“Mama, don’t start.”
“Oh, hush. I can talk shit, especially since he didn’t even have the decency to take you to the most important appointment. Hey, Mahari, baby.”
“Hey, Ma.” Mahari spoke back and briefly peered at the phone. “What you over there doing?”
“Oh, nothing. About to get dressed and go shopping for my grand girls. I’m going to call Georgia to see if she wants to go with me.”
“If only I could go with you.” Aspen grumbled with a flit of her eyes.
Mahari reached over and squeezed her thigh, sending a surge of emotions through Aspen’s body. She played it cool by snatching it off and crossing one arm over her belly. Biting back her smile when Mahari released a hearty chuckle, Aspen focused back on her mother who was truly getting ready to go shopping.
One thing Savannah was going to do was show up for her kids in every way possible, and Aspen appreciated it more than Savannah knew. Her father crossed her mind, bringing a little pain to her heart.
“Daddy would be so happy, Mama,” Aspen spoke in a low, shaky tone.
“Oh, Pennie . . . Don’t do that. Mahari, bring my baby to me.”
Aspen swiftly swayed her head from side to side. “I’m good, Mama. I promise. Mahari and I made a bet, and I want to get it over with.”
“Are you sure? I know this is hard on you.”
“I’m sure, Mama.”
Stopping at a light, Mahari leaned over to where his face was in the camera. “I got her, Ma. I’ll keep her mind clear today.”
“Yeah, with loud music and too many people.”
“Suck it up, buttercup,” Mahari joked, nudging her chin and pulling off.
Aspen spoke with her mother a little longer before getting off the phone as she and Mahari arrived at the store. If it wasn’t for Aspen, Mahari wouldn’t have gone into the store. With his fame status, they were bound to be in there for longer than either of them wanted to. Aspen was used to people stopping him and Lance whenever they were out, for pictures and autographs, so she was thankful the interaction was minimal. They were in and out in thirty minutes.
On the ride to the studio, Mahari was on an important call, so Aspen busied herself with snacking and scrolling. As always, Lance popped up on her feed. He was doing an interview, and Aspen scrolled right past it. A few posts down, one of Mahari popped up.
Glancing over to see he was still on the phone, Aspen tapped on the post and tried to listen, but she was too distracted with how good he looked. She remembered seeing him that day and thinking she loved how his stylist put together his look. The only thing that covered his broad, tattooed torso was a black biker vest with silver accents and his signature diamond chain with his last name on it.
That particular day, Mahari got his manager to push back his interview to take Aspen to her appointment, which meant she had to go to glam with him beforehand. She didn’t mind. Seeing Mahari in his element was a treat when Aspen wasn’t in her introverted state.
She was so engrossed with the interview that she didn’t realize Mahari was trying to get her attention until he poked her. Aspen swatted at him, and he laughed.
“Damn, Bunny. If you wanted to stare at me, I’m right here.”
“Why the hell did you poke me, Mahari?”
He wet his lips and informed her, “I gotta take you home. My manager set up a last-minute meeting I need to get to.”
“Oh, thank God!” Aspen tossed her hands in the air and beamed. “All I want to do is go home and take a nap.”
“Don’t think you’re getting out of our bet. I’m booked the next two days, but better believe your ass is coming with me on the third day.”
“At least I’ll have time to mentally prepare.”
“I don’t know why you’re fronting like you don’t love spending time with me. It be some of the best days we have.”
Aspen had to agree with him. Their days were always an adventure, one Aspen never wanted to end. Any time with Mahari was a good time for her. She wouldn’t admit it out loud, but she had actually been looking forward to the day with him. The peace she felt disintegrated the second he dropped her off at home.
The time alone left her with nothing but time for her mind to wander, and Mahari was a constant on it.
“Areyou going to let me come by the studio to see you today?” Dynasty asked in a low, seductive tone that had Mahari’s dick rising. He could read in between the lines of her words, and as good as it sounded, Mahari had to decline.
