Page 61 of Night and Day

“Don’t start. I haven’t called it goop since that first day.”

“True. I’ll make up a batch for him and pass on the recipe so he can make it himself at home.”

“You mean so Erica can make it for him?”

“However they make that work, yes. But you’re right, there’s no way Marvin is mixing product to make a mask.” Tamika giggled, shaking her head.

She chewed on a pepperoni slice and then asked Anton about work. Without disclosing confidential information, he told her about a few new cases that he’d picked up.

When they’d almost finished eating, Anton announced, “I can’t stand it anymore. I’ll be right back.”

Confused, Tamika watched as he went toward the bedroom. Her back was to him as he came back, and before she could turn around, he came down behind her, palm extended in front of her. Tamika let out a small cry and her hands flew to her mouth when she saw the box.

“Oh my goodness, is that what I think it is?”

“Yes.” Anton kissed her ear. “Will you marry me, Tamika Jones?”

“We were supposed to go ring shopping together.” She turned to face him.

“I couldn’t wait.”

She opened the box and inside was a brilliant halo diamond ring, with smaller diamonds in the shank. “Oh my god. Baby, I love it.”

Anton slipped the ring on her finger and she gazed at it in open-mouthed appreciation.

Tamika flung her arms around Anton’s neck and kissed him hard. He pulled her onto his lap so that she straddled him, opening his mouth and sliding in his tongue to deepen the kiss.

“It’s perfect. It’s so me.”

“Do I know my woman or do I know my woman?” Anton said.

“You know your woman.” Tamika wiggled on his lap, and he groaned, grabbing her ass.

As they sat there in the near darkness, with only the light in the kitchen on, talking and laughing and teasing each other, Tamika had a sense of déjà vu. They’d done this before—connected on a deeper level—in a different place, at a different time.

But this time, their connection was stronger.

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