I spin around so quickly my hair falls into my face. “If by avoiding your calls you mean I promptly hang up when you bring up something other than seeing your daughter, then sure, I avoid your calls.”
I roll my eyes, pent up with irritation, and turn away.
Only, he grabs me by the arm to stop me.
I stiffen. “Let go of me.”
His fingers uncurl around my bicep at the sound of my demand.
I’m confused as I take a step away.
“Hey, baby.” Malaki’s arm curves around my waist, and he tucks me next to him.
Ah, so that’s why it was easy.
I tilt my chin and try my best to thank him silently. His mouth tilts on one side, and his hand around my waist squeezes. It’s the quickest warning of my life. He places his lips on mine, and I go from tense to relieved in the same breath. It’s like all the tension in the air breaks apart, and I’m safe.
I reach up on my tiptoes to deepen our kiss. Malaki’s tongue slips inside for a brief second, and it makes me forget all about Benedict standing a few feet away.
Malaki eventually breaks our kiss, and his eyes bouncing back and forth between mine.
He’s so good at playing the part of my fiancé in front of Benedict that I’m almost fooled.
“Did you enjoy the game?” he asks, ignoring Benedict completely.
I gulp and lick his kiss from my lips. “Mm-hmm,” I squeak.
“Hello?” Benedict snaps. “We were in a conversation.”
Malaki cranes his neck toward Benedict. “It sounded one-sided. I thought you may be talking to yourself.”
I slap a hand over my mouth when a laugh accidentally slips out.
Benedict blinks. He’s clearly baffled.
“Well, I need to talk to the mother of my childalone,” Benedict growls.
Malaki shakes his head. “Not happening.”
“This doesn’t concern you,” he argues.
Malaki clicks his tongue. “The second you put your hand on my fiancée, it concerned me.” His airy attitude switches like a blink. “Don’t do it again.”
When Benedict doesn’t say anything, likely too appalled that someone had the nerve to speak down to him, Malaki goes back to ignoring him.
“Are you ready to go home, babe?”
I nod. My lips sealed.
He takes my hand in his. “Excuse us.”
Benedict makes no move to scoot over. His jaw flickers, his chest puffing with a sharp inhale.
Malaki’s hand tightens in mine, his body heat climbing the longer we stand here.
The last thing I need is for my fake fiancé to assault Charleigh’s dad, whether he deserves it or not. In fact, that’s probably what he wants–a reason to get the police involved.
“Benedict,” I say his name with conviction. “If you want to speak to me about Charleigh, then I am all ears. But other than that, we have no reason to talk. I would really appreciate it if you didn’t show up at my fiancé’s place of employment again.”
