Kong bowed his head shamefully. This was exactly why he didn’t want to give in to temptation with her. He knew it would only cause more chaos. Nodding, he lifted his gaze to Inari.
“I don’t not like you, Kong. Overall, you seem to be a solid dude who was dealt a bad hand. You’re trying, and you’re showing up. Don’t think that doesn’t count. I understand loss and how it changes you,” Inari clarified. “But I can’t as her sister sit back and allow you to do her any kind of way. So, yeah… I told her not to pursue this, and if she couldn’t work here and be around you, then she needs to find another job. Her content creation is picking up. She’s got recipes and videos going viral every single day, which means she’s getting to the bag all on her own.”
“She’s smart. She’s creative, and she’s very talented,” Kong complimented. “All the shit I can’t resist about her, but... given how things are unraveling around here, I can’t allow my focus to shift. So… you’re right. I told her that.”
“You can’t just tell her, Kong.” Inari sighed as keys rattled in the front door and Moose let himself into the family home. “No more of that creeping into her room shit like last night either. You have to set boundaries.”
“You have my word that I will do whatever it takes to protect her. Like you said, my kids need her, and I care about her too. Not just because of what happened between us. Your sister is one of the best people I know.”
“Don’t be around here saying shit to her like that either or looking at her like she’s the only woman who exists. Show versus tell,” Inari drilled into him. “What the hell is wrong with you Blackmoor men?”
“What’s up? You good?” Moose approached, only catching the last part of their conversation.
It didn’t surprise him that Kong was sniffing after Ayla. It was only a matter of time. While Mozzi and Moose had a weakness for the slick talking, extra types, Kong was the opposite. He preferred his women meek and sweet with a touch of spice. Ayla was all those things he found sexy in a partner. She was also young and pure compared to him. Unlike Mozzi and Moose, Kong never knew his birth parents. He’d been in the system all his life. The very first family that adopted him was killed during a police raid when he was only three years old. Since they didn’t have any family, Kong ended up in foster care before arriving at Haven House six years later.
“I’m a little hungover. I’m going to grab some breakfast and head home to Dane.”
Kong excused himself to return to Nay in the kitchen. Moose looked after him, deciding he would get with him later aboutthe Ayla situation, and focused on Inari. He could tell something had her tight, and he didn’t like that shit.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m good,” she lied, eyes drifting to the ground.
“You ain’t gotta cap with me, mama.” He reached for her hand, pulling her attention to his face. Searching his warm chestnut eyes, something fluttered in her stomach.
“It’s just been a long time since I’ve had idle hands. Dane’s pretty much grown and finishing summer school this week, so he’ll be off with his friends. Ayla lives here. I’m not working until further notice. I don’t know what to even do with myself.” She threw her hands up.
“Well, what do you want to do?” Moose queried, pulling her into his arms and sealing the space between them.
“I always wanted to open my own private auction house. Like exclusive, rare shit. I’ve got a secured storage unit where I have a lot of stuff I’ve collected over the years.”
“Okay, so what you need to get the ball rolling on something like that?”
“A building for one. It has to be the right space, though. I’d have to get all my clientele together and all the licensing for it, then I could plan an opening event. Maybe I could reach out to some of my parents’ old contacts and try to find some locations.” The wheels spun in Inari’s head.
She could sit around dwelling and dreading the call from her boss telling her she’d have to let her go, or she could start working on doing her own thing.
“I also need some connections that can help me obtain even more pieces.”
Moose took note of everything. Kneeling, he pressed his lips against Inari’s in a sweet kiss.
“How about you do that, and I’ll start figuring out that other shit for you. I know people. My family does too. I can hit upDesiree. She’s got a lot of European connections with all her traveling. I’m sure she could hook you up with a hell of clientele list.”
Inari lit up at the prospect. She hadn’t considered any of that, but now Moose had her hype. Grabbing both of his arms, a slow grin spread over her juicy lips. At least she’d brushed her teeth. She was sure she looked a hot mess all hungover from yesterday, but the way Moose’s hooded brown eyes admired her, she couldn’t tell.
“Oh, my God, that would be amazing!”
“Say less.” Moose’s hands wandered down to her backside and squeezed her cheeks. “So, when you gon’ let a nigga take you out again? Just us this time. You pick the destination.”
“Hmm, you shoot pool?”
“I got a big ass table at my spot.” He took his bottom lip sexily between his teeth. “You should come through. We can chill, sip, smoke, and watch a flick in my theater.”
“Theater? Oh, so you Netflix and chill for real?” Inari teased, throwing her arms across his shoulders.
“Big shit.” He sloped forward, and she stood on her toes, falling into the kiss.
“Okay then. Date night at your spot. Let me go home and clean myself up. I’m sure I smell like bad decisions.”
