Chapter 18
Eighteen
Steam billowed from the bathroom as Shyriq stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around his waist. Water dripped from his broad shoulders, rolling down the deep ridges of his back as he wiped a hand over his face and beard.
He’d been anticipating this night since he asked Nhuri out.
He wasn’t surprised that she accepted but was surprised that she hadn’t given him any pushback.
For once, he felt like they were getting somewhere.
The finalization of his divorce may have played a significant role in her answer, but whatever the case, Shyriq planned to treat her to a nice evening.
This was the first time in a while that he actually cared about impressing someone.
Nhuri didn’t seem materialistic, but that didn’t matter.
He wasn’t going to treat her any less than the best.
Moving into his bedroom, Shyriq grabbed his phone from the nightstand just as it started buzzing. Rush’s name flashed across the screen, and he smirked before answering and placing him on speaker. He already knew he was about to talk some shit. He felt it.
“What’s good, lil bro?” Shyriq said, setting the phone down while reaching for the bottle of lotion on his dresser.
“Man, you tell me. You out here breaking hearts tonight or what?” Rush’s voice came through the speaker, amusement laced in his tone.
Shyriq chuckled, rubbing the lotion over his arms and chest. “Nah, nothing like that.”
“She must be special then, or are you just maturing?” Rush teased.
He chuckled. “Man, get off my phone.”
“Nah. I’m just trying to see. Who is she?”
“Nhuri.”
Rush whistled. “The assistant? The same one you said you were gonna keep it professional with?”
“Yeah, yeah,” Shyriq muttered, grabbing a pair of black boxer briefs from his dresser. “Plans change.”
Rush laughed. “You mean you saw what you liked and said, ‘Fuck it.’”
Shyriq pulled the briefs up his toned legs, shaking his head. “Basically. She’s different, though. Not just a pretty face. She got her shit together and is smart as hell. I respect that.”
Rush hummed. “So, you like her.”
Shyriq paused. That was the part that had been messing with him.
It wasn’t just attraction or intrigue. He liked being around her.
Whenever she entered his office, or they had a conversation, everything shifted in her presence in a good way.
That type of energy was hard to come by, so his answer came easy.
“Yeah, I do.”
Rush clapped his hands in the background. “Damn, my brother out here catching feelings! What’s next? Matching pajamas?”
“Shut the hell up,” Shyriq laughed, stepping into his walk-in closet.
He ran his fingers over the neatly hung clothes, scanning for the perfect outfit. He settled on jeans, a tailored black button-up, and Prada sneakers. Where they were going didn’t require him to dress it all the way up, but he still kept it casual and clean.
“You wearing cologne?” Rush asked, still amused.
Shyriq rolled his eyes. “When you gon’ grow up?”
Rush laughed. “When I meet a woman who makes me. Until then, I’ma be a playa for life.”
Shyriq shook his head. “That’s sad. I’ma see if she got some friends,” he stopped midsentence. “Actually, never mind. Ain’t got time for you to be embarrassing me.”
Rush laughed loudly. “Man, whatever. Where you taking her?”
“A little spot downtown. Real chill, a private chef, and good music. Nothing too much.”
Rush whistled again. “Nothing too much? Look at you, pulling out all the stops. So, what’s the endgame?”
Shyriq sighed, grabbing his watch from the nightstand and strapping it onto his wrist. “I don’t know yet. But I’ma find out.”
Rush was quiet for a second before saying, “I respect it. Just make sure you ain’t moving too fast. Women like her . . . They don’t play games. She’ll cut your ass off quicker than you can blink or think.”
Shyriq smirked. “Good. I don’t play games either, so neither of us has anything to worry about.”
“A’ight, big bro. Go do your thing. Just don’t fuck it up.”
Shyriq chuckled. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll hit you up later.”
Ending the call, Shyriq grabbed his cologne and sprayed a few dabs onto his wrist and neck.
After brushing his waves, he took one last glance into the mirror and then headed out of the bedroom.
Stepping inside the kitchen, he poured himself a glass of Nine Oak, letting the whiskey swirl in the glass before taking a slow sip.
His nerves weren’t bad, but there was an anticipation in his chest that he wasn’t used to.
Nhuri wasn’t just another woman. She wasn’t an easy distraction or a way to pass the time.
She challenged him, made him think, and had already started taking up space in his mind more than he wanted to admit.
Shyriq didn’t mind that. He just hoped she was ready for what came next.
Some may have thought it was too soon for him to be dating right after a divorce, but he begged to differ.
He’d spent so much time prioritizing business and ensuring his life was airtight that he never really let himself indulge in anything outside of his failed marriage.
It was sad to admit, but it was the past now.
Shyriq wasn’t the same man he’d been when his marriage crumbled, so he didn’t want to give Nhuri any part of that.
When his phone buzzed again, he was expecting it to be Rush, talking mess again, but it was a text from Nhuri.
Hey, I can’t wait to see you in a little bit.
Shyriq smiled. It was short, sweet, and to the point. Grinning, he typed her a response.
I can’t wait to see you either. I know you’re looking gorgeous.
I am.
Chuckling, Shyriq hoped she kept that same confident energy throughout the night.
On the other side of town, Nhuri stood in front of her vanity, adjusting the delicate gold necklace.
Butterflies swarmed her stomach when she saw Shyriq’s text telling her the ride was heading her way.
It was the good kind of nervousness that didn’t make her want to cancel but made her want him to hurry up so she could be around him.
