Page 16 of Love’s Strongest Soldier

“C’mon, crypt keeper,” I told her and lifted to my feet. We needed to get the hell out of here before I ended up doing something I’d regret.

She gasped, and her mouth slacked.

“I see what you did there. I’ma let you slide with that one.”

Luxe went over and grabbed her clutch off the kitchen counter. I opened the door, and we left out.

She didn’t tell me where she wanted to go. Just said she wanted it to be somewhere nice that she could have a good time as well, so I found this hole-in-the-wall restaurant. I wasn’t sure if she was gon’ like it or what, but I was hoping she did. It seemed a bit out of her environment.

“Where are we?” Luxe asked when the truck came to a halt in front of the building. The outside looked rundown and abandoned. It was this point that I regretted my decision, but we were already here, so we might as well go through with it.

Turning to her, I asked, “You trust me?” even though I didn’t trust my decision-making at the moment.

Her hazel eyes stared into mine. I sensed the hesitation, but she responded, “Yeah.”

Taking her by the hand, I opened the door and climbed out and then helped her out the truck. We entered the building and followed the dimly lit hallway down to another door where a guy stood. He looked at us and then opened the door. Music blared. We stepped inside, and it looked like an entirely different world.

People were sitting at the bar, eating and having drinks. The place was dimly lit. People were on the dance floor having a good time. Others sat at their tables with a light in the center of them. Maybe I did make a good choice.

“How many?” the hostess asked as we stepped completely through the door.

“One,” I answered.

“Two,” Luxe said and looked back at me.

She knew that I wasn’t about to sit down at no table with her. Even though nothing had happened so far while we were here, I still needed to be on my toes. She was in here acting like we were on a date or something.

“Two,” Luxe stated again and turned back toward the hostess with her middle and index finger up in the air.

She grabbed two menus and left the booth. “Follow me.”

We went behind her toward a table at the back of the restaurant. There was a huge hole in the wall next to the table she stopped at. Luxe took her seat first, and I remained standing while the hostess set the menus down on the table.

“Your waitress will be over shortly,” she said and left the table.

Luxe stared up at me and asked, “You really gon’ make me sit here alone?”

“I’m not here for pleasure.”

“Ghost, sit your ass down.” Now, she was sounding like my mama whenever I frustrated her. “I’m not going to tell you again. I’ll cause a scene in here. You want me to do that?”

I glanced around and then sat down. We weren’t about to get put out of here when we just got here, because she wanted to act a fool.

“That’s better.” Luxe grinned at me and then picked up the menu.

“What can I get you two started with tonight?” the waitress asked when she approached our table.

“I’ll just have a water,” I told her, not even bothering to look at the menu.

Luxe peeked at me over the top of it and said, “You’re really gonna make me sit here and drink by myself? I thought you had more manners than that.”

“I don’t drink on the job,” I told her.

“Take a look around. I’m not in danger.” She turned her gaze back to the waitress and said, “We’re both going to have some champagne. In fact, just bring out the whole bottle. Thanks,” and then turned her attention back to the menu.

“I’m not drinking with you.”

Luxe politely rested her menu against the table and gave me her undivided attention. “I thought you were a gentleman. Am I wrong? You work for me, and if I want to enjoy your company, you’re going to drink some champagne with me.”