Page 168 of Prickly Romance

We are drawing a crowd. One particular girl with blue hair is staring at me as if I am a ghost.

“Let’s get to the car quickly,” Akira warns in a low voice.

“Miss Williams,” I gesture to the path, “I would like a word.”

Dejonae’s eyes dart back and forth. Is she thinking of fighting me? I take a step forward, my body alight with adrenaline.

Her stubbornness drives me stark, raving mad and it is the most invigorating feeling.

“Dejonae.” I call her by her first name when she still does not move.

She flings me a panicked look.

Relax.I arch an eyebrow. “It is in regards to Mr. Howel’s collaboration request.”

Relief flits across her face. She gives a serious nod. “Mr. Howel, right. He mentioned that.”

I keep my expression firm and professional. Dejonae asked me not to expose our relationship to her classmates. I will honor every wish she has spoken aloud and even those she has only whispered quietly in her heart.

But if I see any hormonal college boys sniffing around her again, I will not be so quick to hide our connection.

The back of my hand brushes hers as we walk to the car. It is all I can do not to take her hand in mine.

The moment she is settled in the backseat, I drag her to me and plant a deep kiss on her mouth. She draws back when Akira gets into the car and gives me a playful punch on the chest.

“You just do whatever you want, don’t you?” Her words are sharp, but her eyes are twinkling. I interpret that she is not too mad at me.

“I thought I covered that well,” I muse.

“Akira,” Dejonae says, “does he have time to be goofing off like this?”

“Miss Williams, since he met you, Ryotaro’s actions no longer make sense to me. I have given up on understanding him.”

On the ride to the airport, I explain where we are going and why. Dejonae seems excited by the adventure and the experience is ten times more thrilling because she is with me.

We meet Nova and Adam in the private air strip.

Nova gives Dejonae a curt nod. “You look nice.”

“Thanks. You too.” Dejonae motions to Nova’s outfit. Adam’s assistant traded her staple of work jackets and pantsuits for a looser skirt and a blouse. Adam has not been able to take his eyes off her since we arrived.

“You’re right,” Dejonae whispers in my ear when we settle into our seats on the plane. “She is his everything.”

I smile down at her. “I understand how that feels.”

Her eyelashes flutter.

She glances away.

I lift her chin, trying not to get distracted by her lips. They are a vivid red today, as tempting as a freshly-plucked apple against the dark brown of her skin.

“Is something wrong?”

“Yaya went back home today.” Her mouth pulls down at the corners. “I’m trying not to let it get me down. She goes back and forth all the time. But it never gets easier saying goodbye to her.”

“Would you like me to turn the plane around? Nova and Adam can sign the contract on their own.”

“No.” She shakes her head. “Yaya didn’t just move to another city for modeling. She moved to be independent. As long as we’re around, we’re going to coddle her. She wanted to live on her own. I won’t take that from her.”

---