Page 19 of To Love and Protect
“You really think fuckin’ with me would be the same as fuckin’ with that bum ass dirty nigga?”
“Well . . . no?—”
“So why you say that shit?”
She could tell he wasn’t mad. It was just like Joyce said the other day. He saw something and went for it. He was trying to figure her out, and that scared Remedie. Opening her heart up again felt equivalent to jumping out of a plane, and she was terrified of heights.
She expelled a long breath. “I didn’t mean it would be the same. I’m just not ready to be in a relationship right now.”
Nico sat back in his chair. He stuffed a handful of fries into his mouth and chewed thoughtfully before he responded. “I get that. I ain’t tryna rush you, but I do need you to know I fuck with you heavy.”
“But why? You haven’t even known me a week and you already moved me into your house.”
“As my personal chef. Not as my woman.” He pointed out the obvious.
“True, but still. Answer the question. Why do you fuck with me so heavy when you don’t even know me for real? How you know I’m not a crazy bitch?”
“Oh, you for sure crazy.” He grinned when he saw her getting irritated. She swore he lived for pushing her buttons. “Okay, for real. I don’t really know how to say this shit without scaring you away, so I’m just gon’ say this. I feel connected to you. You probably feel it, too, but you’re too stubborn to say so. I’m tryna court you and shit, but you makin’ it hard. I respect that you don’t want to be in a relationship right now. I don’t want that shit either until you’re ready, but what’s wrong wit’ lettin’ me take you on a few dates?”
She did feel the connection, and he was right. She was too stubborn to say so. She felt it the moment she laid eyes on him. This all seemed crazy and rushed, but she couldn’t pull away, even if she wanted to. Nico had her hooked, though she didn’t feel she could tell him that. Not yet anyway.
“I don’t know how to answer that.”
“You probably scared you’ll fall in love,” he teased before finishing off his sandwich.
Her face scrunched up. Not because he was wrong, but because he was right. “Not even,” she lied.
He chuckled. “Aight, let’s bet on it, then, since you’re so sure. You let me take you on dates and court you like I want to. Drop yo’ guard and stop playin’ so tough all the time. If you fall in love, then you have to admit it and be honest, and after that, ain’t shit that can stop me from making you my girl. If you don’t, then I’ll leave you alone.”
She couldn’t believe he wanted to put a bet on her heart. “You’re dead ass right now?”
He shrugged as he cheesed all in her face. “What you got to lose, cookie?”
She thought about it. She really had nothing to lose aside from her sanity if love let her down again, but as she looked at Nico, something in her told her to take the leap of faith. Besides, if she didn’t fall in love, she would have his word that he would leave her alone.
Bitch, you’re already halfway in love with this man. You’re delusional.
She ignored the rational part of her brain and chose to remain in delulu-ville for now. She stuck her hand out to him so they could shake on it. Everything about this felt exhilarating and reckless, but a part of her craved the excitement.
“Bet.”
He grabbed her hand and kissed the back of it. Chills ran up her spine, and goosebumps filled her flesh. Finally, he shook her hand with the wickedest grin on his face that let her know he wasn’t about to let up on her one bit. “Bet.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
The sound of her alarm clock woke Remedie from a deep sleep. She fought the urge to pull the covers over her head and ignore it. Early mornings were not her thing, but with this new job, she needed to be up at five every morning so she could get herself together and then prep for the day and have breakfast ready for Nico by seven before he did his workout. After his workout, she always had a protein smoothie for him and then got started on lunch. After lunch, she prepped some kind of snack for him before starting on dinner. She loved every single second of it aside from the early mornings.
She groaned and finally flung the covers off her and silenced her alarm. Instead of lying around in bed and being coaxed by the sleep warriors calling to her, she decided to hop out of bed quickly and get ready for the day.
After her shower, she selected a pair of biker shorts and an oversized T-shirt to wear before making her way down to the kitchen, still half asleep. That was probably why it didn’t register the smell of food until she got into the kitchen.
Her tired eyes widened at the sight of Nico frantically trying to turn a burner down while simultaneously pulling something out of the oven.
“Whoa.” Remedie rushed over to help him. She turned down the pot of something that looked suspiciously like burned cheese grits. “What’s going on in here?” she asked as Nico placed a pan of curled up shrimp on a cooling rack.
He straightened up and grabbed the back of his neck sheepishly. Just as he opened his mouth to offer an explanation, the smoke alarm went off.
“The bacon!” he shouted, rushing over to the oven once again and opening it.
