my entire being knowing what to expect for my morning.
“Let’s go,” I said excitedly and reached for the door. In the blink of an eye, I was snatched back. I glanced down at Romani’s arm across my chest. “What’s wrong with you?”
“You don’t open doors when you’re with me,” he said plainly.
In the next second, he was out his door. I watched him as best I could through the tinted windows as he came around to open my door for me.
I giggled, accepting his hand. “Well, excuse me then. Didn’t realize you were a gentleman.”
He scoffed. “There’s a lot you haven’t realized about me.”
Rolling my eyes, I slowly eased my hand out of his. His touch was stirring things in me that I wasn’t brave enough to explore.
“Whatever. Can we go in now? I need to get set up before the girls start arriving.”
He extended his arm as if to say lead the way, so I did. I’d already fished my keys out of my purse, so I inserted my key then twisted to the left to unlock the door. I went to pull the door open and was rewarded with a smack on my hand from Romani. A frown covered his handsome face as he looked down his nose at me.
“What did I just say, Trouble?”
The mixture of his tone, facial expression, and amber scent had my head spinning. I tucked my lips figuring this wasn’t a battle worth fighting. There was no way he was letting me win.
He opened the door, allowing me to enter inside. It was a little chilly, causing me to rub my hands together. Going to the thermometer in the office, I adjusted the temperature so it’d be comfortable by the time everyone started shuffling in.
“So, y’all are open on Saturdays?”
I nodded, but when I glanced up to find him gazing at the fliers on the wall, I realized he didn’t see.
“Yeah. We’re open from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.”
Romani stroked his chin deep in thought, calculating the way he always seemed to do. I kinda wished I could take a dive into his thoughts. His body lightly pressed against mine as I shimmed out of the office. My heart skipped a beat from his strength and warmth. That cologne was so addicting. It called me to me every time he moved.
Going to the back room, I flipped the switch to turn on the lights. Without pause, I went into the supply closet. I grabbed trays of nail polish to begin laying out on the table.
“Can you grab those foot massagers and set them up in front of the seats along the wall?”
I figured if he was going to be here, he might as well help me out. He silently moved into the closet to do as I asked. It was hard not to watch him, especially once he came out of his coat, exposing his thick and corded arms. I’d gone to bed dreaming of the tattoos I’d seen with his shirt off last night. The art was so beautiful it told a story I was fighting the urge to learn. Pulling out my phone, I figured some music would distract me from the brooding yet gentleman across the room.
I connected to the Bluetooth speaker and went into one of my favorite Saturday morning playlists. I swayed as the beat to “Ex-Factor” exploded around the room. I set my phone on the table before getting back to work.
After the nail section was set up, I started laying out hair supplies. I had barrettes, beads, and any other accessory us Black girls used to spice up our hair.
“Shoot,” I fussed, realizing I didn’t have any rubber bands.
The huge tub was finally empty, and I’d forgotten to refill it thanks to the news of the sale coming out.
“What is it?” Romani asked as he erased the distance between us.
“I’m out of rubber bands, and I’m definitely going to need them.”
He pulled out his phone and opened a text message thread. Handing the phone to me he said,
“Tell her what to get. It’ll be here before you open.”
I tapped his phone against my hand fighting the urge to question his generosity. The girls were way more important than my insecurity. Unable to help myself, I read the name at the top. Aisley… I wondered who she was, but a quick violation of his privacy by reading the thread gave me my answer. I shot her a quick text.
Hi, this is Lovie. I’m out of black rubber bands. Romani said it was okay to text you about it. Could you please grab a huge container from the hair store and bring them to the community center?
After I hit the arrow to send the message, I handed the phone back to Romani. He read it over with a chuckle.
“What?”
“You’re polite to everyone but me, Trouble. What’s up with that? I ain’t did shit to your little ass.”
“You really piss me the fuck off, you know?”
He shrugged. “If the shoe fits, wear it, Trouble,” he said slowly, knowing it was the reason I was even fussing in the first place.
I tucked my lips, trying to hide my smile. “Whatever. I’m not your ‘trouble.’”
Romani stepped a little closer, disrupting my ability to think with that mouthwatering cologne. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think he intentionally wore it to make a bitch’s pussy wet.
“When I call you Trouble, I don’t mean it in a bad way. I think you and the trouble you cause is exactly what this place… these kids need.”
I opted for silence instead of allowing him access to my mind. In truth, I was even beginning to question why I was giving him such a hard time. There was compassion and understanding in Romani. It was clear by his presence here when he could be doing anything else in the world right now. A fine, successful man like him had to have a bad bitch on standby or an invitation to some exclusive black-tie gala in his email.
I waved him off. “Get back to work. Time’s a ticking.”
