“Why you looking at me like you want to square up?”
“’Cause you keep trying me by downplaying what I’m trying to be in your life.”
Her brows pinched slightly while she sucked the wing between her lips then dropped the bone onto her plate. “And what is that?”
“Everything you need.”
Samari took him in, studying his face, posture, and lastly, his eyes. They held a confidence that backed up the words he’d just delivered and that was more than she had the capacity to process at the moment. Believing in him meant toying with the idea of possibility.
Each and every time she had done that in the past, she was let down.Menlet her down. Her father for not being present, her ex for playing with her heart and mind, and Cobra for stealing her dream. Although she truly believed Asao was built different, she couldn’t risk another disappointment.
“Well, all I need is free access to your wings.”
Asao laughed to himself because he peeped her game. She chose to shift their conversation to a less intense area. He would allow that for now.
“Tell me about your ex?”
“Why?” Her eyes snapped up to his and Samari immediately felt the desire to look away because the intensity in his gaze was heavy.
“Because you’re putting his fuck ups on me. I’ll carry them shits though, foryou. Damn sure not for that muthafucker. But only long enough to give you time to trust that we aren’t the same.”
He felt her hesitancy. Their chemistry wasn’t in question. He’d felt that shit from the first time they locked in on each other. But as strong as Samari’s attraction was to him, her resistance to give into it was just as strong.
She frowned. “You and I aren’t the same?”
“Nah, not us. Me and the muthafucker who let you down. I’m a real man, Samari. My job is to lift you, care about your wellbeing, and protect your heart. If I’m stepping to you, I don’t take that shit lightly. You’ll never catch me slipping on the job and let me be clear, I’m on the muthafuckin’ job where you’re concerned. Now tell me what he broke that I’m gonna have to repair.”
Samari let her head dip to hide her smile. There wasn’t a fiber of her being that didn’t believe Asao wouldn’t stand on every promise he made. Once she pulled herself together, she sighed and granted him her eyes again.
“He destroyed my trust. Promised me safety and peace only to be destruction and chaos.”
What he’d taken from her, no one could ever get back. She shoved the memories deeper into the place that allowed her to put one foot in front of the other and keep her head up when she wanted to curl into a ball and retreat into herself.
“Aight.” Asao tossed his chin and lifted one of his wings. “He in the industry?”
He could have easily searched to see who she had been attached to in the past but didn’t want the details associated with whoever the fuck the guy was. Samari had a following, which meant there was always a story.
A quick search of her name on Trendz or Skroll would undoubtedly lay out any relationship history that existed before now but that shit didn’t matter nor did he need the assumptions or lies about who the world thought she was. Only the name of the person who’d dimmed her light. That was all he required because that shit would be filed away to ensure dude never had access to Samari again.
“No, he was a ball player.”
“Name?”
“Mase Davidson.”
“You still give him access?”
“No, why?”
“'Cause neither am I, and if you aren’t willing to give him access, that makes my job a lot less complicated.”
Samari softly rolled her eyes. “You’re not giving my ex access tome?”
“Nah, that bridge was burned when he mishandled you. Now finish your food so we can hit our next spot. I’ve got the day with you and I’m about to take full advantage.” He winked and she smiled, feeling flutters in her stomach.
10
Samari enjoyed beingin Asao’s presence. Even if she had no interest at the moment of allowing a man to be her focus, she could definitely appreciate how handsome and magnetic he was. He was unapologetically hood with a rough yet smooth persona. It made her heart and pussy thump rhythmically.
