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He pulled me into him for a hug. My arms wrapped around his neck. When his arms wrapped around my waist, and his hand rested on top of my ass, I wished he had just grabbed it altogether. The shiver that went through me was deserving of a full ass grab. My eyes closed when his lips kissed my temple.

When we pulled apart, I finally found my words. “You look very handsome as well. You smell amazing.”

Men blush too. “Thank you, love. You smell delicious.”

“Let me call this man ’cause chile.” Sasha’s under her breath comment made me snicker a little.

I smiled, then said, “Well, I’m ready whenever you are.”

He stared at me for a moment. “Where’s your bag?”

His question baffled me. I glanced down at my purse. “Oh, my purse is right here.”

“Not that bag. Where is your spend the night bag? You’re not coming back here tonight,” he boldly stated.

Sasha threw her hands up. “Bitch! I’ll go get it right now. That’s what the fuck I’m talking about.”

When people met her outside of her profession, they often couldn’t believe that she was a doctor. She had a slightly rough upbringing. I called her the medical doctor with hands that could heal and destroy.

I had a problem finding words to address his boldness. It was probably because I liked the shit. Tell me without telling me that you’re going to get this pussy. He was a man who knew what he wanted and went after it unashamedly.

Before I could respond, Sasha was back with a bag. I wasn’t sure how she did that so fast, because I didn’t even have a spend the night bag. “Here you go, best friend. Ledger, make sure you take care of my friend. I don’t mind injuring you then nursing you back to health. Make sure y’all use protection, . . . at least tonight.”

“Bye, Sasha. Please, let’s go before she says anything else,” I said with a giggle and bright cheeks.

He took the bag from Sasha’s hand. “That’s sound advice, love. We don’t want to tell our first child that they were conceived on our first date. We can at least wait until we live together.” He grabbed my hand before he headed toward the door.

“Talk your shit, future brother-in-law and god-baby’s father!” The excitement in Sasha’s voice was comical. She really was hyped about this whole situation.

Ledger didn’t tell me where we were going, although I asked every day. He refused to tell me. My brow arched when I saw his top-of-the-line luxury vehicle. “Oh, you make money, money.”

He chuckled. “I do well for myself. Don’t worry, you’ll have one too one day.”

One thing that I learned about Ledger quickly was that he did nothing small. He was a go hard or go home kind of person. I liked that because that meant he had to be intentional about his thoughts and moves. Nothing he did was by accident, even if you thought it was.

We pulled up to what looked like an art gallery. The empty parking lot made it clear that it was closed. “Ledger, you do realize that they’re closed?”

When he told me that he knew, I asked him why we were here. “Because our date plans are here. You ready?”

I would go with it because I was intrigued at that point. “As ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s see what you have up your sleeve.”

He leaned over the arm rest. His face was inches away from mine. “Oh, trust me. I have a lot up my sleeve for tonight and every day after.”

When his lips landed on mine, I wanted to say fuck this date. I wanted what he had in his pants. Fuck those sleeves. After our short but passionate kiss, he got out of the car then walked around to open my door. He’s such a gentleman.

My hand immediately went into his like a magnet. His hands were so much bigger than mine. “You are beautiful.” His words paused my indecent thought for a moment.

“You’ve told me that already,” I told him.

“I know I have. You still look good, so the statement still holds true,” he said. He gave me his infamous half smile. He didn’t give away smiles freely.

When we got to the door, a woman answered with a security guard behind her. “Hey, Ledger! How are you tonight?”

“I’m good, Mandy. I hope you’re good.” After he greeted her, he stepped around her and dapped the security guard. He looked familiar, but I couldn’t place him. “What’s up, man?”

“Ain’t shit,” he said. The man looked at me. “Good evening, Miss Memoree Layne.”

It surprised me that he knew my name. It must have shown on my face. Ledger came over and stood beside me. When he wrapped his arm around my waist, he pulled me into his side. “Memoree Layne, this is my best friend Cole and Mandy. Mandy is the owner here, and Cole works security here from time to time when he needs to cover for one of his employees. Y’all, this is my baby.”