That was a hard question because my life literally revolved around my child and working. “I like to read. I love to read actually. I don’t have time to sit and read like I used to, so I listen to a lot of audio books while I do hair. I used to love to travel, but time doesn’t permit me to do the kind of traveling that I want.”
Uno gave a curt nod. “Bet. So, next time we hang out, we’re either hopping on a flight, or we’re going to the bookstore. And yes, I know, you just want to use me for my body, but I’m not going to just bust you down without getting to know you first. I think that would be some rude ass shit,” Uno smirked, and my panties instantly became soaked.
“Are you like this with all the ladies?” I questioned with a hiked brow.
“Nah. Are you like this with all men?”
“Touché asshole. Touché.” I clicked my tongue and finished off my Mimosa while he laughed. Keeping Uno at arm’s length and only dealing with him on a physical level might prove to be harder than I anticipated. He was different for sure and not in a bad way. “I think a bookstore would be the safest bet for now.”
“Bookstore it is then.”
The waitress refilled my Mimosa without me even having to ask, and I knew I was in for trouble. The more I drank, it was harder to be directly across from Uno and not be aroused. I wanted him to take me somewhere and lay me down, but I had to respect the fact that he was handling me like a gentleman and not the City Girl I was trying to be. I wasn’t even sure I was cut out for that life. I wanted a family. More kids…
“You and your father. You care to talk about that?”
“There’s not a lot to talk about. It might look like I give him a hard time, but I really do love him. My father didn’t just spoil me with material things, he was actively present in my life. He raised me, and I love him. But as I got older, some of the things I saw they just…” my voice trailed off, and I looked off to the side. “I couldn’t be a pampered suburban princess and know how to handle home invasions, jack boys, the police. All of that was a possibility with the way my father lived. I was freakin’ thirteen with anxiety. I didn’t want to keep living like that.”
“I get it. Everything comes with a price. The money is phenomenal, but it comes with risks out the ass. Everyone isn’t built for it, and that’s okay.”
Angling my head to the left, I studied Uno’s gorgeous features. “And you? A woman that wants to be in your life, she’s going to have to deal with the risks?”
Uno’s shoulder hiked. “I mean, I guess so, if we get serious before I leave the game. I don’t put anyone directly around what I do. I don’t keep anything illegal in my home aside from weed and a gun. I’m not all out in the open with my shit, but things happen every day that are out of our control. I could work a regular nine to five and be the victim of a robbery or a home invasion.”
His comment made me think about the break-in at my home. “That’s true. Do you see yourself leaving the game anytime soon?” The server came and set our plates in front of us. Thered velvet waffles I ordered looked amazing, and the chicken appeared to be fried to perfection. My mouth was literally watering.
“I don’t have a definite date but maybe the next six months or so.”
The fact that I felt a sense of joy was insane. It had to be the Mimosas. Even if Uno left the game in the next few days, that didn’t mean we were going to be anything past friends. But he was the most decent guy I’d met in forever. Dating him on a serious level might not be so bad. He was a great father, financially secure, handsome as fuck, and he was a true gentleman. Uno may as well have been a Unicorn because I didn’t run into people like him every day. Letting him slip through my fingers would make me feel like I fumbled him real bad.
The food was delicious and after my fourth Mimosa, I couldn’t stop smiling. Uno noticed it as he walked me to the valet stand. “Do I need to call an Uber for you?” he was insanely close to me. So close that it felt as if his cologne was choking me. The intense way he peered down into my face had my peach aching for him.
“I’m good to drive.” My heart raced as I stared at his lips. Lips that I wanted to suck on.
“Good. Let me know when you get home.” Uno’s gaze traveled the length of my frame, and my knees buckled. “I’ll call you to set up that trip to the bookstore. Make sure you have a babysitter,” he winked at me before walking toward the valet attendant to tip him for bringing my car around.
I played it cool until I got in my car, and Uno was in his. Taking my hand and fanning myself, I blew out a shaky breath. Yeah, fucking with Mr. Uno had me ready to go home and touch myself. Got damn!
I put in my two weeks’ notice at my job, and I was going to leave thirty hours of PTO on the table if I didn’t use them, so I had taken the day off to view some luxury apartments. My parents had a pool at their house, but I knew Kiwi would love living in an apartment complex that had a pool. I would enjoy having access to a gym that didn’t require me to leave home while hoping the machines that I wanted to use weren’t all occupied. I viewed three apartments, and my favorite was the second one that I saw. The rent was $2,200 a month for a two bedroom, but I wanted it. Being that I was going to start working for my father and my salary was going to increase by an insane amount, I would easily be able to afford rent, and my other bills, while still saving to buy a home. By the time my lease ended, I was determined to have a home of my own for me and my daughter. I wanted a two-car garage and no less than three bedrooms. Maybe even four.
My parents were loving the fact that Kiwi was in the house with them, and they had invited us out to dinner. When I got back to the house, the cleaners were there, and my parents’ chef was preparing lunch.
“Hi, Apricot,” she smiled at me. “You’re just in time. Lunch is ready.”
My eyes darted over the shrimp linguini. “It looks and smells amazing. Thank you.”
Megan fixed me a plate, and I carried it up to my room to eat. Being back at home with my parents reminded me of how pleasant it was to have luxury at my fingertips. I was never against living the good life. I just didn’t want the money that funded the lifestyle to have blood on it. I hated wrestling with wondering if my feelings were valid or if I was doing too much.Most people wouldn’t care where the money came from, but I wasn’t most people.
While I ate, I scheduled a wax appointment. I also made a hair appointment. My hair was long and thick enough for me to get knotless braids using my own hair. I could do it myself, but I didn’t want to. It took too long and made my arms extremely tired. I also made an appointment to get my brows threaded and tinted. My date to the bookstore and the bedroom was in four days, and I wanted to be prepared for Mr. Uno Sparks. Just thinking about it made a tingle run down my spine.
The gym and apartment hunting wore me out, so after I demolished the food that Megan cooked, I took a wonderful nap. My father picked Kiwi up from school, and we all got ready to go out to dinner. When I went downstairs, I saw Marlo and though I gave him a genuine smile, I was reminded that we couldn’t even go out to eat dinner as a family without security being present. Kiwi was still a little too young to understand. She was a smart girl though and would figure it out soon just like I did.
“What care are we taking?” Marlo asked, and I knew my father would say the Escalade because it was bulletproof.
“Can we ride in the Rolls Royce, please?” Kiwi clasped her hands together and gave my father the puppy dog eyes that he could never resist.
He looked over at Marlo. “You heard the boss.”
“Indeed, I did.”
