Page 51 of The Sweetest Return

“For good?”

Her eyes stayed on mine. “For now.”

I nodded slowly.

“What does for now mean?”

Her fingers tightened around the stem of her glass. “It means I’m here.”

“That ain’t what I asked.”

“No,” she said quietly. “It’s all I can answer right now.”

I accepted that, even though every selfish part of me wanted more.

Across the room, Milan laughed at something too loudly. Imani’s eyes moved past my shoulder once, quick enough for her to pretend it had not happened.

I did not let her have the lie.

“She was talking,” I said.

Imani’s gaze returned to mine. “I didn’t ask.”

“I know.”

“I also didn’t care.”

“Mani.”

Her mouth pressed together at the old name.

I leaned in a little, keeping just enough space between us for the room to keep misunderstanding what this was. “She was talking. That’s all.”

Imani looked at me for a long second.

“I don’t have the right to ask about women in your space, Dre.”

“No?”

“No.”

“But you wanted to.”

Her eyes narrowed, but there was heat under it. “You always this sure of yourself?”

“About you?” I let my gaze drop to her mouth before I could stop it. “Not as sure as I used to be.”

That changed her face. The carefulness came back.

So did something softer.

Somebody called my name from near the bar. I ignored it for two seconds longer than politeness allowed, then lifted a hand without looking away from her.

“You’re popular tonight,” she said.

“I’d rather stand here.”

Her lips parted slightly.