She shrugs. “I was hoping you’d changed your mind. I didn’t know she’d be here with you, doing … whatever you two were doing.”
“We were closing the bar.”
“You were about to fuck her in the same place you’d fucked me.”
I snarl. She’s right. I was about to screw Sierra where I’d screwed countless other women.
“She’s not for you, Maliki.” Her hand splays across my shoulder.
I push her away. “Just because we’ve fucked a few times doesn’t mean shit. Just because your mouth has been around my dick doesn’t mean you know me.”
“When she breaks your heart, you know my number.”
Fifteen
Sierra
I throw down my bag, tear off my clothes, and step in the shower.
Tears hit my eyes as soon as Penny walked in, but I blinked them away. I couldn’t cry in front of her—in front of them.
What if he brings her to his bedroom?
I shake my head. He wouldn’t do that after what happened on the bar.
I throw my loofah onto the bathtub floor and kick it for good measure. I’m reminded of Maliki’s touch as I wash my hair. It was too good to be true. Just when I succeeded in proving he couldn’t hide his feelings for me any longer, she interrupted.
No matter what, there’s always someone coming between us.
Maliki is seated on my bed when I walk into my room. I screech and tighten my towel around my chest.
“I wanted to assure you I wasn’t fucking anyone.” He stands. “Get some sleep.”
With that, he turns around and leaves.
“Maliki, wait.”
“Go to bed, Sierra,” is all he growls out.
“Shit.”
I’m late.
With all that transpired last night, I failed to set my alarm for brunch.
I pull a dress over my head, ridding it of wrinkles with my hands, and slip on red wedges. I brush my teeth, braid my hair, and am out the door in minutes. I want to go to this brunch like I want to have mimosas with Louise.
Thank God Maliki is nowhere to be seen. I can’t face him yet.
“You’re late,” is how my father greets me when I sit down at the table.
“I overslept,” I say around a yawn.
“If you weren’t working at a bar, you wouldn’t have overslept.”
I snatch the carafe of orange juice and pour myself a glass. “I’m not having this discussion.” My gaze bounces to my mom’s. “I told Mom to inform you of that.”
“Oh, she did all right, but you’re my daughter,” he answers with a huff.
He hates not calling the shots, but his life has changed since his affair was exposed. His ass is on the line in every aspect of his life—his career, his family. Hell, even my grandparents are pissed at him. Right now, my father has no one on his side.
My mom brushes her hand against his arm. “Honey, let’s wait until after we eat.”
“Yeah, Dad. We don’t want your sour mood to affect our French toast and eggs,” Rex adds with a smirk.
A vein pulses in my dad’s neck, and no doubt, he wants to give Rex an ass-chewing, but he stares at me with intent. “We will talk about this.”
“Can’t wait,” I mutter, spreading my napkin on my lap.
I was once a daddy’s girl. He wasn’t perfect, but he was my dad—the man who fought the monsters in my closet and taught me to ride a bike. Somewhere between me growing up and him growing more successful, he changed—a man I no longer knew but still loved. No matter what, I stood by his side, stood up for him, until he destroyed my mother’s heart.
I eat my breakfast while listening to my father rattle on about town developments and my mom about her latest fundraiser. When breakfast is finished and our stomachs are full, I help my mom clean up, moving as slow as I can to delay this unnecessary talk with my dad.
“All right, Sierra, my office,” my father says, stepping into the kitchen and straightening his shirt cuffs.
I roll my eyes, follow him to the office, and speak before he has time to shut the door, “Look, whatever you say won’t change my mind about working at the bar. I’m working there, and that’s final.”
The door clicks shut, and he circles his desk, looking more powerful when he sits in the executive chair. My father is a handsome man who’s aged well. He’s tall with dark hair, only a few sprinkles of gray strands, and he possesses enough confidence you’d guess he was in his twenties. He’s wearing a black suit, black tie, and the Rolex that was passed down from his grandfather.
“Not only is working there inappropriate for the mayor’s daughter, but it’s also dangerous, Sierra.”
“You know what else is inappropriate for the town mayor? Cheating on his wife.”
He flicks his finger my way. “Touché. This isn’t an attempt for me to control you. Maliki’s life is darker than the sunshine you’re used to, honey.”
“Weird. Maliki is my sunshine every time I’m having a shit day, crying over your indiscretions and being cheated on. He makes me happy. Do you remember the last guy you approved of? He cheated on me in the restroom of a bar.” I start pacing in front of him. “And I’m not even dating Maliki. I’m working for him. So, for that reason and our friendship, I’ll take cloudy days with him because …”
“You have feelings for him?”
I gulp. “Friendship feelings.”
He nods. “Be careful.”
“I always am.”
“That kid, his life wasn’t easy. His mother was—” He stops speaking.
“Was what?”
“Mentally ill—in and out of psychiatric facilities—and his father’s workplace didn’t help the situation. She was paranoid of infidelity, became obsessed with it, and couldn’t handle her life—according to your mother, who attempted to mentor her. She tried helping Kelly, but couldn’t.”
I cross my arms. “Children don’t have to take after their parents. I’m nothing like you.”
