“Because I could tell how much you wanted it,” he teased, nipping her shoulder.
“You are so cocky.” She laughed. “Anyway, I just want to make sure you appreciate that house. It was a special place to grow up.”
“What happened? Why did you sell it?”
Jamal wasn’t surprised when he felt her stiffen against him.
“I know you don’t want to talk about it,” he said. “But I’m asking you to anyway.”
She let out a breath and tilted her head to the side, resting it against his shoulder. “I put the house up as collateral for a loan I took out last year,” she said. “Me and…a business partner went in on a house-flipping venture. I bought three foreclosed houses in Maplesville for a pretty good deal and renovated them, but the housing market tanked and they’ve have been on the market ever since. When I couldn’t make the payments on the construction loan, the bank repossessed Belle Maison.”
“Damn it,” Jamal said. “I figured you’d lost it, but I couldn’t figure out how.”
“Well, I haven’t really shared the details with anyone. Not even Mya.”
“What about this business partner?” he asked, though Jamal had a feeling he already knew who—and what—the business partner was to her.
“He’s a coward who I thought I was in love with,” she said matter-of-factly. “When the going got tough, he skipped town. The loan was in my name, so he got off scot-free.”
“What’s his name?” Jamal asked, his anger rising so swiftly it shocked him.
“Doesn’t even matter,” she said. “He’s inconsequential.”
“Did he talk you into buying the houses?”
“It was originally his idea, but I went along with it one hundred percent,” she said. “I allowed myself to fall into that situation. I’ve stopped blaming Kevin.”
“Kevin,” Jamal spat. “I never liked that name.”
She let out a sad laugh. “I certainly don’t like it now.”
“Have you been able to dig yourself out of the hole?” he asked.
She shook her head. “I’m trying, but it’s not as if I get a steady paycheck, you know? And with the mortgage on my house, and the cost of my mom’s care facility going up—”
“What about your mom?”
She leaned her head back and closed her eyes. “Shit,” she said on a weary breath. “My mouth is like a faucet I can’t turn off.” She looked at him and shook her head. “Jamal, the last thing I want to do right now is unload all my problems on you.”
“I’m asking you to,” he said. “What about your mom?”
“My mother suffers from early-onset dementia. She lives in a facility in Slidell that specializes in dementia patients. It’s extremely expensive, but it’s one of the best. I foot the bill for what Medicaid and my dad’s life insurance policy doesn’t cover.”
“So you’re taking care of two households,” he said.
“Basically.” She nodded.
“And trying to pay off a loan and three additional mortgages?”
“Those other three houses don’t have mortgages, thank goodness. But they’re not creating revenue, and I still have to pay property taxes on them. My finances are a hot mess.”
He hesitated for a moment, already anticipating what her reaction would be. But he couldn’tnotmake the suggestion. “Phylicia, don’t take this the wrong way, but I want—”
“Don’t even think of offering me money,” she said, pushing away from him and turning to face him. “I didn’t tell you any of this to get money out of you. I didn’t evenwantto tell you any of this.”
“I know you aren’t trying to get money out of me. I’m offering it.”
“No,” she said.
