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“Good?” I asked once the final touch was in place, and I faced him.
He stared at me for too long, his eyes too penetrating. His unwavering attention made me shift uneasily.
“What?”
He shook his head slightly. “You’re so fucking beautiful, Kami.”
Heat crawled up my neck to flood my face even as my heart gave an excited jitter in my chest.
“Thank you.”
He pushed to his feet and closed the distance between us. I held my breath as he drew closer until he towered over me.
“Why are you wasting your time on me, baby?” He captured my chin and tilted my face up to his. “I’m a lost cause. You deserve better.”
I opened my mouth to respond, to tell him I had no room to love anyone else when he had claimed every inch of my heart when a loud bang nearly sent me out of my skin.
“Holy Christ, Kami!” Lavena pounded on the door. “You’re already hot as fuck. Let’s go!”
Darius smirked. “She’s not wrong.” Warmth crept into my cheeks, making him chuckle. “Go. I’ll text you.”
He kissed me, long and slow before pushing me towards the door.
I shot him a final glance, taking in the breathtaking sight of him before slipping out into the bedroom.
“Finally!” Lavena cried. “What took you so long?”
I gestured to my dress. “It’s not easy getting into this thing.”
“Why didn’t you say something? I would have helped.”
The argument continued as I strapped on my heels, gathered my purse and keys and followed my best friend to the elevator leaving my apartment door open for Darius to get out. Kas and Sasha met us in the foyer, both dressed for work — Sasha in a dark gray track suit and Kas in a black skirt set. Both were leaning against the front reception desk.
“What took so long?” Kas garbled around a wide yawn. “I have a million files to get through before court this morning.”
“I’m sorry. It was my fault,” I confessed. “I … I was having some complications.”
“Are you okay?” Sasha asked, looking me over as if searching for injuries.
I assured them I was as we left the building and headed for our favorite coffee shop around the corner.
The routine was illogical. I was the only one who worked within walking distance. The other three had to walk back, get their cars and drive to their respective destinations, but we did this every morning since moving into the Alexander and no one had complained yet.
“Why do I feel exhausted?” Kas yawned, emptying half the sugar dispenser into her black coffee with two shots of espresso.
“I’m telling you, we need a vacation from the vacation,” Lavena muttered, swirling the cold foam into her ice coffee. The chunks of ice rattle against the sides of her plastic cup. “No one should be expected to simply return to normal life after that much stimulation.”
Sasha and I exchanged side long glances, both of us smothering tired grins behind our drinks. Mine was a warm chai latte. Sasha had a small green tea with honey.
She moved up next to me and slid her arm through mine and tugged me to her side as the other two argued over the pros and cons of Lavena’s idea.
“Excited to see if the store is still standing?” she teased me.
I hadn’t had much time to think about the store in all honesty. There was so much else on my mind, but I gave her a roll of my eyes and a little shoulder bump.
“Maybe a little but I’m sure Kaila has it covered.”
I had every confidence in Kaila. She’d been my rock when I needed her. I couldn’t ask for a better employee. She wasn’t the problem. My need for perfection was.
