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“Why would you do that to him?” I asked, giggling, on the way down a hall.
“Raj’ll be alright. He’s been in his feelings over this Dale collab.”
“Why?”
“It’s what R&B dudes do. Raj knows he’s my number one guy. Our connection goes beyond music. The same with Wynter. We clicked almost instantly. She’s cool as hell. The perfect fit for his moody ass.”
We turned back into the dining room where Jade was at the buffet table with her son, Kyree. At thirteen, he towered over his mother. She sauntered our way to leave the room.
“I’m so grateful for today.” She rolled her eyes to the back of her head, lashes meeting. “I’ve been stressed for months about rolling this thing out. My husband is my biggest supporter, but he’s in theLeague. He can’t help me with this. Then, I have my girlfriends, but this isn’t their dream. My husband loves to say, ‘your gift will make room for you,’ quoting the bible. I haven’t been telling anyone how much anxiety I’ve been carrying in quiet because I had no idea about this part. I only know I want top-notch work and customer service for Black women. Period. I really hope you’ll consider doing this with me.”
“Of course!” I didn’t want to give away how desperate I was for the opportunity. “I’ll be ready for our call next Wednesday. I have a few models I want to type up for you, even a few programs available to help with inventory and Q.C.—I mean…” I rolled my eyes this time. “Quality control. My bad.”
“No worries. I can’t wait!” She turned to leave, laughing. “Such a blessing, girl!”
I waved her off then turned for Tobias. He was standing over one of the chairs at the table that had now been cleaned off by the staff as he typed into his phone. “You said you wanted some of the ambrosia.”
“Oh!” My eyes brightened as I pivoted. The buffet was loaded with all types of goodies. “Yes. Ambrosia.” Then I gazed his way again. “Business?”Or your daughter?
I didn’t want to think about the latter. It didn’t take long to locate the fruit salad. I scooped up just enough to sample and found a spoon. Then I walked over to Tobias, who was still entranced in something in his phone.
“Are you ignoring me?”
I smiled when he peered my way. “Oh, nah. I’m looking at these flights. There’s one in first class—Delta—that can have you in Raleigh at four in the morning. That’s awkward. I can’t have you driving by yourself nowhere at that hour.”
My pulse began to beat hard in my neck. “You’re sending me home tonight?”
He turned to me, at first his gaze appeared confused. “I know I strong-armed you into coming up here. I told you I’d have you right back home. I’ll be a man of my word.” His brows narrowed. “You don’t want to…”
I knew Tobias well enough to know he was struggling to mask his excitement.
“I texted Scott right after dinner. I told him I’d be home tomorrow. I didn’t say when.”
“So, what do you want to do?” His attention swung above my head, telling of his thoughts of us extending our time here.
“Well…” My forehead stretched. “You’re home—in Jersey. I’m in town…” I wrapped my free arm around his back and placed my chin into his chest. “I haven’t seen your wine selection. I’m the only woman who’s seen you naked but hasn’t been to your home.”
Those heavy eyes wrinkled at the side, and Tobias tapped his index finger at the tip of my nose. “I know what you’re alluding to. And while I’ll never lie about my sensual preferences, I won’t allow you to call me a whore. Do you wanna see my private cellar?”
I bit my lip, feeling sexy in a way I wasn’t used to. “I want to see your collection. Why don’t you treat me like you wanted to when you saw me at theBank of America Stadium,ifI told you I was single.”
A fire ignited in Tobias’ eyes, and his amusement disappeared. “You wanna role-play, Lennox?”
“I woke up in my bed in North Carolina, prepared to get through another dry Thanksgiving holiday with my in-laws. Then I end up in Jersey, unscheduled and with a job prospect before I end the night. I don’t even recognize the girl who left that bed this morning. Until I arrive back in Raleigh, I want to be anyone else, as long as I’m with you.” I swallowed back a tear as I peered up to his beautiful face.
She took in every inch of the space she could as we left my wine cellar and traveled into the great room of my spot in Englewood Cliffs. Lennox carried a glass ofChâteau Blevinwhile she perused. In one hand, I held a glass ofMauve. In the other, I tapped the universal remote to power on the stereo. “Dirty Secrets” by Burna Boy was in motion, and I decided to leave it there.
“And how many square feet is this?”
“Ummm…” The feel of my cell vibrating inside my pocket delayed my answer. “Five thousand, six hundred, sixty-seven.”
“Just missing that six, six, six curse.” She smiled.
I scoffed, “Hell yeah. That’s exactly how I remember what it is.”
“What year was it built?”
“I’m the second owner. I believe they built it in ninety-six.”