The deep rumble of his chuckle had me searching for something to do with my hands. The desire to be in his skin was growing with each beat of my heart. His aura was magnetic and hard to resist. I was thinking of how I needed to stay far away, when suddenly, his hands were on my waist.
“What else can I do for you?” His voice caressed my skin in a loving way.
I spun around to free myself but only ended up trapped against the table and his solid frame. My heart raced trying to free itself.
“Back the fuck up, and give me fifty feet.”
His smile further hypnotized me.
“Are you sure that’s what you want?”
His fingers gently brushed against my hardened nipples. I sucked in a sharp breath. He used a finger to trace the outline of my cheek.
“You’re so pretty when you’re not talking.”
I pinned him in place with a glare.
“Whatever. Could you move please?”
I pushed against his chest, but he didn’t budge an inch.
“Why you so eager to go against me? Since the first time you laid eyes on me, all you’ve wanted to do was fight me.” He paused, looking into my soul with confidence and curiosity. Like nothing he saw in the depths of me could keep him from exploring. “Is it because you feel what I do? Something undeniable and insatiable? Something with the potential to be beautiful?”
My mouth opened and closed as I tried to formulate a response. Nothing would come to mind. Was it true I was fighting what I felt and not the sale of the center? I thought I’d found the words to say when my name being called snatched me from the secret place he transported me to.
He finally allowed me to move as I walked to meet April. The cutest and sweetest five year old I knew.
“Hey, girl,” I greeted her as I bent down for a high five. She smacked my hand with a giggle. “How was school this week?”
“It was good. I had a spelling test, and I got an A.”
“Ouu, that’s my girl. You’re the smartest girl in any room.”
I stood up to look at her hair. The braids I’d put in two weeks ago were still going strong. She was missing a few beads on some braids, and her scalp could use some TLC.
“Hey, Lovie. I’m going to hoop.” Brent’s voice called out from the door. He stood there with a head full of long curly hair, a sweatsuit, and slides. I knew his sneakers were in the duffle bag on his shoulder.
“Okay. You know she’s good with me.”
“Fasho. Have fun stink.” He waved to his little sister before disappearing down the hall. I turned to April with a grin.
“Should we start on your nails?”
She nodded excitedly. I led her over to one of the seats and busied myself with warming up some water for her pedicure. When I came back with a basin of water, I saw April had tangled Romani in her web. He was helping her pick out a color, and it was the cutest thing I’d ever seen. Literally, my ovaries were begging to recreate this moment but with his baby.
I rushed to pour the water inside the tub and turned it on. The little jets always made April giggle because she was so ticklish. Today was no different. That little sound always made these Saturday mornings worth it.
“Oh, Aisley is here with the rubber bands. I’ll be right back,” Romani informed me before heading out the door.
I stared out the door long after he was gone. I hadn’t come into this situation with the intention of catching any feelings. The more time I was around him the more impossible it became.
My mind raced to a thousand different places as I massaged April’s feet. I glanced up when I heard shuffling, but it was my next little client. A seven-year-old girl named Porter that I’d known since she was a newborn. Her sixteen-year-old sister Porsche came in to speak before disappearing into the gym to probably watch Brent play basketball. I saw the puppy love blossoming there.
“Hey, boo,” I spoke to Porter.
“Hey, Ms. Lovie. Hey, April,” she greeted us both before taking up the seat beside April. I got her pedicure water ready as they dived into a conversation about some K-Pop band they were into. I sang “Hrs & Hrs” under my breath, losing myself in the work.
This was my ministry. There wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for the little girls that trusted me to do their hair and nails. I knew children were mean, and the first time April came to me about being bullied for hair not being done, I knew I had to step in. I created Sophisticated Saturdays for the girls in the neighborhood to schedule their own appointments to get dolled up twice a month. They had to wait at least two weeks between visits to allow room for others. I have gotten the same girls a lot of times though. I was cool with that because I’d grown a genuine bond with all of them. It brightened my days to spend this little bit of time with them. They were all way cooler than me at their age.
“You look so happy right now.” Romani’s voice brought me back to reality.
I grinned helplessly. “Because I am. I love doing this.”
He lifted the jar of rubber bands for me to see.
“Thank you so much. You’re a lifesaver.”
“Happy to help.” He winked and unleashed an ungodly smirk on my senses.
Something about his words felt genuine. I would even level to say a halo appeared around his crown as rays from the shine began shining through the window at that very moment.
“Then busy yourself taking Porter’s braids out while I finish painting their toes.” I pointed to where she sat ogling him. I understood the infatuation. That’s how I felt inside.
Romani gave me a toothless grin.
“Oh, I can do that. You are talking to Robyn’s twin. I’ve been taking out braids since I learned how to work my fingers.”
I giggled.
“Wait… so you’re a twin?” He nodded as he headed over to the back of Porter’s seat. “I didn’t know that.”
