Page 16 of Night and Day
The doorman opened the door, and they exited into the balmy night air, Tamika walking ahead of him.
“Tamika.” Anton took her wrist, fingers curling around her soft, smooth skin. She stopped and faced him. “I know you have a lot on your mind right now, but if you need a place to stay, you can stay at my apartment after Melissa moves out.” He’d considered making her that offer when she said she had nowhere to go. He wished he could kick Calvin’s ass for putting her in that position.
“Didn’t you hear? I’m too loud. You don’t want me in your place. I’ll be fine.” She tugged away her hand and continued walking.
Anton followed more slowly with the box of food in his hand. Tamika had friends and family and probably would be fine. After all, she’d lived twenty-nine years without him in her life, but while he wasn’t responsible for her, he sure felt like he was. Hell, they’d bonded over shared pain and the unfortunate experience of cheating significant others. He was closer to her than he’d been to anyone else in a long time.
He opened the car door, and she slid in, crossing one leg over the other. He shouldn’t, but his eyes lingered over the expanse of exposed thigh and toned calves. Cursing softly to himself, he shut the door.
What the hell was wrong with him? This woman had him acting all outside of his character. First, she had him behaving like a member of the Scooby Doo gang trying to solve a crime, staking out the lobby of a high-end apartment building to catch their cheating exes. Second, he’d almost gotten into a fist fight. Third, he was checking out her shapely legs when he should be acting more sympathetic because of her predicament.
They drove in silence all the way back to her apartment. She didn’t look at him the entire time, her gaze focused on the passing nighttime scenery. Every now and again he glanced at her, noting the slumped shoulders and the way she’d wrapped her arms around her torso protectively. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and shield her from the pain and misery Calvin and Melissa had caused, but he figured she wasn’t in the right frame of mind to accept such an outward display of compassion.
When they arrived at her apartment, he parked in front of the unit and they sat in the car, neither saying a word. That lasted for a few minutes until Tamika finally spoke.
“I don’t want to go inside. I feel like I’ve lost everything. I hate him so much.” Her voice sounded low and hoarse, as if she had been crying.
Anton’s eyes swept over her downcast eyes and downturned lips. “I meant what I said. You can come stay with me until you get back on your feet. Melissa wasn’t paying rent, and you don’t have to, either.”
“She must’ve helped in some way, though, right? You need money for bills or something.”
“She bought groceries every now and again. If you want to do that, that’s fine. But I make a really good salary and I don’t need help. Meanwhile, you need to replenish your lost funds so you can keep your business afloat. If you really have nowhere else to go, this is an offer of help, until you can get back on your feet.”
She smiled at him. “You’re something else, Anton. Melissa realizes it too, you know. I saw the look on her face after you grabbed Calvin. She knows she made a mistake.”
“That was shock. I don’t think she’s ever seen me angry.”
“No way. After she heard what I said about Calvin and saw you grab him to defend me, that woman was rethinking her options. She probably would have jumped your bones if we weren’t all standing there in public. Believe me. And I don’t blame her.” She emphasized the last two sentences in a way that caught his attention—suggesting she’d had the same thoughts as Melissa.
Tamika exited the vehicle and Anton followed. At the door, he handed her the box of food.
A faint smile touched her lips. “Thanks. I’m actually glad you took the food because I am sort of hungry.”
“I figured,” he said, smiling in return.
She huffed out a breath. “What about you? You haven’t eaten.”
“I’ll pick up something on the way home. Pizza, maybe.”
“Well… if you don’t have anywhere to go, you’re welcome to come in and chat for a little bit. And you could help me eat this food.” She held up the box.
“That’s not going to fill me up. How about we start with that as an appetizer, and we order a pizza?”
“You, sir, have a deal.”
Tamika opened the door and Anton followed her in. As soon as he stepped across the threshold, something came over him, a pressure in his chest and thighs. A pressure that suggested something huge was about to happen.
He shut the door quietly behind him.
8
Tamika handed Anton his second beer of the night and joined him on the floor with the open box of pizza. The first time she’d handed him a bottle of the locally made craft beer, she’d told him to drink up because it was Calvin’s favorite.
After laughing at her vindictiveness, they devoured the appetizers from Madison Towers, both much hungrier than they’d realized.
He was completely relaxed, his jacket hanging over the arm of the sofa, tie removed, and his shirtsleeves rolled up. Tamika had removed her shoes but still wore the little black dress.
Anton idly examined the dark, heavy-looking furniture and figured Calvin and Melissa had no intention of taking any of the items to Madison Towers. Melissa was very particular about her decorating expectations. Anton’s apartment hadn’t been up to par, so he figured Calvin would leave everything behind for Tamika and buy all new pieces for the new place. That meant he’d have to—if he hadn’t already—furnish the new apartment with high-end pieces, pay the deposit and first month’s rent on the luxury apartment, and wine and dine Melissa on a regular basis. No wonder the guy had stolen Tamika’s money.
