Chapter 17
SEVENTEEN
Johnni
We had just left my fitting and were now making our way to drop Mama Steph at home.
“Mama, I can’t believe you walked over to the house.”
“I don’t know why not. I told you, y’all stay too close for me not to take in some of this fresh air sometimes.”
We did, but it wasn’t a quick next door neighbor setup, more of a good fifteen minutes down the road from her house.
“Because anything could happen.” She waved me off as Courtland parked so he could let her out.
“Johnni, don’t know nobody want me but that man. I love you and I’ll call you later.” I leaned over a bit to hug her goodbye just as her door came open.
I watched as Courtland helped her all the way up her walkway and paid close attention to him coming back to the truck. He truly was a fine ass man and I loved seeing him outside of his classic black suit.
Once he got back in, I pretended to be focused on my phone that only had my email open.
“Lou, do you need to go anywhere else?”
“No. That was the only thing on my agenda today.”
That was all he said as he backed out. I sat there silently, fighting hard to keep my eyes in my lap. This was the first time we’d been alone since this morning. When we drove past my driveway, I frowned.
“Wait, Courtland, you passed my house.”
“I know, Lou. We’re not going there.”
“Um… okay. Does Quincey have you running errands for him too?”
“Hell no, and the same rules apply of not bringing that muthafucka up when we’re together.
He may cut the check, but I damn sure ain’t his errand boy.
I work to serve you, Queen Lou. Now, Queen, sit back and relax and let me take you somewhere special.
It’s date night.” I gnawed on my bottom lip, doing my best to hide my smile but failing miserably.
Courtland stayed surprising me and making me feel loved and appreciated.
Thirty minutes into the drive, I got antsy sitting in the backseat alone. So the moment he came to a stop at a red light, I undid my seat belt, so I could climb into the front to be with him. It wasn’t the smartest idea, especially since I had on a thin dress, but I made it work.
“Lou, what are you doing?” He questioned me but was already in motion to help, putting his hand out to support me. The sound of the horns blared but Courtland was unmoved until he had me situated.
“I got lonely back there, baby,” I huffed as he pulled my dress down so I could finally sit, with him laughing as if he were truly amused.
“You could’ve asked me to pull over and put you up here the proper way, Lou. You and this thin ass dress holding up traffic.”
“I could have but this was quicker. Now, go, the light is green.” He smirked, shaking his head as he reached over and strapped me in before finally getting us back in motion.
I broke our silence once again. “Are you going to tell me where we’re going?”
“Nope, don’t worry though. Something tells me that you’ll like it. Now I know it’s been a little minute since you rode passenger princess, I have to lay out some rules that you carry in this position.”
“I thought I was your queen?” I asked, knowing what he meant.
“You are, but since you left your throne and came to that seat next to me…why am I over explaining this? The first rule is don’t touch the aux cord. Me, the driver, controls the vibes unless otherwise stated.”
“But what if your musical selection is trash? You look like a no words just beats type of guy. It’s bad enough you like that type of music but to punish poor innocent me is just cruel, Chief.” Courtland burst into a fit of laughter which had me joining.
“Yo, that’s wild and the term you’re looking for is instrumentals.
They aren’t trash, they are the foundation to any good song, baby.
Back to rule two, someway somehow, I have to touch you.
Whether it’s my hand on your thigh or us holding hands, I gots to be on you.
” I cocked my head as I side eyed him before I gnawed on my lip.
“Huh, I’m pretty sure you made that rule up just to touch me because Najee was up here the other day and you didn’t hold his hand.”
“Hell naw and that shit would never fucking happen because Najee ain’t my passenger princess. That’s strictly for you, Lou. You talking too much. Let me show you how good this rule is. See, top notch shit, baby.”
Courtland reached over and grabbed my hand, interlocking our fingers before he kissed the back.
“Perfect fit.” I playfully rolled my eyes as I snatched out of his hold.
“We ain’t saying all that, buddy,” I joked because Courtland fit me everywhere.
We shared a laugh as he retook possession of me.
“You’re the worst fucking liar, Lou. Anyway, rule three, on occasion I need kisses at stop signs and red lights.”
I giggled.
“I might have to take my ass back to my throne you have a lot of rules I don’t think I can fol—"
I couldn’t even finish my sentence before the truck came to a stop and Courtland’s mouth was on mine. His cool minty breath tasted so good and had me moaning from the mixture of him and the pleasure he was giving me. A gentle yank to my hair had me tossing my head back, which broke our connection.
“Ah… Chief.”
“Liar, liar, we both want my mouth on yours.” This time when we kissed, he didn’t break it, giving me enough time to fall deeper into him.
I tossed my arms around his neck as he bit my lip.
The sound of an echo of a car door had me finally opening my eyes.
I looked around and noticed that we were on the ferry, which gave Courtland the chance to hop out of the truck and come around to my side to help me down.
My first mind was Seventh Heaven but I didn’t see him keeping that a secret considering it wasn’t a new place for us.
“I would take you upstairs but there’s less people down here, meaning I can have you to myself. I’m stingy as hell with your alone time, Lou.”
Since there weren’t a lot of cars on the lower level with us, we made our way closer to the rail of the ferry. Courtland stood behind me, enclosing me in his arms. I turned to face him.
“So are you going to tell me where we’re going or is kidnapping a skill on your resume that’s written in small print.”
