Sylvia #2
The bouquet was so big it covered the face of the person who brought them in. Height wise I could tell it was a man but their face was still covered.
“You can help me by accepting these as an I’m sorry.”
The flowers shifted smoothly, the stems only slightly dipping like their synchronicity was because of extensive practice.
Hassan’s face came into view and I couldn’t lie that I wasn’t happy to see him again.
Part of me thought he would run away but I should’ve remembered how determined Hassan had always been.
He was in a t-shirt and khaki shorts. A look that would’ve been so plain on someone else but looked rugged and sexy as hell on Hassan.
He was smiling and he winked his damaged eye at me playfully.
His not shying away from his injury made me smile but then I remembered that I wasn’t trying to like this man at all.
I wiped the smile off my face and cleared my throat attempting to regain my annoyance but his smile stayed firmly in place. “Are you in need of our services?”
“Depends on what’s on the menu for me to order.” He licked his lips and walked deeper into the office since I was sitting at the front desk to let our receptionist have her lunch hour.
“Not pussy.”
He extended the flowers to me and when I didn’t take them, he sat them down on the desk anyway. “Now why would you want me to pay for what I can earn? Nothing about you says transactional, Sisi, so don’t think I look at you that way. Ever.”
His face was frowned up and I felt like I’d offended him. I shouldn’t have cared but I didn’t want Hassan to think I was bitter. I just didn’t fuck with him like that.
“What is it that you’ve come by for then since you don’t need legal services?”
“I wanted to see if you would join me for lunch.”
“Lunch?”
“Yeah. The meal you eat between breakfast and dinner.” He spoke so sarcastically I almost let him know he was on my nerves but I didn’t want to give him the pleasure.
“I know what that is. I’m just…”
“Just what?” His brows rose and I could see he was enjoying this far too much.
“Surprised?”
He laughed when I posed my response as a question. Hassan tucked his hands in his pockets standing relaxed as he looked down at me. “You tell me, I don’t know.”
I was confused wondering if he was doing this to prove a point or if he was being for real. “Yes. Surprised is the right word.”
“Thought I was going to run away after you gave me your ass to kiss?”
He had me because with the way he’d left me at the hotel I was certain he’d go away for two years again. “Well, yeah. I did.”
“I need you to remember that I’m not one to give up easily on the things I want. Lunch today?”
“No.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He didn’t say anything else as he smiled and walked back out of the door. I was left with the heavy scent of roses, their gorgeous magenta hue and more questions than I had before he walked in.
Hassan kept coming into the office unbothered by whoever was there. My brothers had noted his visits and after the second week of him coming in I decided that something had to give.
The bell rang almost as if on cue.
I was back in my office but I could hear Hassan speaking with our receptionist Brittany. I didn’t have a chance for her to ring my line and for me to tell him to go away. He was in my doorway within seconds holding another bouquet of flowers.
“You’re going to keep your cousin’s shop in business with the amount of flowers you’re buying.”
His cousin Minerva owned the flower shop having taken it over from one of their uncles. The family owned a bunch of land and they grew a lot of the florals they used in the shop.
“I am but my daddy always taught me that you start how you intend to finish. I want you to know that I’m thinking of you whenever I’m not in your presence so this allows me to leave my mark without being too intrusive.”
I smiled slightly because he couldn’t be serious. “You come by multiple times a week and you want me to think you aren’t being intrusive?”
“Persistent, Sisi. I’m the embodiment of persistence.”
I couldn’t fault him there and I waited for him to get to the reason why he had come.
“Is today the day you accompany me to lunch?”
“Yes.”
I knew my answer surprised him because I surprised myself.
I was’t sure if Hassan was for real but I didn’t want to think about that.
Hassan had been persistent and no matter what I wanted to believe, he wasn’t a bad man.
I was afraid to give him a chance but I was hungry and even if we only ended up being friends that was fine.
“Yes?”
The grin on his face did something to me.
My heart was racing at the sight of his joy and I felt that same connection I’d felt between us whenever we were in the same proximity.
It had been even more potent when we’d been together two years ago.
The moment his dick had entered me I felt something in my soul ease.
