“How’s it going?” Iskyiah kissed the top of Brooke’s head.
“Good. Want some?” She held a buttery crab leg to Iskyiah, who shook her head.
“That’s all you, bookie. They good?”
Brooke nodded while Sandy replied. “She’s been raving about them since she started eating. You look hot, by the way.” Sandy winked as Iskyiah sat down next to Brooke.
“Thanks. Did you want anything to eat?”
Sandy waved her off. “I ate before I came. Besides, I’m sure I’ll be full of cookies before the night is over.”
Iskyiah sat down there and made small talk with Sandy and Brooke until Moolah was ready. She smelled him before she heard him come into the kitchen. His signature cologne wasn’tone she’d ever smelled before, but she was now addicted to it. It smelled clean and expensive.
Sandy’s blue eyes widened and she blushed just before Iskyiah felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and grinned up at Moolah, who looked like a million bucks.
“You ready, my baby?” Moolah asked.
Iskyiah nodded as she took him in. He matched her fly with a blue button-up and black pants. His sleeves were rolled up, exposing his tattoos, and his beard and hair had been freshly lined up.
Swallowing down the lust, Iskyiah nodded and stood. “Brooke, be good, baby. We’ll see you in the morning.”
She kissed Brooke once again and watched as Moolah whispered something in her daughter’s ear. Brooke giggled, and he kissed her head. Iskyiah suddenly had the urge to cry. Other than Hassan, she’d never had the pleasure of seeing a man take on a fatherly role with Brooke. Moolah didn’t know how much she appreciated him for that alone. Of course, he still said the most off-the-wall things around her and didn’t sugarcoat anything, but Iskyiah thought maybe that was good for Brooke. Her grandmother had been the same way, though extremely religious, but Iskyiah turned out pretty okay.
Moolah took Iskyiah’s hand and walked her to the front door. When they made it outside, their car was already waiting for him.
“All those cars in that garage, and you stay getting driven around,” Iskyiah teased as he opened the door for her.
He slid in beside her and nodded at the driver. As they pulled out of the long driveway, he said, “I only do that when I’m wit’ you so I can touch on you more.”
When he grinned at her devilishly, his dimples showed, and she melted into the seat.
“How did we end up here?” she asked in awe. Never in a million years did she think she would end up with Moolah Brooks, yet here she was.
Moolah shrugged. “Fate, my baby. It was always meant to be this way. Yo’ stubborn ass just ain’t see it.”
“I see it now,” she admitted.
He grasped her hand on the seat between them and gave it a squeeze. “You mean that?”
She did. She meant it with every fiber of her being. Moolah was it for her. He had always been it for her.
“I do.”
“Aight. Be ready to say those two words again soon.”
She giggled and shook her head, but truthfully, she would love to marry Moolah. Her heart settled when she was with him, and she felt more secure than she ever had. It was a no-brainer.
They sat in comfortable silence the entire ride to the venue. Teyanna had apparently rented out an upscale club for the night. It had been years since Iskyiah went to a club, but she had a feeling it would be a different experience than what she was used to.
When they pulled up to the spot, she knew she was right. First of all, there were nothing but luxury cars lined up for the valet line and parked on the streets. The people she caught glimpses of were dressed to the nines, but they weren’t flashy. Money was in the air—she could smell it.
Their car stopped, and Moolah hopped out before he helped her out.
“This is a damn spectacle,” he muttered.
Iskyiah had to cover her mouth to mask her laugh. Moolah had been so grumpy about this entire shindig for the past week, but something told her he would have fun.
They easily made their way into the club. Security must had told the DJ that Moolah had arrived because he shouted into the mic as soon as they were inside.
