“Is that why you’re paying premium to have me glued to your side for an entire day and night?”
A part of her was furious at being manipulated. Yet, her heart leaped at the sight of him.
“No. I want you, period. The price tag is irrelevant.”
There was no grin on his chiselled face. He hunted her eyes with his own, waiting for her to respond.
Corking her head, she blinked.
“I beg your pardon?”
He didn’t blink. “Not in that way. I want you to drive me around. You tell me how it is and I like that. Besides, you took me in when I needed help. Not many people in your shoes have your courage and spunk, or generosity. I admire you.”
She was not sure if he meant what he said. Her heart wanted to trust his words, but her brain cautioned her otherwise.
“Really? Didn’t you have magical experiences when you rode with other drivers, ehn?”
Dipping his long fingers inside his white denim shorts, he shrugged muscled shoulders contained in a stretch-slim denim t-shirt. Hairy solid legs stood firm on the sand with his feet caged in a pair of brown slip-on loafers. The man was finer and sexier than any man she had ever met. If only he had a personality to match.
“I experienced something. Definitely not magical, or worth remembering. You on the other hand–”
Shutting her eyes, she turned up her head to the clear blue sky, her chest thundering with unease as she waited to hear more.
“Why did you keep your name out of my job sheet?” she asked when he paused indefinitely.
“Because I knew you’d turn me down in a heartbeat. This party is important to me.”
Again, she tilted her head and shielded her eyes from the sunlight by curving one palm.
“And after I asked for double the pay, why didn’t just ask for another driver?”
“It wasn’t about the money, Lola.”
“I know for a fact you can’t stand me. Why do you keep calling me, Maxwell Legend?”
“Because I can’t help myself. Maybe I also find you intriguing, Lola Lawson.”
She kissed her teeth.
Nodding, he snapped his fingers. “That! I missed hearing you kiss your teeth, hum under your breath.”
“You’ve got my company, that’s all. Don’t expect any sexual favours.”
His eyes skimmed hers, but he said nothing. There was no flirty sparkle within his blue pair. Not even lust. She saw nothing.
Suddenly, her initial remark to him, I’m surprised you’ve got a conscience. I thought you were dead inside haunted her now. A frightening chill gathered at the base of her spine.
“Just one thing,” she said after shaking off the awkwardness rising between them.
He arched one brow.
“Two things actually. One. Here’s your pretty necklace.” She trod to the car, retrieved the necklace and stretched out her hand. “I found it in my couch.”
Maxwell stared at the jewellery but he did not reach for it. “What’s the second thing?”
“I’ve got to run an errand at exactly two o’ clock. After that, you can call the shots.”
“What’s the time now?”
She stared at his wrist. “You’ve got a wristwatch.” When she had hurried out of her house, she had forgotten to wear her cheap leather watch.
The sleeveless t-shirt uncovered arms that could probably lift her off her feet without breaking a sweat. His muscles were beautiful to stare at, but she tried hard not to gape. Brown hair formed a sleepy pattern along his veined forearms.
Maxwell thrust his arm in front of her face.
“What’s the time?” he asked with a foxy grin.
“One thirty,” she said after corking her head to read from the wide-faced watch.
“How long will it take to get to your errand spot?”
Her heart clicked softly. She had not expected him to give in to her demand. If it was not important, she would not have asked for any favour.
“Not long. About fifteen minutes.”
“Have you had lunch?”
Though he asked a caring question, there was no smile on his virile lips. His set jawline and pained expression matched his haunted eyes. Now, she wondered about his back story. What drove this sexy, handsome man to become so detached and cold?
“Don’t bother about me,” she replied, handing over his necklace again. “If you’re hungry, we could stop somewhere.”
“No. Run your errand first and we can stop for a bite after that. Hold on to the necklace for me.”
“Why? Did you steal it?”
He chuckled. “No. It’s special. Keep it for me.”
“Okay.” She strode forward to open the car door.
