Page 5 of Stolen Moments with a Bad Boy

Four

E rie

It was Monday, and my heart beat out of my chest. I stood in front of my full-length mirror. I admired my simple olive-green maxi dress with thin spaghetti straps and an open back. There were pockets on the sides, and that made me even happier. I loved dresses that had pockets.

Pockets on a dress to me were like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. My dress was so long it pooled over my gold flat sandals adorned with pearls all over the top and a cute peep toe. There was no way I planned on tripping in front of Janeiro.

To prevent this, I tied a cute knot at the end of my dress so I could move around freely without the fear of falling.

It was the perfect dress for the first week of summer.

Chicago’s winters may have been freezing, but the summers were just as brutal because of the dry heat, especially for us natural hair girlies.

I wanted no smoke with that damn heat. My hair was up in a big, high bun. I laid my edges with my flaxseed gel and made a few swoops of baby hair with my edge control and brush. I saturated my lips with a nude gloss before I gave myself a once-over.

Content with my look, I released another deep breath, then headed down my hidden stairs from my apartment to the café. Each step I took, my heart seemed to thump loudly in my ears. All of a sudden, fear clouded my brain, and I was scared to push open the double doors to enter the dining room.

Shape up, girl. You can do this. Janeiro is just a man. I took a couple of deep breaths before I pushed open the doors.

I was only in the dining room for seconds before my stomach did back flips.

My eyes fluttered to him. There he was. Janeiro sat in the same spot with his tropical berry tea and turkey panini like he did last week.

Damn, he looked good enough to eat. Janeiro looked up at me mid bite.

I swear all the air from inside the café had evaporated.

My eyes trailed from his cool, blue eyes to his blemish free skin. The summer-white dress shirt he wore contrasted against his skin and dazzling eyes. It gave Janeiro an otherworldly look. Ankle-length, olive-green dress slacks and designer black loafers completed his look.

There was just something about a man that could dress. I smiled broadly and held up one finger to him. I walked behind the register and leaned against the counter, waiting patiently while Londen finished up with her last customer.

When she turned to face me, I saw the sadness in her eyes. I was pretty sure it had everything to do with my nothing ass wanna-be-tough brother.

“What’s wrong, honey?” I asked her sweetly.

“Nothing, girl, just tired from these summer classes,” Londen lied.

“Try again, boo. We’re best friends, and our friendship is tight. It’s been four years now. You know you can talk to me about anything.” I took her hands in mine and waited until she felt safe enough to speak.

“What I have to tell you would really hurt you and your dad. If I tell you, you have to promise me you won’t say anything?” she probed.

“Yes. I do, but—”

“No buts. You have to promise,” Londen voiced more sternly.

“Alright. I promise, boo. Now, spill,” I urged her.

Londen exhaled loudly. “You know every Thursday I take Troy’s no-good ass lunch so we can have office sex and talk.”

She revealed that tidbit of information, and I cringed, but I nodded after because I was aware of their little office hookups.

“Last week when I went, Troy and Trix was fucking like wild animals. He was whispering to her all his sweet nothings while they shared I love yous with one another. They were ass naked on top of his desk, and the door wasn’t even locked.

Before logic could kick in, I beat Trix’s ho ass, and I stabbed Troy in the thigh.

” Londen dropped her head because her tears came down like a rainstorm.

I reached out and hugged her. “I’m so sorry you had to witness that, honey. No one deserves to be treated that way. Troy has never been any good, but I definitely underestimated Trix’s ho tendencies. I gotta tell my dad, Londen.”

She immediately broke our eye contact and looked at me. “No, you can’t, Erie. You promised,” she whined, wiping her hands on her apron.

“Well, do you have a better idea because us knowing and not telling him is just as bad as them fucking,” I yelled in a quiet tone.

Londen fumbled with her apron then looked at me.

“I’ll tell him, not you. I don’t want it to look like some tit for tat shit between you and Troy,” she firmly stated. The bell dinged, but we didn’t pay attention to it.

“Wouldn’t it look like that when you tell him? Jealous scorned lover is what my dad might think,” I commented.

“What who might think? What are you ladies gossiping about?”

Both of our heads whipped toward the deep voice that interrupted us.

My dad was there in the flesh. His presence piqued my curiosity.

When he flashed his award-winning smile, instantly, my curiosity had ended, and I bounced around the counter and jumped in my daddy’s arms. Yes, my daddy’s charm worked on me too.

He picked me up in a tight embrace and placed me back on my feet.

“Hi, Daddy. To what do I owe the pleasure of this unexpected visit?” I quizzed excitedly.

