“You and these damn questions.” She purposely deepened her East New York accent as she spoke, and watched as he laughed. He always laughed when her Brooklyn surfaced. For some reason he appeared to find it endearing. Whatever. She hadn’t been joking. Slade was always throwing these contemplative questions at her that made her analyze everything she felt or thought. Not really caring to dig deeper into why it made her heart jump a beat or two whenever he suggested getting to know him better, she simply laid her head on his shoulder andsmiled.
“Yeah, I think I’d like to get to know you both,” shewhispered.
* * *
Slade was about to lean in for another kiss when a gentle buzz coming from the back pocket of his jeans halted his motion. He lifted a single finger up, begging Mandisa’s pardon as he lifted his phone to hisear.
“Hamilton.”
“I just saw Bull’s car coming up from the east road.” Aaron’s voice was low and stern, its timbre sounding an alarm without the slightest rise in volume. “Does he know about yourguest?”
“Somewhat, but thanks for the info. Would you mind taking a trip downtown for me? Mandisa needs a fewthings.”
“Not a problem. I’ll get one of the hands to cool down my horse and meet her on the back porch in afew.”
Plans settled, Slade was about to pull the phone from his ear to end the call when he heard Aaron’s voiceagain.
“And,Slade.”
“Yeah?”
“Remember Bull tends to use what you care about against you. Might be wise to keep Mandisa away from him while he’shere.”
A cold chill spread through Slade. One glacial peak after another turning his insides to ice made Slade shiver. Aaron wasn’t wrong. Bull would use anything he could to control Slade. That was how he’d ended up in New York meeting Mandisa in the first place. He glanced over at her, the lovely smile she offered him thawing some of the frigid anxiety blooming insidehim.
“Noted.” His response was short and exact, causing Mandisa to pull slightly away from him as he ended thecall.
Damn if just the thought of Bull couldn’t spoil a perfectly goodmoment.
Slade grabbed Mandisa’s hand and brought it gently to his lips. “Darlin’, I’m afraid that was work. Something’s come up that I have to handle right now. Would you mind going inside and waiting for Aaron to take you shopping? He’ll send for you when he’sready.”
Slade saw the fog of disappointment begin to cloud her eyes. He leaned in, pressing his lips to hers, continuing the kiss until she moaned, giving him leave to slip his tongue inside and taste herwarmth.
Whatever the fuck Bull had come to say had better be important as hell. Missing out on any time with this woman was not something Slade was going to takelightly.
“I promise,” Slade spoke soothingly. “If there were any other way I’d take youmyself.”
She nodded and kissed him again, running her fingers through the hair at his nape. “I know. I’ll go inside while I wait. See you atdinner.”
He leaned back on the porch and watched her get up and walk through the door. He heard the gush of breath leave him when the door closed behind her. She was away from Bull, far enough that he could protecther.
Slade sat for a few moments on his porch. Preparing himself, he took a deep breath, trying to hide the tension attempting to take root in his body. The few minutes of meditation he attempted to steal were interrupted the moment he saw Bull’s signature black limousine cresting the top of the hill that would bring the old man through Slade’s frontgates.
When the car slowed and then stopped in front of Slade’s home, he stood and walked down the steps. It wasn’t a show of respect, a son eager to meet his father. No, this was an act ofprotection.
Slade wouldn’t allow Bull to set foot in his home. The furthest the man ever got was the frontsteps.
In Slade’s mind, he’d built this house to keep the things and people he loved near. It was his refuge, his place of peace. Bull didn’t get to infiltrate that no matter how hard hetried.
“Here we go,” Slade muttered to himself. He waited the few moments it took for Bull’s driver to exit his seat and walk around the car to open it for the old buzzard sittinginside.
“What’chu want, Bull?” Slade made certain his tone was laced with as much disrespect and loathing as he could muster. Bull knew Slade’s rule. If he wanted to pester Slade at the office, he could do that all day. But here, on Slade’s land, he didn’t turn up without an invitation. As far as Slade was concerned, there would never be cause for an invitation to be extended to Bull. Bull knew this, and he usually complied with it. His presence here could only be for one reason—Mandisa.
“You need to learn some respect, boy, when you’re speaking to yourdaddy.”
“I’m a grown man on my own land. I’ll speak how I want to uninvited guests that show up on my doorstep. Again, what do you want,Bull?”
“I assume she’s here.” Bull took a moment to scan the front of the house, as if he could see through thewalls.
