Leo leaned back in his chair and laughed. “Niyah, since when do you like white men, Sister Soulja? As a matter of fact, I thought you didn’t like white people in general.”
“What?” Niyah questioned. “My mother is white.”
“You don’t like your mother!” Leo blurted through laughter.
In lieu of arguing, Niyah opted to drink, mainly because Leo was partially right. She loved her mother, but she didn’t enjoy her company.
“So, is it serious?”
“It’s complicated. He’s staying at my place temporarily.”
Leo waved his hand. “I’ve switched subjects, baby girl. We can talk about dude later. Now, I’m talking about your legal issues. Is it serious?”
Niyah sighed. “It’sveryserious.” She knocked back the rest of the wine and summoned the courage to confess her sins.
.
XANDER
Xander lifted the sifter to his lips and sipped scotch while struggling to pay attention to the account executives as they went over the cost of four new cruise ships and a resort in the Caymen Islands. With Niyah dinning with a man on the other side of a large collum, concentrating on work was going to be impossible. He looked around for the soldier moonlighting as Niyah’s bodyguard but didn’t see him. He was probably outside. He obviously didn’t believe her tall friend was a threat.
“Of course, you know the hurricane insurance on an island resort is a hurdle. But the resort is in great condition. It has no major debts and it's in a highly coveted location.”
Xander blocked out the background noise of the conversation that he’d actually initiated. Leo was tall and well dressed. And judging by the way the women looked at him when he stood, he was apparently good-looking. Xander couldn’t get over them having dinner. Together, they made a picture of a handsome black couple. Xander was feeling insecure, and he didn’t like it. After a conversation he’d had with Lucas, he knew that black men were Niyah’s preference.
“For you,” the server chirped as she placed a scotch on ice in front of him.
“Thank you.” Xander sighed and sipped a good amount. The scotch cooled his tongue and warmed his throat. Even the smokey flavor of his favorite scotch couldn’t pacify his jealousy. The idea of walking over to them, pulling Niyah up from the table, and caveman dragging her ass home was looming in his thoughts. Unfortunately, that wouldn’t work on a woman like her. His actions would more than likely push her right into his bed.
“Alexander?”
The sound of his name being called diverted his attention to Bill.
“Sorry?” Xander apologized with a chuckle. “What were you saying?”
“I was going over the projections for a remote island resort.”
“Yeah,” Xander grumbled. He couldn’t have been more uninterested in business at the moment. Xander gulped the rest of the liquid and placed his glass on the table. He stood and buttoned his suit coat. “Why don’t you guys comb over it? Call Melinda in the morning and set up a meeting.”
He ignored their confused expressions and turned to leave. On the way to the door, he pep talked himself out of looking back at Niyah and kept walking. That was until his path was blocked by a dark-haired vixen who used to date Lucas.
“Xander Creed,” she sang with a grin. She wrapped her arms around him. “You are looking good, Mister.”
Xander stepped out of her grasp and smiled. “It’s good to see you, Evelyn. You’re looking good as well.”
The sparkle in her blue eyes and the curl of her plump lips warned bad intentions. “So, how’s your brother? Is he still dating that Indian lady.”
Xander frowned. “I’m sure you meantNative-America.”
“Whatever,” she dismissed with a wave and a chuckle.
“Actually, Evelyn, their getting married soon.” Xander was feeling petty, and he figured he shouldn’t be the only one wallowing in jealousy. Her expression changed immediately, but it wasn’t the reaction Xander had expected.
With a raised brow, she moved closer and whispered, “How about you? You still single?”
Xander laughed and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Don’t ever change, Evelyn.”
She parted her lips to speak, but before she could get the offer past her lips, Xander stepped around her and walked out of the restaurant.
