Page 6

H arlem

I spent a good amount of time with the puppies, making sure their quarters were clean and that their mama was well taken care of. A large percentage of breeding was making sure the mama was healthy throughout the entire process rather than just focusing on the puppies. If the mama was happy and healthy, so were the puppies. I was spending most of my time today at the shop since I really needed to get some new products out this week and next.

I was doing fine and breaking down bags when I heard the door of my shop open. When I looked up, I was faced with a set of eyes similar to my own. My father, well my biological one, if that’s what they even called them these days. He and I didn’t have the best relationship, because one, I felt like he never wanted any good for me, and two, nothing was ever about anyone else. The only time he came around was when he needed something. Some days that was work for my brother and others to see how much money he could con me out of. I said con because he had long since stopped using words like borrow or lend. He was bolder, like he knew I had it. I always wondered what type of man thought that was okay, but I was quickly reminded that my father wasn’t a man at all, but instead a boy in a man’s body. I mean seriously, what man allowed the child he fathered to be raised and cared for by a man other than himself? Shit, in my eyes, my stepfather was my father and he died three years ago.

“Damn, you can’t greet your daddy, girl?”

My eyes found the ceiling before I was on my feet moving in his direction. “Hey.” I dreaded the thought of calling this man daddy.

“You got somewhere in private we can talk?”

I looked him over before nodding. “Y’all watch the front. I’m going to the back right quick.” There were two associates on the floor so I wasn’t worried. With the small puppy I had decided I was keeping in my arms, I led the way for Joseph to the back. When we entered my office, he immediately glanced down to the pen where the puppies and two mamas lay. Tilly was still pregnant and due at any moment while Tato was the mama of my current litter.

“Those dogs make you a lot of money, huh?” he asked, peering down at them and making me uncomfortable doing so.

“What’s up? What made you stop by?”

“I can’t stop by and see my daughter now?”

My hands found my hips and my eyes found his face. Stopping by to just see me was highly unlikely and we both knew it.

“Your brother called me. Told me you haven’t returned any of his calls. You know he needs the mo?—”

“Let me stop you right here. One, Hari is grown, and two, maybe you ought to put him to work at your shop.”

Of course he shook his head. “He needs a job, Harlem. Some stability before he’s back in jail again.”

“Then give him that because his stability is not mine to find. I had one rule, and he broke that. So, again, I cannot help him.”

“They were just pictures, Harlem!” His voice elevated like he didn’t understand why I was pissed off.

“Yeah, pictures I asked to not be taken. Pictures that could have put not only my livelihood, but also my dogs, in jeopardy. It’s like neither one of you get that.”

The look he gave me was hateful, like saying he didn’t get it was some sort of insult. Maybe it was. Either way I wished he felt offended enough to leave, but he didn’t. He was still standing in my office looking at me like his look would intimidate me into changing my mind.

“I need… uh, something else.”

I knew that statement was coming. “And that is? I don’t have any mon?—”

“I need twenty-five hundred dollars. Few of the barbers are behind in the booth rent, which is putting me behind on the rent.”

“I don’t have it,” I replied simply. The last time Joseph showed up here he got four hundred dollars out of me and the time before that six. I didn’t know why I gave it to him, but I did. I never thought I’d get it back, which I didn’t, but I guess I gave it to him to get him out of my face. This time though, I couldn’t, plus OA had already gotten in my ass about being useful to Joseph and Hari. Maybe not useful, but I had to stop paying to get out of my face and actually just have some damn boundaries.

“What do you mean you don’t have it? You must have some?—”

“I don’t have it. You haven’t even paid me back for the last time you came here in need.”

“I gave you life. You’re my damned daughter and without me you wouldn’t be here.” Anger was all over his face, letting me know his mouth was about to go there. I had to remind myself that I couldn’t go toe to toe with Joseph here because this was my place of business.

“I don’t have it, Joseph. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work if there isn’t anything else.”

“There is something else. I need that money.”

“And I don’t know what to tell you.” I walked over and opened my office door for him to exit. The man was literally building up to ask me for a kidney or my first born at some point. I could feel it.

“Fine, I’ll take a thousand.” He stopped in front of me.

I shook my head. “And I don’t have that to just give away to you either. If your business is in trouble, maybe you should go down to the bank and take out a loan.”

“Fuck the bank. You got it, you just don’t want to give it to your old man.” He started down the small hall toward the front with me behind him. “And fuck you too.” His anger seeped from his lips as soon as we made it to the sales floor.

