Page 21 of Tempted by the Taurus (BLP Signs of Love #11)

"Why the hell am I finding out you showed up at my woman's job trying to warn her? Make that make sense to me," I relayed in a stern tone.

I sat outside in my car in front of the house I'd be working at.

It was wrong of me to leave Leighton like I did, but I knew if I didn't, I'd say some off-the-wall shit.

When I was mad, it was best to let me cool down.

One thing I didn't want to do was hurt Leighton in any way.

That woman meant too much to me. The only thing I wanted to do was make her happy and keep a smile on her beautiful face.

Still, she had disappointed me, and I made her aware of it.

"It was no big deal. She had to run and tell you that. I was only trying to look out for her, but next time I know to keep my mouth shut," Nya snapped back.

"Nah, I've told you plenty of times to stay out of my business. You don't listen, man. Yet when I put you in your place, you think I'm wrong. From now on, like I've been telling you, if it has nothing to do with Nini, stay out of my business. This is the last time I'm going to tell you."

What the hell was Leighton thinking, keeping that from me? I still couldn't believe that. Then, Nya's ass thought she did something by looking out for someone when she didn't do a damn thing.

"Whatever, man. Damn," she sassed as if she didn't give a damn.

"What the hell did you think you would accomplish?

That's what I want to know. You thought she'd leave me?

Thought she'd say she made a mistake or something?

That won't happen. What I have with Leighton is much more solid than what I had with you.

You couldn't see what I tried to build for us.

Leighton sees me and knows what a hardworking man I am.

But you, nah, you only saw the checks — that's all you wanted to see.

Everything else you wanted to bitch about.

" I laughed humorlessly. "It's all good.

You tried to break something unbreakable.

I'm still coming to get my daughter later.

" With that, I hung up the phone in Nya's face.

I threw it onto the passenger seat and rubbed a hand down my face.

It had been a while since I had had to go off on Nya like that.

This time, I hoped she would take my advice to heart.

I didn't know what to do about Lee yet, but as I told her, I wasn't mad.

I was just disappointed. Hopefully, by the end of the day, I'd be able to talk to her.

Later that night, I chilled with my brother, BJ, and Malachi at Tito's.

It had been a while since we had all gotten together and hung out like we used to.

That was more my fault since I spent the majority of my time with Lee.

Speaking of her, she had been blowing me up with text messages that I hadn't answered yet.

Although I missed the hell out of her, I couldn't let her think keeping something from me was okay.

That was something that would have led me to cut her out of my life, and I didn't want to do that.

She meant too much to me for me to do that to her.

"Man, you've had that miserable look on your face since we sat down. You good?" Aaron asked.

I gave a short nod, not wanting to go into details about what had happened this morning. If anything, it felt wrong to talk about Leighton, and she wasn't there.

"You're having woman trouble already?" BJ asked, shaking his head.

BJ would be the one to ask that question. He could be very observant about things like this. Since he was happily married to his wife, he believed himself to be an expert on relationships.

I reached for my beer and took a swig before placing it back down. "I wouldn't say it's trouble. Just a disagreement."

Could I even say it was that, too? From what happened, it was a miscommunication.

"So what happened?" Aaron asked, his arms spread apart and his eyebrow furrowed. "Y'all were happy at our parents' house for Thanksgiving a few days ago."

I already knew if I didn't tell them what happened, they'd try to talk it out of me.

My cell phone vibrated in my pocket, and I reached to take it out.

I leered at the screen, seeing that it was Leighton cussing me out.

I almost smiled, but I didn't. It was cute that she tried to be mad when she caused this.

My Lee:

Okay, fine. You don't have to talk to me. I won't call or text you again. When you're ready to talk, you know my number and where I live. Asshole. (middle finger emoji)

I loved her fire, but when she was mad, it took a lot to calm her down. Both of us were mad now, and I didn't give a damn about it. She'd get over it.

I slid the phone back into my pocket. "Yeah, and we are still happy. Couples argue in relationships. It's not all bad between us. It's just a little bump, but nothing we can't handle."

"What happened?" they asked in unison, spreading their arms out.

I huffed and gave them the short version of what had happened, leaving out my argument with Nya. After I left the bar, I knew it wouldn't be wise to get Nini. I would have to make it up to her another day.

Aaron shook his head in disbelief. "Damn, man. What the hell was Nya thinking?"

I shrugged, reaching for my beer to take another swig. I gulped down more than I should and nearly choked.

"Could she want you back?" BJ asked with his eyebrow raised.

"The hell if I know, but don't give a damn if she does or doesn't. I don't want her back. She had her chance, and now I'm over her."

Malachi had said nothing. With Nya being his cousin, I didn't like for him to get involved in what happened. He could be biased, and I didn't need that.

Aaron rested his elbows on the table. "I hope you and your girl get it together. You shouldn't let Nya come between y'all. Maybe Leighton had a reason for not telling you. You know how women are."

"I don't give a damn. The reason she should've told me is that we shouldn't keep anything from each other," I growled.

"He's got a point," BJ interjected. "I'd be disappointed too if my wife did something like that. I'd make her eat every last word she didn't tell me."

We all stared at him, knowing he had told a lie. He didn't wear the pants in his relationship. His wife did.

BJ shot daggers at us. "Why the hell y'all looking at me like that?"

"Why the hell are you lying to yourself?" I asserted. "We all know who wears the pants in your marriage."

Malachi and Aaron nodded in agreement, only for BJ to wave us off. He knew we told the truth.

I didn't stay at the bar much longer since I felt more than a little tipsy after drinking three beers and two shots.

On the drive home, I took a detour, knowing I couldn't sleep without my Lee.

I just hoped she would let me in the house after we went all day without talking to each other.

When I pulled up at her home, all the lights were off except in her office.

She was probably in there writing in her journal.

With a smile, I turned off my car and got out of it, hoping she'd let me in.

I rang the doorbell and then knocked twice, waiting to see what would happen.

Leighton didn't take long coming to the door, and when she opened, she just moved aside to let me in.

I stepped in and removed my jacket as she locked the door behind me.

She held out her arms for me, and I stepped into them, burying my face in the crook of her neck.

"I'm sorry," we stated at the same time.

I hugged Lee tighter, not wanting to let her go. I belonged there with her forever. When we pulled apart, she gripped my hand and led me to her bedroom. In the middle of her bedroom, we undressed each other quickly.

"I want you, baby," I admitted.

"Then have me."

I didn't waste any time getting Leighton into bed and having my way with her. The way I made love to her, I hoped she'd remember to never keep something from me again.

"I'm so sorry, baby," she cried, holding me to her as I buried my face in the crook of her neck, trying to catch my breath.

"It's all good," I responded.