Eventually, she exhaled and said, “Good. Now let me finish your dinner.” With that, she turned on her heels and headed toward the stove.
Cannon ran a hand across his face. He hated being behind. Capri was right when she said he hadn’t had time to prepare for this job properly. He needed some time to focus solely on recon so that he could develop a solid plan. His mind raced as he watched her prepare dinner. Her demeanor was calm, and he knew that the video would only motivate her to dig deeper. As time passed by with him in that same spot, one thing became clear: He wasn’t just working to keep her safe. He was fighting to protect that part of her that he was witnessing now. The part that kept going even when outside forces tried to break her.
The part he was beginning to care about, more than a little bit.
“You’re really somethin’ else,” Cannon said, eyeing the meal Nahla had just placed in front of him. The breakfast she’d made him that morning was excellent, but this dinner looked and smelled even better.
It had been a minute since Cannon enjoyed a home-cooked meal, so the roasted potatoes, Tuscan chicken, and sauteed vegetables had him hype. Smiling, Nahla handed him a fork and sat across from him where her plate was. While cooking, Nahla discovered a nice wine collection in one of the cabinets. Although Cannon said that he didn’t drink while on the job, she decided that she deserved to relax a little. She had chosen a nice bottle of Cabernet and a large wine glass.
Both Nahla and Cannon bowed their heads and silently blessed their food before digging in. After a couple of bites, he said, “This is good as hell, La.”
She nodded and smirked. “It really is.”
Cannon chuckled. Her confidence was probably one of his favorite things about her. If he was being honest, he had racked up several favorites about her in the last few days.
For a minute, he didn’t eat. He just watched as Nahla took a sip of wine. She closed her eyes briefly, and her shoulders relaxed a little. He was glad to see that she was comfortable enough around him to unwind in his presence.
He admired her a little longer before picking up his fork again. Instead of eating, though, he glanced at Nahla again.
“Can I ask you somethin’?”
With curious eyes planted on Cannon, Nahla took a longer sip of wine.
“You canask,” she said softly.
He didn’t right away, though. He was contemplating his delivery. He wanted to know more about her, but he was afraid that the question that had been on his mind all day wouldcause her to shut down before they could even have a real conversation.
“Just ask, Cannon. What is it?”
Fuck it, he thought.
“I can’t help but observe the things around me,” he started. “I can’t help but pay attention. I peeped your body language and your responses when you were on the phone with your brother and sister. I couldn’t miss you and your pops’s dynamic. It seems like your family treats you . . . kinda like an afterthought.”
She raised her brows, her lips parted slightly, and he could have sworn her eyes got a little misty when he said that last part. She looked surprised andhurtby his words.
Shit. He wasn’t trying to upset her, but it looked like his words had done just that.
“I’m sorry, La. I ain’t mean to?—”
She cut him off. “What was the question?”
“Huh?”
Nahla licked her lips quickly. “I didn’t hear a question. What did you want to know?”
Her tone wasn’t aggressive or defensive, but it also wasn’t as confident as it usually was. If he were honest, she sounded very similar to the way she had been speaking to her father all day. He decided to just go for it. She would either answer or she wouldn’t.
“The question is, why? You were tense from the moment we picked up your father until the moment we dropped him off. You didn’t want him to know who I was because you didn’t want to ruinhisday. Why does it seem like you’re concerned with your family, but they’re not concerned with you?”
She answered quickly. “Because they aren’t.” She inhaled deeply then released it. “My relationship with my family is . . . complicated.”
“I ain’t goin’ nowhere tonight, La. Explain it to me.”
She gazed at him with questions of her own swirling in her eyes.
“Why?” she finally asked.
He shook his head. “Honestly? I wanna know you better.”
