Page 9 of Stay Awhile
“I apologize, ma’am. I can replace all of this,” I said as she finally brushed her hair from her face.
My words were now stuck in my throat. I had come across many beautiful women in my way of life, but this woman was nothing that could be replicated. Baby came from the original mold of what a woman was supposed to look and feel like. Her eyes were like deep pools of bourbon, the kind that would have me spilling every secret my soul held. Her full lips were lined in that brown lip combination that many women did these days, but I was sure her ass had originated it. I could tell by the way her mouth had turned upside down at the sight of me that she was a firecracker.
I was intrigued immediately, and I shouldn’t have been, especially when I knew I was on a death mission. One that I knew would only end with my life in exchange.
“I would love to say it’s okay, but it’s not. What were you doing?” she asked with a frown.
I smirked, intrigued by her temper. Why was it always the women less than five feet and five inches tall that always had attitude for days? I straightened up, not wanting to piss her off more. I held the things I had picked up from the ground and handed them to her.
“It was truly an accident. I was trying to find my room on this map. Like I said, I can replace anything that’s broken. I’m not trying to ruin your time here.” I tried to reason.
She released a breath, then closed her eyes for a minute.
“It’s okay. I’m sorry for being grouchy. This is my first time doing a trip like this. I just want everything to go perfectly and according to my plan.”
I nodded. I remembered the days when a plan was the thing of my entire existence. Broken plans were why my life was in shambles now, but I didn’t plan on telling her that. Something about this woman made me want to find anything to say to keep her talking, though. Her voice felt like a symphony, providingautomatic calming effects. Yeah, I needed to stay far away from her.
“I can understand that. Well, how much to replace the dress? Let me at least do that, and you can use the money for something to take home from your trip. Not saying you need my money, but I just don’t feel right fucking up the start to your trip,” I told her.
“I can’t let you pay for this dress. It was an accident, but next time we run into each other—and I just happen to be reaching for my wallet after dinner—don’t be surprised if I look at you expectantly to return the favor.”
I laughed for the first time in what felt like years. The shit was shocking, even to my ears. I cleared my throat and smirked in her direction.
“I hear you Ms….?” I asked with my hand outstretched.
She finally gave me a smile back and placed her small manicured hand into mine.
“Just Skye. No Ms. I’m not that old.” She left her sentence off, waiting for me to give her my name.
I opened my mouth, then closed it. For the first time in my career of juggling aliases, I hesitated. Something about her made me want to tell her my real name—Knox, not whatever fake identity I was supposed to use. But that thought alone was exactly why I needed to stay away from this woman. Her safety depended on my distance.
“Brodrick,” I replied.
She lifted her brow and craned her head to the side. She openly checked me out from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet before meeting my eyes again.
“Hmm, you don’t give me Brodrick vibes, but if your mama named you Brodrick, Ima’ call you Brodrick,” she said then giggled. I didn’t understand the joke, and I was sure the rise of my brows alerted her to that fact. “Please don’t tell me you haven’t seenComing to America?” she asked.
I shrugged because doing things like going to a movie or watching a TV show wasn’t a luxury I spent too much time doing, so I hadn’t seen what she was talking about. The way she made it seem was like it was a rite of passage to watch this particular movie.
“Nah, I can’t say I have,” I replied.
I looked down, and her hand was still in mine. I finally released it and immediately missed the feel of it. I slowly backed away from her. Not enough to alert her to me retreating, but enough to get my mind and my second head in one accord.
“Well, If I see you again, I expect to hear all about how much you loved it. I’m sure this place has to have it on the TVs in the rooms. Well, anyway, don’t let me hold you up. It was an experience meeting you, B,” she said.
I smiled and nodded. “You too, Skye.”
I didn’t stay a moment longer and turned to head in the direction the receptionist had pointed me in. I glanced over my shoulder in her direction once more, and baby girl was toting one of the fattest asses I had seen in a minute. I shook my head as I turned back around to get as far away from her as I could.
I finally made it into my villa. I had chosen the beachfront style room instead of the option that was a hut essentially on stilts in water. I wanted something that I could enjoy the lagoon from where I laid my head. I removed my shoes outside the door, then picked them up to make my steps lighter as I stepped inside. I had read up on Fiji in good detail, since I wasn’t the type to watch much TV. I took time to learn keywords in the language to the point where I was practically fluent. I wanted to make sure I was familiar with their culture and how secure their rooms were.
This was something I made sure I did whenever I went anywhere new. I never wanted to be somewhere and they werespeaking in a native language about robbing or kidnapping my ass. I had enough problems to add to anything else.
I placed my bag by the door and scoped the place for bugs. I pulled the room apart then practically placed it all back the way I found it once I was certain the space was as safe as it could be. I looked over to my right and noticed the TV on the stand in front of me.
I decided to take a shower and then I would figure out what the hell she was talking about. I was going to find this movie,Coming to America, just in case I ran into her again. I placed my hand against my forehead and reminded myself of the plan to not see her again, but I knew the shit was going to be no good.
THE NEXT DAY…
