“Oh, hell no,” I muttered, grabbing Monica’s hand, ready to make another quick exit—only to slam into a wall of muscle.
Cash.
“Why’d you run off, lil mama?” he grinned, showing off his gold fangs.
And Lord help me—if I thought he was cute laid up in a hospital bed, the man was a walking vision of sin right now. The shape-up was crisp, his beard was moisturized, and his dark brown skin was practically glowing—a complete 180 from the comatose version I’d seen a few months ago.
“Nurse! What you doin’ here?” Jelani slurred, cheesing at me like we were old friends. He looked like a baby-faced version of his older brother. They were built the same, but Cash had a few inches on him. And while Cash kept his hair in a fade, Jelani had locs with tapered sides.
“It’s still fuck you,” I snapped, mushing him in his forehead when he got too close. Monica gasped as he stumbled back onto the steps, barely catching himself on the railing.
“Aw, come on, you still mad about that? I said I was sorry,” he whined, slumping against the wall.
“You pressed a gun to my head!”
“Yeah, yeah… but I sent your mean ass fifteen bands,” he shrugged.
“That’s not a fucking apology.”
“Fifteen thousand?” Monica echoed, eyes wide. She was probably kicking herself for walking off the unit that night.
Cash looked between us. “Yo, how you know my brother?”
“Yeah,Lani,“ I said sweetly, dragging out the nickname. “HowdoI know you?”
Cash’s expression darkened instantly. “Lani? The fuck she calling you nicknames for?” He hemmed up Jelani by his shirt and slammed him against the wall.
Jelani blinked slowly and shoved Cash back with one hand. These two weredrunk,drunk.
“This the nurse that got you into surgery,” Jelani nodded toward me like he was giving me a Yelp review. “You owe her. Probably the only reason your dumb ass is still breathing.”
I rolled my eyes, but my face was burning.
Cash turned to me, licking his lips slowly. “Word?”
The simple gesture was enough to make my pussy throb.
“I just did my job,” I said quickly. “Monica, let’sgo.”
I reached for her hand, but she didn’t move.
“She don’t look like she tryna leave,” Jelani chuckled.
“Bitch, you’re a traitor,” I hissed at her, narrowing my eyes.
“Jas, come on!” Monica whined. “We can just chill for a little bit and have a few drinks. I need to sit down—my feet hurt.”
I felt Cash’s eyes burning into me, waiting for me to decide.
“Ain’t no harm in having a little fun,” he said, sliding his arm around my waist. “I don’t bite…unless you ask me to.”
Jelani nodded beside him, rubbing his hands, gaze zeroed in on Monica. “We just two rich niggas trying to show y’all a good time.”
Cash leaned in, lips brushing my ear. “I’m tryna get to know the woman who saved my life.”
My brain was screaming at me to run, but my body was a traitor—like Monica. His cologne wrapped around me like a spell, and I felt myself slipping.
“Jasmine,” I blurted.