He chuckled. “It’s definitely in small print. I’m not ashamed of a skill that comes with the job. You never know when you might have to save someone from themselves or others. But fortunately for you, today I just want to show you one of the beautiful wonders of the world here on the island.”
“I imagine with your travel history you've seen a lot of beautiful places. What makes this your favorite?”
“For one, I didn’t say favorite, and two, I have but I promise none come close to my top spot.
In all my years, no ocean, rainforest, or pyramid compares to her beauty.
” The way Courtland’s heavy gaze burned into my soul should’ve had me scared and looking away because honestly that made more sense than what I did.
The calmness that radiated in my bones for him had me matching his energy, pouring myself into him before I stood on my tippy toes, poking my lips out, awaiting his.
This kiss felt different from the others.
I couldn’t explain it no other way than, if this was the edge of my sanity instead of continuing to run from Courtland, I just jumped.
“Whose house is this?” Courtland had just pulled up to this gorgeous beach house when panic set in my chest and had my heart pounding. It must’ve been written on my face as he brought my hand to his mouth and kissed it gently.
“Relax, it’s my brother’s. But don’t worry, him and the family aren’t here. I got the okay before coming,” he answered and I let out a light breath just as he parked, but I was still nervous.
I sat patiently as he hopped out, rounding the truck while I began to toy with my wedding ring, contemplating if I should just tell him to take me back home.
My time to decide went by too quick as my door came open with Courtland holding out his hand for me. I hesitated silently.
“Lou, I might be new to all this side shit but I know you still require discretion. Don’t stress the process, I got that covered.
Just like I’m guarding your life with mine now, no matter what, know your privacy is forever safe with me.
Like you said, we playing with our lives at this point. No slip ups.”
“No slip ups,” I confirmed as I finally let him lift me from the passenger seat.
He used a key to let us in and I was immediately hit with a sweet pineapple scent and the sunset flooding through the windows. The sight mixed with the smells gave me tropical paradise vibes and had me melting the further we walked inside.
“Oh my gosh. If we weren’t a secret, I would have you telling your brother I want to buy his house because I’m in love and not leaving.” Courtland chuckled as we walked from the front to the back where the view of the beach took my focus.
“I completely understand but you might have to fight his wife for it. Liv loves it too. They come here a lot, especially once the kids are out of school. They tend to stay the whole summer.”
“Oh yeah, the kids. You hardly mention them.”
“They def be giving me a run for every dollar, but I love my pirates.” He pointed to the refrigerator where a cute family picture was of all of the people he mentioned, including a baby bump.
I snickered as he grabbed my hand, sliding the glass door open that separated us from the pool area which was also nice as hell.
“Why do you call them pirates?” I asked as he led me to a lounge chair. He sat first, pulling me into his lap with us both facing the ocean with the orange and pink sky.
“Long story short, my brother Lando is retired Navy who owns Drifted and Anchored. The nickname came naturally. They love when I shout out pirate slang for them to repeat. I mean, I’ve got them trained for real.
Lando and Liv hate it, but it makes my pirates smile; so we keep it going.
They keep asking when we’re going to find booty.
I told them soon.” We shared a laugh while he now gently rubbed me.
“Booty? I’m scared to even know the other meaning.”
“Treasure, woman. Every year since their first real scavenger hunt we’ve been repeating it with Lando. Me and my dad hide goodies on the beach for them to dig up. It’s the funniest shit because only the older two take it seriously while the younger ones make me or my brother re-dig up the stuff.”
He laughed, and this time, I could feel his joy in his chest as it vibrated, rattling my back. I shifted slightly to get a better view of his wide smile.
Hearing the love in his voice as he talked about his nieces and nephew had my mind wondering what he would be like as a father.
Johnni, you’re thinking about things that are of no concern to you. You need to be focused on becoming the mother of your husband’s babies.
My hand gently glided across my stomach as I did just that and couldn’t see it how I saw Courtland in that role.
I blinked hard, trying hard to erase that mental image that would never happen.
But again, it ran back with Courtland being the father in clips flashing fast, like it was either a glimpse in another lifetime or a memory I wanted to come true.
I saw the pregnancy stage with Courtland massaging my swollen ankles to the birth with him holding my hand and telling me to push and even us playing with brown babies that mirrored our features in a huge backyard.
Heffa, you definitely moving entirely too damn fast.
“You good, Lou?”
“Yes, I was just picturing you as an uncle. Enough about that. You brought me out here stating a date night?” I asked, now changing the subject. Thinking about Courtland and me in permanent roles was daring to ruin my mood when we had just gotten here.
“I wanted us to have a conversation outside of those walls so you could speak freely. I need everything you can tell me about the Wilsons. I’ve dealt with a lot of political figures before and know they get dirty.
Yes, I heard the warning and risk the other day, and frankly I don’t give a fuck.
Ain’t nobody scared of that nigga, just want to move smart. ”
“I’m worth the risk?”
He gripped my chin, lifting my head.
“Lourdè, you’re not listening, I’m willing to risk everything just to kidnap you for a couple fucking hours so I could set up a date. Hell yeah you’re worth it all, baby. I’m a grown man. I can fight your husband and win.” I felt my face reacting as I cracked a smile.
“Okay, I’ll tell you everything I know.”
He lifted to stand, then pulled me up.