Page 13 of The Smoke Hour

“And I told you the price,” he stated and crossed his arms over his chest.

“I have a fiancé. I don’t know what you’re trying to do, but it’s not going to work.”

“Fine,” he replied and walked away from me.

I stood there for several seconds in disbelief before I ran after him.

“Wait!”

He turned around inside his office and beckoned me to step inside.

I did.

“Why do I have to play poker to get my shoes back?”

“Because it’ll be fun,” he stated as he sat down behind his desk and opened a humidor.

“For who?”

“Definitely me. I can make it fun for you, if you’re open.”

There was something about the way he said “open” that had me growing moist. And from the fire in his eyes, he knew it.

“How can you make a card game fun for me?”

“Strip poker.”

I laughed. “You’re fucking unbelievable.”

“Oh, sweets, you can believe that I’m dead ass. I named my price. It’s up to you to accept or not. But I’ve got shit to do. So, if you’ll excuse me.”

“I’m not leaving here without my shoes.”

“Oh, you can leave, one way or the other. Your little fiery ass can get carried out or dragged out. It all depends on your preference as to who I will call.”

“Why can’t I have my shoes?”

“You can. I named the price. Now, I have a business call I have to hop on. If you would please close the door on your way out,” he stated dismissively.

“Kaifiya?” He called with the phone to his ear after I turned to walk away.

“If you’re truly interested, meet me here tonight at seven. I’ll leave word at the front door for you to meet me back here.”

“Fuck you.”

“I’m working on that, sweets.”

I slammed the door behind me and took my thundercloud back down the street with me.

Fiya

“What do you mean you can’t have dinner with me tonight? That wasn’t part of our agreement, Kaifiya.”

“I understand, Terry. But it can’t be helped.”

“What’s more important than your promise to me?” Terry demanded.

I looked up at the man pacing in front of me with his hands clasped behind his back. I respected Terry as a businessman and as a friend but not as a husband or a lover. Hell, I might even grow to respect him as a husband in due time, but I would never find him attractive.

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