“Skip whatever you’re about to say. For one, we don’t have time, and two, that’s why we have Nas. She can run the deepest background check, legal and illegal, to make sure he’s good. I mean, unless there’s another reason you told him no. Wait, is he ugly?” Hollis whispered the last part, using one hand to cover her mouth as if Johnni couldn’t hear her, which had me laughing.
I shook my head. “Not at all. Burkeley is very handsome,” I said modestly, doing my best to downplay just how fine he was. I’d noticed it that day he came over to get the pictures from me, but I didn’t think it was the best time to be gawking over another man, especially one I’d hired to find my last one. But Burkeley was fine as hell. His smooth dark skin was riddled with tattoos up to his neck, giving him that hard, rugged appeal. I could tell by his build that he worked out and had a solid eight pack underneath all his clothes. His neatly trimmed beard and goatee lined his handsome features. But it was his smoldering eyes that gave my heart uneven palpitations. The way he looked at me made me confused about the feelings he caused between my thighs. So I did my best to push whatever it was down, to keep things professional, and blamed it on my heightened hormones.
“Ooh, he fine, fine, huh? So, what’s the problem? Body odor? Because that can be fixed and tamed. I’ve seen it done before,” Hollis said as she nodded.
“Again, no. I would ask who but I’m afraid of the answer. And because I don’t know him. That’s the only problem.”
“A problem that can be solved. You can toss out your own requirements to this little deal. Make it a demand for dates to properly get to know each other before and during these events. I mean, it will be important to pass him along as your baby daddy, and man, for y’all to know each other beyond the basics of first and last names. Damn, ain’t nobody teach you shit about negotiating? Don’t worry though, I got you. Now, do you still have his number?”
“Wait, Hollis, you’re moving too fast. Mickey, do you feel safe with him to truly agree to this? I mean, him with your people and you with his? Those are two very intimate moments that couples share once they reach certain stages. Do you know how long a man waits to bring you home for family gatherings these days? Damn near a year,” Johnni stressed.
“This wouldn’t be the same for us, Johnni. This whole thing would be fake and very much temporary. So don’t compare it to anything arealcouple would do. But, yes, Hollis, you’re right. Dates will have to be a must or at least sit downs to pass all the details between us. Am I crazy for even considering this?”
“No.”
“Yes.”
I tilted my head and smirked at both. I knew Johnni hated this and really wanted me to find someone else, but Hollis was right. I didn’t have time. I gave Mackie until my second trimester and I was two weeks in to it. Time was officially not on my side. Plus, even with me not knowing Burkeley, despite my initial reaction, I felt safe with Burkeley.
“Girl, forget what Johnni is saying. No, you’re crazy, but I will say set your expectations now between you two and keep it strictly professional. Once y’all are done, we can get back to the regular scheduled program of raising Peanut without a man.”
“Ugh, if you’re doing this. I…weneed updates and we have to meet him. Ooh, how about Quincey and I have you over to officially welcome him to the crew? That way, he won’t feel like Hollis and I are interrogating him.”
“Ooh, yes. And?—
I waved my hands at them, tuning out their sidebar conversation now about a dinner I wasn’t even sure would happen.
“Ay, are y’all forgetting one key thing? I told him no, literally kicked him out and called him and his idea insane. I’m not so sure Burkeley will even agree to even help me anymore.”
“Mickey, that man presented the idea, he’ll do it. Just call him and apologize for your crazy behavior. Just this one time I give you permission to blame it on my Peanut, but don’t get comfortable doing that either,” Hollis said so matter of factly that it had me snickering.
“Ooh this calls for a celebration. Get y’all drinks.” Hollis was reaching for her wine glass while Johnni handed me my bottle of water then grabbed hers.
“Here’s to Mickey finding a new baby’s father.” As silly as her words were, Hollis delivered with so much sincerity. We clicked our glasses then took our drinks before getting back to the presentations with Hollis doing hers on her latest story.
I zoned out, mind completely on how I would even approach Burkeley.
Chapter
Ten
Burkeley
I stood in my office taping pictures to the whiteboard I had to help me keep track of this case I was working on. It was complex and should’ve had all my attention since there were a lot of people involved, but all I could think about was McKay. It had been a couple of days since that night she’d practically thrown me out of her condo. My simple plan blew the fuck up in my face.
First off, I made up some bullshit invoice, putting an amount that didn’t even cover the gas I used to run down to Austin Peaks. But I wasn’t looking for her to pay me for real. I just wanted another opportunity to be in her presence and check on her. I didn’t like how I’d left her the day I dropped off the information about that fuck ass lame.
When McKay brought up her dilemma, in my mind I took another chance at offering up my services. To me, it was a win-win. I would get the chance to make Anna happy and keep whoever she had planned to set me up with at bay while spending time with the woman who hadn’t left my mind since I saw her.
I chuckled at the memory of McKay calling me insane. I mean, in all fairness, it was random as hell for me to just throw out the idea the way I did when she was venting about her personal issues. She didn’t know me, and yet there I was, telling her to play my girlfriend while I pretended to be her child’s father.
I pressed my lips together while a smug grin began to form.
“It’s still a solid ass idea, BK. She just wasn’t ready to hear about it,” I told myself while I went through the next stack of pictures to add the important ones to the board.
Of course, my moment of stillness would be interrupted by Art who came barging into my office.
“Fool, why the hell you ain’t answering the phone?” I looked from him toward the board, making it clear why my personal phone was not in the same room.
