Chapter 11
Chapter
Eleven
McKay
I bobbed my head to the R&B playing lowly through my speaker while I worked, going through the herbs I’d just gotten from the wholesale market I was trying out.
Since I hadn’t practiced in years—well, since my apprenticeship—I was so out of the loop with where all the fresh herbs were these days.
I reached out to my mentor and was waiting for her to call me back with her contact so I could get what I need to start growing my own.
Where? That was another question for another day.
But for now, since Mackie needed a replacement soon, I was making a tincture using the ginger, catnip, and rosemary I outsourced.
The ginger I got fresh from The Marketplace and dried myself in my dehydrator I had recently purchased.
I had been using the task to distract me from my thoughts of Burkeley since he’d texted me this afternoon reminding me of our date.
A date.
I cursed myself for even calling it that instead of something more platonic like a hangout or meeting. No, my ass said date and Burkeley had been killing it since then. I grabbed my phone out of my back pocket to view his message once again.
Burkeley: McKay, I’m that kind of man who will take the time to remind you of where and who you’ll be with tonight. I’ll be by to pick you up at six. Also I hope the baby is craving Diablo’s.
Me: I said nothing fancy, Burkeley!
And just as I did when he never texted me back earlier, I grunted my frustration at Burkeley ignoring me.
I put my attention back on the task at hand as I emptied the remaining dried rosemary into a mason jar I had cleaned and blessed, doing the same for the catnip and ginger.
As I went for my bottle of alcohol and the distilled water, the sound of my doorbell had me glancing toward the front door as if I could see whoever was interrupting my flow right now. I grabbed my phone to turn off my music as I headed to the front door.
I yelled, asking who it was as I stretched my head toward the door like I could hear whoever it was.
And since I couldn’t, I stood on my tippy toes, peering through the peephole to see Burkeley standing there with flowers in hand.
I gasped as my hands immediately ran down my body against the bummy ass T-shirt and super short shorts I had on.
I was at home and comfortable. There wasn’t a need to be cute I’d told myself when I came in and stripped down, even coming out of my bra to free my sore titties.
I then reached up to my hair and felt my messy bun on top of my head.
I stood there still, not moving until I heard him speak.
“Open the door, McKay. I know you’re home. You just asked who I was.”
“Shit.” I moved to open the door.
He might as well see the good, bad, and unkempt, Mickey.
“Burkeley, listen, calling before you come is still a requirement,” I said just as he came into view. His masculine scent filled my nose and caused me to stop breathing for a second.
Gotdamn he smells just as good as he looks, lawd.
“Why would I call when we have a date? I told you six. Not to mention I texted and reminded you around one that I would be here and you even replied to me.”
I closed my eyes and groaned as I rubbed my forehead. I put my eyes back on Burkeley who was moving closer to me so he could shut the door behind himself.
“Shit, time ran by too fast. I’m still working on a tincture and I’m not dressed.” And even though I knew what I had on, my eyes fell down so Burkeley could focus on the outfit of choice.
I watched Burkeley’s eyes bug before he caught himself then a frown formed on his handsome face.
“A tincture? Should you be playing with chemicals and shit while pregnant?” he asked with too much bite behind his words, making me chuckle.
“Alcohol is hardly a chemical and everything else is natural and not weed, even though it’s a natural plant.
No, these are just herbs today. And yes, it’s okay as long as I don’t use it, which I’m not,” I said as he walked further into my space, not far enough away from me as he presented me with the flowers, a full two dozen colorful bouquet of mixed wildflowers.
It was beautiful. Most would’ve been indifferent to the bunch, but I loved it.
I knew it was a coincidence, but still, this spoke volumes to me that he didn’t get the typical roses or lilies.
I didn’t have a favorite flower, but if I did, I preferred wild ones.
When he got closer to my island where everything was set up, I followed suit to get a vase for my flowers.
“See, nothing but herbs that grow in gardens, Mr. Plant Daddy. Is that okay with you?” I asked as I smirked at him checking out my jars.
“Plant Daddy?” He snorted.
I grinned as I set the flowers on the counter and went to get the alcohol and water so I could at least finish the process before going to get dressed.
