5. Solomon
The Next Morning
I stepped through the doors of Northwest Care Center and strolled up to the receptionist’s desk.
I knew I was out of line last night when I saw Temple dancing in the strip club, but I couldn’t help but feel .
. . jealous. I didn’t like seeing her doing that to another man, in my presence, or at all for that matter.
The way she moved her butt instantly had my feet moving toward her without thought.
I wasn’t trying to be the crazy nigga in her story, but seeing that made me want to snatch out every nigga’s eyes that saw her booty move like that.
And it was a nice booty too.
So nice that I tossed and turned all night, thinking of a way to make it up to her. I knew I’d overstepped, but I couldn’t help it. Shorty had the makings of being Mrs. Matthews . . . if I could get her away from the pole at least.
With a bouquet of yellow roses, I walked up to the desk and greeted the receptionist.
“Good morning. Is Temple in today?”
She looked at me with flirty eyes before speaking.
“Yeah, she’s here. Who should I say is looking for her?”
“Her man friend.”
“Mm. Okay.” She stood and headed down the hall, and I took a seat in one of the chairs in the lobby.
I could hear the boisterous sounds of children playing while I waited for my future to grace me with her presence.
It took about twenty minutes before she finally came to the front and stopped in her tracks upon seeing me.
“What are you doing here?” she asked. I stood from my seated position and moved toward her until I was close enough to smell the flowery scent of her perfume.
“I wanted to come and apologize for my behavior last night. I was wrong,” I told her. “These are for you.” I handed her the roses, and she received them.
“Thank you. I appreciate your apology. Thank you for stopping by. Enjoy the rest of your day,” she said, attempting to walk away, but I gently grabbed her elbow.
“Hold up. I’m not done.”
“I have to get back to work.”
“I know. I just want to confirm that our date is still on?”
“You could have texted me and asked.”
“I would have, but you proved to not reply to text messages.” I could see a hint of a smirk on her lips. “And I’d like to apologize further and get to know you better.”
“Why? It’s clear you don’t like my night job. I may not be the woman you need to pursue if that bothers you.”
It bothers the hell out of me, Beauty.
“Just agree to go to lunch with me as we planned. We’ll talk about the logistics later.”
“I guess, sir. I have to get back to work.”
“You certainly do.” Mr. Jones appeared behind her with those predatory eyes.
When I saw how his eyes roamed over her frame, I stepped closer to Temple, wrapped my arm around her waist, pulled her close to me, and dropped a kiss on her neck.
I could feel her body shudder slightly as she looked up at me with a smile.
“I’ma see you later, baby,” I told her.
She nodded. “O-kay.”
“Have a good day, Mr. Matthews,” Mr. Jones said. I didn’t even warrant him with a reply as I turned and exited the building.
Homie was going to make me step to him sooner rather than later.
I hopped in my truck just as a text came through.
Karon:
Drinks and cards later? It’s poker night.
I chuckled.
Me:
You’ve always been a bad influence. And a heathen, might I add.
Karon:
Lol! Even Jesus got tempted, my G.
Me:
You’re going to hell. I’ll be there. Make sure you have my non-alcoholic beverage available.
Karon:
Hennessy on the rocks? Say less, my baby.
I chuckled and put my truck in drive, pulling out of the parking lot. Since it was still early, I decided to go grab me something to wear for my lunch date with Beauty.
I was never a weak man in a physical sense, but the way Beauty had me feeling, I knew it would take the strength of God to keep me from crossing boundaries with her.
I sat inside of Sweet Soul Bistro, checking my watch every three minutes.
I had no idea why I was so nervous. Actually, I did know.
This would be the first time in a year that I went on an actual date or took interest in a woman.
This journey of celibacy and trying to live righteously wasn’t for the weak at heart.
It took patience, determination, and a lot of willpower to not fall into temptation.
And Temple was definitely tempting.
So tempting, I questioned whether I should pursue this with her. She had the potential to make me weak.
I took a sip of my water, watching the patrons laugh and hold conversations. I could sense the moment Temple entered the restaurant. Her aura pulled you in the moment she graced you with her presence. My eyes pinned to her, still in her work uniform as she gazed around the restaurant.
I stood so that she could see me and waved her over once her eyes found mine. She smiled lightly, then came to me.
“Hi,” she greeted once she reached me.
“Hello, beautiful.” I wrapped my arm around her waist for a hug, planted a kiss on her cheek, then pulled her chair out for her.
“I was surprised when you texted me to come here. This is one of my favorite places to dine,” she said.
A slow smile lifted on my face. “I’m already winning then, huh?”
“You get a lil point.” We both laughed as the server came over to our table to get our drink orders and deliver the appetizer, the queso dip I ordered. “Oh, you get two points now!” Temple exclaimed, dancing in her seat a little.
I see you, Big Homie.
Temple and the server laughed while I kept the grin on my face.
“Queso dip for the win!” the server exclaimed as we laughed. “Hi, I’m Deann. Do you all need a minute to look over the menu?”
“I know what I want. Do you?” Temple asked, looking up at me.
“Ladies first,” I told her.
“Okay. I’ll take the shrimp and crab Alfredo, with garlic breadsticks and a strawberry lemonade.”
“And for you?” Deann asked, turning to me.
“The Greek salad with Greek dressing, add avocado, and the salmon platter with lemon sauce.”
