by Blue Saffire
Trafficking of any kind is serious. Couple that with all the corruption, and yup, these guys are into some heavy shit. A lot of heads will roll when I finally nail them. That’s if I can get to what Cal was holding back.
“Good to see you, Stevens,” Kevin says.
“Likewise. This place really did go to shit once you and Quinn left. Don’t get that type of dedication and honesty anymore,” Stevens says before he cuts off and looks down as if he’s said too much.
Yeah, he’s had a few. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard him talk like this, but that’s usually between us. His cheeks are red, and his face is a mask of frustration and anger, maybe even a bit of disappointment or shame.
“You guys still planning the baseball game for the picnic this year?” I ask, trying to lighten the mood.
Harris’s face brightens. “You planning on playing this year?”
I shrug. “Not sure, maybe.”
“I’ve been trying to get you to play for the last two years. Come on, you’re an ace in our pocket. Have you seen her play?” He directs the last part to Kevin with a smug grin on his face.
“Not baseball, but she’s a champ with a basketball,” Kevin replies. “We’ll have to play with the whole family next time. I think my brothers would like that, baby.”
Burn.
The look on Harris’s face says it all. I ignore the pissing match between these two and join a conversation that starts at the other end of the table. They’ll be at it all night, I can already tell.
Chapter 17
Our Magic
Kevin
I pat the top of my car that Shane is driving. I had to call him to come pick us up after a few too many drinks. Dipping my head, I nod at him.
“Thanks,” I say as I look into the driver’s window. “Don’t fuck up my car and don’t get any tickets.”
“Wait, yer staying?” he says with a grin.
“Mind yer business,” I say and turn to look at Danita digging in her purse to find her keys. I shake my head and pluck the bag from her hands. Turning back to Shane, I nod and straighten. “See ya later.”
“See ya.” He chuckles back as he revs the engine of my car.
I’m going to kick his ass tomorrow. Rolling my eyes, I reach for Danita’s hand and start for her front door. She leans into me as we go.
“I’ve exceeded my limit,” she says. “How is it you get me to do things I’d never do?” she says and hiccups.
I snort. “It must be the Irish charm. It will get you every time,” I tease.
When we reach the door, I release her hand to dig into her purse and pull out the keys that are right on top. I smile to myself and shake my head. She has definitely had too much to drink, but we had a good time.
At least, I did. It was the first time I’ve seen her let her guard down since that night we first spent together. Tonight felt real. I have to remind myself that it’s not, no matter how much I want it to be.
As I unlock the door, she reaches to push my hair from my forehead. I turn my gaze to her and find those pretty brown eyes on me. The tender look she gives me is like a caress.
I push the door open and wrap my fingers around hers, bringing them to my lips. I kiss the tips before leading her inside. Sunny runs up and I squat to greet him with a good back rub.
“Hush, Sunny. It’s late,” Danita says.
The dog gives a little whimper, but quiets down as he nuzzles into my hand. I stand and shrug out of my jacket. The night cooled down. I was grateful to have it in the car.
I watch as Danita shrugs out of her own jacket. She looks good tonight. I love seeing her in heels and jeans. It seems to be her after-work uniform.
I nod toward the couch. “Movie night?”
She shakes her head. “Not tonight. How about we chill? No TV, no distractions.”
I lift a brow and allow my eyes to roam over her. I should probably call Shane and tell him to come back and get me. All those kisses from the bar have me feeling a certain way.
However, I know I’m not going to pull away tonight. I want to spend this time with her. I reach for her hand and start for the couch, but she tugs, bringing me to a halt. I turn to look over my shoulder.
“Come on, we’ll hang in my room.”
Wordlessly, I allow her to guide me to the bedroom as Sunny follows us. Danita kicks her heels off once we’re inside. I look around. It’s not like her other bedroom in the old apartment. This one is bigger with a large bed in the center. Yet, it still feels the same…like her.
I kick off my shoes as well, freezing when she begins to shimmy out of her jeans and tugs off her T-shirt. I lick my lips as memories flood my brain. Her taste and touch come back to me so easily.
“I’m going to jump in the shower,” she says and blinks a few times as if to sober up. “You can chill in my bed, but not in your street clothes.” She frowns. “I think I have some old sweats. Hang on.”
Still in her panties and bra, she moves to one of the dressers and bends over to open one of the drawers to dig around inside. She makes a cute little cheering sound when she finds what she’s looking for. With a smile on her face, she moves back over to me, holding out the sweatpants.
“And whose are these?” I say.
She smiles wider. “The accent is out. Are you jealous, baby?”
I can’t help the grin that comes to my face as she calls me that. I grab for the sweats, pulling her to me with them. Placing a hand on her ass, I look into her eyes.
“I don’t make it a habit of wearing another man’s clothes,” I reply.
“They’re mine. I ordered them, and the wrong size was sent. I never returned them. So, you are the first that will ever wear them.”
I trace her hairline, then brush my fingers across her cheek. I like her like this. Playful and open.
