Page 24 of Rekindled

I ran my palm down the length of my beard. "Definitely could be."

I turned my attention to the bar in time to see Maven approach and grab a seat there. She looked great that night, dressed in a sexy sequined black jumpsuit with a deep V-neck. I almost broke my neck checking her out when she walked past me at the cabin as she exited the house to hop in the Range Rover. The outfit molded to her body like a perfectly tailored suit, highlighting every single curve the creator blessed her with. I'd always dug her style. That was something she and I had in common - an appreciation for fashion and in looking good. Maven took great care of herself, mindful of what made her more appealing and how to play up her look with the simplest additions.

That night she was a showstopper, turning heads by just sitting there at the bar. So much so, a gentleman who caught a view of her the moment she took a seat finally found the courage to leave his section and to approach.

I tilted my head to one side, watching as he pulled out the seat three spaces from her and lingered. He exchanged words with one bartender, then sneaked a peek at Maven. Even from my view on the lounge chair feet away, I could see him doing his best to find the words to speak with her. She had that kind of effect on men.

I spotted Journee from the corner of my eye, approaching Zyair and I.

I frowned.

At least if Journee was sitting beside Maven, it would have given the guy less incentive to strike up a conversation with my girl.

Did I just refer to her as my girl?

"Hey y'all," Journee greeted, before sitting next to her husband. "What y'all over here discussing?"

"Nothing much," Zyair replied, turning to face his wife and wrapping his arm around her waist. "Only how I'm the luckiest man in this room."

Journee blushed. "Oh, only in this room?"

"This planet. This galaxy." Zyair leaned in close to Journee and nuzzled his lips on her neck.

She giggled like a school girl, then bit down on her bottom lip when she and her husband made eye contact.

"Y'all are so annoying," I mumbled to myself while fighting back my smile. I hated to admit it, but these two were definitely goals.

"Oh, don't hate," Journee teased, wrapping her arm around the back of Zyair's neck and pulling him into a kiss.

I turned away and refocused on the bar to see the guy had changed seats once again and was now on the barstool right beside Maven. He'd finally found the courage to say something to her too because now they were talking. If it were possible to burn a hole through the side of this guy's face with only a look, I would have achieved that from my seat.

Please tell me you will not give this fool any play.

"So what you gonna do?" Zyair asked, interrupting my thoughts. "Watch another guy scoop Maven or will you go and get your woman?"

I glanced his way to see both he and Journee staring at me. Twisting my lips from left to right, I considered what I really wanted. The last thing I'd want was to lead Maven on as she so boldly accused me of doing at the market.

But that kiss in the cabin's guest bedroom reminded me of a life I loved living every day. A time in my existence where I genuinely enjoyed the company of a woman I was not only attracted to but who set off fires in me, I had no interest in putting out.

I cleared my throat and stood to my feet.

"I'll be right back," I told the both of them right before I walked off, my destination - the bar.

"Yes, that's what I'm talkin bout!" Zyair shouted behind me while applauding.

∞∞∞

"Your eyes are so beautiful."

I tried my hardest not to roll the eyes this guy thought wereso beautiful,but I couldn't help it. I'd only been sitting at the bar for all of two minutes, if that much, before he approached.

I forced a smile and turned my chin to my shoulder to glance his way. "I appreciate it."

"As you should."

I shut my lids and held them tightly together to keep from rolling my eyes.

His scent arrived to me before he did. A cheap cologne that stung my nostrils when I inhaled the surrounding air. It made me wrinkle my nose.

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