Quick on his feet, he showed up beside her and placed his palm over hers. It was a hard grip. His hand felt cold against hers. On a hot day like today, how did his fingers end up cold? Yet, lightning strikes flushed through her veins and flamed her breasts. Her heart crushed against her rib cage.
“I told you before, I can get my own door, Lola.”
Maxwell’s deep voice aroused her senses and his warm breath taunted the top of her earlobe, sending tingling sensations across her head in slow loops.
Swallowing, she nodded. “Clearly, you don’t need me to do my actual job. I can live with that.”
Without lifting her eyes to meet his own, she pulled out her arm.
“Get inside the car, Maxwell.”
She heard his sharp intake of breath before he marched around the car to get her door. It was only after she had belted herself, he then climbed in to sit beside her.
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Clients don’t get the door for their drivers. I’m just saying, in case you didn’t know.”
“That’s the way it’s going to be with us. I’ll get your door for you and you’ll drive me. Understood?”
“OK. If that’s how you want your money to work for you, that’s fine by me.”
From then on, neither of them said anything. He did not recline his seat and she did her best to avoid every pothole along the busy roads.
At exactly two o’ clock, she parked in front of her kids’ school, but left the engine running so the air conditioner cooled the interior for Maxwell.
“I’ll be back in a short while,” she informed him through tight lips.
An awkward tension lingered. First, he would not take back his necklace and then he had acted human today. She had no idea what to think. Something happened between them when he touched her hand earlier. Maybe she liked him–a tiny bit. Not too much.
“Go do your thing. I’ll be here when you get back.”
In a rush to get out, she attempted to climbed down. But she felt strong hands restrain her wrist.
She gasped and swung her head in Maxwell’s direction. “Now what?”
“I said, I’ll get the door.” He raised both brows.
Exhaling quickly, she licked her lips. “Fine.”
He nodded, released her wrist and got down. For some weird reason, she did not defy him. After he opened the door, she climbed down and he shut the door.
“Thank you.” She pulled down her black frill mini dress and hurried toward her kids’ classroom. Her wrist flamed with pockets of desire. The heat flared to her cleavage and tightened her nipples till they hurt.
Before she got to the classroom, Amaka rushed outside and hugged her waist.
“Hello Mummy! You’re on time.”
Lola placed her arms around her daughter’s shoulders and kissed her forehead. “Good to see you, my sunflower. Where’s your brother?” She brushed back the curly ends around Amaka’s plaited hair with her fingers.
“Nonso was collecting his homework book from the teacher when I ran out.”
“Ah! Here he is.” Lola pointed at her son who was racing forward with a wide grin on his face. With one tooth missing, his grin was still cute.
“Hello Mummy! You look very nice.” Nonso looked up at her with query in his big brow
n eyes.
Laughing at her son’s compliment, she whisked her fingers through his low-cut hair. “Thank you, my poppy. How was school today, you two?”
“Fine,” both kids replied, hopping from one foot to the other.
“I’ve got something to tell you.” She needed to break the news in a casual manner not to alarm them.
“What is it my beautiful Mummy?” Amaka asked, placing her hand in Lola’s.
She walked with her children on either side toward their school gate. “I’ve got a customer in the office car. So, we’re going to drop you two at home and I’ll go to work. I’ll come back very late when you’re asleep.”
Amaka and Nonso turned up their heads, their eyes filled with questions.
“Don’t bother the customer in the car. Behave like the good children that you are and make me proud.”
Nonso pulled a face. “Is it a man or a woman?”
“A white man. Play nice and don’t trouble him.”
“A white man?” Amaka shrieked. “Whoa!”
Once, they reached where Lola parked, she opened the car door and helped her kids inside the back seat. Thankfully, Maxwell remained seated inside. How would she have explained his caring behaviour to her kids if he had opened the door for her? She strapped their seatbelts in place and kissed them on their heads.
“Mr. Maxwell meet my children, Amaka and Nonso. Kids say hello.”
“You’ve got kids?” Maxwell whispered before he curved in his seat and poked his head backward. “Hello Amaka. Hello Nonso. My name’s Maxwell Gael Legend.”
