Page 4 of Objection

“We can’t have that. I’m buying you dinner.”

“Oh.” She smiled again before shyly looking away. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I know, but I want to.”

Deciding not to take no for an answer, I led her toward the elevators and out to my car. With how stressful some of my days could be, I never drove to work. I had two chauffeurs who had a rotating schedule for my town car, Rolls Royce, and Bentley. Raquel must have been watching the door, because as soon as we stepped out of the exit into the parking garage, he opened the door.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to drive?” Serenity asked. “I don’t want to inconvenience you and you have to bring me back here to get my car.”

“Let me be a gentleman,” I commanded, lifting my hand to stop Raquel from opening the door for her.

With a sweet giggle, Serenity gracefully climbed inside the Rolls Royce. “Oh, please. We know you’re anything but,” she teased, making me laugh.

Instead of responding, I shot her a wink before closing the door and walking over to the other side. She, like a lot of people, probably heard of my family and my past—my reputation. While she didn’t know I’d been a part of the mafia, I was sure she’d heard rumors since she’d been in town . . . even if just around the office. I’d never deny that I was a gangsta . . . but I was a gentleman too.

Serenity

Icouldn’t stop smiling when we pulled up to my favorite barbecue joint in Rose Valley Hills. It reminded me of Green Street Smoked Meats in Chicago because of the layout, but it tasted like Memphis barbecue.Rico’s Ribshad a coffee shop in the underground first level, a bar and buffet with family style seating on the second level, and rooftop seating on the third. On the second level, there were TVs on the walls, low music playing, and a small arcade area that was hardly ever free.

When I heard Kaos laughing, I looked over at him. Though he’d told me to call him Kaos, especially afterhours, I couldn’t, so I called him by his last name. I was a firm believer in the power of words, and Kaos had always filled me with everything but chaos.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“The fact that I could have taken you literally anywhere, but I knew you wouldn’t be as excited as you would be to come here.”

“Hey, what can I say? Ain’t nothing better than a good plate of barbecue.”

Raquel opened the door for Kaos, then he came to open mine. I put my hand in his and stepped out of the car, ignoring how good the warmth radiating from his large hand felt against mine. Ignoring the way his eyes traveled my frame, I adjusted my dress and waited for Kaos to close the door so we could go inside.

While he ordered our drinks at the bar, I took a moment to acknowledge how good he looked today. The blue suit looked delectable against his cinnamon brown skin. He was tall and wide with a muscular build. There were tattoos on his chest, arms, and hands. He had dark, shiny eyes, naturally arched brows, and skin colored, juicy lips that looked like the softest pillows. His beard was black and thick, and so was his tapered fade, but it had a few streaks a gray in the front that added age and wisdom to the forty year old who looked as young as thirty-five.

When he turned to face me, I quickly shifted my gaze, though his smile made it clear he caught me looking.

“Where would you like to sit, Serenity?”

Looking around the room, I decided on the long table in the back that was empty. He led the way and set our drinks down before confirming what I wanted. When he left to get our food, I checked my notifications. The calls and text messages from my ex made me block him. I hadn’t planned to, but I didn’t like how it felt to see that he’d reached out to me. It felt invasive. He chose to downplay my place in his life and not give me the priority and attention I deserved. Since he didn’t value my place in his life, I left. I don’t think Mario expected me to actually break up with him, so he was shocked when I did. Now, he was calling and texting and applying the pressure he should have had to keep me instead of using it to try and get me back.

Shortly after, Kaos returned with two trays of food. I offered to help him grab our sauces, but he declined. I figured witheverything I did to help him around the office, he liked to return the favor on the rare occasions where we went out after work. Or, he was naturally the kind of man who took care of everything. I’d gotten into the habit of serving most men as long as they returned the gesture, but I hardly ever had the chance with Kaos unless we were at work. That’s why I loved doing anything I could to make his days easier—even if it was something as simple as making sure his coffee and breakfast pastry or sandwich were available as soon as he walked through the door.

When we first started eating, there was no conversation between us. Not only was I hungry because I hadn’t eaten since breakfast, but I was also deep in my thoughts. Though I didn’t regret breaking up with Mario, I was disappointed that I had to start dating all over again. When I was in a committed relationship, I cut the rest of the men I was talking to off, and I hated having to start all over again.

When I spooned a bite of elote corn into my mouth, I moaned and danced in my seat. The gesture led to Kaos breaking the silence.

“Good?”

“The best. Far better than what I had back home.”

“Let me taste,” he requested, already shoving his spoon into my corn. I didn’t mind sharing with him, especially since he’d paid for it. “Mm, thatisgood.”

“Told you.”

“When was the last time you went home? You’ve been working for me for what… two years now? I don’t think I’ve ever heard you mention going back.”

I wiped my mouth and released a shaky breath. “It’s been a while,” I confessed. “I went back maybe three times when I first moved here before I stopped going.”

“Why?”

Shrugging, I lifted my strawberry lemon drop, though I knew the exact reason I’d stopped going to Jasper Lane. “Never really felt good,” I confessed.

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