Page 87 of Recipe for Temptation

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll put him on the phone.”

“Please do. But just know we’re not done with this conversation. And Michael?”

“Yes, Mama?”

“I can’t wait to meet her.”

That made him smile. “Love you, Mama.”

“Love you too, baby. So very, very much.”

Manning was already reaching for the phone, practically snatching it out of Michael’s hand in his eagerness to share his good news. “I’ve got a big surprise for you, Mama Wolf. A Christmas in July present.” He paused for dramatic effect. “We’re having a girl!”

Michael could hear Mama Wolf’s ear-splitting squeal through the phone.

Manning laughed, listening to her ecstatic stream of hallelujahs and God is good before he spoke again. “We found out this morning. I made Mom and Dad promise to let me tell you the news.” He paused, chuckling. “Of course. You know how they are.”

Michael found himself tuning out the conversation, thinking instead about Reese and the things his great-grandmother had said.

Eventually, Manning ended the call and passed the phone back to him. “You know what this means, don’t you?”

“What?”

Manning grinned smugly, making a show of buffing his nails on his shirt. “Since I’ll be the first to give Mama Wolf a great-great-granddaughter, I’m gonna be her new favorite.”

Michael snorted. “You wish.”

“We’ll see.” Manning winked. He was every bit as competitive as Mason. Maybe even more so, because he’d had an eight-year head start.

Michael leaned back in his seat. “What were you saying about Reid earlier? Something about him liking sistas?”

“Yeah, man. He’s out there flirting like crazy with Lexi, and Quentin is not having it.” Manning cracked up, shaking his head. “Pipsqueak better get his boy before some shit goes down.”

Michael scowled. “Q better chill. I’m trying to run a respectable establishment here. Can’t be having no fights breaking out.”

Manning cackled. “Dude is tripping. I haven’t seen him acting this possessive over Lexi since college, when he used to cockblock her at the club. The way he’s seething out there is kinda sus.”

“I know,” Michael agreed. “Honestly, bruh, if I didn’t know better…”

They looked at each other. Then burst into hysterical laughter.

When the hilarity had died down, Manning leaned back in the chair and propped his big feet on the corner of the desk. When he crossed his ankles, the polished gleam of his John Lobbs caught the light.

“Speaking of possessive dudes…”

Michael braced himself. He knew what was coming.

“The other night. You and Reese on that dance floor…” A slow, knowing grin spread across Manning’s face. “Somebody’s falling in love,” he singsonged.

Michael frowned, heat crawling up his neck. “Don’t start.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.”

Michael deflected the remark. “Get your feet off my desk.”

Manning ignored him, mischief dancing in his dark eyes. “You got it bad, bruh. Everybody can see it.”

“Doesn’t matter,” Michael grumbled darkly. “At the end of the day, she still has a boyfriend.”

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