His dick had been the best medicine and an amazing stress reliever.
Which is why I was so confused when I woke up by myself.
I’d been fighting the feelings for years but they’d only grown when he’d come back.
“Yes.”
“Bet. You want to go to the diner and get something quick? We can walk there from here.” I nodded and stood up from my desk and reached for my purse. “What you doing with that, Sisi?”
Hassan was looking at my purse like it disgusted him. I wasn’t sure what my bag had done to him but I just knew this man wasn’t calling me a basic bitch.
“What’s wrong with my damn purse, Hassan? It’s not designer?”
“I couldn’t care less if you carried a plastic bag. I’m just trying to figure out what it is you think you need it for when you’re with me.”
I stood there feeling stupid for jumping to conclusions. It was another testimony to the type of man I’d been with before.
“I need a purse, Hassan.”
“Nah, you need your phone so the kids can get in contact with you if something is up. But you don’t need shit else in that bag. Especially not your wallet when you’re with me.”
“Are you being demanding, Mr. Beacon?”
He had no problem with adjusting his dick showing that my words had made it grow.
“You think I give a fuck about your brother being here, Sisi? I will lock this door so my dick can get reacquainted with his better half. Calling me Mr. Beacon like that shit don’t do something to me.
‘Bout to have me eating pussy as my appetizer before we head out.”
My thighs were cemented together and I was sure he could tell my breathing had kicked up.
“We have to go.”
“Nah, we don’t have to but we need to unless you trying to make something happen. I’m doing my best to be a gentleman and shit. Not like it’s hard to do because I got mad respect for you, Sisi. You just fine as shit and I know how that pussy feels so my mind wanders.”
I moved around my desk and walked toward him in the doorway. “You are so nasty.”
He put his hand at the small of my back escorting me out of my office. He muttered as I passed by, “Your fine ass shouldn’t have been around here calling me mister.”
He took my phone from my hand and slid it in his pocket for safe keeping so I didn’t have to worry about carrying it.
The walk to the restaurant was quick but I could feel everyone’s eyes on us as we walked through downtown.
The brick buildings all had awnings to keep out the heat of the summer.
Very little had changed over the years as Beacon Grove expanded.
The oldest building was the lighthouse style building that still served as the courthouse for local issues.
Even as the town expanded the same style and charm of the original downtown was there reminding every one of the strength of our past.
We hadn’t done much talking but the silence had been comfortable. When I went to open the door Hassan gave me a look so cold I dropped my hand immediately.
“I’m glad you know. Trying to play me and shit.
You bet not open a door for anyone when a man is in your presence.
Not your doors, not your daddy and not even your son.
They need to treat you like a fucking lady or they gonna see me.
” He raised his brows like he dared me to challenge his words.
I had a lot to say but kept my mouth shut.
“Okay, ’San.”
He gave me a that’s what the fuck I thought look before he ushered me inside.
Since we had beat the lunch rush, we could seat ourselves anywhere.
Hassan of course decided to sit at the corner booth with his back to the brick wall but where we could see and be seen.
I wasn’t sure if he’d done this on purpose but I swear it felt like it.
“Hey, Sylvia. This is new.” Stephanie, the server whose family owned the restaurant, stopped at our table with a broad grin on her face.
Stephanie glanced between me and Hassan with the kind of interest that made me uneasy.
Which meant that she’d leave our table and carry the tale of us being together to whomever would listen.
That along with whoever had seen us walk in or were here now watching us having lunch meant we would be the talk of the Grove.
I sighed and didn’t want to think about the rumors that would start but Hassan looked unbothered.
“It’s food, Steph. We’ll both have water for now.” I tried to shoo her away but Hassan just had to open his fine ass mouth to say something.
“It’s more than food, Steph. You’ll be the first person to know that this is a thing.”
“Oh really?”
He nodded but his eyes never left the menu. Which was purposeful since nothing on it had changed since before we were born. “Yep. And she wants a coke with cherry syrup in it and I’ll have the same.”
It was crazy that he remembered my drink from that long ago and I hated the way it made me feel. “Why are you listening to him, Stephanie?”