“Talking to someone new is so funny,” she chuckled.
Nhuri had all these weird feelings happening at once, but she embraced them.
Shyriq hadn’t told her every place they were going tonight, but he did say dinner.
So, Nhuri wore one of the outfits she picked up while shopping yesterday.
The deep emerald dress hugged her curves in all the right places, stopping midthigh and showcasing just the right amount of boob action.
Her black heels and clutch were the final touches.
She curled and pinned her hair up, leaving a few tendrils framing her face. Not wanting to do too much with her makeup, she went for sultry and subtle. It was just enough foundation and concealer to highlight her natural beauty.
When her phone vibrated and fell off the perfume bottle she had propped it against, Nhuri flinched at the sound, which caught her off guard. A FaceTime call came through, and the person calling made her smile. Swiping the screen, she answered, and Raniya’s excited face filled the screen.
“TT!” Raniya shrieked, grinning wide. Her missing front tooth made Nhuri gasp.
“Oh my gosh, Niy! When did you lose your tooth?”
She grinned wider, putting her mouth closer to the screen, and Nhuri’s heart swelled. The innocence of a six-year-old would never get old.
“Today! I have to put it under my pillow so I can get something from the tooth fairy.”
“Yes! The tooth fairy comes at nighttime. That’s so exciting, boo. You look adorable,” Nhuri cooed.
“And you look pretty.”
Nhuri blushed. “Thank you.”
“My mommy said you going on a date!”
Nhuri laughed softly, finishing the last touches on her lip gloss. “Oh, she did, huh?” She flicked her gaze toward Natalia, who sat beside Raniya, smirking but saying nothing.
Raniya nodded enthusiastically. “Yep! She did, and I had to call you. Where are you going?”
Nhuri turned back to the mirror, checking her earrings. “Somewhere nice. It’s a surprise, so I don’t even know yet.”
“Oooh! I hope he takes you somewhere with dessert! You love dessert,” Raniya declared, bouncing on the couch.
Nhuri chuckled, warmth spreading through her chest. “I do. I’ll send you some pictures wherever he takes me, okay?”
“Yay! Okay, have fun,” Raniya said before hopping off the couch.
Natalia finally came into full view, and Nhuri couldn’t help but pick up on how she was observing her.
It wasn’t in a judgmental way because that wasn’t Natalia at all, nor was it disapproving.
It was this quiet contemplation like she had a lot to say but didn’t know where to place her words, afraid they’d land in the wrong spot.
Natalia had always been protective of her, but tonight, her silence was different.
“Hello, sister. Are you going to say anything?” Nhuri asked, arching a brow.
Natalia exhaled a small breath, her eyes softening. “I’m just watching. You look happy, Nhuri. It’s been a while.”
Nhuri’s heart squeezed at her sister’s words.
The past few years had been filled with so much hustle and sacrifice.
She’d barely allowed herself to indulge in anything outside of work and responsibility.
But now, she was allowing herself to breathe and see what life had to offer beyond her expectations.
She swallowed, blinking past the emotions rising in her chest. “I am happy,” Nhuri admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “This feels different, and I like it.”
Natalia gave a knowing nod. “And you should. Change is scary but necessary. As long as it feels good to you, that’s all I care about. Just be careful.”
Nhuri rolled her eyes playfully but understood what Natalia meant. It wasn’t a warning to scare her off but a reminder to protect her heart. Natalia didn’t want her to lose herself in the fantasy of what could be without keeping her feet firmly on the ground.
Raniya popped back in the screen and pouted. “I wish I could help you pick your shoes.”
Nhuri laughed. “I already have them picked out, princess. But you can help me next time.”
“Okay. But TT, I hope he really likes you. If he doesn’t, I’m gonna tell him he’s crazy.” Raniya said those words with all the confidence in the world, making Nhuri and Natalia proud.
They both laughed too.
“You better let him know you don’t play about your TT,” Nhuri chuckled.
“I don’t!” Raniya said. “I love you.”
“I love you too, baby,” Nhuri replied with warmth, filling her chest and liquid pooling in her eyes.
Raniya blew her kisses before Natalia took the phone. “Don’t start,” she warned.
Nhuri fanned her face. “She’s just getting so big and smart. Whew. Okay, okay. I’m good.”
Natalia chuckled. “Enjoy your night, sis. You deserve it.”
Nhuri nodded, a soft smile pulling at her lips. “I do, and thank you for pushing me to at least see what he’s about. You know I’ma call and talk your ear off once I make it home.”
“If you make it home,” Natalia teased.
“Oh, please. I’m not sleeping with him after the first date.”
Natalia leaned her head to the side. “I mean, how long has it been?”
“Bye! Get off my phone,” Nhuri said, laughing.
“I’ll talk to you later, girl. Love you.”
“I love you more.”
The call ended, and Nhuri plugged her phone into the charger.
Taking a deep breath, she let the moment settle over her.
She had to get out of her head. Glancing at her reflection one last time, she ran her fingers over her hair and stood up.
Her nerves were still there, but her excitement was starting to overshadow them.
For the first time in a long time, she wasn’t overanalyzing every possible outcome.
She wasn’t convincing herself that she had something to prove.
Tonight, she would enjoy herself and see where the night took her.
Hopefully, not to Shyriq’s bed because it had indeed been a while since she got some, and having sex with her boss after one date wasn’t ideal, at least in their situation.