I turned to look back at Angel, who stared like a deer in headlights. “What’s going on?” she asked. I explained the bet to her, and rather than responding in horror, she smirked and then laughed. “That’s what you get. You’re always playing jokes on someone. Now it’s backfired on you.”
I dragged my hand down my face. “Man. I screwed up, didn’t I?”
“A bet’s a bet,” she replied.
“Meaning I have to wash the truck and dishes for a week,” I grumbled.
“No, meaning that you have to kiss me.” She winked at me, and something stirred in my belly. I hadn’t expected her to take it so lightheartedly.
“All right. Let’s give them what they want,” I replied, going in for a sweet, simple kiss on her cheek.
“Lips! Lips!” they chanted.
I moved slightly to the left to kiss her lips. But when I brushed Angel’s lips, it triggered something else in me. The warmth of her breath, the vanilla bean scent of her lotion, and those decadent, chocolate-brown eyes staring at me did me in.
I didn’t stop with a simple brushing of the lips. I wrapped my arms around her waist, and I pressed deeper into the kiss to satisfy my brothers. But when Angel’s lips parted slightly andher tongue darted out and touched my lip, I dove in to satisfy a deeper, urgent need within.
My hand moved up to caress her lower back, and the other one pulled her closer. Angel moaned underneath my lips, bringing me back to reality. I pulled back and stared down at her. With a crooked smile and wink, I stated, “Thanks, doll.”
“You’re welcome,” she replied softly with a smile.
I felt my face growing heated at the thunderous applause behind me. “Hey, let me walk you out to your car.”
She nodded and turned to leave. I glanced at my crew over my shoulder and mugged them before I followed Angel.
“Sorry about that. Didn’t mean to put you on the hot seat,” I muttered.
“You didn’t. I threw myself on there. You were willing to take an L and wash the dishes and the truck.”
“Take an L, huh?”
She smiled. “Yes, because despite what things may have looked like in the past, I know that I’m a win for any man.”
I couldn’t help the smile that came over my face. I was glad that she had that confidence within her despite what Jeremiah had done. After he’d first left, we all used to visit her, and she struggled with depression. Eventually, she pushed everyone away. I’m glad that he wasn’t able to take her down.
“You’re right about that.”
“Well, it looked like you were heading home, so I’m gonna let you get out of here. I need to stop by my mom’s and pick up Belle. See you around.”
“See you around,” I replied, waving and watching her ass as she walked away. “Chill out, Chris,” I warned myself as I stared after her. “Never mess with your boy’s ex. She’s off-limits, no matter how tempting that ass might be.”
Chapter 3
Angel
“Girl, I swear that Mommy is the hardest person to buy a gift for. She’s got everything.”
“Why don’t you buy her some more of her favorite perfume and a handbag?” Sawyer Wilmington, my best friend, suggested.
“Because she already has two bottles of it, and one isn’t even opened yet. She’s got new handbags in her closet that still have price tags on them. You know how she is.”
“What are you getting Granny Helen?”
“A new wig.”
Sawyer burst out laughing. “Mrs. Helen loves her wigs. She knows she rocks ’em too.”
“And do. She loves a good wig. I’ll give her about two-hundred-dollars, too, because she loves putting money in her pocketbook. Cash, please, and thank you.”
