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“Okay. Have a good day, ma’am.” He pressed a button in his little booth and the gate ascended.
The car jutted when I pushed down on the accelerator because I still couldn’t feel my feet. The GPS guided me to the large, three-story home. This entire gated community was affluent. Sprawling lands, sizeable estates. Immediately, I was enveloped in an escaped community, not too far from where I worked or lived, however, nestled away from what felt familiar.
And you have no idea if someone stole the phone of the man you’ve slept with to lure you to a place where it can be proven you’re a cheater. You haven’t filed yet. If you’re caught, you’re screwed, Lennox!
My stomach rolled into knots straightaway, and my right knee began to bounce with anxiousness. The possibility of Kelvin being savvy enough to pull together a scheme like this was farfetched. I hadn’t told him I’d be initiating a divorce yet. Still, I was crazy. Had to be. I didn’t do shared locations! No call to confirm the recipient. No text. Just an impulsive need to see him, connect with him…to forget every impending ounce of drama from my unsettled world.
When I made it to the property, I drove down a long driveway surrounded by a forest before the house came into clear view along with two moving trucks,a Range Rover,MercedesSprinter, aPorsche 911 Carrera GTS, and an older modelEscalade. I pulled behind the trucks against the circular driveway. The back to one was open, the cargo empty. Men in moving gear—knee pads, industrial back braces, and boots—carried large boxes into the garage. After closing the door to my car, I followed them inside the three-car garage. Once they caught on to me, the brief head-to-toe gapes reminded me of my own work gear. A skirt suit, hosiery, and high heels. I left my purse in the car, opting for just my phone and keys.
While ambling inside, there were people coming out. Mostly men, but a woman who appeared to be Middle Eastern, with smooth tortilla skin, fingered her hair while sauntering out of the open house and into the garage. I realized just how thick my desperation was as I continued into the house as though I belonged there. It didn’t take long for this whole fishing expedition to conclude. Just into what seemed to be the split, lower level was a congregated group.
The moment I was able to identify the centered energy, those naturally hooded eyes were on me. On sight. The recognition of the man instantly eased my tendons, tingled my nipples, and put all the stressors I’d felt in the rearview. Since seeing him three years ago at theKingsgame, his heavy presence had been transporting, taking me to peaceful realms, so far away from my frenetic reality. When in close proximity with him, time didn’t exist. Outside of his calming countenance and air, every other element was a nuisance.
Tobias wore a black track suit with aConnecticut Kingsfitted baseball cap. Such identifiable Northern swag here in the country. His attention drawn to me caused the group around him to do the same. I watched as his eyes traveled down my body, studying my shoes. Simple blackRalph Lauren Celiapumps shouldn’t have commanded such an extended inspection, but it dawned on me: he’d never seen me in work gear.
My belly flipped and sex contracted unexpectedly. I swallowed involuntarily and switched the weight on my legs, feeling instantly self-conscious. He was here. Tobias was in North Carolina, less than an hour away from my job. Staring at him in this strange home felt like an out-of-body experience. Suddenly, I craved his touch, those soft full lips, and big hands. I wanted to smooth my fingers over the thick, sheen waves of his hair beneath that cap. Flashes of his hairy, broad chest came to mind. His capable and globular arms—I wanted it all. Then his attention shifted. I quietly shivered in its wake.
“Attach thoseJBL 530s, and make sure the sound is crisp,” Tobias issued an order.
A guy with heavily tinted sunglasses scratched the back of his head while twisting his mouth. “D been throwin’ them back and blowin’ them out. He ain’t chill yet.”
Tobias snorted, “That’s exactly why I need those speakers on point. He needs to hear what he sounds like when he ain’t in gear. All that alcohol and cigar shit ends this week. I got some shit that’ll inspire the fuck out of his ass. No autotune, no vocoding. Straight vocals.” Then he turned back to the gentlemen with back braces. “That everything?” When the men nodded in affirmation, Tobias pulled out a wad of cash and peeled off a few bills. “Respect,” he offered when handing it over to one of them.
The guys in industrial gear left the group, and the sunglasses guy explained, “A’ight. I gotta go pick up a few things for D. I’ll holla.”
He and Tobias shook hands. “All love,” Tobias muttered. “Go, be manager to that nigga. Make this process easier on me.”
The sunglasses guy let out a hard titter. “Ha! Ain’t shit I can do that’ll make your work with that man easier.”
Several of the men followed “sunglasses” out. Just when I thought we’d be alone, the brown woman with long, glossy hair reemerged. “So, we’re going with the crab bisque and lobster stuffedsal—no.” She shook her head, appearing to be correcting herself. Just the mention of all that food reminded me I was missing lunch for this expedition. I didn’t give a fuck.Tobias is in town!“It’s the lobster bisque and crab stuffed wild king salmon.”
Tobias’ big arms wrapped around his torso as he nodded. “You got it.”
“Okay. Cool.” She began backing away. “I’ll be back in a couple of hours.”
“I’m locking up,” Tobias told her. “So, use the key.”
“Okay!” she shouted back, headed into the garage.
Tobias’ eyes were on me again, but he still didn’t speak. When he rounded me for the garage, the scent of his cologne made my lids close in helpless shame. Unable to move from the same location I’d landed in when I arrived, I could hear the closing of the garage doors happening behind me. Within seconds, Tobias was back in sight. A twitching of his neck was his command for me to follow him. Without question, I did. I studied his broad shoulders, unhurried yet steady pace, and natural swag in his gait. He held a device in his hands, tapping into it until I heard a chime resembling an alarm system.
I followed him into the home with two storied-ceilings and chestnut beams in the great room. The kitchen was an open design. Hardwood flooring ran throughout the entire main level. We traveled down a hall and into what looked to be the formal living room. The space was filled with plush furniture, and a thick wool carpet in the center. Tobias took a seat on a beautiful sofa with intricate floral stitching into ivory upholstery and opulent, glossed chestnut wood framing.
I remained in the door frame, taking in the grandeur of the décor. There were no pictures of people to be found, but the home was attractively draped. Then my attention landed on the man who clearly had a stick up his ass. Tobias hadn’t uttered a greeting since luring me into what could have been a trap. He ran his gaze against me impassively, one arm stretched over the top of the sofa.
I needed to break the thick wall of tension. “Whose house is this?”
“Mine.” He didn’t move an inch when producing the single syllable.
“You bought it?”
“Rental.”
“Why?”
His heavy inspection climbed my jittery frame. “Because your selfish ass hasn’t had the decency to call…be rude and send a cold ass text to, at least, let me know you made it home safely.”
I rolled my eyes away. “You haven’t called or texted either. Or did you send them to my burner phone.”