I didn’t respond. I just looked at him, holding my own anger at bay. While he had nothing here to lose, I had everything. My shop was in a decent neighborhood and I actually had clients in the store. This was how I knew Joseph was no grown ass man. He was seconds from throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of my shop.

His voice grew louder when he began to speak. “You always thought you were better than us…” he started, but his sentence trailed off when a tattooed hand found his shoulder. Only when he turned his lean body to the side I was able to see the face of the man. The face of a man I had been talking to on the phone for weeks but hadn’t physically seen since the night he fixed my car and kissed me. What the hell was he doing here?

“Who the fu—” The rest of the question was caught up in his throat as he turned around and saw who had grabbed his shoulder. Apparently he was familiar with him… had to be.

“Uh, yeah. Fine. What are you doing out this way, Kinga?”

“Don’t be questioning me like you know me, old motherfucker. Get your ass up outta here before you see the inside of a trunk.”

Joseph jumped, straightening his posture before he booked it out of the front door much faster than he came in. He left so fast I just knew he left the bottom of his shoes.

“Do I even wanna know why that ol’ country, broke pimp was doing in here?” Kinga asked, now standing right in front of me.

“Nah you don’t, but if you must know, that’s my mama’s baby daddy. The only thing that would stop her from getting into heaven in my eyes.”

Kinga chuckled. “That’s cold as fuck. So, that’s your father.”

“Nothing near, but that’s what he likes to call himself.”

He nodded.

“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I couldn’t help how widely I smiled up at him.

“Figured I’d bring my niece to finally see the dog you’re supposed to be selling me,” he responded, looking down at the pup in my arms. “Aja, where are you, shorty?”

“Coming, Uncle.” I then heard little feet moving in our direction before a cute little girl stood in front of me, chocolate with a head full of beautiful curly hair.

Once I greeted the cutie who nearly begged me to hold the puppy in my arms, I took her and her uncle to my office. I was pretty sure she’d enjoy seeing all the others as well. Nope, I still wasn’t looking to sell Bleu, the little pup I had now named and became more attached to day by day.

“You still ain’t tryna let him go, are you?” Kinga’s voice interrupted my thoughts as I watched the puppies play and love on his niece. On the phone one night we’d briefly discussed the fact that I didn’t want to let this one go.

“And I’m not. His name is Bleu.” I leaned back on my desk as he stood near the door.

Laughter escaped his lips. “And what if that’s the one I wanted?”

“You would be shit out of luck.”

He laughed. “You got plans tonight?”

“None. Baby girl is due any day, so I kinda gotta play it close to the house. What did you have in mind?” I turned and put the puppy I had become obsessed with in the enclosure with his siblings and Aja.

“Dinner. Me and you after I drop shorty off with my brother.”

My eyes left him momentarily and landed on the little girl. She was having the time of her life in the enclosure with the dogs.

“Nothing out. I’m cooking tonight, you can come over for dinner. That is, if you want to.”

His lip was tucked between his teeth as he nodded.

“So that’s a yes or no?” I asked in a somewhat teasing manner to hide the fact that I had shocked the shit out of myself inviting this man over to my home. Not that I didn’t trust him, but shit, I didn’t trust me.

He laughed. “Yeah, but since you’re overthinking shit I’m only coming over to eat, shorty.”

I giggled…shit, I had to under his gaze. “I don’t believe I invited you to do anything else.”

“Not with your words you didn’t, but nah Harlem, you don’t want these problems. I’m hood as fuck and I complicate shit.” He glanced around my office, checking on his niece before those eyes found their way back on me.

The tension between us grew with each passing second, me standing a few feet from him and him leaned back against my desk giving me that look.

“Like how?” I found myself asking.

He spoke only loud enough for me to hear. “Like the fact that I liked the feel of your lips against mine. Been craving them since that night. You gonna let me kiss you?”

“What’s stopping you?”

He didn’t say another word, but instead his hand firmly gripped my neck and pulled me in close enough to land his lips against mine. When they made contact it was like water meeting earth for the first time, shit, like the sun rising in the morning. Fuck.

When we parted I felt caught up under his sight. It was inebriating…he was intoxicating.

“What are you cooking tonight anyway?”

“Chicken dish. I thought you weren’t picky.”

“I’m not, but I am about some things. We’ll see though. Now how much you finna charge me for lil homie over there?”

I followed his line of sight with my own. My eyes landed on Bleu who was currently playing with his sister.

“Nothing, because he isn’t for sale. I’ve told you this already.” I had since removed his price off the site. Matter of fact, I had removed the entire listing for him.