“Yep, I have a twin sister and a teenage brother named Regal.”
I listened intently, loving to hear a little more about the man I’d painted as a monster. He wasn’t giving claws, horns, and destruction when we were one-on-one.
“I have two older sisters and a younger brother too.” I found myself unintentionally opening up to him.
“Are y’all close?”
“Ugh, not really. My sisters are way older than me and so different than I am. Now, me and my brother Mercy are inseparable. We’re Irish twins. We even live together. That’s my dawg.”
We talked back and forth a little more, getting to know each other to pass the time. I learned he enjoyed baseball, poetry, and puzzles. By the time I finished with the nails and toes, he had Porter’s hair completely free. He followed me as I went to wash my hands before washing her hair.
“How did you learn to do hair?” he asked me.
I smiled, remembering the exact moment I took matters into my own hands.
“You remember I told you my parents are older?”
He nodded.
“Okay, so my mom used to do my hair, and I would hate it. This one time, the style was so ugly and made me look so old that I cried for hours. My dad felt so bad he let me stay home from school the next day. I spent the entire day on YouTube looking at hair tutorials. I just got better with time.”
He smiled widely. “I love what you do around here. I can tell it brings you joy, even them too.”
He motioned to the girls. I moved to the side of him.
“Yeah, we have a good thing going here. I would hate for it all to come to an end.”
He gently bumped my shoulder.
“Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.”
“That’s what scares me,” I admitted honestly. “What if God takes it all away? What are we going to do?”
I sucked in a sharp breath when he cupped my chin, forcing me to look at him.
“If He took away something as beautiful as this, I believe it would be to replace it with something even better. Trust Him. It’ll all work out, Trouble.”
His encouragement warmed me deep in my icy core to the point I ignored him calling me that stupid nickname.
“Who would’ve guessed you go to church and have a relationship with God?” I teased him instead.
“Why would you assume I don’t?”
“Oh, please. You act like the spawn of Satan.”
He released a hearty chuckle. “Well, if I came from his right nut sack, then you came from his left one, twin, because you’re way worse than me.”
I waved him off. “I am not that bad.”
“Only when you’re sleeping or not talking. You look like an angel both times.”
I flipped him off and attempted to walk away when he snatched me back into his chest.
“You got one more of those before I give you what you’re asking for.”
The low octave of his voice sent chills down my spine. I loved the way I felt pressed against him.
“Now, go handle your business. I’m going to place an order for some pizzas for lunch.”
I placed a hand over my racing heart after he let me go. When I stole a glance over my shoulder, I confirmed my suspicions that he was watching me walk away. The way he outlined my silhouette told the story of what he’d do to my body, but I wanted to experience it for myself. I just knew he’d leave me trembling and moaning.
* * *
“I am exhausted,” I admitted after plopping down in a seat and kicking my feet up.
They were throbbing something serious after all the work I’d put in. I had six girls’ hair to do and just as many manicures if not double. My eyes floated to Romani as he came to sit beside me.
“Thank you for helping out where you could.”
He nodded. “You always do this by yourself?”
“Yeah. It’s my way of giving back. It can get overwhelming, but it’s always so worth it when I see the smiles on their faces after I’m finished.” An uncontainable smile spread across my face. “I mean, did you hear the conversations about Wanderlust?”
He ran a hand down his face showing fatigue for the first time.
“I’ve been meaning to ask what is that exactly? I saw some fliers and heard y’all talking about it too.”
I sat up feeling a burst of energy. “It’s a winter formal where they get to dress up and dance all night.” I tucked some of my hair behind my ear with a sigh. “That’s why this sale cannot happen. Wanderlust is the only time some kids get to experience something so elegant.”
“I understand.”
Somehow, we ended up engaged in a staring contest, and the longer he looked at me the harder it was to look away. He made me nervous. It was always like he was trying his best to peer inside of my soul. I was afraid of being rejected once he found the real me buried in the murky depths of my existence.
“So, what’s next?” he finally broke the silence to ask.
I pulled out my phone, remembering a text message I’d gotten from my grandmother earlier.
“Well, my granny fried some catfish. I definitely need a plate, so I was going to head over there next.”
“Is the tour over?”
“Do you want it to be?”
He shook his head with a smirk.
“Then it doesn’t have to be, but my feet are still stinging. I cannot clean up right now.”
All the breath fled my lungs when he said, “I got you. Relax a little bit.”
The music was still flowing through the speakers, so I relaxed deeper into my seat, watching him maneuver around the room like an expert. I was in trouble. Today was supposed to be about saving the community center, but somehow, I was catching feelings for the man who would be responsible for taking away everything I love.
When he was finished, we headed out to where his driver was still waiting after I locked up. He remained in the driver’s seat as Romani took the lead and opened my door for me. I slid on the buttery seat, trying not to let his cologne cloud my judgment. The longer I was around him the harder it became to not snatch him by the front of his collared shirt and yank him to me until his soft looking full lips landed on mine.