I was most definitely a daddy’s girl. To my brother, I was a spoiled brat. That wasn’t the case. I worked my ass off to accomplish all my goals. Unlike him, my dad had to give him a nice cushy position in Lakes Holdings.

Troy Jr.’s funky little chief of field operations title really went to his head. That was why no one at the company liked his bitch ass. All he did was throw around his last name and treat people like shit. Later for that fool, though.

I focused on the handsome man in front of me and not that loser brother of mine. My father was in his early sixties, but he didn’t look a day over forty. He had a toffee-colored complexion that made his salt and pepper hair look more pronounced. Yet, in a weird way, it added to his youthful face.

My brother and I inherited our dad’s leafy, hazel-brown eyes and toffee complexion.

For as long as I could remember, my dad always wore his hair in dread locs.

Normally, they were always down or pulled to the back, but since Trix came into his life, she convinced him to cut them.

I hated her more for that alone. Daddy was too good for a money hungry, bottom feeder like Trix, but she was who he wanted for now.

His mid-top fade looked amazing on him, though.

Daddy stood at six feet, three inches with broad shoulders and a solid build.

My dad wasn’t super muscular, but he was strong and solid as hell.

In place of his tailored suits was a short sleeve Henley with oatmeal-colored linen pants.

He paired his custom suede loafers with his fit for today.

Daddy’s deep voice pulled me from my thoughts.

“I was in the neighborhood, taking care of some business, and I thought I’d drop by to see how you two ladies were,” Daddy admitted.

He looked over my head to Londen, and there was something else in that look. My dad was the kind of man that you never knew what he was thinking because he never wore his emotions. Furthermore, I was very curious to know what that look was about.

“That was nice of you. I’m good. I actually have a friend I’m supposed to be playing a game of chess with, but it won’t take long. I was going to send Londen home early, so how about you two get started beforehand, and I’ll join you guys in a minute.”

Londen was about to protest when my dad cut her off.

“Sure, Sweet Pea. We’ll be waiting over there,” he responded in a chipper tone. Daddy reached for Londen’s hand, and she shyly accepted his hand then walked away.

My dad had always treated women with the utmost respect, but the way he guided Londen to their seats was similar to the way a husband would guide his wife.

I watched them for a few seconds longer, before I happily strolled over to Janeiro.

He waited patiently for me at our chess table.

I took my seat and batted my eyelashes at him.

My chin rested on top of my closed hands.

“How are you today, Mr. Janeiro?” I queried with a smile.

He grinned broadly. “I’m well, Bella, but mister is too formal. We’re already acquainted. Janeiro would do just fine.”

I made the first move across the board, then I looked up at him. “Okay, I feel that. How was your trip? Where did you go, if you don’t mind me asking?”

Janeiro made his move across the board. “My trip was really nothing to call home about. I flew to Paris to pick up my shipment of fabrics. I met with the people I needed to see, then I jumped back on the plane the next day,” he replied plainly. He was so nonchalant.

“You went to Paris and picked up your shipment, yet you didn’t stay for any fun? You really are a loner, honey.”

Janeiro hunched his shoulders and made his move. I countered his move then grabbed his hand. He looked into my eyes. The intensity that beamed from his ocean-blue optics tried to relay an encrypted message I couldn’t decode. I hope it wasn’t because of what I said.

“Is everything okay, Janeiro? My intentions aren’t to offend you or bash you. I just wanted to help fill a void I know you have. When my grandmother died, that’s exactly how I felt, empty and very lonely. I don’t have any sisters. My only brother hates my guts.

“For years I tried winning his love and friendship, but every time I tried, he just dismissed me or treated me worse than before. After a while, I accepted the fact that things were never going to be that way for us. So, I know how it feels to be lonely.”

Janeiro snatched his hand from me. I was shocked at his reaction.

“You don’t know shit about being alone. There is no way possible that you can.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you.”

My pleas fell on deaf ears. Janeiro abruptly got up and walked out the door.

Tears formed in my eyes as I watched him walk away and back into his shop.

I turned and looked at Londen. She gestured her head as if to follow him.

From the time we met, Londen always encouraged me to stand up for myself.

Being a young woman and a business owner, she said it was important that I commanded my respect, even if it was given.

Londen even took me to her gym and showed me all kinds of self-defense moves.

A woman could never be too prepared when operating in a man’s world.

Londen grew on me and became the big sister I always wanted.

She came from a rough background, and that was why she had a late start with her education.

Law was something she was very interested in, but she just didn’t know what her main focus was.

I had my life together, but love seemed so hard to acquire. I shook my head at her before I walked swiftly to my office and through the hidden stairs to my place. I kicked my sandals off and cried softly into my pillow until I drifted off to sleep.