Page 43 of Widow Mayker

“You like it?” he asked.

My fingers played over the intricate details of the choker. “I love it,” I said. Pleased, he bent to kiss my lips.

Shortly thereafter, we arrived at the venue hosting Mr. Gunner’s retirement party, and all I could think was I wished that I could have walked into the place with my head held high and my fedora, absent. For once, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. For once, I wanted to feel as beautiful and confident as Von made me feel.

However, just minutes later, Von introduced me to Lewis, and I was thankful for the fedora. Lewis’s energy was just as strong as Von’s energy.

“Damn,” Lewis swore. “You got a sister?”

Von mugged Lewis while I laughed. “I do have a sister.”

“Hook me up,” Lewis requested.

“Sorry, but my sister isn’t the type to let me do anything like that.” I smiled, then added, “On the other hand, I do have a cousin who’s as pretty as a rainbow painted sky, and as sweet as a sugar cookie.”

“Ooh, shit!” Lewis exclaimed. “Let me get her number.”

With as much confidence as a matchmaker, I rattled off Shyah’s number. It was time for my lover girl cousin to break out of that intensely shy shell she had around herself. If Lewis was anything like Von, it would take him no time to win Shyah’s heart.

“Her name is Shyah, and if you play with her, you gotta see me.” I smiled, demurely. “And trust me, you don’t wanna see May.”

Lewis grinned, and so did Von, as if anything I said was funny.

Days later, I laid in bed, recalling every moment I spent with Von and his family while in Atlanta. Again, it was all laughter, family, and love. Again, Von and I shared a bed. Like before, he was a complete gentleman. From his firm yet gentle embraces, the feeling of his body covering mine as he slept, and the pressure of his lips against mine, Von’s snare was closing in on me.

The only thing dashing away visions of sunshine and rainbows was the fact that he was likely going to be promoted. Although he wanted me to support his dreams, I could tell that he prayed that I accepted all of him. Ultimately, I was certain he would take the job. His enthusiasm about becoming a lieutenant was infectious. Plus, the pride on his father and mother’s faces was too much for him to turn down the position. I would have been selfish to ask him to give up what he wanted, especially since I hadn’t even given him a true yes.

Deep down, I wanted to give him a yes. Von deserved better than my brokenness. However, I was too selfish to tell him to walk away from me.

HEIR

Two weeks later…

Something heavy shifted the bed, causing me to nearly jump out of my skin. Snatching the blanket up over my body, I focused my eyes on the spot of my bed where Kody sat quietly. His eyes were glued to a phone screen as he swiped through whatever he was looking for.

“Kody! What the hell are you doing here? How did you get in here?” I demanded to know. He was sitting there too calmly. If he’d hurt anyone on the compound, I was going to kill him.

“Shh… Good evenin’, baby,” he said so calmly.

“Good evening? How the hell did you get into my house, Kody?” He was wearing a suit, of course. I learned quickly that expensive, well-tailored suits were his thing, and he loved adding a hint of color. His cologne wanted me to jump on his back and beg him to do something nasty to me like before. My body heated more than it had while dreaming about him a minute ago.

“Clearly, you’ve been getting my calls and messages. I’m checkin’ ya phone to see if there’s any reason why you didn’t answer this muhfucka.”

“What?” I hurried across the bed to snatch my phone from him. He was quicker than me, though, and stood from the bed. “You tryin’ to hide something from me?”

Glaring at him, I replied, “Why would I need to? We’re not together. Hell, we slept together one night, Kody. And again, I ask. How the hell did you get in here?”

“The same way you got in,” he said. “And I didn’t come empty handed.” He pointed to the bouquet of roses and several gift bags sitting at the end of my bed. Confused, my eyes flew back to him.

“Now, since you got ya answer, why the hell are you ignoring my calls and messages, my Heir?” With his eyes on mine, he slipped my phone inside the pocket inside his tuxedo jacket.

“Why does it matter?” I countered. “We had a mutual one-night stand. There was nothing to discuss after that.” My mouth said one thing, but I was truly intrigued by the roses and gifts. Kody didn’t give that this was something he normally did for a woman.

He chuckled lowly, interrupting the small breakdown I was having inside my brain. “I distinctly remember telling you that my dick wasn’t the dick to break yo’ ass in.”

“Well—”

“Then, I told you if you gave it to me that no one else could have it.”