The way she dragged it out, raised her eyebrows, and bit back a smile said there was something more to the story, probably something I wouldn’t like.
“Who else?”
“Your sister, Courtney.”
“How did she know?”
“The same little birdie you suspected of telling me, told her.”
I frowned because I didn’t like that shit one bit. Monte had better not be cozying up to my little sister. I’d kick that nigga’s ass. He was trifling when it came to women, and I didn’t play that about the women in my life; they deserved the highest respect.
“I’ma check that.”
“It’s harmless.”
“Ain’t shit about Monte harmless.”
She giggled and tilted her head to the right. “I like protective you.”
“Yeah, well, we’ll see how much you like it when it’s all over your ass.”
“Oh, wow. Pressure, huh?”
“I know you said you don’t have time for dating or starting anything, but I want you to reconsider what you think you deserve, reconsider what you allow to come into your life to pamper you and usher you into your soft girl era.”
Nodding, she agreed. “I thought about that for a long while last night after you dropped me off. You should have let me stay and help clean. I wasn’t any good because all I did was toss and turn amid a couple of nightmares. I did decide to be open to getting to know you more.
“The reason that I’ve been hesitant to start another relationship is because of my ex. The way that he gaslighted me, used me, and humiliated me in the last years of our relationship was ridiculous. He did things for me in the beginning, too, not of the magnitude that you have, but he did things. It changed by the third year, and I just don’t want to waste time like that again.”
“I’m not into playing games, Baby. The last thing that I want to do is waste your time or mine. I’ve done enough of that in my life, and I’m on a different level now. I need someone who is ready to rise to that level by my side. I like where you’re going, how you handle business, and how you move.
“You can be nothing but an asset on my team, and I have nothing but power, love, strength, financial support, and permanency to bring to you. Everything that I will do and be for you is to make you stronger and better. I will never take but always give to you.”
“I’m going to take you at your word, Harlem, but the first sign of something off, just know that I’ll pull back. I have to protect my heart.”
“Promise me that you’ll always communicate with me, and I will do the same. I hate when people let stupid shit break them apart or slow them down because they didn’t communicate with each other.”
“Same.”
I rubbed my thumb over her cheek and stared into her eyes. “Tegan, you’re something special, and I really want to draw closer and lean into what I’m feeling about you. You make me want to protect you, and I love the energy that you give off. Even during a horrible situation, you’re positive, encouraging, humble, and kind to others.
“I’ve watched you with the other business owners and staff. You might be losing your shit behind the scenes, but you’re not letting anyone but me see that side of you. Thank you for trusting me with your truth and your fears. I promise that I will be very intentional about how I move around about you.”
“Thank you, Harlem. That means the world to me.”
“Now that we’ve got things cleaned up, and you’ve brought all the replacement items that you could think of, what’s next?”
She sighed heavily. “The crew and I need to get in here and start baking for tomorrow. There’s so much to be done.”
“What can I do?”
She turned her lips down, placed her hands on her hips, and asked, “What can you possibly do in the kitchen?”
“I can burn.”
She giggled. “That would sound good if we were talking about throwing down on some southern food, but not in my bakery.”
“Yeah, you got me there. I’ve never been good at baking too much.”
