Chapter 7 #4
Surely, he wasn’t asking her to leave with him. Not that she hadn’t run the idea through her mind since perching beside him. Shyriq chuckled, hearing the apprehension in her tone. She’d misinterpreted his question.
“No. As for work,” he explained.
Nhuri let out a breathy laugh. “Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
“Probably because you don’t strike me as the type of woman to sit around and do nothing,” he answered, studying her over the rim of his glass before taking a sip.
Nhuri held his gaze. “Do I?”
“You do,” Shyriq replied confidently. “Correct me if I’m wrong, though.”
“You’re not. I do want to take a break from work, though. At least for a few weeks to just enjoy life, you know?”
He wish he could agree with her. “I haven’t been able to do that in a while, so enjoy it for both of us.”
“I sure will.”
“What type of work are you looking to get into?” Shyriq asked.
Nhuri didn’t want to talk about jobs, working, nine-to-fives, or none of that. She was looking to get into him, and the more she watched his mouth move, the more she wanted to feel his lips on her. But he kept the conversation light for now so she’d play along.
“Something in marketing, but I’m not sure which direction yet. I’m still trying to decide if I want to work for someone else or start a business of my own.”
Intrigued, Shyriq lifted a brow. A smile spread across his face. “Yeah? That’s solid. I like that.”
“Do you?” Nhuri jested.
“Yeah. Nothing wrong with working for someone else, but if you can build your own empire, why not go for it? That’s a smart move and some boss shit.”
Nhuri bit her bottom lip, suppressing the unexpected warmth his words sent through her body. There he went again, talking as if he wanted the best for her, and Nhuri was eating it up.
“Strong on the word if,” she chuckled. “Starting your own business is a lot.”
“But it’s worth it. I’m sure you’ll figure it out. You just need the right people in your corner to keep giving you that push.”
Nhuri tilted her head. “Are you one of those people?”
“I could be,” he said and smirked.
She scoffed, but her lips curved into a smile. “I’m going to call you Mr. Smooth from now on.”
“Oh, we get nicknames now?” Shyriq chuckled, making her laugh.
He got caught up in the sound but more so in her beauty and couldn’t tear his eyes away. Nhuri laughed from the heart, not expecting him to say that.
“You’re the one with a slick mouth. Not me,” she said.
“I’m not trying to be smooth at all, gorgeous. That’s just who I am. How I converse.”
Nhuri shook her head, laughing under her breath. “I bet that works out so well for you, huh?”
He didn’t answer right away. Shyriq held her gaze with that intense look that returned, then said, “What do you think?”
“I’m still sitting here, aren’t I?” Nhuri replied, getting a smirk out of him.
“Indeed, you are. Let me make the best of our time before you get back to your girls. They’ve been eyeing me since you sat down.”
Nhuri laughed. She wanted to look over her shoulder at them but didn’t want to make it obvious that they were talking about them.
“They’ll be fine,” Nhuri said, waving her hand. “They’re probably glad I’m over here running my mouth with you. I’ve been in my own little bubble and haven’t had the energy for much else but sulking around the house.”
She wasn’t sure why she felt the need to explain, but opening up to Shyriq was easy for some reason she hadn’t figured out yet. He didn’t seem like the type to judge her, and Nhuri appreciated that, plus the attention he continued to give her.
“I get that. Losing a job will make you isolated, but you have good people around you. That makes a huge difference.”
“Yes, it does,” Nhuri agreed. “They haven’t stopped checking on me.”
“What about you? You the type to check up on your people like that?”
Nhuri pursed her lips. “Of course. I’m a drop-everything-and-pull-up-if-and-when-they-need-me type of friend,” she said confidently.
“Yeah, I figured you were.”
“And what made you come to that conclusion?” Nhuri questioned.
“The day I popped up at your sister’s house. You were ready to beat my ass thinking I disrespected her,” Shyriq said and chuckled. “That’s not even how I get down.”
Nhuri laughed. “Listen. I don’t play about my sister, okay? The quickest way to piss me off or get cursed out is to come for her.”
Shyriq licked his lips. “I can tell. I love that. It means you were raised right.”
The underlying mention of their upbringing made Nhuri think of their deceased parents. For a moment, she could only stare at him, feeling a strange but pleasant heat settle in her stomach—the good kind. She cleared her throat, reaching for her water again.
“What about you?”
“What about me?” Shyriq asked.
“You quick to go to war about your people?”
Shyriq nodded. “Always.”
Nhuri narrowed her eyes. “Okay . . . That wasn’t vague at all,” she said, making them chuckle.
“My fault. But yes, I will go to war about my people. I don’t let too many get close to me, but the ones I do can come to me for whatever and are well cared for.”
