“Katrina Elle Banks!”
And for the first time in my life, I hang up on my sister and giggle about it for the rest of the day.
katrina
Beinga professional athlete in this city has its perks. Dak has connections all over Manhattan which afford him opportunities to dine privately in some of the city’s premier restaurants. Tonight we’re eating in a private dining room at L’Fond’s, a restaurant that serves unique French/Haitian fusion fare. My food is exquisite and I love how the chef made a piece of chicken taste like a wonderful explosion of spices in my mouth.
I don’t mind how we’re still creeping around behind everyone’s backs to see each other because if we did anything more, we could both stand to lose a lot. The one thing that is bothering me though is Dak seems distracted tonight. It’s a feeling I remember once having when I was with Aaron.
A feeling I mistakingly ignored.
“Is everything okay?” I finally ask him. “You’ve been checking your phone more than usual.”
“I’m sorry, babe. Everything is fine. It’s just that I’ve been going back and forth with her.”
“With Jana?”
“Yeah, this has been going on for most of the day.”
An uneasiness creeps over me.
“Is that something that happens often between you two?”
“Not really, but you know what’s been going on. Today she had something to say about me only visiting Bella’s school if she was present, as if I need her supervision. I mean, you agree that’s her micromanaging me, right?”
I nod, trying to push down the gnawing feeling in my gut. Dak reaches across the table and takes my hand.
“Hey, are we blurring the lines here?”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m talking about my personal stuff during what is supposed to be a romantic date. I don’t want to keep banging you in the head about Jana stuff.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Dak gives me a concerned glance across the table. “Just so we’re clear, there isn’t anything going on between me and Jana.”
“Sure, of course.”
“And you know I’d do nothing to hurt you, right?” he asks, his voice soft and reassuring.
I smile at him, feeling a little better. I guess I needed to hear him say the words.
“Absolutely.”
“And once we figure out how we’re going to go public, this will all be so much easier, but you’re going to have to meet Bella first.”
Go public?
Meet his daughter?
We’ll have to talk about that some more.
The rest of the meal passes in a blur of laughter and good conversation, but as we leave the restaurant and step out into the cool night air, I can’t shake the feeling that something isn’t right.
We didn’t take Dak’s car tonight, so we hail a taxi and climb into the back seat. Dak wraps his arm around my shoulders and pulls me close, his lips finding mine in a deep, passionate kiss. My body responds immediately, heat pooling low in my belly as his tongue slides against mine.
I moan softly, pressing closer to him as his hand slips under my dress, fingers trailing over the sensitive skin of my thigh. I gasp as his fingers find their way between my legs, stroking me gently through the fabric of my panties.
