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“Let me guess. Nori was holding you back?” I asked, following behind her.
“No, Anthony. On the other hand, we have shopping money,” she sang, pulling out a wad of cash with a yellow band around it.
“Damn, how much is that?” I asked, climbing into Simone’s SUV.
“Ten thousand. Do you have an outfit picked out for your date tonight?”
“Not yet. I’m stuck between a couple of options.”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ll find you an outfit that’ll make you look and feel like a million bucks.”
* * *
I stared at myself in the mirror and still couldn’t believe the woman before me. “Simone wasn’t lying when she said I’d lookand feel like a million bucks,” I murmured, turning to the side to check out my ass.
The spa? Chef’s kiss. I’d never been pampered like that in my entire life, and it didn’t take much for the esthetician who serviced me to talk me into their monthly membership. I practically threw my debit card at the receptionist once we were finished. I received a facial that minimized my pores and left me glowing, a manicure and pedicure, and a deep-tissue massage. Afterward, we hit up Simone’s favorite hair salon. I hadn’t had my hair professionally done in a hot minute, and it showed when the stylist started clipping away at my dead and split ends. I was adventurous and told her to style my hair into a bob. I was nervous. I had long hair for as long as I could remember, but running behind four young children didn’t leave much time or energy for maintenance. It had to go.
“Well, this is as good as it’s gonna get,” I whispered, leaving my bedroom to pick up my date. I knocked on Jonathan’s door and waited anxiously for him to answer.
“Come in!” I swung open the door and found him running around the bedroom like a chicken with his head cut off. “I’m sorry I’m late, but I’d gotten caught up on work while everyone was gone. Which tie—”
He trailed off once he finally noticed me. His Adam’s apple bobbed, and I could tell he was looking for the right words to say.
“The red tie,” I suggested.
My heart started pounding when he wordlessly crossed the room. He hovered over me—eyes raking me from top to bottom and back up again.
“You may not believe a single word I say, but I have never seen a more exquisite woman in my entire life.” My cheeks heated as if I had shoved my face against a furnace. “Your hair…it suits you.”
I had enough. I looked away sheepishly and revealed what I had hidden behind my back. His fingers gently caressed mine as he accepted the rose and I nearly swooned.
“Kierra?”
I glanced at him. That was a big mistake. His brilliant green eyes were filled with unshed tears, and it made me sick to my stomach to know how starved for affection he was. There was no absence of affection in my marriage. We didn’t have money—all we had was each other, and we cherished the hell out of each other like soul mates should.
“This is the best date I’ve ever been on, and we haven’t even left the house. Thank you. I’d kiss you, but your lipstick looks better on you.”
“You’re welcome, Jon. Don’t worry, you’ll have a chance to wear it later.”
“I’m going to hold you to it.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jonathan
I couldn’t keep my eyes or hands off Kierra as we moved through the art gallery. The paintings worth tens of thousands of dollars paled in comparison to the woman before me. I’d been blushing non-stop since she entered my bedroom, revealing her mini makeover. Her short hair stopped a few inches below her ears, and her heavy bangs were swooped to the side. I often found her tucking the bang behind her ear, a new habit that I found more endearing each time she did it. The new haircut suited her—perfectly showing off her delicate neck that was adorned with a silver necklace with a tear-drop diamond pendant. Kierra rarely wore makeup, but hers flawlessly accentuated her natural beauty. My gaze stayed glued to her plump, burgundy lips most of the night. She promised I’d wear it later, and I could hardly wait. Her black evening dress was simple, clean, and elegant in the front, but when she turned, her back was exposed like a brown canvas I wanted to tenderly stroke with my fingers.
Kierra went all out for our date. She insisted on driving so I could relax and drink as much as I pleased. I was simultaneously appalled and impressed when she opened the car door for me. It went against the reinforced gender norms; however, Kierra gave me a look, letting me know that refusal wasn’t an option. I climbed into the SUV, and I was surprised when she steppedonto the runnerboard and buckled my seat belt. She whispered how good I looked and smelled in my ear and kissed me on the cheek before shutting the door. I truly felt attractive and desired, amongst other things. I kept my hands in my lap the entire ride to the gallery because I was rock hard from Kierra’s not-so-subtle glances she shot me while she drove. Her cat-like gazes were full of heat and mischief, and I felt she was undressing me with her eyes, silently promising that she’d do bad things to me later.
The art gallery wasn’t a proper gallery but a pop-up in a vast warehouse featuring some eclectic artwork I wouldn’t mind collecting.
“You’ve been staring at this piece for a while now. Is it speaking to you?” I asked, smoothing my hand up and down her hip.
“I’m intrigued but can’t make heads or tails of it. In this space, it looks amazing, but I fear it wouldn’t fit anywhere else.”
“What a shame. On to the next one?”
“Sure, but you look like you could use a refill. I’ll be back,” Kierra said before heading to the refreshment table. I watched her walk away, taking in her arched back before returning my focus to the canvas.