He chuckled. “Sell him to me and you’ll be able to see him whenever you want.”

I shook my head. “I think not. He’ll be yours and not mine. Imagine me showing up to your place just to see him in the middle of the night. Might mess up your action.”

“Only action you fucking up is the fact that you saying you’d only be there for him Damn.” His hand went to his chest while he faked being affected.

“You know what I mean.”

“Nah I don’t. I ain’t fucking with it. If you come to my crib, then you are coming to see me.”

“Kinga, I don’t even know you.”

“And that’s why you’re getting to know me. What time do you want me to come through?”

“Seven or eight is fine.”

I nodded. I was about to speak but unexpected contact halted it. Those lips were against mine again. It was a welcome contact.

We parted and I couldn’t look anywhere but at him.

“Do you need me to pick up anything?”

“No. I think I have everything I need.” I called myself moving out of his immediate space, but he never moved his hand from my side.

“Good. Send me your address.”

That I did have to move to do. My phone was on the other side of my desk. Once I had it, I keyed in my password and navigated to our messages. I sent him my address, then began to pack up. A little small talk later, he and his adorable niece walked me and my puppies to my car. He stood behind me while I settled them in. Coincidentally his car was parked right next to mine. We left the parking lot at the same time, him in his truck behind me.

* * *

“S o what I’m hearing is you’re fucking the mechanic tonight?” Caya’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“No, we’re just having dinner. Getting to know one another.”

“Bitch, you said that but all I heard was free oil changes and tire rotations for life. Can’t be the only thing he’s rotating.” She was way too giddy. That was her personality though.

“Caya.”

“What? Fuck that man for all the helpless bitches in the world. We get got err’ time we walk in a fucking tire or mechanic shop.”

I couldn’t stop laughing at her stupid ass because she was so serious.

I wasn’t gonna say this was just dinner again because then the question would be if I was convincing her or myself. I was taken aback when he kissed me that day, but even more so tonight. He kissed me with authority, even after asking if he could. His energy wasn’t asking for shit though. He wasn’t the type of man to ask anything, I could tell that much by his eyes. Asking but already knowing the answer wasn’t asking, it was foretelling in my eyes.

“Um hello, earth to Harlem.” I had gotten caught up in my thoughts.

“My bad, what did you say?”

“I said you better let him wax that ass. Now if you will excuse me, I have to go deal with your nephew. Apparently Bluey went off and he’s still not trying to go to sleep. Get some for both of us. Love you.”

She hung up before I could say anything else to her. I closed my eyes momentarily. Then I moved to the pots on the stove, checking the temperature. Everything was still warm. My eyes nervously jumped to the Alexa on my wall. It let me know he’d be here soon, sending slight tremors through my body. Shit, he made me nervous. Why? I didn’t know. Shit, maybe because he was straight forward and beat around no bush. His demeanor and countenance reminded me so much of OA.

Once again I checked on the puppies, nervous energy sending me from room to room before I heard my doorbell and my phone lit up on the counter.

He was here.

I checked myself in the mirror, of course, before going to the door. I was dressed comfortably, another thing I overthought when I got out of the shower after cooking. A gray fitted T-shirt and a pair of black leggings.

I opened the door and there he stood. I had taken him in earlier, but right now was different. Right now I was stuck on the fact that this man was standing at my door holding a damn cake plate. Did he make me a cake?

“You baked?” I asked, stepping to the side to let him in. He didn’t pass me when he was in though. Instead, he stopped in front of me and hugged me. Not one of those friendly hugs either. He then kissed my forehead before moving across the threshold.

“Yesterday. Figured I wouldn’t show up to your door empty handed.”

“Well, aren't you sweet?” I grinned.

“Nah, I’m not.”

I laughed.

“It smells good here.”

“Then what do you call showing up to my door with cake?” I closed the door then moved around him to the kitchen.

“Being raised right. Where do you want me to sit this?”

“Right there is fine.” I pointed over to the island. “Do you want anything to drink?”

“What do you have?”

He didn’t wait for my response. He had already moved to the refrigerator and opened it.

Yes, Kinga was forward, so forward and so sexy that I didn’t mind. None of me minded…like at all.

He grabbed what he wanted then backed up and closed the door. I heard something hit the counter then I felt him behind me. His citrus, musk, and cedarwood aroma engulfed my senses before I heard him.

“You gonna let me taste it?”

My brain went south, moistening my panties for the second time today. I squirmed.

