Chapter 9
DELANEY
TWO WEEKS LATER
My jaw clenched as I clicked submit. The irony of submitting the loan payment today of all days was painful. Today was the anniversary of my divorce. I had done a lot of shit to Clayton to repay him for the hurt, pain, and humiliation he caused me through the years, only to end up here.
“Come in,” I called out when a knock sounded at the door.
“Hey, this just came for you,” Yogi stated, walking into my office with a box and a plant.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I don’t know what’s in the box, but someone sent this cute little baby.” She set a small white ceramic planter that read “You are loved” on my desk. I removed the card tucked inside of the plant with the initials NK on them.
“I’m heading home for the day. You have a great evening, Boss Lady,” Yogi declared and left my office.
I inhaled the card when I noticed that it had Naijhel’s signature scent on it.
“How sweet and thoughtful. It’s a care package. But why did he have to come from the enemy camp?” I muttered after I opened the box.
I sighed because as much as I wanted to continue pretending he was the enemy, I didn’t believe that anymore. Naijhel made it hard not to like him.
Hearing his story about what happened to him and his father changed my feelings toward him. I now understood his aggression as he tried the divorce case, and my heart had softened toward him greatly.
My fingers lovingly stroked the bottle of wine as I eyed the gourmet popcorn, bath bombs, and cozy socks. I looked at the clock, and it was already after five. I was ready to go home so that I could relax.
I set the bottle of wine aside and checked out the other items in the care package, which included a comforting blanket, journal and pen, cozy pillow, weighted eye mask, and a scented candle.
I finally opened the card and read it.
“Today isn’t a day that you planned, but it is an opportunity to plan for the future rather than reflect on the past. Only darkness lies behind you and light shines brightly ahead, beckoning you into a brilliant future.
You matter, and you’re cared about just like the plant you have received.
Pour water into it, shine light on it, love it, and watch it grow. Same as I plan to do to you,” NK.
Tears pricked my eyes as I dialed his number.
“Hello?”
“You did good, sir.”
“I’m assuming you received my gifts.”
“I did, and I am going to enjoy them this evening very much. But before I do that, I would like to invite you over for dinner. I won’t have much time to make anything fancy, but I’m sure that I could whip something up for you, if you’re down.”
He chuckled, and the sound touched my soul. I closed my eyes. What were the odds that God had sent this man to rescue me and heal my broken heart?
“I think I can make it for dinner.”
“Good. I’ll see you in about an hour or two?”
“It’s a date.”
I ended the call, packed up my items, and headed outside.
“Ms. Synclair,” Shane called to me.
“Hi, Shane. What are you doing here?”
“Mr. King told me that you would be catching the bus today because your car was in the shop. He sent me to take you home.”
I had told him about that last night when we spoke on the phone. How thoughtful that he remembered and made provisions for it. My auto mechanic had picked my car up during my lunch break.
“Is he always this thoughtful and sweet?” I asked as Shane took my things from my arms and placed them in the back of the car.
“I can assure you that those aren’t words that anyone other than his mother has probably used to describe him,” Shane replied with a light chuckle.
I climbed in the car and relaxed to the soft jazz music that Shane played on my ride home.
I hadn’t been home more than fifteen minutes before the doorbell rang again. I had been preparing to take a shower, so I quickly threw my fluffy pink robe on before I headed to the door to answer it.
“Hey. You’re early.” I greeted Naijhel in surprise.
“Not really. I’m right on time it looks like,” he stated, handing me a bouquet of pink and white lilies.
I took them and noted that he had some bags in his hand.
“I haven’t had time to cook yet. That’s why I asked you to give me some time. Maybe we can look on DoorDash and figure something out. I was about to shower and change,” I explained while I took the flowers to the kitchen to place them in a vase.
He lifted the bags in his hands and replied, “No worries, beautiful. You go ahead and take care of what you were doing. I’ve got dinner covered.”
“I can take care of dinner; after all, I invited you over. Just give me a minute.”
“I am already prepared to make you a meal.”
“What are you up to?”
“Nothing.” He set the bags on the counter, walked to me, and cupped my chin.
“Listen, this is a difficult day for you, and I want you to just relax and find peace. I’m here to make that happen.”
“Well, okay, if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure. Go ahead and get showered and changed.” Naijhel kissed my forehead and walked to the sink to wash his hands.
I wasn’t certain that he had all he needed, but I knew that he would figure it out. From what I had learned of the man already, he was very resourceful, and he was a problem solver. That was attractive if nothing else.
After my shower, I rushed through my usual grooming techniques because whatever he prepared smelled delicious. He was plating our meals when I arrived in the kitchen.
“It smells wonderful in here, and I’m really starving now. What are we having?” I asked, grabbing glasses from the cabinet.
“Seared scallops over a bed of rice with scallions and parsley. Their perfumed aroma adds to the dish. I wasn’t sure what type of bread you might want, so I just went with a basic French bread.”
“That’s perfect. Look at you, Mr. Fancy. Did someone cook it?”
“Yeah, me. I bought a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc that pairs well with it,” he announced, lifting the bottle from the counter as I was going into the refrigerator to look for something.
“You really are prepared, aren’t you?”
He winked and smiled as he took our plates to the dining room. “And I prepared orange sorbet for dessert.”
