Page 49 of Breaking the Rules
Tamrah winced. “Twenty-five thousand, but we already have a buyer. They want to turn this into a sandwich spot. So, unless you can come up with the money by next week, you’re going to have to find another place to rent. There are a few places uptown, but…”
“But they don’t rent by the hour. I know,” she said coolly, even though everything in her body was firing off in distress. “Thanks for the heads up, I’ll figure something out.”
“It shouldn’t be hard. You know with your extracurricular activities. You can have that in what, a weekend?” Tamrah posed.
Savanhi tilted her head ever so slightly to the side. “What do you mean by that?”
Tamrah chuckled nervously. “Nothing, just that a few parents expressed their concerns about what you do on the weekends and whether or not it was a good influence on the girls.”
Savanhi folded her arms. “And you said?”
“You still have your classes, don’t you?” Tamrah posed. “If you want to keep them, maybe you should figure out what means more to you. Shaking your ass for taken men or teaching these girls how to be actual ladies.”
“It feels like you’ve been waiting for a while to pop that off. Let me guess, your fiancé was a regular?” Savanhi posed, popping her hip out.
Tamrah’s eyes drifted from Savanhi, who appeared annoyed but cool under the pressure, to the door. Noble was there. She sensed him. It was his calmness that came over her storm. “Mm, he must be one of your regulars, too. You have a week to figure something out, Savanhi.”
Savanhi watched Tamrah stroll past her to the door to open it. She crooned, purposely trying to dig further under her skin. “Noble Paulson. What do I owe the pleasure?”
Noble’s voice came out even, professional. “Here to get my lady.”
“Oh, Savanhi is your…”
“Lady,” he spoke, making sure she understood.
“Oh really?” Tamrah continued. “You’re off the beaten path of her type. Just three weeks ago, she had someone with tattoos all over his face.”
Savanhi turned around, irritation shining in her eyes and she couldn’t turn it off.
“Good thing that was three weeks ago. I’m here now,” Noble confidently said, picking up Savanhi’s bags. “You ready to eat, Sassy?”
“Yeah, actually I could use a big ass plate of pasta right now,” she grumbled, starting to the door but he stopped her.
“You good.” It was assurance as he pecked her lips. “Aight?”
“Mmhmm.”
Tamrah stood by watching, the irritation she was imposing on Savanhi made a U-turn to sit with her. “Don’t forget what Isaid, one week. Which shouldn’t be too hard, considering this little come up.”
Noble escorted Savanhi to the door and tilted his head in Tamrah’s direction. “Have a good night.”
Savanhi climbed in the passenger seat, turned to blow Areli, who was on her iPad, a kiss and wink, she buckled up, and pulled in a deep sigh. Noble hopped in and maneuvered the SUV down the street toward the Italian restaurant. Noble reached over and took her hand in his.
“What you so tense about?” he asked. “This ain’t how I dropped you off.”
“Things change, people change. I need to figure out how to buy the studio, and the only way I see how to get it is go back to Tempt.”
“There’s other ways,” he stated firmly. “Tempt ain’t it, though.”
“Noble, I-”
“Deuce,” he gritted.
“Deuce,” she sassed. “I don’t know shit about business loans. I barely have established credit. I got my apartment because my brother knew the leasing manager. I know how to hustle. I don’t know any other way.”
“You see me sitting here?” he posed.
“Yes, and I’m not asking you for shit. You’re doing enough.”
