“What? Okay. Truthfully, I’ve considered us in a relationship since I saved your ass at the Glory Gala.”
“Oh, please!” Donna scoffed. “But, you’re away a lot. When I’m working undercover, I’m unreachable. How do we do this?”
He reached across the table and held out his hand. Donna placed her hand in his, instantly feeling the warmth and security of his touch.
“It’s simple, sweetheart. When I’m away, you wait for me. When you’re away, I wait for you. See? Simple.”
“Long distance relationships are—”
“Colonel Lincoln Creed, as I live and breathe,” came purring from a woman standing over their table.
Donna looked up to find a tall, curvy, black woman with long, dark hair. Admittedly, she was well-dressed and attractive. The magnitude of her cleavage made Donna want to throw away her pushup bra.
Lincoln offered a tight-lipped smiled before looking up at the woman. “Valerie, hello. How are you?”
She smiled and leaned over, pressing her palms to the table, giving him an unobstructed view of her golden-brown cleavage. “I’m better now. Haven’t seen you in a while. Been off saving the world?”
“You can say that,” Lincoln muttered.
She turned to Donna, finally acknowledging her presence.
“Who’s this?” she asked, looking at Donna but still talking to Lincoln.
“I’m Donna. It’s nice to meet you, Valerie.”
She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “Donna, huh?”
Donna gave her the same sugary grin. “Yep, Donna. You know…I like the view,” she told her, nodded at her cleavage. “Probably more than Lincoln does.”
Valerie tried, but she couldn’t hide her shocked reaction to Donna’s salacious declaration.
“Is that so?”
“Ye-p,” Donna responded with an extra emphasis on the P.
Lincoln laughed softly and cleared his throat. “Valerie, it was good to see you again. But my lady and I are trying to enjoy a romantic dinner. I’m sure you understand.”
She turned to Lincoln with wrinkled brows. “Your lady? As in, commitment?”
“Yes. So please, enjoy your dinner.”
She continued to stare as if she couldn’t believe he’d just admitted to being in a relationship.
“Valerie… I meant, enjoy your dinner atyourtable.”
She laughed nervously and pushed off the table. Though she was smiling when she stepped back, Donna could see the resentment in her eyes. She turned to walk away.
“Nice to meet you, Valerie!” Donna called out in a fake, cheery voice tone as she left the patio.
Once she disappeared inside the restaurant, Donna’s focus lasered on Lincoln. She was no longer all smiles. As a matter of fact, she was downright aggravated.
“What?” he asked with a look similar to that of a deer in the headlights. “Donatella, listen. Valerie and I—”
“Naw, to hell with that!” she interrupted with a wave of her hand.
“Donatella, we just—”
Donna shook her head emphatically. She wasn’t trying to hear a thing that came out of his mouth.
“See, I assumed you didn’t know any better. But, clearly, you do.”
Lincoln frowned, tilting his head with obvious confusion. “What are you talking about?”
Donna pointed to her head. “You’ve been with black women before, which means you knew damn well not to put my head under that water.”
Visibly relaxed, Lincoln leaned back in his seat and grinned. “Baby, I’ve never stayed long enough to shower after,” he admitted through laughter.
