Page 65 of Kentrell

“Yup.”

He looked at me like I was the most dangerous thing he’d ever laid eyes on—and for once, it wasn’t about power.

It was about match.

“You somethin’ else, Zoe.”

My voice dropped as I turned my phone screen toward him.

Bright. Booked. Confirmed.

“And you’re already on the calendar.”

That shut him up real quick.

But he was still smiling when he stepped back.

And God help me?—

I was, too.

Hitting that confirmation button did something to me. Like I’d finally exhaled after holding my breath for weeks. Weeks ofpretending I wasn’t curious. Weeks of acting like that kiss hadn’t lit a fuse in me I couldn’t put out.

But this right here?

This was me owning it.

I walked back to my desk with a new kind of calm and bent down to pull open the bottom right drawer—the one I always kept my real purse in. The heavy one. I strode over to the golden coatrack stationed by the door, reached for my coat, and slipped it on.

“I’d love to join you for lunch,” I said, straightening up, chin high. “If you’re paying.”

He laughed again.Again.

That was twice.

And it lit meupinside.

“Aww, yo ass finna drain a nigga pockets, huh?” he said, shaking his head, teeth showing now in that lazy-ass smile.

I smirked, threw my bag over my shoulder, and shot back, “Oh, you gotta pay for this.”

I hit him with the JT delivery—chin tilt, full sass.

Hegrinned. Lowkey impressed.

He nodded. “Say less.”

We walked out of my office like it was nothing. Like half the floor hadn’t been trying to figure out what was going on between us. I didn’t care no more. I had a doctor’s appointment booked and a plan in motion.

Let ‘em watch.

By the time we made it to the lobby and stepped into that sharp autumn chill, I’d pulled my shades down and slipped back into the kind of poise I knew how to weaponize. His car was parked out front—sleek, black, tinted so dark it looked illegal. Of course it did. He opened the passenger side for me like a gentleman. Of course he did that too. Once we slid in and pulled off, I turned toward him slightly.

“So, Mr. Caldwell,” I started, still feeling myself. “Last night, I took some time to review your property lists and tenant histories. I've organized the information into four categories for your convenience. I want to ensure everything is in order before submitting any paperwork, so I prefer to wait for your final approval.”

He glanced over, smile still teasing the corner of his mouth. “We really doin’ this lawyer-client Q&A over lunch?”

“My only goal is to ensure my client's utmost satisfaction."

---