Her children chuckled at his American accent. Amaka covered her mouth with one hand when Lola glared at her.
“Hello Mr. Maxwell. Nice to meet you,” Amaka said with a cute smile and a small hand wave.
“Hello.” Although Nonso stared at Maxwell, his expression was unreadable.
“Call me, Maxwell,” he said to her kids with a half-grin. “The pleasure is mine. How old are you two?”
“We’re both eight,” her daughter responded with a quiet giggle.
“Are you twins then?” Maxwell seemed curious.
Lola shut the back door and climbed in the driver’s seat, so she did not hear Amaka’s reply.
“My colleague has an eight-year-old daughter. She’s in third grade. What grade are you?” she heard Maxwell ask.
“Grade?” Nonso asked with a frown.
Amaka twisted her lips. “What’s grade?”
“He’s asking what class you are in?” Lola explained.
“Oh!” the twins chorused, wide-eyed.
Through the rear-view mirror, Lola saw her kids grin and then roll their eyes.
Listening to her kids chat with Maxwell made butterflies beat their colourful wings in her stomach. What was going on inside her? She had never introduced any man to her children in eight years. Yet, she did not think twice about allowing the most arrogant, annoying and cold-hearted man she had ever encountered to meet the three most important people in her life.
Amaka pushed her backpack aside before speaking. “We’re in Primary four. That’s what we call it in Nigeria, not grade. Where are you from?”
“United States of America.”
“Oh! That big country. Which state?” Nonso asked.
After she manoeuvred through Post Office Road, she turned right at Bank of Agriculture Road before veering on to Hospital Road.
“Illinois.” Maxwell propped his jaw on the headrest while he stared behind. “What do you know about America?”
While Lola made a left turn minutes later on to Joseph Dosu Way, her chest tightened. She worried her daughter would say something to embarrass her.
“I’ve read a lot about the Native Americans and the African American history,” Amaka informed him. “Have you visited the Seriki Williams Slave Port Museum here in Badagry?”
“As a matter of fact, I went there today,” Maxwell replied eagerly as if Amaka’s support was vital to him.
“That’s where the white men bought black people as slaves and sent them to America,” Nonso spoke up.
“Do you think what the white Americans did to the black people was right, Mr Maxwell?” It was Amaka who put Maxwell on the spot.
“No. I don’t think anyone can say slavery was right. It was an awful business and way of life.”
To Lola’s ear, Maxwell sounded genuine.
“Good.” Amaka paused. “Then why are the African Americans still suffering racism today in the United States of America? I read about white policemen shooting black men on the internet. The white people are still making bad comments about black people. They think they’re better than us. Do you think you’re better than my mummy because you’re white?”
“Amaka?” Lola screeched. “Don’t be rude! You’re putting, Mr. Maxwell on the spot. He’s my client.”
Maxwell lifted one hand. “I can speak for myself.”
Lola shut her mouth. If only he knew what he was getting himself into he would have ended the chat.
“Killing anybody is wrong,” Maxwell asserted, his tone patient. “In every society, there are always bad guys, right?”
Her twins nodded, listening without interrupting.
“The white policemen who kill unarmed black men are idiots. That’s not what they swore to do,” Maxwell stated in plain terms.
“So why can’t anyone put them in prison?” Nonso insisted, swiping his lips with one hand.
“There are problems in the justice system for sure. I can’t sit here and explain it because I’m not a part of it. However, I can tell you that I don’t think I’m better than your mummy, or anyone just because I’m white. I was born a white man, I can’t change that, so you’ll have to accept me the way I am and give me a chance to show you that I’m not a racist.”
Amaka and Nonso exchanged glances before her daughter said what they both thought.
“Why should we give you a chance? Are you our mummy’s boyfriend?”
Lola spluttered, tightening her grip on the steering wheel. “Amaka? Stop being nosy! Mr. Maxwell’s not my boyfriend. He’s my client.”
