Chapter 3
A Week Later…
With Shyla secured in my arms to save time, I rushed toward A Little More Shea hoping to catch the shop before they closed for the evening. It was my day off, but I fell into a coma after cleaning, cooking, and spending quality time with my baby. By the time I woke up, it was half an hour to 7:00 p.m., which was the time Island closed her shop for the day.
The drive was twenty minutes. Plus, I had to get both of us ready first. By the time we made it to the Dynasty District, it was ten minutes after the hour. Since I’d come so far, I figured I’d try my luck. As we neared the door, I saw Island was just locking up for the night.
“Wait… Wait…” I called out. My chest heaved up and down from carrying Shy Shy while sprinting from where I was forced to park down the block.
Her eyes widened in shock. She studied us through the glass. I could practically see the wheels in her mind spinning.
“Please, I need another jar of that stuff. It helped, and we’re out.” I pointed at my daughter. “Come on. You don’t want my baby to go back to being an alligator. She’s a princess.”
I stuck out my bottom lip for emphasis. I grinned when she shook her head and began unlocking the door. I sighed in relief when she pushed it open.
“You better be lucky she’s so cute,” Island told me then stepped back to allow us inside.
I placed Shyla on her feet once we were safely in the shop. She immediately grabbed my hand, never one to do too good with strangers. I turned to watch over Island as she put the lock back on the door.
“So, you saying if my baby was ugly, you wouldn’t let us in?”
She turned toward us and shrugged.
“Absolutely not. Wouldn’t want nightmares before bedtime.”
Her response tickled me as we followed her deeper into her little shop. The scent of lavender practically clung to every particle in the air. I began to relax now that we’d made it inside and could get what we needed.
“How’d you run out so fast? That jar should’ve lasted at least another two weeks.”
I shrugged. “I may have tweaked the directions because it was working but also drying out kind of fast. I kept reapplying because I didn’t want her to go back to making herself cry and bleed.”
Island propped an arm on her front counter and tapped her chin. I couldn’t help but admire the shape of her body. Island was five foot seven and slender with soft curves where they needed to be. She was the color of cinnamon with the cutest brown freckles across her plump cheeks and nose. Today, her heart-shaped lips had a juicy red tint to them that I liked. Her long black locs cascaded down her back in curly ringlets I would wrap around my hand as I drilled her from the back… if I hadn’t noticed a hint of sadness behind her deep brown eyes. She was a bit guarded, though. She had this air of confidence that attracted a man like me to her.
I licked my lips, loving everything about the woman in front of me. She was adorable as a young girl, but as a grown woman, she was fine as fuck. Any man with eyes would be infatuated with her. And since I was a man with eyes, I couldn’t get enough of sizing her up.
“It shouldn’t have been drying out so quickly.”
She glanced down at my baby and bent down so they were at eye level.
“Hey, princess,” she greeted her softly.
Shy Shy looked up at me to see if it was safe. Once I nodded my approval, she turned to Island and softly greeted her.
“Hi.”
Island waved. “I’m Island, or you can call me Izzy. What’s your name?”
“Shy Shy,” she mumbled.
A soft smile lifted Island’s cheeks. “That’s so cute. Is your skin bothering you right now?”
Shy Shy nodded slowly.
“You mind if I take a look?”
A nod of her head followed. Island dropped her weight to her knees then inched closer. She lifted her free hand until she got to her elbow. Silently, she rubbed her finger over the rough surface before observing closely. When she was finished, she sat back on her heels and stood up. I tried not to focus on the way her titties bounced in place, but I wanted to lay my head right there so fucking bad. I envied her bra. How dare that fabric get to caress her every day, all day.
“Okay. I can give y’all some more jars to last for now, but I believe I can curate something custom just for her to heal the skin entirely.”
I massaged my goatee, intrigued by her offer. “You sure? The last time I was here you weren’t even sure that Water Lily stuff would help.”
She rolled her eyes and pinned me in place with a glare. “But now we know it does, and I believe customizing the ingredients will give you the results you’re looking for and Shy Shy needs for long term relief.”
I glanced down at my baby. The last thing I wanted was for her to go back to scratching until she bled again or crying herself to sleep. This had been an otherwise good week for us, so I was willing to let Izzy work her magic. I nodded once.
“Okay. I’m with it. Whatever it takes.”
Island clapped her hands excitedly. “Great. For now, I’m going to send you home with more jars of Water Lily until I’m finished with her custom butter.” She glanced down at my baby. “You want to help me pack your order?”
I thought she was going to turn her down, but surprisingly, she nodded and dropped my hand to take Island’s instead. I would be jealous if I wasn’t so mesmerized by the natural sway of Island’s hips. I moved to the counter, watching them as they moved toward the corner of the room. Island showed Shy Shy where the baskets were. She held it in one hand and followed Island by hand to the shelves.
Island showed her what to get then allowed her to collect it on her own. She complimented Shy Shy on how smart she was in the gentlest voice when she correctly picked up four jars. Leaning on the counter, I could only admire how kind she was to my baby. There was a soft side to Island she was hiding, and I was almost tempted to search for it.
Once Shy Shy’s basket was loaded with what she needed, they headed back toward me. Shy Shy came to stand by me with a grin.
“What you got there, Smiley?” I tickled her armpit, causing her to share her laugh with us.
“Body butter.” Her voice always brightened my days. “Ms. Island is going to make mine look like ice cream.”
She looked so excited by that. I turned to Island with a raised brow.
“You got it like that, Ms. Island?” I asked, teasing her.
She tried to hide her smile. “I do.”
I smirked as she busied herself with ringing us up instead of giving in to the good vibes surrounding her.
“It’ll be fifty-three dollars and twenty-six cents.”
I pulled out my wallet and handed her a hundred-dollar bill.
“You can have the rest as a tip, and thank you for helping us after hours.”
She pinned me in place with an expression I couldn’t explain before tucking her bottom lip and shaking her head.
“Well, aren’t you generous. I was happy to help, but thank you.”
I nodded. “You’re welcome, Izzy.”
She walked around the counter with a box. Bending down, she packed it with the jars then closed it up and handed it back to Shyla.
“You’re all set, Princess Shy Shy.” She stood then directed her attention to me. “You two have a good night.”
I winked with a half smile.
“You too, pretty lady.” I got ready to leave when I had a thought that paused me. “How am I supposed to know when her custom order is ready? You know I’m a busy man between firefighting and being a full-time father. I think this is where we exchange numbers.”
Island palmed her forehead then sighed heavily.
“I’m never going to get rid of you,” she murmured.
I smiled proudly.
“Not in this lifetime or the next.” I rubbed my hands together excitedly. “Ouu, I’m going to be blowing your line down just to ask you what you’re doing.”
She shook her head with a frown. “I’m going to regret this.”
I cheesed as she slid her phone across the counter. I quickly entered my contact and called myself so I’d have hers. Once I was finished, I handed it back.
“Nah, this the best decision you’ve ever made. I’ma be good to and for you, Izzy.”
I felt like there was nothing else to be said. Glancing down at my baby, I urged her along.
“Come on, Shy Shy.”
Island followed us to the door. Shy Shy hopped down the steps with me right on her heels. For some reason, I turned to look back at Island’s shop.
She stood her fine ass right there watching us while she locked the door. When her eyes connected with mine, I blew her a kiss. She frowned and rolled her eyes before shutting the lights off and casting herself in a blanket of shadows. As I walked toward my truck hand in hand with my baby, I found myself already looking forward to the next time I saw her. I was going to make her smile.