The smile surfaced, but not because of his request. Asao had the same effect on her because his voice would have her doing whatever, whenever he wanted.
“Yeah, you got that.” He gripped her chin seconds before his mouth met hers. He backed away moments later. “I have a few more stores I need to fall through then we can head out.”
Samari did a quick scan and relaxed when she didn’t see any cameras focused on them. She chose to trust the man who had her mind and heart conflicted until he gave her reason not to.
17
They hitthree more stores where Asao picked up what he needed. Shopping was a rare thing for him, so when he stepped out, he did major damage. Samari fell back and let him do his thing. Because of the tension from their first stop, Asao didn’t push when he offered to foot the bill for whatever she wanted.
For the remainder of their afternoon, he shopped and she chilled close by. When they were done, the two walked to his car with a handful of bags before Asao pulled up to valet and handed over the store cards which they scanned then notifiedconcierges to retrieve the packages left behind and bring them to his vehicle.
“I’ve lived here all my life and never knew concierge was an option here.” Samari smirked after Asao handed over a cash tip to the two people dressed in all black who’d delivered their packages.
“You trying to tell me you shut the mall down and carry your own shit?” He pulled away from valet with one hand on the steering wheel and the other resting in his lap, looking sexy and relaxed. The easy smile on his face was becoming one of Samari’s favorite things.
“I’ve never shut the mall down, so carrying my own bags has never been an issue,” she confessed. Even at the height of her career, she’d never done it big at the mall.
“Who’s been in your life, Mari? Because whoever it was hasn’t been deserving?”
She frowned and he pulled up at a traffic light, turning his attention on her when he noticed the irritation in her expression.
“What does that have to do with anything?”
“If your man wasn’t blowing stacks, he wasn’t showing love.”
“That’s what you think showing love looks like?” She was curious to know how his mind worked and how he loved.
“As a whole, no. The measure of a man is not the depth of his pockets but when he’s got it, she’s got it. If a man cares about the woman he’s giving his time to, he gives her every part of him. If he’s about business his hustle is his heart, so she should get that. Whether it’s a want or a need. You don’tneedand you refuse to allow yourself towantif I’m the one providing it. I get that. But when my name is on you, you’ll match my fly and I stay fly as fuck.” His sexy smile was exposed before a swipe of his tongue moved over his full lips.
She observed his words with a surface understanding before admitting the reason why. “I’ve always had to carry my wants and needs, so it’s not easy for me to share the responsibility.”
Asao glanced at her and nodded, committing what she wasn’t saying to memory. Samari never had a real man in her life. She shared that she’d never known her father, and based on what little she provided about her ex, he was not worth Samari’s time. Asao wouldn’t consider himself the blueprint, but he was a damn good representative for how a man should love a woman. The thought had him traveling back in time to the only woman he had ever given his heart to.
Na’Mya had been his one. She’d loved him deep and he’d loved her whole. They were young but their feelings were no less relevant. She’d lost her life because he refused to change. The guilt of being the man she deserved for someone else loomed in the recesses of his mind but the past was the past. His mistakes didn’t have to be the foundation for the man he was now.
“What I need you to wrap your mind around is now that you’ve got your weight up, them arms can hold me down while I hold you up. Let me do the heavy lifting. You’ve been carrying things you shouldn’t have to, Mari. But that’s cool because it helped you get your weight up. You will respect having a real man step for you because you know what it takes to carry the weight of the world on your own. Just because you can, doesn’t mean you have to or should. Strength isn’t always about power. God’s strongest soldiers are also his most beautiful and soft creations. Let me bless you with that soft girl shit.”
“Those sound very ‘you’re my man’ types of promises.”
“You think I’m not?”
She ignored the question because responding would mean admitting what she knew or telling a lie. “Where are we going?”
“Wherever you want. You gave me your time, so mine is yours.”
She accepted the offer and leaned forward, tapping the infotainment system to key in an address. Asao watched and arched a brow when he noticed the location but didn’t ask questions.
They pulled up at Big Reg’s and Asao parked in the dirt lot next to the building because the three spots at the storefront were taken. One by the silver pickup that belonged to the shop’s owner. The building looked the same as it had when he would fall through years prior.
“Whose chair are you about to sit in?” he asked once he’d opened the passenger door to let Samari out.
“Reg.”
He nodded, comfortably dropping an arm around her shoulders, tucking her at his side while they crossed the aged parking lot. Asao opened the door and they moved through it together.
The small brick building barely held enough space for the three stations that lined the left side. They were empty today but that wasn’t surprising because Reg had age on him and only showed up daily to keep a steady routine that allowed his mental to stay focused enough to ensure he got out of bed.
“Well shit. Y’all trying to make an old man feel worthy.” Reg smiled, surprised by the two who’d walked in to bless his heart and pockets.