He winces, knowing that wasn’t a compliment. “I love you, but I don’t want you to be with a man like me, Sierra. I know what a man who can’t be held down is—I’m one of those men—and it’s hard for us. We hurt people.” He rests his elbows on the desk. “Your mother filed for divorce.”
I stop my pacing to look at him. “What?”
“I wanted to be the one to tell you.”
“Why?”
“She fears she’s setting a bad example and that you’ll take Devin back because she didn’t leave me. I suppose we were delaying the inevitable. When she told me about Devin’s cheating, I wanted to kill him for hurting you. Your mother reminded me it was no different than my actions. I hurt my wife, my children, and betrayed the town that voted for me. I have to face the consequences for that.”
My head is spinning. “What happens now?” This can’t be real. He didn’t say that.
“I’ll work on redeeming myself.”
“And while you’re doing that, let me work on who I want to be.”
He lifts a brow. “Which is?”
“Happy.”
He nods. “I’ll shut my mouth, sit down, and realize I’m not perfect.”
“Finally.”
Him staring down in shame hurts my heart, and I move around the desk to kiss his cheek. He’s a ruthless man, but I love him.
“I’ll see you soon, okay?” I tell him.
He nods. “You call me if you need anything. Anything. I’m sleeping in my office, but it’s time I find somewhere to move permanently. I’m letting your mother keep the house.”
I unlock the door of the apartment and walk in, finding it empty. I haven’t spoken to Maliki since the girl he desk-banged showed up last night.
Speaking of last night …
What in the ever-loving hell was that?
We kissed.
Maliki Bridges finally kissed me.
For years, I’d wanted to feel his lips against mine.
And it happened with terrible timi
ng.
I was married, and Penny showed up.
Did I overreact last night?
Maybe.
Maliki isn’t mine. I have no claim to him.
I have no right to be upset, but I can’t stop imagining Penny returning for round two … two hundred … who knows how many times they’ve banged?
She wasn’t startled, seeing me—a clear sign she was staking her claim and making it known they had history.
When I go to the bar in search of him, it’s empty. My next stop is the dreaded office—somewhere I haven’t stepped foot in since that night. The door is shut. I knock and wait until he calls for me to come in. He pulls away from the paperwork on the desk when he sees me, straightening in his chair, almost appearing as if he’s a boss intending to scold an employee.
There’s no roadmap for where this conversation will lead. I’m a married woman, frustrated at him over another woman. I’m in the wrong and mortified by my feelings.
“Hey,” he says, realizing I’m a mute weirdo gawking at him.
“Hi,” I nearly whisper, shutting the door.
“Look, about Penny,” he begins.
“Ah, good ole Penny.” The mockery falls from my lips in contempt. My eyes shoot from him to the desk, and I cringe. “Okay, I can’t talk to you in here.” I put my hand up and gulp away the disgust rising.
His gaze shoots around the room in confusion. “What? Why?”
“That desk. I can’t even look at it after your whole … sexcapade with Penny.”
He leans back in his chair and fastens his hands together behind his head. “You mean, after you spied on me?”
“I didn’t spy on you.”
“I watched the cameras. You didn’t take a peek and then scurry along—which, I might add, a sane person would have done. You stayed and enjoyed the show. A show that wasn’t yours to watch.”
I stutter for the right words. “I was … shocked … horrified … frozen in place.” I cross my arms. “Don’t twist this around on me. You should’ve advised me not to work last night if you knew she was returning for another go at desk-fucking.”
“I didn’t know she was coming last night, nor did I invite her to come later. Do you think forgot my wallet is code for sex? I was as surprised and pissed as you.”
“I wasn’t pissed.”
“You were pissed. Jealousy looks sexy on you.”
“Excuse me? I wasn’t jealous of her.” I was, but I snort to make myself sound more believable. “I was annoyed, is all.” Irritated that you had my panties wet, offering me something I’d wanted for years, and then bam, Penny the Penis-Blocker showed up. “I’ll be upstairs. We can have this chitchat then.”
He drops his arms and shifts in his chair. “Look, I’m sorry.” A self-satisfied smile hits his lips. “Not that I have much to atone for.”
“Then, you’re not apologizing, Fake Apology Giver.”
“I’m apologizing for Penny’s behavior. I did nothing wrong.”
“You’re right. You shouldn’t have to apologize for desk-banging chicks.”
“Don’t make it sound like cheap porn.”
“It sure looked like cheap porn. If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, then it’s cheap duck porn.”
“You’re impossible,” he mutters. “It was much better quality than porn. Yes, I had sex with Penny. No, I won’t do it again. It’s settled. Let’s move forward.”
I scrape my hands together. “Conversation over.”
I spin around in my wedges and feel Maliki behind me as I dash upstairs. I leave the door open for him and plop down on a stool at the island.
“Now that that’s over, you want to tell me what else is on your mind?”
I love how he’s not afraid to dig into my feelings, not afraid of me bringing my issues to him. “My parents are divorcing.”
Why I’m so overwhelmed is weird. I was happy when my mom said she was leaving my father after news of his affair came out and pissed when she decided to stay.
