Page 29 of Only for Me

“That baby is going to have both of you wrapped around her tiny little fingers. It’s best to be a united front.”

By the time Omiri finished his call, Carmen was already plugging outlets in the bedroom. My phone vibrated with a text and I dug it out of the waistband of my leggings and glanced at the screen, releasing a frustrated sigh.

Caden Moore’s agent reached out asking me to fix a statement he made about the newest WNBA team. It was harmless but not a good look. When they asked his thoughts, he casually stated, “They ball better than some of the men and they’re not bad to look at either.”

Fucking idiot.

I was sure he considered it a compliment but the comment was being viewed as disrespectful and sexist. I agreed because he could have easily just delivered a statement about how talented they were.

“You good?”

“Hm?” I responded lazily, navigating to Caden’s page to check out the comments to get a feel for what I was dealing with.

“You’re frowning hard as hell. Whatever was in that text pissed you off.”

I lifted my eyes to his and noticed he was grilling the hell out of me. He actually looked mad.Oh wow, who the hell did he think texted me?

“Yep, just men doing stupid shit.”

I walked away but could feel his attention following my movement. When I made it to the kitchen, I stepped in front of the refrigerator to grab a bottle of water then walked to the counter where I placed my phone down so I could open it. A few seconds later, Omiri was right behind me. The heat from his body touched my back as he leaned over my shoulder.

“Uh, can you move please? Personal space.”

“Let me see what you’re doing first.”

“I’m minding my business. Will you move?” He was so damn close and smelled so damn good my body wasn’t happy about my request and my words also came out breathier than I liked.

“Your business is now my business since what you do involves my daughter.”

I released a laugh. “I’m working, which doesn’t have a damn thing to do with you and the only thing it has to do with Avi is allowing me the ability to pay my bills. Now will you move, Omiri?”

He chuckled and stepped back but leaned against the counter right beside me so that his arm brushed mine.

“You really have a problem with personal space, don’t you?”

“Why are you so pressed about me being close to you?”

“Because there’s no reason for you to be all up my ass.”

His smile slid into place dangerously slow and I could have died thinking about what I just said because his nasty ass was not taking it the right way.

“I’m pretty sure you can leave now. Carmen and I have figured this out and I’m sure she already has your card on file so…”

“You don’t want me to leave.”

I kept my tone level. “Yes, I do.”

He smiled sexily and leaned down, bringing his face closer to mine, causing my head to rear back. “Nah, you don’t. You like having me here.”

“I’m definitely having Avi tested because you’re truly delusional.”

He grinned. “There isn’t a damn thing wrong with me other than you’ve been annoying the shit out of me by trying to complicate something that could be really fucking simple.”

“There’s nothing simple about us or this. You’re disrupting my life, and although I’m well aware that you have the right to get to know Avi, you being here upsets the balance in my world. That’s not simple, Omiri.”

His eyes locked on my face and his jaw tightened after a few seconds like he was deep in thought. “You dating anyone?”

“My personal life is not your concern.”