Nhuri swallowed, realizing he meant every word he said, from him showing up at Natalia’s home to tipping her the two times she’d served him and now.
Although they were just talking, Shyriq made her feel comfortable and cared about her, even though he didn’t know much about her.
That . . . was an art. The type of skill a man who didn’t bluff about anything could only possess.
Before she could respond, the bartender appeared with two shot glasses. One was filled with the same amber liquid Shyriq had in his glass and tequila for Nhuri.
She eyed the glass, then Shyriq. “Are you trying to get me drunk?”
He chuckled. “Nah. Not at all. Just figured you could use a little more celebrating.”
She hesitated, then picked up the shot. “In that case, cheers to us.”
Shyriq lifted a brow. “Us?”
“What you’re celebrating with me, right?”
He smirked and lifted his glass. “I am, gorgeous. Cheers to you and the much-needed rest from work you’re about to take and every future endeavor with your name on it. It’s already yours.”
Nhuri hesitated, letting his words sink in. They were much more heartfelt than she expected, but what was new? Shyriq had been surprising her with his words since day one. Nothing would change now. They raised their glasses, their fingers brushing before tapping the bar and tossing them back.
Nhuri exhaled, setting down the glass. “Damn, that’s smooth.”
Shyriq nodded. “Had you not already been drinking clear, I would’ve had you drink some whiskey.”
“Some whiskey or your whiskey?”
Shyriq leaned to whisper in her ear. “Not anyone else.”
The warmth of his breath against her ear made Nhuri shudder. He could whisper sweet nothings in her ear for the rest of the day, and she wouldn’t have minded at all. He settled back into his seat, and she shook her head while smiling.
“I don’t know what you’re up to, but I feel like I should be concerned.”
He smirked. “You’re worried?”
Nhuri met his gaze. “Not yet.”
Shyriq chuckled, his eyes never leaving hers. “Good. You never need to worry with me.”
Nhuri wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but it sounded good.
She wasn’t sure what this was or where it was going, but she wasn’t in a rush to leave.
And judging by the way Shyriq was looking at her, neither was he.
Nhuri almost got caught up in it all until she remembered one detailed thing.
Glancing down at his left hand, she noticed his bare ring finger and exhaled.
Her eyes shot up when he addressed the elephant in the room.
“I’m not a taken man, Nhuri.”
“And what exactly does that mean, Shyriq?”
It was the first time she said his name, and he loved hearing it.
“It means that I’m separated and have been for a while now. Legally, I’m still married, but I couldn’t be single any more than I am right now.”
Nhuri snorted. “Well, until those papers are signed . . . You belong to someone else.”
He nodded. “Understandable. What about until they get signed?”
Again, it was an unexpected question that Nhuri didn’t have the answer to, but she didn’t let him see her sweat.
“I guess we continue to bump into each other,” she said, curling her fingers to mimic quotation marks.
Shyriq shook his head. “Nah. I’m not really feeling that.”
She lifted a brow. “Oh. So, what I say doesn’t matter?”
“It does, and I heard you, but let’s compromise,” he said, grabbing his wallet.
Nhuri looked on with curiosity as he pulled out a card and handed it to her. She glanced at the details before locking eyes with him.
“What’s this for?”
“For you to call me on your terms, but you can also use that when you’re ready for a job. That’s my office number.”
Nhuri drew her head back. “You think I’m going to work for you?”
“Why do you sound so defensive?” Shyriq asked coolly.
Nhuri shook her head, clearly having misread the time they just spent talking. She didn’t know this was a damn interview process.
“You look upset and shouldn’t be,” Shyriq said, leaning closer. “I told you . . . I take care of mine, Nhuri. And when those papers are signed, that’s exactly what you’ll be. Mine. So, take my card and call me when you’re ready . . . for whatever.”
Nhuri gulped. His straightforwardness made her nipples tingle and the seat of her panties damp.
She felt lightheaded but even bolder, knowing he indeed wanted her.
Sweetly, Nhuri kissed his cheek and gave him a quick side hug that Shyriq didn’t have time to reciprocate.
He held his hand out to help her stand and stood with her.
“That was sweet of you to offer. Just remember what I said if I call,” Nhuri reminded him.
Shyriq licked his lips. “I will. Enjoy the rest of your afternoon, gorgeous.”
Nhuri walked off without saying another word.
Had she, they would’ve been lewd, and her next actions wouldn’t have been suitable for the public.
Shyriq had given her a lot to think about, mainly him.
Nhuri was pissed that she’d locked herself in the house for so long.
Who knows, maybe she would’ve rerun into him before now.
Shyriq was the extra pick-me-up she didn’t realize she needed but was more than grateful for.