Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
OLIVIA
“My sister and I never fight, but I get the feeling the time might be coming soon when that changes.”
My eyes flew to the man who was resting in my bed in nothing but his jeans.
Taj often said things that caught me off guard completely, but rarely did those things ever make me feel uneasy. That he was mentioning fighting with his sister had me feeling alarmed. “Why would you fight with her?”
He forced a sad expression onto his face. “Because she’s stealing you away from me on a Saturday.”
A rush of air left my lungs as I sighed with relief. “Are you kidding me? I thought something was wrong."
"Something is wrong.” He sat up, swung his legs over the side of the bed, and stood. After moving toward me and slipping his arms around my waist, he nuzzled his face against my neck. “She’s interrupting my weekend with you. And she got you last Friday and Saturday, too.”
I couldn’t stop myself from smiling as I wrapped my arms around his warm body and allowed one hand to drift up into his hair.
“That’s not fair. Last Friday was girls’ night out for her birthday, and Saturday was her birthday celebration with the whole gang.
We’re only going for lunch this afternoon, Taj.
I won’t be gone for the rest of the day.
And as soon as we’re finished, I’m coming right back.
You and I will have the entire remainder of the weekend together. ”
He kissed the skin where my neck met my shoulder and worked his way up the side of my throat to my jaw and, finally, my lips. There, he grumbled his displeasure. “It’s not the same as having you all to myself.”
Still smiling, I asked, “Do you want me to cancel? Savanna and I have been looking forward to this, but if you want me to cancel, I will.”
Taj stood up straight and met my stare. “No, I don’t want you to cancel. I just wanted to complain about it. I’m aware this will make the both of you happy, and I wouldn’t want to take that away from either one of you.”
I arched a brow. “So, do you promise you aren’t going to start fighting with your sister?”
His shoulders sagged. “I could never fight with her for doing something that makes you so happy.”
Lifting my hand to the side of his face, I stroked my thumb along his cheek. “I hope you know how much I love you for being so selfless and always giving me what I need.”
“I do it because I love you.” He turned his head, so his mouth met my palm, and kissed my hand.
After he released me, I went around the bedroom gathering my things. Taj snatched his shirt off the floor and pulled it over his head. By the time he’d pulled on his socks, I’d tossed what I’d needed into my purse and walked out of the bedroom.
As I crossed the space and dropped my purse on the kitchen counter, so I could get my shoes on, I said, “You know, there is one way that you could make this happen less frequently?”
Taj seemed stunned. “There’s a way for me to stop you and Savanna from making plans together?”
“Well, not entirely. But less frequently.”
“How so? I’m willing to try anything.”
My lips twitched. “Well, we need to find her a guy. If she’s got someone in her life like I have in mine, he’ll keep her busy on the weekends, and maybe she won’t be interested in having lunch with me.”
I nearly burst into a fit of laughter at the look of disgust that washed over Taj’s expression. “I don’t want to think about that.”
Rolling my eyes as I finished putting on my second shoe, I asked, “Are you seriously going to tell me that you’re so overprotective of your sister that you’d give someone who wanted to date her and make her happy a hard time?”
With his own shoes on, Taj stood in front of me and waited for me to stand up.
Once I did, he said, “No. That’s not it.
Savanna is too loving. She deserves to be happy and to share the love that she has to give.
I just don’t need my woman pointing out the specifics of why my sister would be too busy to go out for lunch if she had a man in her life. ”
“Right. Sorry. I don’t have a sibling. The thought didn’t even cross my mind. I’ll refrain from mentioning Savanna’s sex life in the future.”
Taj groaned. “Alright. Even that is too much. Stop.”
“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Laughter spilled out of me as I draped my arms over his shoulders. “Okay. So, are you sure you don’t want to just hang out here until I get back? You don’t have to leave.”
He nodded, his hands clasped around my waist. “Yeah. If I sit around here, I’ll just miss you too much. It’s better I occupy myself with something else.”
“What are you planning to do?”
“I think I’m going to stop over to see my parents for a bit. But call me when you’re done, and I can either meet you back here at your place, or we can go to mine. Whichever you want.”
“Alright. That works. Tell your parents hello from me.”
Taj grinned. “I can do that. But first, I need to kiss you.”
“I expected nothing less.”
I barely had the opportunity to take in the way his eyes darkened, because Taj didn’t hesitate.
