“I don’t know if I can afford to find out. I like you a lot Elijah, but I don’t know if you really like me or if you’re just seeing me as a fifty cent bottle of water.”
He scratched the back of his head. “A bottle of water?”
She waved a hand. “Sorry, using an analogy the wrong way. What I’m saying is that you even describe being with me as something that’s just convenient. An easy check box. When you talked about why we’re compatible, you just listed off a very unromantic list of reasons. We’re friends, I get along with your daughter, we’ve formed a compatible relationship over the years. Nothing was said about really being interested in me, Layla.” She pressed a hand to her chest.
He crossed the room until he stood in front of her. “I’m interested inyou, Layla. Not just the idea of you.”
“I can’t just believe your words. Our daughters are best friends. We’re good as we are now. Like you said yesterday, why ruin a good thing because it’s convenient?”
“Convenience isn’t what I feel for you.”
Despite the conviction in his eyes she asked. “How can I believe that?” Physical attraction didn’t mean he valued her as a person or see her as an equal.
He stepped closer. She had to tilt her head up to continue to meet his gaze. “Because, I know that your picture on my phone screen makes me smile. The sound of your voice soothes my irritation after a long day. Whenever I look into your eyes all I want to do is pull you into my arms and kiss you.”
Layla blinked before blurting out the first thing she thought. “No you don’t.”
He raised a brow. “You’re really comfortable telling me what I do and don’t feel.” His voice was a low rumble that rocked the foundation she’d just built her case on.
The problem was she wanted to kiss him, too. She’d thought about kissing him more times than she’d like to admit.Thought about it and pushed it aside each time because she always convinced herself things would never go that far between them.
Her gaze dropped to his lips. “I’m not telling you what you feel, only what you’ve shown me over the years.”
His gaze sharpened with understanding. He nodded slowly. “It looks like I’m going to have to show you something different.”
She swallowed hard. “Don’t show me to prove something to yourself. Show me because you really want me.”
Elijah’s eyes narrowed and shifted enough for the tips of her breasts to brush his chest. She sucked in a breath. The movement pressed her breasts further into the solid heat of him. She bit the corner of her lip to stop a moan from escaping. Elijah lowered his head until his lips barely touched hers.
The sound of the girls chatter and running footsteps broke the moment. Layla pulled back and Elijah stepped away just as quickly. She stumbled and had to catch herself on the kitchen island to prevent from falling. Her knees felt so damn weak.
“We’re hungry,” Sabrina said pointing toward the bowl apples on the counter.
“Mommy, you’re still here?” Jasmine asked confused.
“I just had to talk to Mr. Elijah for a second. I’m leaving now. Call me when you’re ready to come home.” Layla rushed from the kitchen and out of the front door without looking back. Jasmine was safe and there were enough snacks in Elijah’s house to make sure she was satisfied until dinner. Layla, on the other hand, was very unsatisfied and would need the time aloneto deal with the throbbing between her legs in order to regain a clear head.
Chapter 7
“Daddy, what are we doing here?” Sabrina asked in a curious voice.
Elijah looked at the crowd of people at the park and braced himself. At least thirty or so men with children of varying ages were in the park. More than he’d expected. He’d come for a Single Dad’s Society meet and greet after seeing the announcement on the Houston chapter’s social media page. He figured a meet-up at a local park was an easy way to start. The kids can play while the dads introduce themselves and chat. The revelations of the past week had pushed him to come. As much as he hadn’t liked to hear it, the truths from his co-workers, Jashaun, Marcus and Layla had forced him to admit some things. His life was stagnant. Outside of Sabrina, there wasn’t much that he did to enjoy himself. And, yes, he did use work as his crutch. Providing for Sabrina was the most important thing to him, which admittedly, made him realize that his need to be a high performer also took a toll of those in his life. It was part of the reason why Angelique had left, she’d accused him of not taking her wants and needs into consideration. While he didn’t regret wanting to provide for his family, he also had to accept that the people around him needed more than just his paycheck. They needed him happy, whole and present.
Which brought him here. He needed community. He needed friends. Something that was hard to admit at thirty four years old.
“We’re here to make friends,” he said to Sabrina. The words immediately took him back to entering the lunchroom at the new middle school after his family moved from San Diego toPensacola. Growing up as a Navy brat meant he was frequently thrown into new situations, but the experience of having to find new friends never got easier.
“Good. You do need friends,” Sabrina said seriously.
He looked down at his daughter. “Why would you say that?”
He’d admired the intricate braids going into a ponytail at the top of her head. No matter how hard he’d tried, he’d never gotten good at cornrows. Simple plaits, he could do, but as Sabrina got older he’d found a stylist who could do her hair. When he said they were going to the park she’d put on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt with smiling ladybugs and the words “I’m a lady” printed across the front. He didn’t have a ladybug shirt, so instead he’d decided to wear black jeans and a red top to at least match her color scheme.
She looked back at him as if the answer was as obvious as the nose on his face. “Because you don’t have any friends. Just Ms. Layla.”
“What’s wrong with having one friend? You have Jasmine.”
Sabrina grinned and shook her head. “Daddy, I have a lot of friends at school. Jasmine is just mybestfriend.”
