Sighing, I did one last twirl. “I think I’m good. I just want my butt to be thangin’.”
She burst into a fit of laughter. “It is.”
I pulled out my boots and walked out to the front room with her. After the heated conversation today, I wasn’t sure what to expect from Lennox tonight. He’d already surpassed the expectations I didn’t even know I had. And that kiss…it had been perfectlynotenough.
“Are you staying the night?” Bliss set Naija in the travel bassinet. My twin and my niece had taken over the house. There was baby stuff everywhere—swings, blankets, pacifiers, bottles. The refrigerator was packed with healthy food and tiny bottles full of breast milk.
The question caught me off guard, because I hadn’t really thought about it. Well…of course, I’d imagined sex with Lennox. But I didn’t thinkhewas the fuck-on-the-first-date type. He seemed like the wine-and-dine, make-his-move-on-the-third-date type, which was fine. I’d actively avoided sex for a long-ass time and I could handle a few more weeks.
“Probably not.” I shrugged. “I don’t know…I’m actually looking forward to the journey. It’s been a long time since I just enjoyed a man’s company. Good dessert, good drinks, good conversation. Should be nice.”
Bliss sat down on the sofa and tucked her feet under a pillow. “I like seeing you excited about a date. You’re always so cynical about men and dates and relationships.”
“With good reason,” I said. “I work with women who tell me about their nasty-ass, trifling boyfriends and husbands.”
“But we know good guys. We’re related to several.”
“Are we including Duke in that number?” I stuck out my tongue and laughed. “Just kidding. My brother is going to be thebesthusband to the woman he falls in love with. Until then, he’s going to be him.”
“I still don’t know why you didn’t let him pick you up?” Bliss asked.
Earlier Lennox had offered to come and get me, but I’d declined for several reasons. The main one? I always reserved the right to take my ass home at any time during the first date. I fully believed in red flags, and many flew within the first hour of a date. “You know I don’t do that.”
“Under normal circumstances, but you’ve already talked to him a few times. Wouldn’t you have seen some flags by now?”
Bliss had a point. Lennox had been respectful and sweet, but I still wasn’t willing to give an inch on my practice. I considered it my personal easy-out clause, a safety measure—for meandhim. “No, babe. Driving myself is necessary.”
“I feel differently about this,” she confessed. “Lennox seems so good for you.”
I should’ve never shared anything about our meeting on the sidewalk today. Since then, Bliss had been waxing poetic about love and soulmates. “I think you need to go back to work, Sissy,” I suggested. “You own your business. Do remote work while you’re feeding the baby. Match some clients with their forever love.”So you can leave me the hell alone.
“I’ve actually thought about it. I have so much time when Naija is asleep.”
Opening the closet, I pulled out my black coat. “There you go. Get to work.” I slipped on my boots and wrapped my scarf around my neck.
“I will,” she agreed. “I’m not giving up on you and Lennox, though. I smell love in the air.”
Sighing, I turned to my sister. Although she’d gone through hell with Tyler, I was happy she still loved the idea of happily ever after—whereas I’d always been partial to the happilyneverafter. “Please don’t get carried away. I like Lennox as a person. That’s it. I can’t think beyond that. Besides, every time I think a manmightmake me change my mind about matters of the heart, he falls short on the dick.”
Bliss cracked up. “You’re silly.”
I kissed my niece and brushed my finger over her soft cheek.So cute. “Alright, I gotta go.” I checked my reflection in the mirror. “I’ll call you when I get there.”
Bye, girl.”
“Bye, boo!” I shouted as I walked out the door.
Lennox had chosenthe new black-owned cigar bar and lounge in Ann Arbor. When I arrived, he was standing outside the building with that half smile, half smirk he liked to hit me with. Dressed in black jeans and a black sweater, he looked damn good. I took a moment to check him out unabashedly.
Greeting me with a warm, tight hug and a kiss to my cheek, he murmured, “Blake.” His heated gaze raked over my body, slowly igniting a fire inside that threatened to consume me. The perusal almost felt like a caress, like his hands were exploring every part of me, not his eyes. “You’re stunning.” The low rasp in his voice slipped under the armor I’d tried to erect before I’d gotten out of my car. And my treacherous body reacted to his touch, to his nearness.
I let out a shaky breath. “Don’t start,” I warned.
He chuckled—and the sound shot straight to my clit.Trouble. Holding out his hand, he asked, “Ready?”
Slipping my hand in his, I nodded. “Yep.”
Lennox escorted me into the building, giving dap to the security guard at the entrance. The ambiance was perfect—classic décor, dim lighting, jazz band in the corner, older crowd. As we headed toward the back of the lounge, Lennox greeted several people, while I tried to avoid eye contact with one man at the bar.
