Chapter 4
CHAPTER FOUR
The grin on Nico’s face seemed permanent since he met the curly headed redbone now riding in his passenger seat.
He kept glancing over at her and chuckling softly because he could tell she second-guessed coming with him.
And in between glances, he took bites out of the waffle he had clutched in his fist while he drove.
They stayed outside the party for a long time, debating on their next move.
He was the only one who wanted Waffle House, to his dismay.
He hadn’t been ready to let Remedie out of his sight.
Luck was on his side because Remedie mentioned that she didn’t want to go back to her friend’s house because she figured her bugaboo ex might pop up.
Being the gentleman his mama raised him to be, he jumped at the opportunity to offer her some peace of mind.
It took a lot of charm and convincing, but Remedie finally agreed to stay the night at his house to avoid her ex.
Aye, in his mind, Nico saw that as a win.
It gave him time to win her pretty ass over.
When he glanced at her this time, he caught her side-eying him before she asked, “Why are you eating your waffle like that?”
Nico glanced down at the breakfast food in his fist and then shrugged. “It ain’t really easy to eat a waffle and drive, sweetheart. You ever tried it?”
She scoffed. “No, because I’m patient enough to wait until I get home.” She gestured toward the to-go box in her lap.
His grin widened. “I like that you’re thinking of my home as yours.”
Her eyes grew wide, and he laughed as he focused back on the road.
“That’s not what I . . . I mean . . . Just forget it.” She slouched down in her seat while Nico smiled like he’d just won a damn trophy.
As if she hadn’t just tried to end the conversation, he picked it right back up like nothing happened.
“I couldn’t wait until we got home.” He emphasized the word he knew would get a reaction out of her.
He heard her smack her lips before he continued.
“A man needs to eat after a big fight. Don’t you agree? ”
He caught her eye again, and he saw the apprehension all over her face.
“Why the hell were you fighting? And why do you make it sound like you do it all the time?”
His brows rose to his crisp hairline. Most people who went to house parties in the Ellway Projects knew who he was. He was hood royalty. It shocked him that she had no idea.
“Nico Nightmare Graves . . . heavyweight underground champ . . . That ain’t ringing a bell?” he asked, trying to jog her memory.
She cocked her head to the side. “Is it supposed to?”
“You live under a rock, ma? It’s okay if you do. I’ll move you into my place to help a sista out.” Though he was dead ass serious about what he said, he chuckled because he felt like he was a real-life comedian.
She hit him on his defined arm with the back of her hand.
“I’m not homeless . . .” He stole a look at her when he pulled up to a red light and noticed her features had shifted.
Her brows pinched together, and her pouty lips balled up as if she realized something.
In a softer tone, she said, “I don’t live under a rock.
I just never cared for fighting of any kind. ”
“I can’t tell. You was about to put hands on the chick back at the party, and you called that being nice.”
“Just because I know how to fight doesn’t mean I like it. I definitely don’t like watching it. I’m the type to beat a bitch up and cry while doing it.”
He shook his head. Fighting was his life. He didn’t understand people who had no interest in it.
“Aight, well, I’m the champ. Had a big fight tonight, and now that I’m off my training diet, I’m ready to take in as many calories as possible.” To prove his point, he took another big bite of his waffle.
“And Waffle House was your first choice?”
“What’s better than Waffle House?” he asked, genuinely curious.
She giggled. “Most things, love.”
Nico’s entire body warmed. “Aye, call me that again. I liked that shit.”
She shook her head, but he heard a small giggle escape her lips. “Not going to happen.”
“Aight. Don’t be surprised when I don’t respond to you since you don’t want to follow directions.”
“Anyway.” She stretched out the word in a playful manner. “I could make better waffles than this.”
“Ain’t no way.”
She whipped her head around. “That’s what you think?”
“That’s what I know. Waffle House is a classic. Ain’t no beating it.” He took another bite and chewed slowly. He’d missed all his favorite junk foods over the past month.
“Okay, keep telling yourself that,” she muttered.
He smirked. He’d struck a nerve. She was cute as hell when she was irritated.
He couldn’t remember the last time he had been so interested in a woman’s words and not her body.
Don’t get it twisted. He was still very much interested in Remedie’s body, but he genuinely enjoyed their conversation, even if she got irritated easily.
