“Thought you just knew the title.” I chuckled. “You sound like a girl named Ashley.” While she frowned, I stole the basketball from her hands. Took the shot, eyes glued to hers.
It didn’t go as planned from my periphery, but she was glaring at me. Didn’t see the brick. She snapped, “I don’t!”
I reached for another ball. Darius grabbed it. Since he ignored us, focusing on the ticking clock, I leaned my shoulder against the frame of the outer cage. “Makes me wonder where you’re from, Journey. Minnesota, Utah,Montana.Am I getting close?”
“No. Now, stop.” Her eyes flashed, then she stared at the countdown. She’d snatch her kid and run the second it ran out.
Maybe I came on too strong. Nah, not me.Big Country. Normally, women would skin their knees to get to him. Still,Ienjoyed our banter, snapping sharper than Mardi Gras beads clacking together—colorful, chaotic, and damn near addictive.
“I’ll pay you, Sweet Cheeks,” I replied just as the score blared final. Four shots. Instead of tossing her son over her shoulder and skirting off like a fifty-yard dash, Journey stared at me.
Licking my lips, I smiled at those big brown eyes. “Fifty thousand each date.” Since she didn’t respond or run. I swiped the game card, and the machine lit up again. “You got this, Darius.” I clapped a hand on his shoulder, and he rushed to grab the ball rolling over the wooden surface. He leaned forward and took the shot. Nothing but net.
“Keep it up, Little Dude.”
I returned my attention to Journey and shared LaShawn’s half-baked plan.
Journey’s brow lifted. “Why not your girlfriend?”
“Again, Adelle ain’t my girlfriend,bébé. She just somebody who like to have fun when I’m in town. We not tied up like that.”
“Does she know that?”
“Yep. Both allergic to monogamy.”
“Well, I’m allergic to all of the above! Anyway, can’t it be”—she sighed, glancing at her son—“just me and you. No family pack?”
“Tempting. She said a kid would sway my fan base.”
Journey nodded. “Children watch baseball?”
“Yep. Some come with their dads sitting anywhere from the nosebleeds to right behind home plate.” I placed my hand on her shoulder. Since she didn’t flinch, my thumb rubbed circles. Big Country had to hypnotize her one way or another. Any girl? All in. No question. This one? Busting my balls. “This is what we’ll do. You keep wearing that …”parachute“… wig. We’ll use one of my cousins’ kids. Side profile, candids of us. Very ambiguous. Leak a few photos to the press. Mostly you. Me. Hugging … kissing.”
“No kissing.”
“Fifty-K a date and you want to keep that mouth locked?”
“Yes.” A vein in her neck kicked.
I shrugged. We’d circle back. “Maybe a few park photos. The kid can come down the slide, mostly shielded by us.”
“Fifty thousand each date. Cuddles and candids?” she asked, wrenching her pretty fingers together.
“I’ll have my attorney draw up a contract,” I replied, swiping the game card again. The boy grabbed the balls rushing at him.
My eyes ate her in greedy bits. Saw the hesitation.C’mon, bébé.
“Montana …” Journey’s teeth dug into her bottom lip. “What do I do when paparazzi come knocking?”
“Okay. So, listen?—”
“Those words. That set up. Keep your money, Montana.” Journey turned away from me and placed a hand on her son’s shoulder. “Last game, honey.”
Too bad.Iwas too far gone, and Big Country had already picked his fake leading lady.
zuri
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