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“I am that type, and it’s not that far of a walk. I really don’t mind.” The stranger placed my bag on his shoulder, turned around, and pulled me behind him. For a quick second, I imagined that he was my man taking me home to ravish my starved body. Then again, if he was my man, I doubt my body would ever be starved. Thank God he couldn’t read my mind. He might regret sitting with me. Here he was, being a nice guy, and I was ready to jump him.
When we left the sand to the cemented path, he dropped my hand and walked next to me. I snuck a glance at him. He smiled slightly and seemed unhurried, especially since he had a woman waiting for him. I refrained from leaning my head on his shoulder, which was the perfect height for me to do in my flat sandals. As we strolled on the walkway, I imagined what it would’ve been like to have traveled here with this man. Probably a good thing I didn’t come here with him. Somehow, I knew I wouldn’t want to leave his bed, and I had too much work to do to get caught up in a man. A man I had yet to ask his name. “I realize I’ve seen you twice today, and I...”
He winked. “Technically, three times.”
I nudged his shoulder with mine. “Sorry about that. I didn’t know anyone was in there. I hope that I didn’t mess anything up for you.”
“No, you didn’t,” he replied without further explanation. Although I longed to know what happened to the IG model that seemed perfectly content to give him whatever he desired, it wasn’t my place to ask.
“Um...as I was saying...you know one of my deepest secrets, and I don’t know your name. I’m Nikki ‘Not short for Nicole’ Wade. What’s yours?”
“Mm...that name is mad cool, and glad it’s not short for Nicole. I used to know a Nicole who stalked me.” A grin spread across his features.
Understandable. “Seriously?”
The stranger nodded solemnly. “She was crazy. Wouldn’t leave me alone after one bad date.”
“How did that end?”
“It didn’t. That was the woman in the stall.” At my gaped mouth, he snickered. “Naw...just playing with you. Your face was priceless. I’ve never been stalked, although I know some bat shit, crazy women.”
“You’re sure you didn’t do anything to make these women crazy?” I asked, half-teasing.
To his credit, he looked down at me with a smirk. “I might have contributed.”
“Love...I mean, I like a man who takes responsibility for his actions.”
He seemed amused at my response and drawled, “And I love...I mean, I like pleasing a woman.”
I almost faltered in my steps at the double entendre. I clenched my hands to avoid gripping his bicep to maintain my balance. If I remained in his presence a moment longer, I would make a fool out of myself. This man was doing something to all my senses, including my sixth one, that he had the potential to do severe damage to my body and heart, and I had yet to hear his name. “Any reason you haven’t introduced yourself yet?”
The stranger chuckled warmly. “Sorry. Sometimes I forget the most basic of social skills. You said your name and I was supposed to follow up with mine, right?”
“That’s usually how it goes.”
“Well, then, allow me to introduce myself.” He stopped, turned to face me, and held his hand for me to shake. When I grasped his warm, strong hand, he said, “Bakari Youngblood.”
My stomach knotted at how he looked at me as he said his name, full of pride. “Bakari... a nice name too. Sounds like it has a meaning.”
“It does. Promising.” Twin indentations appeared on his cheeks.
“I love that. Your parents must have had such hope for you.”
He only nodded, and he clenched his jaws for a second.
Sensing that I might have said something wrong, I tried to change the shift in mood. I squeezed his hand with a flirtatious smile. “Can I be honest?”
The darkness hid his expression. “Sure.”
“Your last name makes me think of vampires.”
The man laughed. “I didn’t expect you to say that. My brother fits the name more than me.”
“Like he’s a vampire? You must not care for your brother much, do you?”
His body stiffened before he let go of my hand and started walking again. Once again, I put my foot in my mouth, and we were nearing my building. “Hey, if I said anything wrong, I didn’t mean it.”
Bakari shrugged. “My relationship with my brother is complicated.”