He felt like he could easily irritate her and then bring her out of it, and he decided that would be his favorite new activity.
“You act like you a chef or something.” He pulled into his driveway next to his luxury coupe before he turned off the car and looked at her. He could tell she hadn’t even noticed her surroundings because she didn’t look impressed. Instead, her eyes grilled into him.
“I am, actually. I used to work at the top soul food restaurant in Ellwood. I graduated top of my class. If anyone knows food, it’s me.”
She said it with her chest poked out. He didn’t even feel compelled to look at her juicy titties. His eyes stayed on her pretty, light brown ones as they widened in shock.
“You for real? You can really throw down like that?”
It was her turn to smirk. “Yeah.”
“Interesting.” He stroked his short beard. “You say you used to work at a soul food place? Where you work now?”
Her prideful look slipped, and she made eyes contact with the to-go container in her lap. “I’m in between jobs right now. Been selling plates to keep afloat.”
Even in the dark, he could see her cheeks tint red.
He could tell she didn’t really mean to share that.
It just slipped out. She had no idea how much her vulnerability turned him on.
When it came to him, women tended to keep things surface level.
They thought a pretty face and pussy would move him.
It would get him to fuck them, but he never understood the need for a relationship if that was all women came with.
Instead of making her feel uncomfortable, he decided to drop the playful act and offer her some comfort. “Ain’t no shame in hustlin’. At least you have a talent that allows you to make ends while you’re down.”
She looked into his eyes, and he saw a woman that carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. That tugged at his heart. His mama had the same look during his whole childhood. He never liked it back then either.
“Thanks,” she muttered, and then she laughed like nothing in the world was even funny. “I can’t believe I’m even here right now just to hide from my ex. This shit is wild.”
“What’s the deal with him anyway?”
She shifted her gaze again. “I broke up with him a few days ago after he got physical with me. He didn’t hit me or nothing like that, but that was the first time I thought he might. Not to mention he’s the reason I lost my job. I just want him to leave me alone.”
Nico’s jaw clenched and unclenched as he listened to her speak. Weak ass men who intimidated women would never have his respect. It made him wish he’d laid his ass out earlier. He expelled a long breath before placing a smile on his face.
“Unfortunately for you, this isn’t a one-night stand, anyway.”
Her face scrunched up. “I could have told you that, but why is it unfortunate?”
Nico glanced down at his lap, playfully looking at the print in his shorts, before he looked back at her. He wiggled his eyebrows. “You’re seriously missing out, baby.”
She tilted her head back and laughed before pushing his arm, which didn’t move an inch. “You are ridiculous.”
He chuckled. He liked seeing her laugh. “This is an interview though.”
Her gaze turned serious. “An interview?”
He nodded. “You gon’ cook for me tomorrow. And to make it fun, we gon’ make it Chopped style. You have to use whatever I have in my kitchen, which really ain’t much, and convince me that you’re worthy of being my personal chef.”
Her brows rose, but he saw a hint of a smile on her lips. “Is that right?”
“Yup. I been meaning to hire a personal chef. How convenient is it that one fell into my lap.” He glanced down at his lap again. “I wish I meant that literally.”
She giggled. He knew he was in there. Any woman he could make laugh was a woman he could make his. That was his philosophy anyway.
“Fine,” she said, accepting his offer. “That’s a deal.” She put her hand in his, and he fought the urge to kiss it. Something told him he needed to take his time with her, and he had no problem doing that. Finally, she looked around at her surroundings and gasped. “This is your place?”
“It is.” He quickly got out of the car, stuffed the rest of his waffle into his mouth, and ran around the vehicle.
He opened her door before she could. Her hand was on the handle as if she was about to.
“Kinda niggas you been around?” He thought about what he said and remembered her ex back at the party.
“Never mind. You don’t open doors in my presence. Got that?”
“Okay, my bad, Nightmare.”
His dick twitched, but he played it off as he looked behind him. “Who? That ain’t what I said to call me.”
She chuckled. “In your dreams.”
She sashayed past him with her food in her hands. He bit his bottom lip as he closed the door and followed behind her. He never took his eyes off her ass. Even when he unlocked his front door, he managed to keep his eyes back there.