“Nobody needs an extra hundred grand on an armored car kit unless they’ve part of the government, a monarchy or they do illegal shit.”
“How you just know the price of how much it is to armor a car just off the dome like that?” His eyes were narrowed as he triedto get a hint at whatever he felt like I was hiding just by looking at me.
“That number is technically on the high side but you have to remember I grew up in New York. You run in the right circles that are adjacent to the rich circles and you learn some shit.” Not the whole truth but not technically a lie.
“And here I thought going out to a party in Laguna Beach and the Palisades was doing something big.” Aldrich shook his head like he’d been slumming it and I for damn sure wasn’t going to confirm how I lived now.
“Stop playing.”
“Not playing but since you’re not going to make this the fun excursion I thought it would be, you hungry?”
My eyes narrowed suspiciously because he would be crazy enough to suggest buying me a restaurant. “Potentially, why?”
“I got a place we can go eat and it’s private. Just to kick it.”
I looked at Ami indecision warning within me. I’d only been out of the house twice since I’d gotten here and once was to pick her up. Despite wanting to feel slightly alive again, I didn’t want to jeopardize her to do it. “She’s so small—”
“Private room and all. And the owner takes privacy seriously. You eat steak, right?”
I’d never seen somebody get treated like a celebrity and part of the family all at once until I saw Aldrich interact with the owner of the Chisholm-Love steakhouse, a man who looked like an African God by the name of Sampson, did just that. He hyped Aldrich up but was talking cash shit to him too like they were old friends. I was trying to stop from grinning but this was probablythe first time I’d seen Aldrich be this…playful. He’d relaxed more around me but not to this extent.
“Forgive us, Pretty Lady, it’s been a few months since I’ve seen my guy. Had to make sure his spirit was still good but now I see why he’s been MIA.” His smile was warm so I didn’t take his words as anything more than the compliment I knew he meant them to be.
“He’s got his hands full.” I nodded toward the stroller and I swore this man’s eyes lit up.
“Y’all gotta let me see the little one. I’m trying to drop my lil soldiers off in Yzabel during the reception so my lil girl can be baking and old enough to join us in the suite next year.”
Aldrich moved to the stroller like a proud daddy and unbuckled Ami before carefully handing her off to Sampson. I shouldn’t have been as nervous for her to be passed to this man, but I was overly protective of her like she was mine.
The way he cooed and damn near acted like he wasn’t going to give Ami back had me wanting to find his fiancée and let her know how much danger she was in. But again, if I were coming home to him I doubt I would be too worried about catching whatever soldiers wanted to march.
I must have a kink for men with hair because both of them were rocking what looked like some juicy 3C curls and although one was bronze and the other was a deep almost mahogany they were both fine as hell.
Let me get this baby back so that I can focus on my job.
Sampson looked up and I kept my mouth shut about asking for Ami back. “Today is on me—”
Aldrich shook his head and I wondered if this was the type of behavior I should expect for him all the time. Aldrich seemed determined to provide even when someone was clearly trying to do something nice for him. I wasn’t sure if it was pride or just wanting to support his friend’s business but even I could see hewasn’t about to win this argument as easily as he’d won against me.
“Samp, why do we go through this every time?”
“Because you refuse to listen? Besides, I normally let you pay. But this is me saying congratulations on the little one. Since you didn’t want gifts let me at least buy you lunch. Cause I know you're not gone let us drop money on the little princess. I’ll have to send over a care package or something for her.”
“She don’t have teeth, Samp. She can’t enjoy a tomahawk.”
Sampson shrugged and looked down at Ami with the biggest grin on his face. Ami, to her credit, had been staring at him the entire time either enthralled or trying to figure out who the hell he was. “It’s that or I buy her a pony.”
“We’ll just have lunch.”
Sampson nodded and then handed Ami back to her daddy before turning to me. “Perfect. And since this fool has been remiss in the introductions, I’m Sampson Chisholm-Love as you heard. And judging by the way you’re holding baby Ami you’re her—”
“Nanny. Just the nanny.”
Sampson’s head tilted to the side at the abrupt way that I said that and I would’ve been beet red if my skin were any lighter. I hated to sound defensive but I didn’t want people getting the wrong idea about us. Even if I’d been dreaming of the wrong idea for a minute.
“She’s trippin’, Sampson. This is Sterling and she’s family. No matter how she’s trying to keep shit weird by calling me by my first name.”
“It’s not weird, it’s just professional, that’s all.” I turned to Sampson and took his outstretched hand and shook it. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Chisholm-Love.”
