“That’ll work.”
Salena went to set up and I sat on the couch scrolling through my phone. I was all up in Marissa’s business via her Instagram and TikTok. According to Nick, Marissa was married, but shefiled for divorce six months ago. Plenty of time for her to have moved on. When I had enough of that, I went to check out her son’s information.
The video she kept going on about wasn’t some shit that should’ve ever made it to the internet, but Amill was always on social media, and her Instagram live caught the tail end of a private phone call, and some messy blogs picked it up and ran with it. Everything happens for a reason though because I had Quincy mixed up with another player. In fact, he was the only player on their team that I would even take a peek at. Now that I was trying to be his stepfather, I wouldn’t have given a fuck if the lil nigga couldn’t hit a beach ball off a tee, he’d have a spot on my team just so I could get on his mother’s good side.
Luckily, that wasn’t the case. I probably got his name mixed up with the other players because I’d heard his name so much in the media lately. I already shot off a few texts for scouts to go full fledged on recruiting him after reading some notes that he expressed his desire to remain in Tampa.
After two hours, I heard someone fumble with the doorknob, and Salena hopped up from her spot on the other couch. We had been waiting for about three hours. Salena had open availability today, so I booked her for the entire day since I had no idea if Marissa would be here and if she wasn’t, how long she’d be gone for.
I plastered a smile on my face and stood from the chair next to Salena. She had the plush robe draped across her forearm as we waited for the door to swing open. Marissa’s eyes landed on us, and her eyes widened.
“I’m so sorry. Wrong room,” she sputtered, stepping back out. Before she spun around, I caught a glimpse of her ample breasts spilling out of the top of her sports bra. Now, as she was exiting the room, I licked my lips, watching her curves fill out the biker shorts she wore. The bottle of water in her hand andthe light sheen of sweat on her skin told me she had been doing something athletic. I loved that because if I wasn’t on vacation, I hit the gym first thing in the morning.
Before Marissa could get far, I sauntered toward her, catching the door just before it closed.
“Nah, this is your room,” I announced. Marissa spun back around to face me as I continued my spiel. “I wanted to make up for our misunderstanding, and I figured the best way to do that was to offer you a massage. Help you relieve any stress that might have come from my private conversation leaking and affecting you and Quincy. While you’re getting your massage, we can talk about setting up a time for me to meet Quincy.”
Marissa’s eyes swiveled from mine to the door I’d just come out of then back to me. Her eyebrows furrowed in disbelief, and an adorable chuckle slipped out.
“Are you mentally well?” She challenged, her head leaning to the side.
“I’d like to think so.”
“You can’t be,” she brushed past me and opened the door again. “And you knew this nigga was breaking into my shit to surprise me? I don’t even know this weird ass nigga.”
“Ummm, no! I had no idea. He just hired me for the day to surprise his girlfriend with a massage.”
“Well, sweetheart, get out and be thankful that you weren’t in here with a human trafficker! Try to secure a loan so you can open up a brick and mortar location because this isn’t safe at all.”
Salena sprinted over to her massage table and packed up. “And whoever gave you my key is getting fired. You better be lucky I don’t call the fucking police!”
“Come on, don’t be like that. I’m just trying to apologize.”
“You know what, you’re right, apology accepted. Now get the fuck on. I can’t mentally handle this shit here.”
“See, that’s why you need to let Salena give you this massage and help you work out some of that stress. I already paid for it and added your room to my bill, so your stay is free.”
“No, now get your weird ass the fuck out!” She yelled, pointing to the door.
Salena scurried past me, and Marissa fumbled around in her purse for a second until she produced a gun.
“You better run your ass out of here behind her or your parents will be identifying your body in the morgue this evening.”
“I’ll leave, but we’ll run into each other again,” I smiled.
The fact that she knew her way around a gun only made me want her more.
CHAPTER SIX
Marissa Bentley
This cocky motha fucka backed away from me, inching closer to the door. My gun didn’t scare him; there was no pep in his step, and he continued to ogle over my body with every slow stride. He was clearly insane for breaking into my room, but somehow that insanity, paired with the way his almond-shaped, deep-set eyes peered at me, had me intrigued. That said a lot because I hadn’t entertained any men since leaving my husband.
If I’m being honest, sex hadn’t been on my mind, dating wasn’t even something I’d considered, and aside from one man I’d given my number to and never texted back, men hadn’t stimulated my mind or body in any way. However, this man had my synapses firing in all directions and heat pooling in places I thought had gone numb. My thoughts might have been irrational, but the way he looked at me like he already knew what I tasted like had my grip on the gun faltering. Though my mind was screaming to remain guarded, my body betrayed me, as if it had been waiting for a man to come along and wreak havoc on my life again.
Yaseer was carved from temptation, but I knew he was dangerous in the way he made my heart skip and my common sense scatter. He was the type of handsome that would fit in a boardroom or on the front of a magazine. Sharp jaw, smooth bald head, and a full beard that was lined and conditioned regularly. His dark brown skin was rich and flawless, making me wonder what products he incorporated into his skincare routine. A diamond stud glinted in his ear, but it was the way the tattoos climbed his neck that caught my undivided attention. This man was polished, intimidating, and too damn fine for my peace of mind.
“Out! Faster!” I ordered.
