Page 49 of Double

“Sorry.” Double shrugged his shoulders. “My bad. I forgot to tell you that.”

She sucked her teeth. “That would’ve been important to know, Jinx. I guess it’s a good thing that I’m a skilled stylist, and that I read undertones. I pulled some ivory dresses because I already knew ivory would look bomb with your skin tone.”

“Yes!” I told her, tapping my pointer finger to my thumb the way she taught me to when something was “tea.”

Lyric laughed. “Double, I’mma need you to go. Your wife and I have work to do, so I need you to go on down the street to the office and do some work of your own. I’ll call you when she’s ready to go.”

“I don’t like leaving her by herself.”

“She’s not by herself. I’m here, and it’s just the two of us. She’s safe. Go.”

He reached out his hand to me, and I took it. Then the two of us walked back over to the door. “Call me if you need me.”

“I will.”

“Give me a kiss.”

I leaned in, my lips gently brushing against his before he captured my mouth, his tongue mingling with mine. When he released me, I just stood at the door and watched him head back to his truck. The same thought that had been on repeat in my mind for the last two weeks reverberated through it once again. My man. My man. My man.

Later that night, Double and I were invited to his grandparents’ house for dinner to discuss the upcoming fundraiser. His grandparents planned to use the event as an opportunity to formally introduce Double as the new Executive Director of the foundation and me as the new Director of Philanthropy. Of course, his grandparents would remain involved, taking less visible seats on the board. They would remain available to advise Double and me as needed because the positions they were vacating were a huge deal to the foundation.

Double and I were the last to arrive at the Hill home. Once we were all present, Aunt Lynne and Mr. Hill led us to their formal dining room, where the table was set with more silverware, plates, and glasses than I had ever seen.

“I see what time it is,” Mr. Waters said, taking in the setup. “This must be for Double’s benefit.”

“Aww hell,” Double muttered under his breath.

“Yeah, this is for that grandson of mine that never took the time to learn what I tried to teach him,” Mr. Hill gave his grandson the eye.

“You know that’s not true, old man. I took every lesson you ever taught me to heart.” He thumped himself on the chest. “I just couldn’t find it in myself to give a damn about no special forks and spoons.”

I kept my chuckle to myself.

“And now you’re gonna have to cram to learn because you can’t embarrass me at the gala.” Mr. Hill turned to me. “Tinsley, I know your family was considered part of the upper class on the island. I’m gonna presume you’re good with this type of thing.”

“Well,” I hedged. “My father didn’t take me to the state dinners he regularly attended with members of Parliament, but he did send me to finishing school. Having a quick crash course will be good for jogging my memory. I feel like since I haven’t used those skills in a long while, I could stand to brush up on them.”

“Same,” Mama Passion agreed.

The chef came into the room, pushing a serving cart filled with soup bowls. “Roasted tomato and basil bisque,” he said as he delivered the first bowl to Aunt Lynne and the second to Mr. Hill.

“Let’s bless the food,” Lynne told us once everybody had been served.

We blessed the food, then I picked up my soup spoon, being sure to discreetly get my husband’s attention so he could see which one of the two on the table to use. He squeezed my thigh under the table, and I smiled to myself. Just this man’s touch brought light into my heart.

“Tinsley,” Mr. Hill said.

I quickly wiped the smile from my face and looked up from my bowl of soup. Double’s hand remained on my thigh, though. “Yes?”

“It’s been a little over a month that you’ve been with us. I reached out to Judge Bosco to find out where things were with havin’ your inheritance released, and he informed me of an issue.”

My face fell. “Oh no. I heard that Gretchen’s in jail and that Mr. Gillespie has assumed control of the paper company. Is he messing with my money as well?”

“No, it’s not that. There is paperwork that has to be signed. Bosco was hoping you could sign it electronically or that he could sign it for you by proxy, but the judge over your father’s estate is going by the book. He needs to see you, in person, before he’ll agree to release the funds.”

The soup was delicious—fresh, and well-seasoned. Tomato soup was one of my favorites, but I could no longer enjoy it. “This judge expects me to go back to Iredia to sign the paperwork?”

“Hell nah!” Double’s voice was harsh.