Page 51

The bottle girl busied herself, oblivious to the shift in energy, and popped the bottle before filling each of our glasses.

Bianca fanned herself. “Girl, he is fine as hell.”

Of all the places in the five boroughs, why the fuck was he here tonight?

My phone vibrated on the table.

Cardez

Come up here.

This time I wasn’t quick enough to get away from Siani’s prying eyes.

“So you just gonna ignore him?” she asked as I set my phone down and reached for my glass.

“That nigga can wait. I’ll go up after I finish my drink.”

Bianca glanced up at him, then back to me. “I dunno, sis. That don’t look like the type of nigga you keep waiting.”

I snorted. “Have you met me? He’ll be aight.”

I drank that champagne slow as hell like I had all the time in the world. Cardez Montague didn’t run shit, and damn sure didn’t run me. When I finished, I used my phone’s front camera to apply a fresh coat of lipstick, then stood, smoothing out my dress.

“I’ll be back.” I announced.

“Take your time,” Siani called after me. I flipped her off over my head.

I’d put on a whole act downstairs. Nobody needed to know my stomach was about to fall out my ass the entire walk up.

I spotted Cardez’s section at the top of the stairs. He was sitting with another man who was handsome, light skinned, and big as hell. The man across from him stood and leaned over, whispering something in his ear. Cardez nodded and dapped him up. He glanced at me briefly as he left.

“‘Sup, Belle?” Cardez said, eyes slowly dragging over me. “You look nice.”

And so did he. He was freshly lined up, wearing a white button down with a few buttons open at the top and a pair of charcoal slacks.

“Thank you.” I sat across from him.

He sipped his drink and patted his lap. “Come here.”

I swallowed the lump at my throat and kept my face even. I did want to sit in his lap. I also wasn’t a fucking dog. I glared at him, crossed my legs, and folded my arms across my chest.

He chuckled. “You still on that bullshit?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“This is the second lie tonight.” He clucked his tongue.

“I only lied once,” I said, sitting up straighter.

“La’Belle.”

The way he said my name, in that sexy, deep voice had me pressing my legs together.

We stared at each other. He arched his brow and waited, completely unbothered by my attitude. I sucked my teeth, got up, and went around the table to settle into his lap. His arm wrapped my waist immediately, pulling me flush against his firm chest. He smelled warm and earthy, a scent I’d gotten used to in the Bahamas.

“When did we start lying to each other, Princess?”⁠1 His breath was hot against my neck. I squirmed, but he held me in place. “I know you’ve been trying to avoid me since we got back.” He licked the spot right below my ear. “And I let it slide because I been busy. But lying to me is crazy work, ma.”

My mouth fell open but nothing came out.