She takes a step back. “I’ll be back,” she says.
I nod and watch her as she grabs a few items and disappears into the bathroom. Once she’s out of sight, I start to strip from my clothes and tug on the sweats she gave me. I take another look around the room and observe—like I did in her other apartment—that she doesn’t have any family pictures.
Not a single one. There are a few black-and-whites of Sunny on the wall in the living room, but nothing with humans. I look around for things that will tell me more about the woman I’m falling for, and realize there’s nothing.
Sunny comes over and leans against my leg. I bend down and pet his head. “What can you tell me about your mum?” He looks at me, but doesn’t make a sound. “Tight-lipped just like her. I see ya.”
I chuckle to myself and stand to move over to the bed. Remembering that she likes to sleep on the right side away from the door, I climb in on the left. The memory brings a smile to my lips.
She had actually refused to switch places that night. I understood the need and had no problem with it. It’s one of the many things that have stuck with me about her.
I’m lost in my thoughts when she exits the bathroom in shorts and a tank top. Those thick, toned legs on display. I can’t take my eyes off her as she climbs into the bed. She looks a little more steady after her shower.
I’m a little surprised when she moves in close and snuggles against my chest. Surprised, but I welcome her soft body as I wrap an arm around her. I kiss the top of her head, and she releases a sigh and relaxes.
“You know there’s something I always wanted to ask you,” she murmurs.
“What’s that?”
“That night we met. Everyone seemed to be in on your dance skills before we made it to the dance floor. What was that about?”
I laugh. “Before I retired, I’d get involved with the fundraisers. A couple of years we teamed up with a local dance school and did like a Dancing with the Stars event. I took to the lessons and the events better than everyone tho
ught. I was the winner two years in a row and raised a shit ton of money for the kids.”
She turns her face up to look at me. There is a smile in her eyes. It makes her gorgeous face light up.
“I would have loved to see that,” she says.
“Not in the beginning. The blisters and the aching bones almost made me quit.”
“Funny, I don’t see you as a quitter.”
I drop my gaze to her lips. “I’m not, which is why I stuck with it. I’m glad I did. It proved to come in handy some years later.”
She sits up and puts some space between us as she leans her back to the headboard while looking down at me. I place my arms behind my head and enjoy the comfort of her bed. The thought of having her in my bed every night circles the edge of my thoughts.
Reaching out, Danita starts to run a finger down my ribs. I don’t move, but I grow harder from her touch. Closing my eyes, I revel in her skin caressing mine.
“You used to be leaner,” she whispers, causing me to open my eyes.
“Changed my diet a little. Wanted to put on more bulk.”
“It’s perfect. Not too much, but right for your frame.”
I smile. “Are you saying you like my body, love?”
She goes to pull back and ducks her head. I grab her hand before she can retreat. Lacing our fingers together, I wait for her gaze to meet mine.
“You’re a beautiful man,” she murmurs.
“Aye, maybe, but you’re the stunning one in the room. I could look at you all night,” I say as I make circles in her palm with my thumb.
“What’s the story with Evelyn? Was that her name?”
I smile. I know she remembers her name. The fact that she does says I was right when I picked up on her jealousy at the restaurant.
“What does that matter?”
* * *
Danita
He’s right. It shouldn’t matter to me. However, I couldn’t keep the words from coming out of my mouth.
Remembering the woman makes so many questions pop into my head. Besides, focusing on her will help me ignore the stirring happening in my belly as he makes those circles in my palm. His touch has everything tingling, yet I can’t force myself to pull away.
“I don’t know. I’m curious,” I breathe when I finally find my voice again.
“Aye, but curiosity killed the cat. If you don’t mind, that’s a road I don’t want to return to. We were wrong for each other. It was toxic and I walked away.”
I lick my lips and nod.
“Tell me, love, how long have you been waiting to ask that?”
I shrug. “You do know women can be petty? We’ll hold something in for years to wait for the right moment. I’m Afro-Latina. Trust me, it’s ten times worse.”
He barks out a laugh. I grin, but another question comes to mind. I bite my lip as I contemplate asking.
“Is she the only woman of color you’ve ever dated?”
He unlinks our fingers and starts to drag his long digits up the inside of my arm. I shiver at his touch. At first, I think he’s not going to answer the question.
“No, she isn’t. I’ve never thought about it, but I’ve dated a few women of color. I don’t know if I can say I have a preference. I like women in all shapes, colors, and sizes.”
“Interesting,” I murmur.
“Why is that?”
“No reason.”
He grins, but lets it go as he moves on. “You said you’re Afro-Latina. Your last name is Moralez, so where are your parents from?”
With the alcohol coursing through my system and the buzzing of his touch, I almost tell him that Moralez isn’t my real name. Instead, I bite my lip and watch as he moves to run his fingers along my thigh.
Am I panting? I think I’m panting. His touch is light, but goose bumps rise across my skin anyway. I watch as his paler skin glides against mine and can’t help wondering what his body would feel like against mine.
