Page 35 of Kentrell

The shift in my tone cut through her playfulness. Her smile faltered, bottom lip caught between her teeth like she felt the weight behind my words.

I let the silence hold. Let it settle around us until it pressed against her just like I meant it to. I wasn’t trying to scare her—I was showing her where the line was. I could handle a lot. Attitude. Games. Even her front. But lies? That wasn’t a gray area for me.

Her voice was softer when it came. “And will you honor those same statutes when it comes to me?”

That hit different. Not because I didn’t expect it—but because she asked it without blinking.

“Ask me anything you want to know.” The words left before I could weigh ‘em, but I didn’t take ‘em back. Her smile spread like warmth across both of us, loosening up whatever tension had been there seconds ago.

“But after we eat,” I added, nodding toward the lunch still untouched between us.

“Right!” She laughed, eyes already locked on the iced coffee sweating inside the sleeve closest to her.

“Take it,” I said low, watching her glance up at me again.

She didn’t reach for it right away.

Maybe she wanted something else first.

“You sure?” she asked, already leaning toward the cup like she couldn’t wait.

“I got it for you,” I said, watching her bite her lip as she reached for it. She eased the straw between her lips, closed her eyes, and took that first slow sip like it was the best thing she'd tasted all week.

“Mmm.” That sound alone was enough to stir something low in me. Her eyes fluttered open and met mine. “Who told you I loved Café Vervé?” Her gaze dropped to the bag at my side, and I knew that was my cue.

“I took a wild guess,” I said, setting the bag on her desk and pulling out the salad.

Her honey-gold eyes lit up. “Yeah right. I don’t believe you,” she teased, taking the container with both hands like it was wrapped in gold. “Somebody had to tell you what I like.” She gave me a playful side-eye, suspicion wrapped in that sweet tone.

“There’s no way you’re this full of surprises.”

She flicked her hair behind her shoulder like she hadn’t just said something that made my chest tighten, and glided over to the lounge area—slow, on purpose. She knew I was watching. She liked it.

I smirked and turned back to the bag, grabbing my own food, but my eyes kept trailing after her. Every move she made was a problem I didn’t mind solving.

“I got another surprise,” I said, eyeing the way her eyes lit up, already curious. “But I’ma wait till we finish eating.”

She perked up, balancing a forkful of cheese, tomato, and basil before popping it in her mouth. I grabbed my container and made my way to the seating area, dropping into one of the accent chairs beside the loveseat. She sat close, her body language caught somewhere between poised and fidgety. I stayed quiet for a minute, chewing through the first half of my sandwich, but I could feel her energy shifting. She wasn’t eating—just stirring her salad around like it offended her.

“Eat yo food, Ma,” I said low, watching her glance down like she’d just realized it. “We gon’ be around each other a lot, so you might as well get used to it.”

“Why would we need to spend a lot of time around each other?” she asked, finally picking up her fork again. Still in lawyer mode. I let her have that.

“Got a few properties. Need some eviction notices drawn up,” I said, keeping it casual.

She raised a brow, shrugging like that was no big deal. “That can be done in a few days—just a matter of drafting paperwork and tenant history.” Her tone was clipped, but her posture shifted when she leaned forward to set her salad on the table. “Mr. Caldwell…”

She hesitated.

That caught my attention.

I looked at her. “What?”

“Did you mean what you said earlier?” Her voice was softer now.

“About what?” I finished the rest of my sandwich and started picking through the kettle chips, watching the war play out on her face. Whatever she was holding back, it was damn near breaking through. And I was ready for whatever came next.

“About lying to you,” she said, and just like that, my focus snapped into place. Her gaze locked onto mine like she was testing me. If this was her way of easing into something she thought might rattle me, she was about to learn the hard way—I didn’t rattle easy.

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