Page 28 of The Deed to a Gangsta's Heart

That Evening

Tired didn’t beginto describe how I felt. I ended up having to work on five houses today. More than anything, I was frustrated by the lack of updates a few properties were in desperate need of and hadn’t gotten. I checked with our property managers, and neither of them had overlooked maintenance requests from tenants that had been there for years, so it wasn’t on them.

It frustrated me because the renters didn’t value thehomes enough to get what they needed taken care of until it was a big problem. The three roofs I patched today would have to be replaced before the end of the year, and that could have been avoided if we’d known before now that they were in need of repair. Something was going to have to change, and that was why I’d called Armor on my way home.

“Did you have anything in mind?” he asked.

“Only thing I can think of is we need to do an inspection yearly before they renew the lease. I’m not saying we put them out if the homes have issues, but we need to stay on top of what needs to be done before it becomes a bigger and more expensive problem.”

“I agree. That’s probably why we’ve had so many maintenance requests this summer. We can have Zoe and Kendrick update the rental agreements. Going forward, there will be no automatic renewals. All tenants will have an inspection done sixty days before their leases are up so we can get any work needed done before they renew.”

“Aight, that’ll work. What you about to get into?”

“I’m about to go home and change. I have dinner plans with the sweetheart I told you about.”

“The one you double dipped for?”

“Hell yeah, and you know Ineverdo that.”

I chuckled and bobbed my head as I pulled into the driveway. “You must actually like her?”

“Yeah, Luci is pretty coo—”

“Wait. Luci? Please tell me she doesn’t have locs.”

“She does. You know her?”

“Luci Williams? Tall and slim shorty with a fat ass? That’s my homegirl. She was in my kindergarten class with Callie. We all grew up together. They’re still best friends.”

“That’s crazy. Jasper Lane truly is a small town.” He released a mellow laugh. “Well, yeah. That’s her.”

“Take care of my girl. She be on my head because she feels like I take up too much of Callie’s time, but she’s like a sister to me.”

“I got you. Trust me, she’s in good hands.”

We talked a second more about finalizing things with our property managers before ending the call. I was amused to say the least as I got out of the garage. Callie couldn’t have known Luci was out here busting it open for Armor or she would have mentioned it. Callie and Armor had only met once at the grand opening ofArmored Remedy, but I talked to both about the other.

I walked inside, fully prepared to shower, have a drink, talk to my girl, and take my ass to bed. As I made my way up the stairs, I heard Callie scream. I went from taking one at a time to three to get to her. Running into her room, I heard her groan from the en suite bathroom.

My movements jerked and stopped when I saw her naked on the floor holding her elbow. I’d seen her in bathing suits before, but never completely naked. My mind and body were at war. I kept telling myself to help her and ask if she was okay, but all I could do was stare at her naked frame.

“What happened?” I asked, pulling myself out of my trance.

I picked her up as she said, “I must have spilled some oil on the floor after my shower and slipped on it.”

Holding her close, I stared into her eyes. “Callie…”

“Hmm?” Her hand slid down the back of my neck.

“You’re naked.”

“Yeah, I know.”

I sat her on the counter and looked her body over. It was perfect for me. “I want to touch you. Can I?”

Biting her bottom lip, she nodded. “Mhm.”

My fingers trembled in anticipation before sliding down her neck and squeezing her breasts. The quiet moan that she released made my dick throb. Our eyes locked as I gently pinched her nipples. When she gasped, I groaned.

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