“And if you met him somewhere with fewer people around? He could’ve dragged you into an alley!”
“Shouldn’t you fist pump me for being ready to throw hands and my wrath at someone other than you?”
“Nope. I’m just gonna letmetake you to dinner.”
He strolled around the fountain as if searching for something on the ground. His long stride versus my smaller steps forced me to walk-run to keep up. “What?” I squeaked. “That doesn’t make sense. If youthinkyou saved me, shouldn’tyouaskmeto pay for dinner?”
Washington stopped glancing at the ground. “You got money?”
I placed my hand on my hip. “Actually, I have fifty dollars. Chad agreed to my retainer fee to meet.”
“You mention his name again and no free …” His voice trailed off, still preoccupied with the fountain’s edge.
“A free meal? Yeah, I’ll take a free meal,” I replied before I could even ask myself what the hell had gotten into me. The distance between us this past year made it impossible to stare at that hypnotizing dome of his. But when he stood right in my face, my heart skipped so many beats that I wondered if I should see a cardiologist. “So, free meal?”
Washington cursed under his breath.
“What’s wrong?”
“Somebody stole my momma’s groceries. Gimme a second.” He took out his phone and called Miss Virginia. “Momma, I’m sorry. I … Oh, you did? Okay.” His thumb mashed the Off button.
I stared up at him, trying not to lose myself in those dark brown eyes that sparked with embarrassment. And just like that, he was the guy I met in college. Yes, he’d been five years older. Twenty-two to my seventeen, but he had no game. No swag. He didn’t even have that sexy bald head. Only an easy-to-read, cute face. And a long trail of one-nighters who bragged about him for a specific reason. “Momma Virginia stole her own groceries?”
“Yep.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.
I chuckled. “You thought you were following me, stealth mode activated?”
“Yep.”
“And she stole her own groceries on a Sunday afternoon. Savage.”
“Say it again and I’ll let you treat me to lunch, Madison.”
My arms sliced the air. “No deal.”
Since I’d left my car at home, less than two miles south in Parkview, I allowed Washington to weasel me into a drive to Tremé. Not sure how, since it wasn’t much farther. His Land Rover rental rolled to a stop on the corner of Orleans and North Miro. I took in the bright green shutters that popped against the red brick. I was already salivating for Dooky Chase, a restaurant that rivaled his family’s on any day of the year.
“That’s it,” I said as the wooden door creaked open. “I’m doing two entrées.”
“You buying?”
“You’re funny.” I snorted, breathing in the air, rich with butter, roux, and spices.
“No, I’m serious. I eat for free at Hot Chicken & Peach Pit Maison, but I figured you wanted to go to a restaurant that has more history. History like us. Figured you’d at least be courteous.”
I popped him with my hip. “You always pay for your meals at your family’s restaurant. And you will buy me some fried chicken and gumbo. Now stop.” I chuckled as we slid into a booth nearthe front. Sunlight spilled across the tabletop. I took off my sunglasses and slid a few strands of hair behind my ear.
And when I looked up, Washington stared at me as if his chest ached.Why?I’d not been good to him, ignoring his calls over the past two weeks. The voicemail on March first nearly broke me, but I couldn’t respond. Physically could not. But here he was … staringat me. How could he still be in love with me after the pain we endured? How could I? When my entire life’s mission had become something short of a nunnery, living a bland life.
But you wanna enjoy food?
I shook the thought out of my head. Wishy Washy Maddy.Hey, that’s a new one! And it’s all mine.Clearing my throat, I steered us toward common ground that had nothing to do withusas a pair. “Hey, I haven’t gotten a response from Tex yet. You?”
“Nothing. Momma’s getting worried. Texas is the only one who ever did that.” Washington roughed a hand over his face, then he sipped his water.
My hand, with a will of its own, moved across the surface, capturing his. “Your baby brother is a big dude. He can handle himself, and despite the foolishness he says, Texas is smart.”
Instead of releasing my hand, Washington’s thumb caressed my palm. A jolt of energy, like a live wire, surged through me. I remembered his hands, hot on my ass while he pressed me against the door, my thighs locked around his. All that heat.