“The food, Harlem,” he elaborated, seemingly catching my reaction.

Without another word I spooned some of the creamy mixture onto the wooden spoon and turned around to hold it up for him. He accepted part of the spoon into his mouth, eyes locked on mine.

“Damn that tastes good. You gonna fuck around and have me only wanting to eat what you cook.”

I laughed.

“And also, I’m down to taste that too if you let me and stop acting so damn nervous around me.”

I didn’t respond. I had no response. The man had rendered me speechless. No, I wasn't nervous, I was speechless. Without fucking words.

“Harlem.” His voice calling my name was enough.

“I’m not used to you. You’re al—” I started but he stepped into my space. Then he reached behind me and cut the stove off. I heard the click. About a minute later he picked me up and spun around on his feet, sitting my body on the counter. His lips were centimeters away from mine when he spoke again. “You’re gonna have to get used to me.”

Nothing I attempted to say stopped his stride. He smashed his lips against mine again then backed up. He moved to the kitchen sink and washed his hands. He then slid to where I already had plates waiting for us and grabbed them. He made our plates, making sure the amount he put on mine was enough before making his own.

“So you were raised by your aunt and uncle? Where was your mom?”

He shrugged. “Hell if I know. She dropped us off on our folks and moved on.”

I shook my head.

“Thing is, my auntie and uncle made that shit work regardless of what we didn’t have. We didn’t even realize what we didn’t have because they always made it happen.” He handed me my plate and fork.

“That’s love.”

“Yup. What’s up with your pops though? Why does he seem like he was on some bullshit at your shop?”

I looked off, irritated at the thought of Joseph. “It started because I won’t give his son any more hours at my shop. Then he was pissed because I refused to give him money,” I replied honestly. He was probably the only person I told that to, because had it been OA he would have gone to see about Joseph and Hari.

He nodded.

“My family is complicated.”

“Ain’t everybody’s?”

“Probably.”

“Mine damn sure is. You just gotta rock with that shit, sweetheart, and know that if you need me, I’ll handle that shit for you.”

I laughed. “No you won’t.”

“Shidd. Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you don’t even know me that well. Hell, I could be the problem.”

“Probably, but from what I see, I like. So yeah, I’ll trunk a nigga for you.” He seemed so serious, so I just nodded. We made a little small talk back and forth before we were finished eating. Then we ended up on my sofa, my legs in his lap while he stared at the TV. Why did this seem so easy with him? I mean, yeah I didn’t know him, but I was quickly comfortable around him and he was so easy to talk to.

“What about me intimidates you?” he asked, eyes still ahead.

I didn’t have to think about it, I just knew. “The fact that you know what you want. You go after it in a way that can almost be considered impulsive, but you’re far from that.”

He nodded. “Keeping it a buck, I ain’t never been this interested in nobody.”

“Don’t lie.”

“I’on got no reason to. I’on like to be lied to, so I’m not gonna lie to you.”

I nodded. “If not, then why?”

“Because I get tired of motherfuckers easily and the same thing I've been telling you for the last few weeks. I don’t like people.”

“So you say, yet you’re here.”

“You not people. You’re fine shit, Harlem.”

I grinned. Feeling warm from the way he said my name.

“Why are you sitting all the way down there like I’ma bite you or something?”

Of course I shrugged. Couldn’t help it. Being down here allowed me to think while being near him in the slightest made thinking impossible. I used to think people were dramatic when they called things breathtaking, but then I encountered him. Kinga was no fairytale or dream, but instead the antagonistic character in the story causing problems for everybody trying to look good. He was everything, without me knowing everything about him. I moved closer to him, maneuvering my legs in the other direction and resting my top half against his chest.

“Close enough?”

“Yup.” His tattoo-littered arm rested across my shoulder like a seat belt.

I couldn’t gauge what was on the TV because I was in his arms and nothing else mattered. “So you came over to eat and watch SportsCenter?”

“I came over here to eat and do whatever the fuck you wanted to do. Turns out you just wanted to lay up under me while I watch SportsCenter. That’s cool with me if it is with you.”

I didn’t object. “What do you like to do then? When you’re not at work?”

“Being at the shop ain’t work because I love that shit. While the youngins work on the newer model cars and shit like yours, I spend my time on antiques. That or my own. But if you exclude working on cars in your question, then I like to cruise in one of my old schools.”

“Is that so? Then why did you decide to fix my car if it wasn’t your thing?”

“It was the least I could do since you came in my spot acting up. Plus I wondered if you looked that good angry, then how would you look with a smile on your face.”

