Page 19 of Do Me
Braxton retrieved the ball and hit a shot from the opposite corner. “Her name is Londyn and they’re going well. We’re having dinner at my place tonight.”
Axel snatched the ball down from the rim after Cole’s missed shot. “First, I thought you said last night that you were picking her up at three. Isn’t that a little early for dinner? And second, you’re taking a woman to your house. Are you good with that?”
“We’re cooking first, and, yes.”
“Bro, you remember what happened the last time you took a woman to your house,” Cole said, shaking his head.
He remembered with exceptional clarity. He and Taryn had been dating for close to three months when he made the mistake of inviting her over for dinner and a movie. He should have known the woman was all about his material wealth and how she could tap into it by all the questions she kept asking about where he lived. The moment she stepped across the threshold, she started talking about parties, engagements, and babies. She’d told him he had the perfect place for a family and that, with her being thirty-two, she wanted to have at least two children, so they needed to get started. The only thing he started was the engine in his car when he took her home. That had happened three years ago and, since then, other than family, no other woman had entered his private space. “Londyn is nothing like Taryn.”
Axel shot him a look of disbelief. “How do you know? You just met the woman.”
“I just know. Is that the approach you’re taking with Naphressa?”
“Our situation is different.” He tossed the ball to Braxton.
“All I know is she makes me feel something more than I ever have and I like being with her. Cole, what about you and Malaya?”
“I’d love to invite her over, but…” Cole let the sentence hang. Both Braxton and Axel knew how Cole felt about Malaya. “It’s pretty interesting that we’re all starting new relationships.”
“And when Dani finds out, she’s going to take credit,” Braxton cracked.
“No doubt.”
The three men laughed, finished the game and parted ways in the parking lot.
Braxton went home, showered, then left to pick up Londyn. This time, he went up to her unit.
“Hi. Come on in,” Londyn said after opening the door. “You have to be the most punctual person I’ve ever met. Are you ever late to anything?”
He brushed a kiss over her lips and smiled. “I try not to be late, if I can help it.”
“I need help carrying everything.”
He stopped short upon seeing two large totes and a cooler filled with ice. “Exactly what are you making that requires all of this? You didn’t need to go through all this trouble for a dessert. More of those brownies would’ve been enough.”
“You’ll see. Let’s go. I’m anxious to get this party started.”
Her comment caused Braxton, for a brief moment, to wonder whether it might indeed be too soon for an invite, but he dismissed the notion as quickly as it entered his mind. He helped her into her jacket, then picked up the cooler and one of the totes.
“I’ve been waiting all week to find out what we’re having for dinner.” She grabbed the remaining tote and slung her purse over her shoulder. Facing him, she said, “I just want you to know how much I like spending time with you.”
She came up on tiptoe and kissed him and he lost a piece of his heart.
Chapter 6
“When you said you had a couple more bedrooms than mine, I was expecting a…a bachelor pad of some sorts, not all this.” Londyn waved her hand around as they stood in the hallway on the second floor. His two-story townhouse had been elegantly decorated in varying shades of gray with black accents. Even though it had a masculine look, it still had a warm, homey feel. The four-bedroom, four-bath home had spacious living and family rooms, master bedroom with sitting area, home gym and a mudroom entrance with plenty of shelving and shoe cubbies. Each of the secondary bedrooms had en-suite bathrooms. “It’s beautiful and amazing.” She had wondered how, at almost forty, had he kept in such good shape. The fully equipped home gym had answered her question.
“Thanks.”
Braxton took her hand and led her back downstairs to the state-of-the-art kitchen. She wandered over to the window. The back deck and private yard would be the perfect place to unwind when the weather warmed. She could fit three of her thousand square-foot condos in the house and still have square footage left over. It seemed too big for one person. “Have you ever been married?”
Braxton glanced around the open refrigerator. “No.”
“Kids?”
“No,” he said with a laugh. “If I had any children, I would’ve told you about them upfront.” He placed several plates on one of three long counters. “What makes you think I’ve been married or have kids?”
“This place has enough space for a family of six without being crowded.”
