Page 9 of Lily In The Valley
“Just a friend checking in.”
She smiled, too wide, too bright. “Tell your friend you’re in good hands.”
I chuckled, pocketing my phone. “Is that right?”
Tasha ran a manicured hand down my arm, but I barely registered it. Kelly’s name still lit up my mind. My phone buzzed again in my pocket. I tapped my thumb on the edge of the bar as Tasha continued talking. About what, I couldn’t tell you. While she droned on, I slid my phone out of my pocket.
Lily-girl
I guess that’s a yes. I hope she’s cuter than the last girl.
Me
It could be you, but you playing around.
Seriously, get some rest. You been working your ass off.
Lily-girl
You can be halfway decent sometimes. Almost makes me think you could be my man.
The last text caught me off guard. Froze me right there at the bar. I bit my lip, struggling to keep the grin threatening toconsume my face at bay. Turning toward Tasha, I nodded at whatever she was saying, not entirely hearing her. She was still running off at the mouth when another woman approached her her sister, slightly shorter, same cocoa-butter skin, only her face had a little more edge to it.
“Tasha! I broke my damn heel. Damn these cheap-ass shoes.” She looked me over, smirking at her sister. “Who is this?”
“I’m-” I started to answer before Tasha cut me off.
“This is Khalil,” she said, resting her hand on my chest. “He’s been keeping me company while I waited for you.”
“Nice to meet you, Khalil. I’m Courtney.”
I nodded. “Y’all wanna join me and my homeboy? He’s over in that booth.”
Courtney’s eyes widened. “Is that Maverick Washington?”
“Yeah, we went to high school together.”
“You know Maverick Washington?” Courtney was stunned as she continued looking over at our booth.
Even I was shocked that she knew my friend. While he’d played in the NFL for a few years, he’d always kept a low profile. Lived under the radar, clocked into practice and games until he’d made enough to start his own tech firm, then retired. I’d consulted him several times when Zay and I were starting our company, used him to make connections and get investors.
“Who’s Maverick Washington?” Tasha asked, leaning into my side.
“Girl, I swear. You wouldn’t know a diamond from a moissanite,” her sister replied.
The sisters followed me. At the booth, football took center stage, and while Courtney dazzled Maverick with her knowledge of his stats, Tasha focused her energy on me.
I kept my responses brief, distracted by the itch crawling up my spine. Then, I smelled it.
Citrus, warm skin, and trouble.
Her voice floated above me like silk and smoke. “Look who we have here.”
My muscle tightened, and I knew without turning who it was.
Lily-girl.
I turned slowly, and there she stood, statuesque, stealing the air in the room with her presence. Her legs, thick and toned from the delicate heels gracing her feet, went on for days. Her body was wrapped in a sheer printed dress that stopped just beneath the curve of her ass, one so soft and round yet defied gravity. The nude bodysuit underneath lifted her breasts just right, the apex staring me right in the face. I looked away to meet Kelly’s gaze. Her eyes crackled like a blazing fire, daring me to react.
