She finished a bite of her bruschetta. “The best. You killed on that salad, boo.”
I chuckled lightly. “You’re right. I created a bed out of that arugula like no other. And the way I laid those oranges on top? That shit was a masterpiece.”
She practically choked on her food, coughing and sputtering until she cleared her throat. “Stop.”
“You know what? You’re good for my ego. Nobody else acts like I’m funny, and I got you over here choking.”
“Haters.” She threw me a wink, and it was my turn to guffaw. “Even though the last thing you probably need is more ego.”
“What? You think I gotta big ego?”
She studied me silently, taking a bite of her chicken. “No. You’re really down to Earth.”
“Thanks.”
She looked around. “I don’t think too many of these couples did as well as we did with their dinner. I mean, we’re over here smashing, and they’re playing with their food.”
“Well, they all couldn’t have you for a partner.”
She smiled at me, and I felt really lucky. Not just because my food was good as hell, but because I got to make it with her and spend time with her.
We finished up dinner, and each had a slice of the no-bake strawberry ripple cheesecake we made. It was after 10:00 p.m., and I had an early morning of team obligations.
“Damn, I hate to have to wrap this up, but they got us facilitating a mini-camp workout for these potential donors and fans early in the morning.”
“No worries. I’m running outta steam, too. I have a mud bath and facial scheduled in the morning. In the afternoon, I’mdoing a flower-arranging class.” She cut her gaze up to mine. “Hopefully we can at least meet up for dinner.”
We both stood from the table. Without even thinking about it, I caught her hand in mine as we left the ballroom. As we made our way through the lobby, we spotted Wilcox with two blonde women.
“Damn,” he said when he spotted me and Soleil. “You really ain’t gon’ let nobody else get a turn? What’s up, Thigh Meat? You savin’ some for me?”
I stopped walking right in front of him. “Dawg,” I said lowly through gritted teeth. “Let that be the last time you say anything to her on this fucking island. If we have to revisit this again?—”
He sucked his teeth. “Nigga, fuck you . . . and her. I’m just making jokes. You see I got these two bitches with me. Ain’t nobody thinkin’ about her.”
“Then shut the fuck up talkin’ to and about her. Keep your fuckin’ mouth closed before I close it.”
“Fuck you,” he repeated.
“Fuck you.”
Soleil and I resumed walking. “He’s an idiot. You didn’t have to say anything,” she told me.
“Yeah, I did. Because he needs to know how I’m coming behind you. He’s not about to keep sayin’ slick shit every time we run into him. If he’s comfortable saying that shit in front of me, what you think he’ll say if he sees you by yourself? Nah, he needed to understand. Now, he does.”
We took the elevator up to the seventh floor.
“My room’s right here.” She led me to a room on one of the two wings.
We stopped in front of her door. Her back was to the door as I stood in front of her. Both of her hands were inside my hands now. “Listen. Thanks for hanging out with me tonight.Thanks for making a wonderful dinner. Thanks for being good company.”
She blushed.
I bent down and captured her lips, then my tongue invaded her mouth, finding hers and exploring her. She melted into me, and again I was struck by her softness, her plushness. Before I knew it, my hands were buried in her hair. She moaned in my mouth. I deepened the kiss until I remembered that we were in the hallway.
Regaining control, I gently broke our connection. “I want all of the time you’re willing to give me, Sun.”
“Same.”
