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“Woman, you called me.” Pedro rakes his fingers through his hair, his frustration palpable in the air. “I should take you to the jail to sober up.”
Onyx heaves herself from the chair in what I think is supposed to be a saunter but looks like a treacherous zigzagging on two legs. She makes her unsteady way to the mayor. “I wouldn’t mind a night in the cell if you come with me. But you’ll have to check that the cameras are off.” She pats his chest. “Can’t have a sex tape like that floating around, can we?”
Pedro leans over to whisper in Onyx’s ear.
“Really?” she asks, her mouth open on a silent gasp.
He firms his lips and nods.
“Laila, get your ass in gear. I know you’ll try to cock block me on the ride, but let’s give Kiwi a chance of getting some tonight.”
“Glamma!” Kenya twists to shoot her grandmother a scandalized look.
“Don’t say I ever stood in the way of progress.” Laila retrieves her and Onyx’s things.
So this is how they intend to push Kenya and I together. They must not know about the night we already spent together. I’m not willing to retreat and re-strategize after the progress I made with her earlier today. She is warming to me. I can tell from the way she lets my touch linger and the eager greeting she gave me.
Before her grandmothers start skipping happily along in matchmaker bliss, I say, “There’s no chance of her getting any tonight.”
Kenya twists around in my arms again, this time to scowl at me. “The least you could do is sound disappointed. You should want to take advantage of me.”
Laila and Onyx freeze mid-step, a dark cloud settling over them to encompass the room.
To stop Armageddon from happening, I spear each woman with a frown. “I should be insulted that you think so low of me that I would take advantage of Kenya when she is drunk.” To the woman in my arms, I say, “When you agree to be with me, you’ll remember why and there will be no regrets.”
She harrumphs and mutters, “I still deserve an attempt. You were much more—”
I whisper in her ear, “Keep talking and your grandmothers will never let you live down what we did in Felicidad.”
She pats my chest and nods. “You are a modern-day knight in hoochie daddy shorts.”
“Hoochie dad… What?”
She stretches to reach my ear then whispers loud enough for everyone to hear, “You know. Shorts that make women stare at your legs, ass, and um…your package.”
“You’ve been staring at my package?” I ask with a smile at the same time Onyx says, “I done told you he could get the job done!”
“That’s my sign to leave you two in peace. God forbid this woman turns her harassment on you two.” Pedro bends enough to throw Onyx over his shoulder.
“Look at my future man showing me what’s what.” Onyx wiggles her fingers at us.
Pedro rolls his eyes in exasperation. “Laila, if you please.” He nods toward the door. As Laila leads him out of Kenya’s house, he says, “Don’t make me regret entrusting Kenya to you.”
“Well that didn’t go as I expected,” Kenya pulls away from me, but I stiffen my hold on her waist. Pedro’s last words ruffle my pride.
Kenya isn’t his to entrust. Even if he thinks he can have something with her, I won’t let him succeed. She will be mine… She is mine.
“You didn’t answer my question,” I murmur, trying to erase Pedro and the brief intimate glimpses I’ve caught of him and Kenya.
“Question? You know, I feel an alcohol-induced blackout coming my way.” She closes her eyes and I silence the laugh on my lips. Already, Pedro’s presence begins to dissipate. Five seconds pass. “It’s on its way, I’m sure of it.”
“I’m a patient man.”
“Good, because it is sure to get here soon.”
I lead her to the hallway in search of her kitchen. “So while we wait for your tardy blackout, tell me how many times over the last few days you’ve checked out my package. You know, since I’ve been wearing shorts from the first day I got here.”
“I think now’s a good time to take a page out of G-mama’s book and plead the fifth. Yep, the fifth it is. That way I won’t have to lie to you or enter the under-the-bed witness protection program. Definitely better to plead the fifth.”