“I have to watch you.”
“Why is that?”
“A man who knows how to plan unique date nights, give thoughtful, good gifts, and you cook? Yeah, you’re definitely not to be trusted.”
I laughed and he smirked. “I’m offended. Just because my mama and daddy raised me right means that I shouldn’t be trusted?”
“You’re too good to be true. The only smirch so far is the company you keep.”
He stopped and turned to look me dead in the eye. “And that’s my interest in you, keeping better company,” he replied with a wink that went straight to my belly.
We sat down at the table, and Naijhel said a simple prayer of blessing over our food as he held my hands. That simple act was so touching and caused my heart to rejoice. I wasn’t a difficult woman to please, although I was reserved these days, but little acts like that went a long way.
I moaned my pleasure when I took my first bite of the food. “If you really did cook this, you put your foot in it,” I declared.
He chuckled. “I tried to do a little something.”
“When did you have time to do all this? I was only gone for thirty minutes.”
“I took the day off and prepared everything in advance, so all I needed to do was come here and cook it. I made the Sorbet early this afternoon before we spoke.”
I shook my head and laughed. “You already knew you were coming by here today, huh?”
“I did.”
I chuckled again. “Mm-mm-mm.”
“What?”
“How far are you willing to go to get into my panties?”
Setting his fork down, Naijhel rested his elbows on the table and leaned forward. When he held my gaze, it was so hypnotic that I didn’t believe that I could move my eyes if I wanted to.
“Delaney, that’s not what I’m here for. Let’s be clear. I’ve never had a problem getting pussy from a woman.”
It should have been offensive, the way that he said it, but it wasn’t. It turned me on, and I wanted him to say the word again. In fact, I wanted him to ask if he could play in mine. But I didn’t go that route.
“Then why are you here?”
“I found you attractive the day that we met, but circumstances were what they were. Over the last year, I have thought about contacting you a dozen times or more, but I always talked myself out of it. When I received the invitation and learned that you would be in the auction, I knew that was a sign from God telling me to shoot my shot.”
I laughed. “God told you to shoot your shot?”
He nodded and sipped his wine.
“Yeah. Big Homie sent me right on the court and told me to hit that three. I’m looking pretty good from where I sit.”
“Is that right?”
“Yeah. Just know that my only intention today is to be your support system, someone you can lay your head on if you need to cry. But get that shit out of your system. After today, I don’t want to see another tear or hear another word about Clayton Settles. You hear me?”
“I do,” I mumbled.
“Good, beautiful. But tonight is all about you.”
“Naijhel, you’re too good to be true.”
He chuckled and replied, “Only for you. When did you realize that your marriage wouldn’t work?”
“The second year into our marriage. I came home from work early one day because I wasn’t feeling well.
I didn’t get to call him right away because my mother called me right as I was leaving work.
We talked for a while, and when I got off the phone with her, I called him and told him I was on the way home.
He said that he was on his way home, too, and he’d see me there.
“I pulled up and saw a woman pulling out of my driveway, and he was in the doorway. I questioned him, and he swore that she was a rep from the internet company, but I noticed my bed was a little messed up.”
“What did he say when you asked about it?”
“He had been laying down resting and that he hadn’t told me he was home because he wanted to surprise me.
The third year, a woman called and told me she was messing around with him.
She told me the color of and the intricate details about my bed sheets.
Then she advised me to check my dirty clothes for a gift that she left there. ”
“Let me guess, panties.”
I nodded. “A couple of months later, the same woman texted me a picture of her lying in bed beside my husband who was asleep; he was supposed to be at an out-of-town conference. He was already busted at that point, but he kept making excuses saying someone photoshopped the picture.
“But when I caught an STD from him, there was no more denying it. I threatened divorce and left him for two months, but I came back when he supposedly had a cancer scare. His cheating didn’t stop.”
“Why did you stay?”
“I was a damn fool and desperate for a man. I always felt incomplete without a partner. As a leader, I take charge in the boardroom and the office. I’m the Queen B of my social circle and a social butterfly.
But as a companion, I found myself drawn to powerful, assertive men.
I saw my mother completely dedicated to her spouse and his goals, and that’s the type of woman I am.
“I used to blame the women who tempted Clayton instead of him, and I often exhibited fits of jealousy and rage toward them when I was humiliated by his extramarital affairs. I overlooked his transgressions for the sake of my marriage. It wasn’t their fault; it was Clayton’s and mine, and I refused to lay the blame where it belonged. ”
“How was it your fault?”
“I allowed him to do it. By accepting his behavior, my acquiescence toward Clayton gave him permission to treat me that way.”
“I’m about to teach you how to accept care, compassion, and love from a real man. I’m not letting up off your ass, Delaney. You’re about to learn exactly how you should expect to be treated.”
I smiled, and a mist of tears came into my eyes. Naijhel cupped my chin and stared into my eyes.
“May I kiss you?”
“Why are you asking me?”
“To make sure we’re on the same page.”
“Why do you want to kiss me?”
“I just want to see if the reality of you is as wonderful as what I dream about.”
“Please kiss me. I’m tired of waiting for you to do it.”
Naijhel covered my mouth and chased away all my anxieties, my blues, and my curiosity. His kiss was everything that I thought it would be and so much more.