Now, I feel numb.
Two divorces are happening in my family this year—mine and my parents’.
He stands on the other side of the island. “I’m sorry.”
“I …” I stop to clear my throat. “It might be my fault.”
“The fuck it is. Everyone in this town knows your father is to blame.” He shakes his head. “Don’t you dare think that.”
“Yes, but my mom didn’t leave him after she found out about the affair. She’s leaving in fear of setting a bad example to her daughters.”
“Does her staying with him set a nice example?”
“Every situation is different.”
He nods. “I agree.”
“It’s … ugh. It’ll be weird, them not being together, you know?”
“Yeah. It was the same when my mom left, but it became our new normal.”
My mouth falls open.
Holy shit. Is Maliki getting personal with me?
Do I act like I know what my father told me?
“When did your mom leave you?”
“Yes. When I was six and my sister was nine.” His face is blank, offering me not an ounce of emotion.
“Did she tell you she was leaving?”
“Nope. I came home one day, and all her shit was gone. She never came back.”
“Do you know where she is now?”
He shakes his head. “I don’t care to know. She chose to leave, to not take us with her, and never come back. That’s it. I won’t fight for anyone’s love. She did what a mother should never do, regardless of the situation.”
I want more.
I want everything personal he has to offer.
“Why did she leave?”
“I don’t know. Years ago, when we were moving my dad’s shit, we found her good-bye letter. She blamed it on the bar, on my father making it a priority over his family and not showering her with enough attention. He needed to find out what it was like, taking care of a family, is what she said. I was furious with my father and blamed him for everything. In actuality, it was both of their fault. Her letter proved she didn’t deserve me looking for her.” He shifts his weight from one foot to the other, shaking his head, and offers his hand. “Come on. We’ve had enough depressing shit for one day. Let’s do something fun.”
I perk up in my stool. “Like what?”
“You pick.”
“Well …” I draw out.
“Oh shit. Did I stick my foot in my mouth?”
“How about we go shopping for bar selections?”
He shrugs. “Why not? It’s a perfect day to get out of town.”
I slide off my stool. “Let me change really quick.”
He snaps his fingers to stop me. “Cohen is having a barbeque tonight at his house. Come with me.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, it’ll be fun.”
I nod, a smile taking over my face. I walk out of the kitchen and skip to my bedroom when I’m out of his sight.
Sixteen
Sierra
“First things first,” I say, whipping around and walking backward facing Maliki. “The desk has to go bye-bye.”
He tilts his head to the side. “What’s wrong with my desk?”
“What’s wrong with it is, you banged Penny and who knows how many other women on it.”
My answer captures the attention of an elderly couple passing by. The woman gasps, clasping her hand over her mouth as if I were straddling Maliki instead of making small talk, and then moves her hand over her heart. She shakes her head, snatches the man’s hand, and pulls him away.
Maliki shakes his head. “You can’t trash my desk for that reason.”
“Do you possess a sentimental attachment to said desk other than it being your go-to spot for screwing? Family heirloom?” I tsk him. “Which would be disrespectful as fuck to your elders.”
“No, Sierra. I’m not having sex on family heirlooms.”
Another odd glance comes our way from a pa
sserby. I should’ve brought this up in the car.
He drops his tone. “Why do you care about the desk so much?”
Because I’ve been falling in love with you since I was eighteen.
I clear my throat and shrug. “I don’t want to hang out with your sex juices if I ever work in your office.”
“Sex juices?” A grin plays at his lips. “You’re nuts, and please never use the term sex juices again.”
“Whatever.” I loop my arm through his and lead us to the office furniture department in the store we’re in. “New desk, here we come.” When we reach the spot, I twirl on my heels and gesture to the options. “What look are we going for, Mr. Bridges?”
He scratches his head, and instead of searching out a desk, he fixes his attention on me. “You pick. You’re the one demanding it be replaced.”
“All righty, I see this is an area you’re giving me creative control on.” I grab his hand and walk us through the aisles.
“As long as it’s not pink or covered in sequins, which seems to be my niece’s style, I’m good.”
“I wouldn’t do that to your desk. The stools, on the other hand …” I grin back at him. “This might be the time to mention, they most definitely have sequins.”
He shakes his head, a smile tugging at his lips. “You’re such a pain in my ass.”
“Get used to it.”
“Trust me, I did years ago.”
I steal his hat, put it on, and point to a desk. “I like this one. It screams, Maliki!”
It’s a basic black desk with open drawers. My favorite part is, it looks uncomfortable. That should ward off women from spread-eagling across it.
“Sold.” He snatches his hat back.
“Cohen works at the Twisted Fox, right?” I ask from the passenger seat of his car.
We’re on our way to the barbeque. Our shopping trip ended with us ordering the uncomfortable desk and office chair, and we have a book of floor and paint samples.
He nods. “He co-owns it with a few of our other friends.”
I stiffen in my seat. “We’re not going there, are we?”
He shakes his head. “No, it’s at his house. I wouldn’t have invited you if it were there. It’s me and some friends. That’s it.”
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