Page 35 of A Trial of the Heart
“You’ve reached Shiloh Monroe with Crowley and Associates. I am unavailable at the moment. However, if you leave a brief message with your name and telephone number, I will get back to you at my earliest convenience.” Her sultry voice sounded like a perfect melody over a dope beat.There was a slight pause before a quick beep sounded in my ear.
“Yo, Shiloh, It’s Rashad.” I chuckled, though nothing was funny. “I take your absence means you stood me up. I get you didn’t want to meet me, but after agreeing, I was hoping you’d keep your word. Since you didn’t, a heads up would have been nice as I could have avoided wasting my time tonight. You not showing up is loud, though, so I get it. You got it, and I’ll give you your space,” I rambled. My message was done, yet I continued holding the phone. It felt like once I hung up, I knew whatever I did or didn’t have with her would be done. Finally, I brought the phone down from my ear, hanging up. It was done.
Looking up, my eyes met the server, and I signaled her my way.
“Ready to order, sir?” she stepped to my table with a smile, her pen and notepad already out.
“Actually, can I just get the check for this?” I pointed to the drink.
She smiled. “Leaving already? Sure I can’t tempt you with one of our mouthwatering appetizers?”
I chuckled. “No, thank you.”
I hated I couldn’t eat the food. After I surveyed the menu, I had already settled on what I’d order.
“Maybe next time.” She continued smiling. “I’ll be right back with the check, sir.” Her tone was bubbly, and her walk was just as chipper.
“You tired of waiting?” I heard the sweet, low voice.
I turned slightly, looking over my shoulder. I glanced up at Shiloh and almost had the same reaction to her as the memory I’d just had. Shiloh wore a deep green, off the shoulder, thigh-length dress that hugged her frame. Open-toed heels covered her feet, and her hair was bone straight, hanging freely down her back. Though no makeup covered her face, she looked like a model ready for the runway. She was beautiful beyond words, and she knew it. I knew this would be my last night with her, so I would make the best of it and ensure I kept the moment in my photographic memory.
Guess I wasn’t leaving after all.
Chapter
Seventeen
Shiloh:
“Girl, stop playing with that man and go sit with him. You’re the one that agreed to the date. Don’t be childish now.” LeeAnn raised her voice while we sat on FaceTime.
Thankfully, I had the volume turned down so no one could hear her. I had been sitting incognito off to the side in the restaurant at the designated time. I watched Rashad casually walk in, get the table, and go from excited to annoyed then worried before a look of defeat took completely over. I had waited almost an hour. He wanted to play, so I played my own game of making him wait and seeing how long it would take before he gave up. LeeAnn had encouraged me the entire time to stop playing the game, but as old as I was, I kind of enjoyed watching him.
I giggled. “I shouldn’t even be here.”
It seemed all fun, but the truth was had anybody saw us together, it would be extremely bad for me, detrimental to my job and whole career.
“Yeah? Well, you are, and you had that man drive damn near two hours from Williamsburg. I can guarantee my right pinky toe no one will see y’all together.”
This was a dangerous game I was playing, but I knew not taking Rashad up on his offer could potentially be worse for me. Not that I got the vibe from him, but he could mention the cruise and ruin everything.
“I will call you back when it’s over.”
“Tuh, I’m hoping… nah… praying that man has you bent over some balcony or bathroom sink by the end of the night, and you don’t even have the strength to call me back.”
“Oh, girl.” I rolled my eyes.
I had told LeeAnn everything I knew about Rashad, and she was still so focused on how he was before the case that she could care less what the man had done.
“I’m gone. I love you.”
“I love you more. Mwah.” The call disconnected.
Standing, I tucked my phone in my clutch bag, adjusted my dress, smoothed over my glossed lips, and fluffed out my curls in my sew in before heading Rashad’s way.
“You tired of waiting?” I asked softly once I reached him.
Rashad’s eyes raised slowly, seeming to start from my four-inch heels and up my bare, waxed legs, stopping at my hips, which caused him to lick his lips. He stopped at my breasts where he damn near drooled before his eyes met mine.