The ride to my granny’s was quick because she lived around the corner from the community center. When we pulled up outside, I had to wait for Romani to open my door again. It was an adjustment because I was used to just doing whatever I needed and whenever I needed it, but I respected he operated a certain type of way. I used my key to let us inside the house. Per usual, it smelled of fresh flowers.
“Granny, I’m here!” I yelled out from the living room.
I didn’t waste any time taking another seat. I was still very much depleted of energy, even though the thought of her food made my mouth water.
“Coming,” she called out from the back of the house.
Romani stood by the door awkwardly.
“Don’t get scared now. You wanted to come over here. Sit down. You’re making me nervous.”
He released a sultry, low chuckle but listened to my suggestion. My eyes began to drift close as I stared at the soap opera currently playing on my granny’s television. It reminded me of my childhood. I couldn’t count how many times I was forced to watch that overdramatic nonsense growing up. To this day, it still didn’t interest me.
“Oh, hello.” My granny’s sweet voice interrupted the darkness I was falling into. I tried to tune her out and fall deeper into my sleep when I felt a pop on my arm.
“Ow.” I hissed, rubbing at my throbbing skin. “What was that for?”
“You didn’t say you had a guest.” My granny was a tiny powerhouse like me.
Today, she was dressed in a white sweater dress with black stockings and her house shoes. Her silver hair was slicked back into a bun at the back of her head, making her look as regal as ever. I halfheartedly tossed an arm toward where Romani sat on her couch.
“I’m sleepy, Granny. He can tell you who he is.” The look she gave me had me huffing before I made the introduction. “This is Romani. He’s trying to close the community center. Romani, this is my Granny Constance.”
I flopped back ready to return to my nap, but of course, she wouldn’t allow it.
“Lovie?”
“Huh?” I cracked one eye open.
“Get that man something to drink!”
I rolled my eyes, getting aggravated by the entire ordeal. I just wanted to take a quick nap then stuff my face like I’d never eaten a day in my life.
“Granny, I don’t even like him,” I whined.
“I don’t like you either, especially when your lips are moving,” he replied with ease.
I got ready to give him the finger, but my granny’s voice saved me from doing so.
“So? You brought him here. Now, act the way I raised you.”
“See, and she had me thinking she was raised by a pack of wolves. You’re nice. I like you, Granny.”
Unable to fight it, I flipped him off proudly. I hissed as my granny popped my hand this time.
“I know not, Lovie. You know better than that. Treat our guests with respect.”
“Mhm… just a bald head scaly wag in all her ways when I’ve been nothing but patient, kind, and understanding. You would think it’d earn a handsome and successful man like me a glass of sweet tea without the backtalk, right?”
He was really enjoying this exchange. I could tell by the twinkle in his eye as he addressed me. Granny waved me off.
“Pay her no mind. Come on in this kitchen with me so I can get to know you.”
He hopped off the couch with a proud grin. When she wasn’t looking, he stuck out his tongue at me.
“And for showing your tail, you’re getting your plate to go, and it won’t have any willow berry pie either.”
I frowned and folded my arms over my chest. She was such a traitor. How was she befriending the enemy so easily? Then I thought about my desire to also befriend him and realized he had to be into dark magic. Why else would we take a liking to him despite what he was up to? I nodded. I was convinced that he was into doing roots on people.
Since the weight of sleep no longer fell on me, I moseyed into the kitchen with them. Granny was busy fixing plates as he sat at her dining table answering whatever questions she had for him.
“I thought you were so sleepy,” my granny teased as I came to stand beside her.
“I was until it cost me my favorite pie.” I turned to Romani and pointed. “You’re sharing yours with me.”
I could tell by the smile on his face that he was about to get on my nerves.
“If you ask nicely, I would love to share with you. I’d even go as far as feeding it to you.”
I gagged, even though the suggestion gave me a second heartbeat between my legs. Granny giggled, loving the exchange between us.
“You see what I have to deal with, Granny?”
She waved me off. “Anyone willing to put up with you and that attitude is quite alright in my book.”
She went to place a plate of food covered in aluminum foil in front of Romani.
“You seem like a lovely young man. Keep her on her toes.”
He nodded once. “Because I am. Your granddaughter would know that if she took the time to get to know me and stopped assuming I’m out to get her.”
I tossed my hands in the air. Partly in frustration that she hadn’t started making a plate for me yet and that he was so adamant I was wrong.
“Because you are.”
He shook his head.
“Then what are you out to get?”
The smoldering look in his eyes warmed my core. Whatever he really wanted to say wasn’t appropriate in front of my granny, so he settled for, “Give me a chance to show things from my side, and it’ll all make sense.”