A big dumb ass smile settled into my features while Kinga laid it on thick. I soaked it up, swooning internally. “You always know what to say, huh?” I tilted my head back, peering at him.

“Nah. I’m just keeping it a buck.” His arm tightened.

“Well since we’re being honest, I do like you but want to be dated.”

“Ain’t never done that but I’ll do that f—” His phone vibrating on his chest interrupted his statement. It was at his ear in seconds. I couldn’t make out what whomever on the other line was saying, but I could tell when Kinga’s whole demeanor changed. Anxiety and irritation coursed through him. Fuck! How was I in tune with this man?

When his phone call ended, he exhaled deeply. “I gotta head out, baby girl. Something I gotta handle just came up.”

I was disappointed. My distress had nothing to do with him, but everything to do with the fact that I wanted him to stay, but he was a busy man. “Okay.” The word dragged from my lips like it had thirteen syllables.

I sat up to give him space to get up.

He stood and grabbed his hoodie. “Come walk me to the door. I’ma try to make it back tonight. That is… if you want me to.”

“Do you want to?”

“Harlem, baby, it’s not that hard. You're gonna let me come back and taste that motherfucker or not?”

“But didn’t you say you might be able to make it back here?”

He grinned. “Yes or no, Harlem.”

“Yes, now can you please let me know if you’re not able to make it?”

“Nah, I’ma make it.” The smile on his face was so bright it drowned out my discontent with him leaving.

I walked him to the door. Once he was gone, I checked on the dogs then found my way back on the couch. I just lay there, mind racing a mile a minute. Hell yeah I wanted that man to come back and taste it. Shit, he looked like he could devour some shit… hopefully my shit.

I didn’t know when I fell asleep, but it felt like a blink. Like as soon as I closed my eyes I heard my phone ringing. It was loud too, because of course I didn’t put it on do not disturb or silent. When I glanced down it wasn’t Kinga or Caya but Zax. I glared at the time, pissed, before I answered. Who called someone at eleven at night, especially if the call wasn’t expected? Who was I kidding? My ass was just mad it wasn’t Kinga, but according to my phone he’d left over two hours ago.

“Yes.”

“Har, it’s been long enough. I need some direction here. I need you to tell me wh—” His voice was slurred, letting me know he’d been drinking. Singing followed… Mariah Carey’s “We Belong Together” had seen better days.

I set the phone down and sat up. Damn, I was looking forward to Kinga coming back. Then I remembered he’d brought cake. At least if I didn’t have him right now I could have cake. I moved into the kitchen with my phone in hand on speaker while Zax now sang his apologies to me. This wasn’t a normal thing, but the man got drunk enough for me to know not to hang up, because he would blow down my line.

I was seconds from digging into the slice of caramel cake I’d cut when my doorbell rang. I looked around before grabbing the knife in my hand and moving toward the door.

When I reached it, I peeked through the glass. My eyes feasted on Kinga. Shit, he was back… shit, he was back. My nerves went haywire, but hell yeah I opened the door.

“I just hit your line twice.”

“My bad, I was jus—” I couldn’t even finish my statement. The man pulled me against him and stuck his tongue down my throat. I welcomed it…shit, I welcomed him.

No words, no anything, I was in his arms and he was carrying me through my house like he knew where he was going.

“Wait, I was about to get a piece of cake.” I giggled when he buried his face in my neck.

We took a pitstop in the kitchen. He sat me right next to my phone and the cake.

“You don’t get that I need you, Harlem. I need you in my life so fucking bad that I can’t let you go.” Zax's voice filled the kitchen, alerting me that he was still on the phone.

Kinga’s expression tightened. “The fuck is?—”

“He’s drunk. Doesn’t do it often, but if I hang up he’ll blow me up,” I explained, knowing this seemed weird.

“You still got feelings for that nigga?”

“No. If I did you wouldn’t be here and he wouldn’t be on this phone.”

He just looked at me for a moment. “Then hang up and block him.”

“I don’t block people. Because what if it’s an emergency? What if?—”

“His emergency ain’t your fucking problem, not no more.” There was no amusement in his eyes. He was serious. I shocked myself when I reached for the phone and hung up. Then I blocked Zax, something I knew would drive him to show up to my shop at some point. Right now I didn’t care.

“Good, now eat this fucking cake so I can eat you.”

He didn’t have to tell me twice. Shit, he stood his big ass between my legs, watching me eat the cake with his hands resting on my thighs. He wasn’t rushing me, but yeah, he was rushing me.