Page 85 of Rematch
Rashad chuckled as he walked up to us. He perched himself on the arm rest beside Benny. “If the time comes, you know we wouldn’t be happier,” he told me. “You and Audrey may have had your ups and downs, but you’ve always been good for each other. The two of you balance each other out.”
I nodded. “Yeah, she’s definitely the calm after my storms.”
“And you’re the cushion who catches her whenever she falls.” Rashad gave me a reassuring smile. “Don’t forget you’re important to her too.”
The click of Audrey’s heels on the surface upstairs beat me to a response.
We all rose from our seats as the clicking descended down the steps. After a few seconds, Audrey appeared on the stairwell, looking as if she were stepping down from heaven itself. fabric hugged every inch of skin from her chest down to her ankles, outlining every curve. The streaks of gold in her dress highlighted the golden undertones of her brown skin and made her amber eyes pop. Her curls were pulled up into a high ponytail. A few tendrils hung loose around her face, framing it like a portrait.
Her glossed lips pulled into a smile at the sight of me. “Hey,” she said.
“Hi,” I breathed, her beauty having knocked most of it out of me. The flowers in my hands didn’t feel like an adequate offering for a woman of her class and beauty.
Still, she accepted them with a bashful grin. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful,” the words slipped out before I could catch them.
Audrey’s cheeks darkened under the blush she was wearing.
“Where are you going with the bag?” Benny asked, pointing to the duffel bag I hadn’t realized was slung over her shoulder.
“I’m staying over Max’s tonight,” she replied. “So, you guys don’t have to wait up.”
Ignoring their surprised expressions, she rushed to kiss both their cheeks. As she passed, she grabbed my hand and hauled me out the door. “Love you! Bye!”
I chuckled as she towed me outside. “Why did you raise their blood pressure like that?”
“What?” She asked. “We’re grown - and we’re using protection. They don’t have anything to worry about.”
I raked my eyes over her outfit, lingering on her hips and ass. “With you looking like that, they might.”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes.
We climbed into the car and headed downtown. I was taking Audrey to one of the best steakhouses in the city. Nestled in the heart of Los Angeles and perched atop one of the five-star hotels in the area, it provided a perfect view of the city.
As we entered the restaurant, Audrey’s eyes curiously glanced around at the dining area, engulfed in a golden glow and filled with a variety of cushioned seating and tables topped with wine glasses and faux candles.
“Hello,” I greeted the hostess at the front podium. “Reservation for Guerra.”
Nodding, the hostess checked us off on her tablet, grabbed two menus and motioned for us to follow her. She led us to one of the tables beside one of the transparent walls overlooking the nearby skyscrapers and buildings.
I pulled out the U-Shaped cushioned chair for Audrey.
Her eyes were still wandering as she took a seat. “This is fancy,” she commented after I was seated across from her.
“You don’t like it?”
“No, I do. It’s just…” Her eyes finally finished roaming and returned to me. “Somehow it reminds me of our first date. Do you remember? You took me to the cute little Italian restaurant a few blocks from here.”
I raised a brow. “How? That place was nice, but it wasn’tthisnice.”
“Yeah, but you were trying to impress me all the same.”
“Hey, I’m just trying to give you the treatment you deserve. I know it wasn’t much back then, but now I have the means to give you everything you want and more.”
“Youwere always the only thing I wanted,” she replied, giving me a tender smile. “Nothing else really compares to that.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks, taking me by surprise.
