Page 9 of Love Me Now: Baltimore & Madelyn

“I’ll meet you at the courthouse Thursday,” Dothan stated. “We’ll get emergency custody until the adoption is complete.”

“Okay,” I replied. Heir squeezed my hand and smiled when we glanced at each other.

Once Dothan collected the papers, he ushered us out of his office and rode the elevator with us back down to the lobby where Cooley waited. My smile dimmed at seeing Cooley chatting with an engineer who rented space inside Bell Oil Inc.’s building.

Bell Oil, Inc.’s newest engineer, Dana Lemmings, was quite literally stunning. She knew how sexy her body looked in the red knee-length fitted dress she wore. Although business appropriate, it accentuated her hips and breasts in a way that I had to mentally compliment her.

Cooley’s eyes flashed up from Dana and landed on me. Quickly, I removed the subtle glare I shot him. His head slightly tilted to one side, and his eyes softened. From the high ponytail I wore down to the designer canvas shoes on my feet, I felt his heat.

Dana recognized the shift in Cooley and glanced over her shoulder. When she saw me, her gaze turned to one of veiled jealousy. Her back straightened more than it already was, and she shifted her feet to pop her hip out just a little more. Plastering on an even bigger smile, she lay her hand on Cooley’s chest to gain his attention.

“So, like I was saying, Baltimore. We should have coffee sometime,” Dana said to Cooley. “Let me give you my number.” She had no qualms about holding his attention with me, Heir, and Dothan standing here. There was no shame in Dana’s game.

Cooley smiled and replied, “I’m kind of taken.”

“Oh?” Dana looked surprised but said, “Who am I kidding?” There she went putting her hands on him again. “As fine as you are, of course you’re not single. Then again, you don’t have a ring on.”

“Uhm, I have a hair appointment.” I had to insert myself. This heifer needed to get out of my…bodyguard’s face. Speaking of my bodyguard, Cooley’s grin stretched across his face at my comment. Dana, on the other hand, discreetly rolled her eyes at me.

“I apologize, Miss Dana, but my boss has places to be. We’ll see each other around,” Cooley stated.

Dana hid her disappointment behind a flirtatious chuckle. “Absolutely. I’ll see you around.” Her hand touched Cooley’s arm before she strutted off.

Dothan dapped Cooley and said, “That’s a bullet you wanna dodge, my boy.”

Cooley chuckled. “I ain’t worried ‘bout that.”

He and Dothan shared a laugh as Dothan hugged me, then Heir. “See y’all Thursday.”

We waved at him, then followed Cooley outside where our car waited at the curb. I waited until Heir got in the car before addressing Cooley.

“What were you and Dana talking about?” It wasn’t my business, and the smirk on Cooley’s face said he agreed.

“What you gon’ give me if I tell you?” he stepped closer and questioned so casually. “You gon’ give me a kiss?” He chuckled at the stupefied expression on my face, then said, “Your hair appointment awaits.”

Breaking from under the spell he cast upon me, I rolled my eyes and got into the car.

“Everything okay?” Heir asked.

Of course, I had to lie. “Everything’s perfect.”

Heir’s eyes remained trained on the side of my face as Cooley slid into the driver’s seat. I had to get myself together.

I was seventeen when I met Duval Bell. He was the first man I ever slept with, and the first time we had sex, DJ was conceived. Marrying at seventeen wasn’t in my plans for life, but that was the path I’d chosen. Duval was a street dude with an edge that I couldn’t resist. While my family struggled with me marrying so young, the Bells welcomed me with open arms. At seventeen, I joined my husband at Bell Estates and had been living there ever since. Even after Duval’s death, the home we shared was still my home.

Sighing, I thought that it was high time to change up my surroundings. There were too many memories in my home for me to allow Duval and DJ’s deaths to drive me out. A little renovation here and there wouldn’t be so bad. The only thing I’d changed so far was my bed. It was time for all new furniture, all new appliances, and even new floors. I wanted to walk on new ground. I wanted to bless my home so that, from this day forward, nothing but good things would happen inside those four walls.

A few minutes later, I was in my stylist’s chair excited as she cut my hair. Releasing extra strands felt so freeing. I went with a color that would pop against my skin tone. By the time, Vanity was done, I looked like a new woman. The blond bob suited me perfectly.

“Mama?” Heir called as I stood in the mirror, admiring my new haircut and color.

“Yes, baby.”

“Look at how Cooley is staring at you,” she whispered.

Surprised, my gaze tripped to Cooley whose unblinking eyes stared back.

“Ooh, Mama!” she exclaimed under her breath.