Page 25 of Cherry's Jubilee

“Really? She just randomly volunteered this information to you?” I open my mouth to tell her what happened, but she steps back and shakes her head. “I can’t do this,” she says. “I can’t be in a relationship and have Ashley in the background lurking and getting in your ear about stuff. I don’t want anything to do with her, and being in a relationship with her boss is not something I’m prepared to deal with.”

My head rolls back as if she slapped me. I walk toward her, and she backs away until she bumps into the back of her couch.

“What the hell does that mean? You want to break up with me over Ashley?” I ask, incredulous.

She shakes her head and looks away without answering. I grab her chin and force her to look at me.

“It’s not about Ashley. I’d never let her dictate what I do. This is about me not wanting to mesh our lives anymore. Now, she’s spreading lies about me to you, and I know that won’t be the end of it. Things will escalate until I punch her in the face.” She stops and takes a deep breath. “This is new, and we can just say goodbye.”

“Except, I don’t want to say goodbye.” I take another step and stop an inch from touching her. “Do you think I believed any of that stuff Ashley said? Even if it was true, do you think I’d care?” I stroke her cheek. “I like you. I like this.” I take another step and take her in my arms. I exhale when she wraps her arms around me. After holding her against me, I pull away and cup her cheeks. When she looks up at me, I gently kiss her lips. “I didn’t mean to upset you, but I want to tell you how the conversation went. Let’s sit.”

Chapter 16

Cherry

With each word that comes out of Daniel’s mouth, I can feel pounding in my head and blood coursing through my veins. I put my hands to my cheeks to calm myself.

“Our grandfather left this to me and Solange, and her mother wanted to sue us for it,” I hiss when Daniel stops talking. “This has caused so much drama, and now, Ashley wants to drag…”I take a deep breath and tell Daniel how my mom wanted us to give Ashley and Amira the building.

“I’m sorry,” he says. He pulls me to him, and I rest my head on his chest.

“I don’t know why they hate us so much, especially Karen. I’m over it and want nothing more to do with those people.”

“I get it, and Ashley is an employee. That’s it. We’re not friends. I was only at the party because my dad asked me to go on his behalf, but I’m glad he did because I got to meet you.”

“I’m glad too,” I admit.

“They’re jealous of you,” he says. “It’s so obvious. You’re beautiful and sweet.” I look up and smile at him. “And that smile,” he says. “I was a goner the first time I saw it. And you’re brilliant.”

“And your company wasn’t smart enough to realize it,” I remind him.

Instead of answering me, he takes me in a deep kiss. It soon turns passionate, and I straddle him on the couch. He lifts me and carries me to the bedroom, where we fall on the bed.

My eyes pop open to the sound of his grunting. He’s not in the bed with me, so I roll over to his side and look down. He’s shirtless and doing pushups in nothing but a pair of boxers.

We’ve spent every night together this week. He’ll drop me off at home or at my job in the mornings and come to my apartment after work. I’ll make dinner or we’ll go out. One night, Solange and Kirby invited us over, and we had dinner with them.

Today is Friday, and the weather forecast says it will rain all day. Even now, thunder nearly makes me jump. I lean over the bed and watch him as he works out. His back is like a wall of muscle, and I run my hand down his sweaty skin.

I squeeze between my legs and revel in the delicious soreness. I want him again, but my stomach lets out a loud growl. I groan and slide off the bed. It’s a California King made with mahogany wood. It’s elevated, and I nearly trip when I get off.

“I need caffeine,” I groan on my way to the bathroom.

“Me too. Make me a latte,” he yells behind me.

I grab a pillow from the floor and throw it at him. It hits him in the middle of his back, but he doesn’t flinch as he continues his pushups.

I plate our breakfast. Today, I decided on Mexican omelets with extra chorizo and jalapenos. Once they’re plated, he takes them to the table,and I make us another latte. When I attempt to sit next to him, he grabs me, and I end up on his lap. He wraps his arms around me before he plants loud, wet kisses on my cheek.

“Thank you,” he says. “This looks good. You’re an amazing cook.”

“I’m good at everything,” I say to him. “Unlike someone I know.” He chuckles as he picks up his fork.

“I thought I could cook,” he says in his defense. “I can’t. Get over it.” He kisses my cheek again.

“I just don’t understand how you can forget that you can’t cook.”

“Whatever,” is all he says.

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