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“I am,” I sign. Kissing her forehead, I say, “you’re my most important appointment.”
That makes her smile wide.
I pick Yaya up off the bed. She throws her arms around me and cuddles into my chest. It’s such a subtle move, but it conveys all her trust in me and I don’t take it lightly.
In the bathroom, I set her on her feet and test the water temperature. Next, I help her disrobe and move her into the water.
It’s amazing the way she doesn’t fight me at all but, when she sinks in the warmth of the water and closes her eyes, I realize she accepted the gesture out of necessity.
My heart pains me and I make a note to be gentler with her tonight.
It seems she wants to soak for a bit, so I leave her alone and accept the food that’s arrived. Yaya emerges from the bathroom, wearing my button-down and a tweed sweater. She’s tied everything with a belt so, despite my clothes being far larger than her, they look chic and runway ready.
“Stunning,” I sign as she sits down to eat.
“I know.” She grins and picks up her fork. Tossing her hair over one shoulder, she digs in. When she notices I’m not joining her, she stops and looks up in inquiry.
“How do you feel about mixing business and pleasure?” I sign.
“If you mean how comfortable I am having a repeat of last night in your office, I’m down.”
I chuckle. “Noted, but that’s not what I meant. I’d like you to continue to be the face of Tru Essentials, but I don’t want you to feel pressured because of our relationship.”
“A man who draws a bath for me, orders tea for me, treats me the way you do cannot ‘pressure me’ into doing anything,” Yaya signs. “The more you do for me, the more I want to do for you.”
My lips quirk up and I kiss her briefly. Pulling back, I sign, “I appreciate that, but I guess my question is better framed as ‘what would you like to do going forward’? I know you had your plans with Henry.”
“Those plans are long gone.”
“And Henry?”
She looks a little sad as she signs, “Long gone too.”
I wish I could feel sorry about that, but I don’t.
She purses her lips, head tilted to the side and eyes on the ceiling. Her thinking face is as alluring as all the ones she made while under me. I make a concerted effort to keep myself in my seat. This conversation is important and I don’t want to cut it short by throwing her back into the very bed that caused her to need a soak in the tub this morning.
“If you’d still like to create your own brand, there’s space under the Tru Essentials umbrella,” I sign. Going over to my laptop, I show her what I’ve been working on all morning. “Or we can branch out on your own name. I can purchase a studio. Hire the best editors. Get you going with a YouTube channel.”
She laughs. “When did you put a report together?”
“You’re aware you woke at noon?” I sign with a dry expression.
“You’re aware you kept me up until three a.m.?” she signs back with an attitude.
“Should we keep this going? Because I have several marks on my shoulder that you and your pretty teeth need to take account for.”
She pins her lips together and shifts in her seat. “We can stop here.”
“So would you like the studio?”
“No, Dare. I don’t.”
I smile at her response because it’s exactly what I expected. “I understand that you want to do things on your own, but you don’t have to. I’m here to help in whatever way I can.”
“It’s not that I’m rejecting your help. I just have a different dream.”
I lean forward, watching as her eyes sparkle.
