Page 9 of To Love and Protect
“Aight. Don’t be surprised when I don’t respond to you since you don’t want to follow directions.”
“Anyway.” She stretched out the word in a playful manner. “I could make better waffles than this.”
“Ain’t no way.”
She whipped her head around. “That’s what you think?”
“That’s what I know. Waffle House is a classic. Ain’t no beating it.” He took another bite and chewed slowly. He’d missed all his favorite junk foods over the past month.
“Okay, keep telling yourself that,” she muttered.
He smirked. He’d struck a nerve. She was cute as hell when she was irritated. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been so interested in a woman’s words and not her body. Don’t get it twisted. He was still very much interested in Remedie’s body, but he genuinely enjoyed their conversation, even if she got irritated easily. He felt like he could easily irritate her and then bring her out of it, and he decided that would be his favorite new activity.
“You act like you a chef or something.” He pulled into his driveway next to his luxury coupe before he turned off the car and looked at her. He could tell she hadn’t even noticed her surroundings because she didn’t look impressed. Instead, her eyes grilled into him.
“I am, actually. I used to work at the top soul food restaurant in Ellwood. I graduated top of my class. If anyone knows food, it’s me.”
She said it with her chest poked out. He didn’t even feel compelled to look at her juicy titties. His eyes stayed on her pretty, light brown ones as they widened in shock.
“You for real? You can really throw down like that?”
It was her turn to smirk. “Yeah.”
“Interesting.” He stroked his short beard. “You say you used to work at a soul food place? Where you work now?”
Her prideful look slipped, and she made eyes contact with the to-go container in her lap. “I’m in between jobs right now. Been selling plates to keep afloat.”
Even in the dark, he could see her cheeks tint red. He could tell she didn’t really mean to share that. It just slipped out. She had no idea how much her vulnerability turned him on. Whenit came to him, women tended to keep things surface level. They thought a pretty face and pussy would move him. It would get him to fuck them, but he never understood the need for a relationship if that was all women came with.
Instead of making her feel uncomfortable, he decided to drop the playful act and offer her some comfort. “Ain’t no shame in hustlin’. At least you have a talent that allows you to make ends while you’re down.”
She looked into his eyes, and he saw a woman that carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. That tugged at his heart. His mama had the same look during his whole childhood. He never liked it back then either.
“Thanks,” she muttered, and then she laughed like nothing in the world was even funny. “I can’t believe I’m even here right now just to hide from my ex. This shit is wild.”
“What’s the deal with him anyway?”
She shifted her gaze again. “I broke up with him a few days ago after he got physical with me. He didn’t hit me or nothing like that, but that was the first time I thought he might. Not to mention he’s the reason I lost my job. I just want him to leave me alone.”
Nico’s jaw clenched and unclenched as he listened to her speak. Weak ass men who intimidated women would never have his respect. It made him wish he’d laid his ass out earlier. He expelled a long breath before placing a smile on his face.
“Unfortunately for you, this isn’t a one-night stand, anyway.”
Her face scrunched up. “I could have told you that, but why is it unfortunate?”
Nico glanced down at his lap, playfully looking at the print in his shorts, before he looked back at her. He wiggled his eyebrows. “You’re seriously missing out, baby.”
She tilted her head back and laughed before pushing his arm, which didn’t move an inch. “You are ridiculous.”
He chuckled. He liked seeing her laugh. “This is an interview though.”
Her gaze turned serious. “An interview?”
He nodded. “You gon’ cook for me tomorrow. And to make it fun, we gon’ make it Chopped style. You have to use whatever I have in my kitchen, which really ain’t much, and convince me that you’re worthy of being my personal chef.”
Her brows rose, but he saw a hint of a smile on her lips. “Is that right?”
“Yup. I been meaning to hire a personal chef. How convenient is it that one fell into my lap.” He glanced down at his lap again. “I wish I meant that literally.”
