“What’s wrong?”Shomari asked, snapping her back to their reality.
Nothing you can help to fix.She held back the words, remembering he’d said almost the same thing and how she felt.“Something I can deal with later.Now back to our discussion.”
“Yes, I’d be—”
His phone buzzed, and Lizette frowned.
Shomari looked down, then said, “Sorry.I thought I’d turned it off.”
“No worries.You were saying?”
The phone she couldn’t see pulsed again, and his gaze shifted.
“Yes, I’d be happy to …”
He chanced a look at the phone again, and she kept her tone light when she said,“Either answer or turn it off, okay?”
Massaging his forehead with one hand, Shomari said, “I’m sorry.”
He picked up the cell and scanned the screen.His eyes went wide, and he shot to his feet, which jolted her heart.She placed a hand over the logo on her chest as she watched him, hoping he hadn’t received bad news.
Sliding the phone into his pocket, Shomari spoke over his shoulder.“I have to go.”
Surely, she was in the middle of a dream, because this could not be her reality.How on earth could they finalize his employment with him running off to do only the Lord knew what?She frowned at the door, which had shut behind him.It jerked open again.
Shomari poked his head inside.“I’m sorry, but this is an emergency.I’ll call you.”
How?When he didn’t have her number.She slapped the file shut on the résumé he’d emailed her and put it aside.She hadn’t exactly promised Zack she’d hire Shomari, but his dramatic exit didn’t bode well for the future.Why should she hire a grumpy man who clearly had issues?She had more than enough challenges of her own.Shomari was another problem waiting to happen—one she could live without.
She rose and walked across the office, intending to head out front to help welcome her little clients.It wasn’t necessary, but she liked being around the kids, and her specialty was helping first-timers feel at ease.As she walked into the front office, where only one parent was checking in a little girl, Lizette’s gaze swept the parking lot, and her mind jumped to Shomari and his mysterious issue.
She pulled her shoulders back and shook her head.Too much drama, too soon.Knowing the way life worked, whatever he had brewing would likely escalate.She didn’t know anything about him other than that he currently had no place to stay and was brilliant—again, according to her brother.That, she could well believe since the twins were tech geniuses, in her mind, but this man was bad-tempered and had problems, for sure.
And what did it say about him that he was homeless at the ripe old age of thirty-six?
While kneeling to accept a hug from one of her favorites, who insisted on bringing her a flower each day, Lizette’s mind continued whirling.On standing, she gripped the little girl’s hand and guided her to a seat in the communal activities area where one of the preschool teachers waited.
Twirling the red bougainvillea bloom between her fingers, Lizette waved goodbye to Anissa and returned to her office.Her thoughts were still wrapped around the aborted interview.She sat and opened her laptop, letting their conversation play in her mind.Picturing his abrupt exit, she shook her head.
No matter what Zack said, she wouldn’t hire Shomari.
Chapter 3
Thecrushofpoinsettiaaround his mother’s living room brought back unpleasant memories.Plus, the main reason he hadn’t opted to stay with her.Mother might have a fit if he knocked over one of her precious plants.Same as she would have, when he was growing up.Monica Smithson had always valued things over people.If that had changed, he’d be surprised.
Natanya swung on Shomari’s leg, her wide eyes panning the pale green, peach, and red flowering plants.Pointing, she said, “Daddy, fwowers.”
Being with her always warmed his heart and made him forget his troubles.He chuckled while correcting her.“Yes, Nats, that’s right.Flowers.”
“Fwowers.”She nodded with conviction and met his gaze, waiting for his approval.
He didn’t have the heart to correct her again, so he tugged one of her plaits and kissed her forehead.“Right.”
She was now four, but he’d spent more time away from her than he liked since he’d been abroad for most of her short life.The one thing Christy was faithful about was their screen time.He’d been working to put himself in a financial position to come home and take care of her and Christy, but that went sideways.His thoughts threatened to sink his mood, but he warned himself not to give in to dark thoughts.
Mother bustled back into the room with two glasses of lemonade, which she placed on the glass-topped table between them.She switched on the television and scrolled until she found a channel for kids, with puppets reciting the alphabet, then patted the cushion next to her.“Come and sit beside Grandma.”
Natanya looked to him for reassurance before moving.When he nodded, she slid off his leg, walked around the table, and sat next to her grandmother, clutching a long-legged chicken to her chest.