“Alrighty. I’ll put your orders in now. I’ll take your menus for you.” We handed her the menus, and she walked away. Temple took a sip of her water and helped herself to the queso dip before she looked at me.
“So, I’m curious about something.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“About how you’re pressing me when you have a whole girlfriend.”
I frowned, genuinely confused. “The last time I checked, I was a single man. May I ask where you got your resources from?”
“The horse’s mouth. According to her, you all are trying to rekindle an old flame.”
“And when did this happen?” I was curious as well. When did Shareece have time to talk to Temple? Furthermore, how did she even know her when I’d just met Temple two days ago?
“The day of the fundraiser. She approached me on some woman-to-woman shit.” She laughed. “It’s nothing though. I was just curious. I don’t want to step on her toes, so this will probably be the end of your pursuit of me.”
I shook my head as I looked her square in the eyes.
“Love, first, let me extend my apologies. Shareece had no right to even approach you at all. Secondly, nothing is ending when it hasn’t even begun yet.
Shareece and I haven’t been together since high school.
I’m thirty-six years old, so what does that tell you?
I hadn’t seen that woman in over twenty years, and I don’t plan to ever see her again.
“Right now, my focus is on my business, my faith, and trying to find me a wife. There will be no rekindling anything with a woman I thought I knew but never did.”
Temple’s eyes perused my face with that pretty smirk on her luscious lips. “I figured she was a bit delusional. But, honestly, I don’t know about you yet. You seem to be looking for a certain type, and I’m not sure if I’m there yet.”
“You can be. If you just put forth the effort.”
Her eyes lowered, making them look even more feline as she glared at me.
“What do you want from me, Mr. Solomon?”
“I thought I made it obvious.”
“You also made it clear that you’re trying to live a righteous life. I’m not saying I don’t believe there is a higher power, but it’s clear we don’t have the same agenda when it comes to what we want in a relationship.”
“And what is it that you’re seeking, Beauty?”
She shrugged. “I stopped dreaming of fairy tales when I was old enough to believe that love doesn’t exist. Just loyalty.”
“So you don’t believe in love?”
“Not in a romantic sense. I didn’t exactly grow up being shown what love is.”
“I don’t want to seem as if I’m interrogating you, but I’d like to know why you feel that way. What man broke your heart to where you don’t believe that love exists?”
She shook her head. “No man broke my heart.” She then released a soft breath. “I grew up in the foster care system. My mom died giving birth to me, and I never met my father. For thirteen years, I lived with a woman who could barely remember my name, and two foster sisters who were mean girls.
“It wasn’t until my mother’s mother found me, and fought for custody of me, did I feel cared for.
I got to meet my two real cousins and an aunt I didn’t know I had.
I guess when you talk about loving someone, I can only tell you about the love I get from my family.
Men were never trustworthy enough for me to fall in love with them.
Every man I’d dated could only supply two needs for me. Sex and money.”
I nodded. “I see.”
We were quiet for a moment until a soft chuckle left her mouth.
“So, I like I said, I don’t think I’m your type of woman.”
“I beg to differ.”
“How so?”
“Because I see beyond the layers and guard you’ve put up.
I know somewhere inside your heart, you want to be seen, loved, and cared for by someone other than your family.
You’ve been programmed to survive, so you’re very much guarded.
I know you have your vices, but I’m willing to put in a little work to get you where you should want to be, not where someone else wants you to be. ”
She giggled. “Are you the second coming of the Messiah or something?”
“Nah . . . His shoes are a little too big for me to fill, but I’d do my best to be just as like-minded as Him.”
The server finally arrived with our meals as I said grace, and we dug in.
“So, tell me about you. What has you wanting to live right?”
I finished chewing my food before I answered.
“Life. I realized the person I was was leading me down a path of destruction.
I worked for DPD for four years before I decided to turn in my badge.
I was overly worked and underpaid, and I was the best officer they had.
One night there was a robbery, and I responded to the call.
“That night resulted in a shootout with me almost losing my life. Right then, I knew being a cop wasn’t what I desired anymore.
So, I quit and started my security business that has been the best thing I never knew I needed.
I make way more money protecting politicians and celebrities than I did when I was on the force.
” I took a sip of my water before I continued.
“And to answer your question honestly, and without deflecting, I was a man with a healthy appetite for sex. Not only that, I was drinking heavily as well. I knew my addictions were destroying me, so I sought a higher power to help guide me out of the dark place I was in.
“Don’t get me wrong, I still have ways to go, but I try every day not to be the man I was before. I’m seeking something more permanent and stable. I want a wife and family.”
She nodded. “Understood. But I’m not sure if that’s what I want. I have too much going on to even consider being somebody’s wife or mom right now.”
“I think I can change your mind.” I smiled at her before digging back into my food.
“Your confidence is admirable. But we’ll see how long you stick around when you find out I’m not the type to be pressured into something I’m not ready for.”
“No pressure at all. I know the type of woman I’m dealing with.
If you think that running away from love is going to scare me off, then you're really mistaken. I don’t know what it is, but something is pulling me to you.
And it doesn’t matter if you run; I ran track in high school, so I’m down for the chase.
” I winked. I could see her fighting a blush and knew this wasn’t going to be easy.
I could tell she liked to fight against her feelings, but it was cool.
I was sure I’d get through those walls she put up, no matter what I had to use to get through them.