“Yes, that’s typically what they call men like you who have a shit ton of plants.”
Burkeley chuckled as he nodded.
“I guess so. I’m new to the hobby, just under a year in. Nothing like this. This seems too advanced for me. So the other day when I told you the name of my plant…” He stopped speaking while I now wore a smug grin.
“Yup, we share a common interest. Except, well—” I waved my hand around my condo.
“This isn’t the best place to grow a garden for the herbs or flowers I want to take up.
So unfortunately, I’m limited to what I can do.
Getting that dehydrator to fit on the counter was a push, but since I’m currently off coffee, the swap wasn’t a huge sacrifice.
” I pointed to the huge silver appliance that took over where my coffee bar had been until recently.
Burkeley glanced over as he opened and closed his mouth. I could tell he was amazed by the gadget. Before he could speak, I spoke up again.
“Let me go get ready. Don’t touch anything, Burkeley, but make yourself at home,” I said, leaving him standing there while I made my way to get dressed for this date I was now making us late for.
By the time we made it to Diablo’s, my back was touching my stomach. I didn’t realize how hungry I was until I looked over the menu, licking my lips at the list of ingredients in many of the dishes.
“I hope this is obvious, but order whatever you want, McKay.” I looked up and caught the smirk he gave me, letting me know he had been watching me gawk at a pictureless menu I could see mentally as me and Peanut both said yes to options.
“Are you sure about that, Burkeley? You just gave a hungry, pregnant woman free reign to potentially hurt those pockets with food because everything sounds so good to me.” He gave me a light laugh as a smile spread across his face, bright white teeth flashing.
“I promise you won’t hurt my pockets even if you order two of everything on the menu.
Whenever you’re with me, hell even when you’re not with me, money isn’t something I want you to concern yourself about, especially when it comes to feeding y’all.
You’re good. Please order you and the baby whatever you’re craving. ”
I didn’t miss the subtle brag about his finances.
“Don’t get me used to certain amenities that are temporary just like our situation, Burkeley,” I singsonged as I made the final decision on what me and Peanut were eating.
“McKay, temporary or not, that’s one thing that will remain long past our expiration date if you want,” he said in a tone that held so much weight and promise behind each word. I didn’t know what else to say on the topic so I switched it, bringing us back to the reason for being here.
“Burkeley, before we officially get started with this whole fake relationship, are you sure you want to do this with me? I mean, again, I come with extra cargo that typically won’t be so easy for families not to get excited about.” I rubbed my belly, giving him one more chance to change his mind.
Mickey, it was originally his idea.
I honestly didn’t think Burkeley had thought this through, using me as a temporary girlfriend.
“Are you sure?” He shot the question back at me, making me snort.
“Yes, for me, the situation is different. My parents being excited about the baby will be a natural reaction. It will be easier to write you off once this is done. Well, easier than telling your family about a girlfriend and a baby who will both disappear once the year is over. So, again, are you sure?”
“McKay, yes, I’m sure.” His tone was strong and full of confidence as I took a minute to read his matching body language. I chewed on my bottom lip, not sure about this myself but I pressed on.
“So I was thinking… to make this less boring with the traditional method of passing information back and forth, I put together a slideshow for you. I can send it to you,” I said before taking a sip of my water.
The waiter showing up halted Burkeley’s response, which I was sure matched his amused face.
Once we placed our orders, with me ordering two appetizers along with our meals, Burkeley wasted no time giving me a humorous grin as he cocked his head to the side, face twisted.
He was studying me as he processed my words.
“A slideshow, like a presentation?”
“Yes.” I nodded, now going for the water again, taking a sip before I continued. “Figured with your schedule it would work better for you to watch it in your spare time to familiarize yourself with the details.”
Burkeley, even more amused, snickered a few times, sitting back in his chair more with his mouth now slightly gaped in disbelief.
“Nope. Considering that I don’t have a slideshow for you, I don’t see how that’s going to work.
Besides, what would be the point of these dates that you put in the clause of this arrangement?
And before we even get too far into this thing, quit trying to manage my damn time.
While we’re doing this, you and Peanut take the top spot on my list. You could call me at two in the morning and I’ma come through for you. ”