But that peek I’d gotten before his lips touched mine was enough for me to know that I was going to be late getting to lunch with Savanna.
Because where he wouldn’t wait to kiss me, Taj was certainly going to take his time enjoying having a taste.
I’d noticed that was a thing with him. In the beginning, during those first few weeks when we were getting to know one another, he’d been such a gentleman.
He’d never crossed any boundaries or pushed for anything physical.
Taj was still caring and respectful, but ever since we shared that very first kiss, he didn’t delay when it came to offering affection.
And once he was delivering it, he always lingered longer than was necessary for me to get everything I needed out of it.
But I wouldn’t complain. Sure, I might arrive for lunch just a tad later than I was supposed to, but what was the alternative?
Was I expected to just stop what was happening?
I was being kissed by this handsome, strong, and compassionate man that I’d fallen in love with.
There was no chance I wasn’t going to take absolutely everything he gave me.
Taj groaned, begrudgingly tearing his mouth from mine. “Call me as soon as you leave lunch. Okay?”
I smiled against his lips. “I promise.”
With that, Taj and I left my apartment and made our way to our vehicles.
He kissed me once more before we said goodbye to one another.
After he closed my door and got in his own car, I got a text from Savanna telling me she was running behind.
I told her not to worry, that I’d gotten caught up with Taj, and then I was on my way to meet her.
As I drove, I replayed my morning with Taj in my head.
Of course, that led to me thinking about every moment we’d had together from the start.
And I couldn’t help feeling so grateful and fortunate that I’d met him.
It was just as we’d spoken about on Valentine’s Day a few weeks ago.
Neither of us had ever thought we’d be where we were that day, but there was no question we were happier than ever.
Nothing could’ve possibly ruined what I was feeling. Nothing at all.
Until I came to a stoplight and looked to my left when a car pulled up beside me.
My stomach dropped.
Because sitting in that car was the one man I never wanted to see again—Conrad.
TAJ
“I’m sorry for barging in like this. I didn’t know you had company.”
My dad walked up and clapped a hand on my shoulder. “This is always your home, Taj. You know that.”
I nodded. “Yeah, but you guys had plans.”
“We’re not going anywhere.” My mom walked up to give me a hug. “We’re just having everyone over today to catch up. That’s all. And it’s not like everyone here isn’t your family.”
“I know.”
“Is everything okay, Son?” my dad asked.
“Yeah. Yeah, everything’s fine.”
“You’re not spending time with Olivia today?”
I sighed. “I am. I was. She and Savanna made plans to have lunch together today, so I’m just killing time right now.”
Before either of my parents could respond, my Uncle Zane chimed in. “Oh, I don’t envy you, Taj. I remember the days of just wanting to spend every waking moment with your Aunt Emme.”
“And she didn’t want to spend time with you?” I countered.
My aunt laughed as she cozied up beside me. “Don’t let him fool you. I wanted to spend time with him. He was the one who was always training for the next contest.”
“Yeah, if anyone has any room to complain, it’s me,” my Uncle Luke declared. “My wife was the most difficult to get on board.”
Aunt Monroe eyed my Uncle Stone and said, “I don’t know if I’d go that far. I know someone else who was a bit tougher.”
“Forget about all of that,” Aunt Nikki declared. “Taj has got a girl in his life. Is this the beginning of it?”
My brows knit together. “I mean, I met her at the Christmas tree lighting, and we’ve been officially together since Christmas. So, it’s still new, I guess.”
She smiled at me. “I know all of that already. I’m wondering if this is the beginning of the second generation.”
“Oh, I think you might be right, Nikki,” Emme said.
Monroe bounced on her toes and clapped her hands. “It’s going to be so much fun.”
Stone asked, “The second generation? What are you talking about?”
“The kids are going to start dating seriously,” my mom answered. “Taj might be the first to be down for the count.”
“Oh, God,” Luke panicked.
“What’s wrong?” Nikki asked.
“Not my girl. Not Lark.” God, he sounded like he was in agony.
“At least you only have one girl,” Zane warned him. “I’m going to have to go through that heartache twice.”
“I dread the day one of my girls comes home with a guy,” Stone muttered.
Monroe coughed and looked anywhere but at her husband, a nervous smile playing at her mouth.
“I feel like there’s something you’re already missing out on, Stone,” my dad told him.
He pinned his stare on his wife. “What don’t I know?”