Cashmere’s eyes bucked as she searched for something to say. This man felt dangerous in the best ways, and she wasn’t sure what to do with the attraction that simmered within her. He was stubborn and bossy, but a part of her secretly loved that about him. It turned her on. That scared her. Feelings scared her. Despite her fear, she had the strongest urge to lean up on her tiptoes and kiss his juicy lips.
“I-I’m good.” She slipped under his muscled arm and rushed out of the kitchen.
His laughter filled her ears as she fled. When she got to the safety of her room, she sank against the door and tried her best to still her rapidly beating heart, completely unsure how she would navigate staying professional with her new bodyguard.
Shopping had become Cashmere’s favorite pastime. Savio preached the night before about not living for survival. When Cashmere shopped, that was her small slice of doing just that. It was the only time she really spoiled herself.
“Can I get this, Cash?” Ivoree asked as she held up a tennis bracelet with emeralds glittering around it.
Cashmere gazed at it for a second so she could assess it. Finally, she nodded slowly. Her baby sister had great taste, and that was a good thing because Cashmere hated to tell her no. Shewould, though, if her sister had picked something out that wasn’t of quality. Ivoree deserved nothing but the absolute best.
“Have them ring it up. I don’t think I’m getting anything from here,” Cashmere said as she looked inside a glass case that held glittering earrings.
“What you gettin’?” Twizz asked.
Cashmere’s eyes snapped to him, and her face screwed up slightly. She hadn’t seen too much of Twizz. This was the first time she got to see Ivoree and Twizz together, and she wasn’t sure she liked it. He seemed to constantly be in her business, and Ivoree seemed to soak that shit up. The last thing Cashmere needed was Ivoree to be distracted by some nigga who called himself playing bodyguard.
Ivoree giggled and showed Twizz the bracelet while Cashmere watched them with a frown.
“Fix ya face.” Savio slid behind her and whispered in her ear.
Cashmere didn’t even flinch. Somehow, she had gotten used to him sneaking up on her.
She scoffed as she turned to face him. “My face is just fine, thank you.”
“Sure is fine.” He pinched her chin, and she tried to hide her automatic grin.
There was something about this man that had her acting all out of sorts.
“I think we’re done after this. I’m ready to go home and cook,” Cashmere said to change the subject.
Savio’s brows rose. “You cookin’ tonight?”
“Sure am. You can join us if you want.”
“I was supposed to kick it wit’ Twizz tonight.” Savio nudged his bearded chin in Twizz’s direction.
Cashmere’s face instantly soured again. She low-key wanted to share the meal with Savio, so on a whim, she said, “He can joinus too. It was supposed to be just me and Vee, but you guys can eat with us.”
“You sure? Don’t seem like you really like my lil nigga,” Savio joked.
Cashmere shook her head. “I’m just protective of my sister. You trust him?”
“With my life.”
“Then I’ll try to trust him too.”
Savio looked shocked. “You tryna say you trust me, Precious?”
There went that shit eating grin again. She rolled her eyes and pushed his chest gently. “Don’t you gotta secure the area since we’re about to get out of here?”
He chuckled as he walked backward for a few steps. “You ain’t gettin’ off that easy. Trustthat.”
Cashmere watched with a schoolgirl grin as he turned and walked out of the store. She watched him scan the area and disappear around the corner. To his credit, as soon as Savio left the store, Twizz became alert and made sure nothing popped off inside. Cashmere respected that, at least. It seemed like he knew how to be on his job.
As she waited, Cashmere continued to look at the jewelry in the glass cases.
“You’re absolutely beautiful,” a deep voice said to the left of her.
