Page 56 of Daring to Love You
Dorian snorted. “I don’t do catty.”
“Maybe not before you started dating Lynix, but now? Get your cattiness on, girl. I wouldn’t be surprised if some of his exes or women who want to date him are there tonight. I’ll tell you like I told you at the hotel the other week, channel me and yo mama, and you’ll do fine.”
Dorian laughed and shook her head. She wasn’t sure what to expect of the evening, but she hoped it didn’t come to that. Cree and their mother weren’t to be played with. You step to them wrong, and they’ll give you a tongue lashing to beat all tonguelashes. Especially Cree. Virginia was the same, except she could curse you out without using a curse word.
“Got it,” Dorian said and saluted her sister.
“Okay, now, chin up and shoulders back. You might as well start acting like the sexy woman you are,” Cree said and strolled out the bedroom as if she owned the whole world.
Dorian grinned. “Man, when I grow up, I want to be just like her,” she mumbled.
Lynix was laughing at something Mrs. Priestly said when Cree came into view. The apartment wasn’t huge—two bedrooms, two bathrooms—but it was bright and cheery just like Dorian.
“Cree,” he said in greeting as she strolled into the living room, which was a part of an open floor plan.
Instead of saying hi or hello or what’s up, she pointed a hot pink, manicured nail at him and narrowed her eyes. He grinned, unable to help himself.
“Don’t forget what I told you that day at Moody Days. I’m watching you,” she said and turned to her mother. “Grab your stuff, Mom. We’re out of here.”
Lynix didn’t hear anything else they said because the magnificent vision in white, standing in the hallway, stole his breath.
Hot damn. Talk about a transformation. Dorian was pretty enough to grab a man’s attention on any given day. But tonight? The way she was looking in that white evening gown, she could bring a grown man to his knees.
The day of her shopping spree, she had called to thank him. She also told him that if she spent too much to let her know, and she’d pay him back. Lynix had laughed at the absurdity ofthe conversation. The woman clearly didn’t understand he’d do anything for her, and he didn’t give a damn what the cost of the clothes added up to. If her other outfits were anything like this one, it was money well spent.
“Wow,” was all he could seem to get out of his mouth, and when she smiled at him, Lynix reflexively grabbed his chest. “You are absolutely the most beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on,” he said, meaning every word as he walked toward her.
He handed her the single white rose that he’d been holding, then slid his arm around her and pulled her against his chest.
“Hi,” he whispered.
Her smile grew even brighter if that were possible. “Hi, yourself, handsome.”
And then he kissed her. He didn’t care if they had an audience, and he sure as hell wasn’t trying to play up a role for her mother. All he could think about was how he’d been waiting all day to get a taste of this incredible woman.
“Okay, you two. We’re leaving now,” Mrs. Priestly said loud enough for people down the street to hear her. But Lynix was half listening, unable to pull his mouth from Dorian’s. “And Dee, remember your home training. Don’t be out in these streets acting like you…”
“Oh, for the love of God, Mom! Would you stop? Leave her alone and let’s go,” Cree grumbled.
Lynix and Dorian pulled apart and laughed before hearing the door slam shut.
“Your mother is a trip,” he said.
Dorian shook her head as she wiped lipstick from his lip with the pad of her thumb.
“You don’t know the half of it. I’m afraid to admit it, but she probably would’ve purchased a ticket to the event if I’d told her about it sooner. All so she could be my chaperone.”
Lynix smiled, and as if they had magnets on their lips, he was drawn back to Dorian’s mouth and kissed her again. Her sweet lips were becoming addictive, but he guessed there were worse addictions to have.
When he’d gotten his fill, he lifted his head and looked at his beautiful woman. “Are you ready for this?” he asked.
Though he wanted the world to know she was his, he was a little concerned about taking her around some of the people who’d be in attendance. For the most part, guests would be on their best behavior, but he wasn’t looking forward to introducing her to his father.
“Yes, I’m ready, and I promise not to embarrass you.”
Lynix cupped her cheeks and stared into her gorgeous eyes. “Sweetheart, you could never embarrass me. If anything, you’re going to be the highlight of this event and of my night. All right? Now, let’s do this.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
