Page 16 of To Love and Protect
He couldn’t help it. His hand found the side of her neck, and he leaned down to kiss her. He used no tongue, but there was still so much passion in the action. Hearing her trauma slip through her tough exterior did something to him. Poor babydidn’t know that he was ready to give her everything she had been missing out on, including a family of her own. Maybe he was moving too quickly, but he couldn’t find it in himself to slow down. He typically wasn’t a very patient man, so she really needed to get with the program.
When he pulled away from her, she seemed stunned, but she also seemed calmer. She wasn’t rambling anymore, either, so that was a plus.
“Listen to me, cookie. I just wanted to bring you by to get some good cookin’. You’re about to start as a full-time chef for me, and I wanted to treat you before you dive in. My mama is the best cook I know. Is it so bad I wanted to spoil you with some good food?”
She still looked stunned by the kiss. His thumb trailed down her bottom lip, and that action caused her to snap out of her daze. She cleared her throat as her shoulders drooped. “I guess not.”
“Don’t sweat it. I got you, okay? I wouldn’t ever put you in an uncomfortable situation. My job is to protect, right?”
“That’s what you say, but you aren’t my man, Nico?—”
“That ain’t my name, cookie. I ain’t gon’ tell you too many more times. And you focusing on all the wrong shit, anyway. I don’t got to be yo’ man to protect you. We friends, right?”
She shrugged before a light smile danced across her lips. “I guess. You aight from what I can tell.”
He chuckled. “Aight then. Friends protect friends. That don’t just mean physically. It means in every way. Ain’t nothin’ bad gonna happen while you wit’ me. Cool?”
She finally nodded, and he felt a great deal of relief. The last thing he wanted to do was bring her up into his mama’s house when she didn’t want to be there.
Nico pushed the door open, and the smell of some good home cooking immediately smacked his nose. He was home. Hisfavorite place to be. This wasn’t the home he grew up in. He upgraded his mama’s house as soon as he made enough money to do so many years ago. Still, wherever his mama resided was where home was for him. He was definitely a mama’s boy, but in all the best ways.
“It smells so good,” Remedie murmured, and her stomach growled again.
Nico looked behind him and saw her looking around curiously. His mama’s house was a cozy two-bedroom home with two levels.
“Mama knows her way around the kitchen.” Nico grinned as he led her through the house.
When they got to the kitchen, the first person Nico saw was hungry ass Tyree. He sat there munching on a chicken leg. He stopped when he spotted Nico and Remedie. He tilted his head back and laughed. “I know you ain’t kidnap that lady, Nico. Aye”—he looked at Remedie—“blink twice if you need help. I got you, boo.”
Nico popped him on the back of the head with a good amount of force. “Shut the hell up.”
“Don’t you two start.” Nico’s mom turned from the stove and peered at Remedie and then at Nico. A slow smile formed on her face. “And who is this, Nico?”
She hugged him after asking the question. Nico always melted into his mother’s hugs, even though he she was much smaller than him. Joyce Graves was the only woman who ever gave him comfort and unconditional love. How could he not do everything in his power to show his love for her?
When they pulled apart, he turned to Remedie and grabbed her hand. “Ma, this is Remedie. She’s playin’ hard to get, so she ain’t my girl yet, but she did agree to be my personal chef.”
Remedie giggled nervously as she reached her hand out to Joyce. “It’s nice to meet you.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too, baby. A personal chef, huh? You like cooking?” Joyce asked.
Remedie’s eyes lit up. “I love it. Always have.”
Joyce looked at Nico. “She’s pretty and passionate.” She patted his cheek. “Good job, honey.”
Nico beamed at his mama and pulled Remedie into his side. “I think so too.”
Remedie pulled away from him and playfully pushed him away. Before she could speak, Tyree laughed again from his seat at the center island.
“Ma, they just met last night. Don’t feed into that weirdo’s delusions.”
Remedie poked her head around Nico and said, “Thank you! I been tryin’ to tell him that.”
Joyce hit Nico on the arm. “Now you ain’t say all that. Nico, what you got goin’ on?”
“Just goin’ after what I want like you taught me.”
Joyce shook her head and fought to hold back her grin. “I don’t know what to do with you sometimes.”