“My mother is African American, born and raised in Brooklyn,” I push out as another shiver runs through me. I close my eyes, knowing I have said too much. It’s not the cover story. Still, I tell him more of the truth. “My dad is Puerto Rican.”
“Have you ever dated outside of your race?”
“Once, maybe twice.” I shrug.
He sits up and leans in until we’re nose to nose. I think he’s going to kiss me at first, but he speaks instead. His breath fans against my lips.
“Is my heritage a problem, love?”
I shake my head. “Not if you don’t make it one.”
Placing a hand around my neck, he brushes his thumb across my bottom lip. My nipples tighten to the point of pain. I want to kiss him, but I fight not to close the connection as a voice wars in the back of my head.
“What does that mean?”
“One guy I dated mentioned the color of our skin all the time. During intimate moments, as compliments, it started to come off as a fetish. I’m not into that. I don’t want to hear how good you think your white dick looks in my black pussy every time we’re going at it.” I frown in disgust. “It’s not my thing. If you’re dating me, you’re dating me, not my color.”
“While I love the color of your skin and I would love to see it against mine, it’s not the only thing that attracts me to you. I don’t think we’ll have a problem there.”
I smile at him and tilt my head. “I thought you placed me in the friend zone. How did we undo that in one night?”
His laugh bursts against my lips, causing me to crave his kiss more. I lean in, almost closing the distance fully. However, he doesn’t complete the passionate kiss I desire. Instead, he brushes his lips softly against the corner of my mouth.
“I’m whatever you need, love. I’m taking you as you are, remember?”
My heart swells. I don’t know why, but those simple words hold so much weight in this moment. I kiss his cheek.
“Let’s get some sleep. I want to go out for breakfast in the morning.”
Chapter 18
Breakfast for Two
Kevin
“You are so full of it.” Danita giggles around a mouthful of bacon.
Her eyes are lit up as she laughs. Not for the first time, I note how beautiful she is with her hair loose, framing her face. She also looks happy and relaxed, something that makes me happy.
This quaint diner is the perfect tucked-away place to have breakfast and kick back. The old-fashioned decor and friendly staff place us at ease. It reminds me of some of the older movie diners.
The food isn’t bad either. I’m glad I remembered it. It seems like Danita has let her guard down a little more since we’ve been here.
I can’t help it. I reach over and brush a curly wave from her face. Then tuck another lock behind her ear. She gives me a sweet smile as she covers her mouth and looks into my eyes.
“I promise ya, love. It’s true,” I say.
Her eyes sparkle as she tilts her head to the side. “You’ve met the entire band?” A girlish charm takes over her face. It’s cute and endearing.
“Aye, we’ve done security for them.” I nod and cut into my waffles, taking another bite.
Metal Guns is a band that my brothers and I have done some work for. Danita seems to be a big fan. I like them; they remind me of a new-aged Aerosmith.
“I love their sound. They remind me of Aerosmith, only younger,” she says.
“I was just thinking the same thing.”
I find we have a lot more in common than I thought. The more time I spend with her, the more that fact is clear. We like most of the same foods, we have similar taste in movies and music, and we even want to travel to a lot of the same places.
“Great minds think alike,” she says when she finishes chewing.
“They do. I’ll see if I can get you some tic
kets to a show.”
“You don’t have to do that.” She says the words, but I can see the excitement in her eyes.
“It’s no big deal. They have offered plenty of times to hook us up. Shane is a big fan too. They get him tickets and backstage passes all the time.”
We actually saved the drummer’s life and managed to keep the entire thing from hitting the news. I think we earned free passes for life. I don’t tell Danita this, though.
“It seems like you guys have a sweet thing going on,” she says while pouring more syrup on her pancakes.
I love watching her eat. That sensual mouth taunts me with each bite and every chew. Then again, everything about her turns me on. I shake the thought away.
“We do well. I can’t complain.”
Something changes right before my eyes. I noticed as she got dressed this morning that she was a little melancholy. I had thought it was about me sleeping over, but I dismissed that as I watched her stare off into space a few times as she twisted the ring she put on her thumb.
I’ve seen her wear the ring once before, but today, it seems to hold some meaning. A part of me wanted to point it out, but the wiser part of me decided against it. Now, her eyes take on that same distant look.
She’s somewhere else even as she speaks to me. “It must be nice to have your family around so much,” she says.
None of the laughter and mirth from moments ago are in her voice. I study her as I try to figure out where her mind has gone. Suddenly, thoughts of her slip that day at my house come to mind.
There is a deeper story there. Again, I decide not to pry. I don’t want to lose the light banter we’ve had while here. Although, the PI within me screams for me to dig deeper and find all her secrets. I watch as she looks at her plate and starts to push the food around on it.
“It has its ups and downs, honestly,” I say after a few beats.
“Huh?” She looks up from her plate, confusion lighting her eyes.
I shrug. “Working with family has its up and its downs. Sometimes I want to throttle them. Other times, I wouldn’t do it with anyone but them. If I’m going to have to trust someone to have my back, it would be my brothers.”