Maxwell shook his head. “Your mummy is right. We’ve only met a couple of times. We’re just friends.”
Four times to be exact, Lola almost added.
“Is that true, Mummy? Is he your friend?” Nonso quizzed, his tone doubtful. “You’ve not mentioned him before, I would’ve remembered.”
What was she supposed to say? She was not friends with Maxwell. If she contradicted his words, it would confuse her kids. On the other hand, she hated lying to her children.
“I can answer for mummy,” Amaka inserted with a giggle. “Mummy likes, Mr. Maxwell.”
“You’re in real trouble, my sunflower.” Lola cut off the engine a few buildings from the house. “Now, jump out, both of you.”
“You didn’t answer my question, Mummy?” Nonso insisted as he climbed down from the car.
Too embarrassed to look at Maxwell, she stood beside her kids at the back-passenger door. “Let me get my kids home to my grandaunt. I’ll be back.”
“Take your time,” Maxwell replied. “Bye.” He waved to her kids.
They waved back murmuring, “Bye, Mr. Maxwell.”
Taking each child in her hands, Lola walked with them. They dodged muddy puddles along the road and jumped across stagnant water and rubbish pile.
“You talk too much, Amaka. Can’t you just keep your mouth shut sometimes, ehn?” Lola reprimanded. “That was embarrassing! Mr. Maxwell isn’t my friend, okay?”
“So, why didn’t you say so in the car?” Nonso asked.
“Because I didn’t want to make him feel bad.”
“That means you care about how he feels. Which means you like him,” Amaka reasoned out loud, pouting her lips as she did.
“That makes sense,” her brother agreed. “Tell us if you like him, Mummy.”
“I like him,” Amaka owned up.
“No one asked you,” Nonso scoffed. “He�
�s a stranger. How can you like someone you don’t know?”
“Exactly my point, Nonso. I don’t know him well, so how can I say he’s my friend, or if I like him?” Lola reasoned.
“Who does your mummy like?” Grandaunt Aduni asked with a wide smile as she opened her arms to welcome her family home.
“Grandy!” the twins screamed, running ahead.
They hugged the older woman tight, pressing their young faces against her thigh covered with her flowered African print wrapper tied securely around her plump waist.
“e Kaasan, Grandy. Mummy has a white man in the car. I think she likes him,” Amaka publicized.
“Shut up!” Nonso rebuked. “Mummy said she doesn’t like, Mr. Maxwell.”
Grandy placed her forefinger against her lips. “Nonso, you can’t curse your older sister. What do you say to her for being rude? I’ll give you a hard knock at the centre of your coconut head.”
“We’re twins, Grandy,” her son protested.
“Yes, but she’s a few minutes older. Now say–”
“Sorry!” he apologized with a quick grin.
“Good boy. Now who’s this, Mr. Maxwell?”
“Grandy, don’t listen to them. I love you all, but I’ve got to work.”
“There’s no need to hurry,” an accented deep voice buzzed from behind them.
The very ground Lola stood on shifted and tilted. She spun around with her mouth wide open.
“What are you doing here?” she queried.
“Are you, Mr. Maxwell?” Grandy asked, smiling.
“That’s him!” Amaka shrieked, giggling.
“Mr. Maxwell, you followed us home?” Nonso grinned. “Meet my grandma.”
Lola wondered why her son switched from unfriendly mood to friendly?
Maxwell stepped forward. “Hello ma’am. Nice to meet you.”
Maxwell and Lola acted as if this was his first visit.
Grandy stared at him for some time and then nodded. “Welcome, Maxwell.” The older woman pretended she had never met Maxwell, playing along with the ruse for the kids’ sake. “Are you the man who has more money than common sense?”
Lola’s eyes bulged. “Grandy!”
Maxwell folded his hands over his chest, playing along. “It seems everyone in your family says exactly what they think. I think you’re all special. It’s great to meet you, Grandy. Can I call you that?”
Irresistible Driver ~ A BWWM Sexy Romance Page 5
