Page 23 of You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty

She couldn’t afford for it to become anything else.

Chapter Six

When the pilot announced they were twenty minutes from landing, Feyi pulled up her window shade and stared out at the sea, a brilliant blue with beaches undulating along it.

“You grew up here and left?” she said to Nasir. He leaned over to look out, his hand warm against her thigh.

“To be fair, I didn’t appreciate it as much as I should’ve when I was growing up,” he said. “I’m just glad my dad stayed so I get to come back and still have a proper home base, you know?”

“Did you grow up in the house we’re going to?”

“Nah, we had another house in town, but Lorraine lives in it now. Dad built this one a couple of years ago after his work really blew up. He went all out with it, too, got some fancy architect to draw it up and even put in an infinity pool outside. Shit is unreal.”

“Oh, damn! That sounds amazing.” Feyi watched Nasir smile faintly as he talked about his father.

“Yeah. Dad’s restaurant is in town, but he wanted somewhere separate, private, you know?”

“For sure. Building a house up a mountain is a peak hermit move.” She laughed. “Team Introvert unite.”

Nasir cut his eyes at her. “Girl, you and Joy be out partying all week, don’t give me that introvert bullshit.”

“I can do both, thanks.” Feyi flashed him a smile and stroked a thumb against his stubble. He was so beautiful. Who would’ve thought that seeing him across the bar that night would lead to both of them on this plane together, that she could touch his skin so freely, have the memory of his mouth be so recent?

Nasir closed his eyes briefly at her touch, then opened them again to smile at her. “You excited to see my home?”

Feyi dropped her hand. “Absolutely! And to eat at your dad’s restaurant. What’s it called again?”

“Alusi. He has another one in London called Ori and one in Toronto, I think. Opened that one last year, I can’t remember the name.”

Feyi was frowning. “Alusi? That sounds mad familiar.”

“What, you into fancy restaurants around the world like that?”

“Nah, Joy is. She’s got a whole bucket list of them, and I swear I’ve heard her mention that one before.” She tapped her brass nails against the seat arm, trying to remember. “What’s your dad’s name again?”

Nasir unplugged his headphones from the plane and started rolling them up to return to their case. “Alim,” he said. “Alim Blake.”

Everything slowed down for Feyi as her brain made the connections, clicking details into place, then it sped up again as she gasped and punched him lightly on his arm. “Hold the fuck up! Your dad is Alim Blake? Alim fucking Blake?!”

“Damn, girl!” Nasir rubbed his bicep. “What, you know him?”

Feyi glared at him and fought the urge to smack him upside the head. “Um, yeah, of course I know who he is. His restaurant has two Michelin stars, Nasir. Two!” She threw up her hands. “He’s a goddamn celebrity chef.”

Nasir laughed and zipped up his headphone case. “Oh, come on, ‘celebrity’ is pushing it a bit.”

“Nasir, the man is literally on TV! He was a judge on that cooking show Joy got me sucked into; he did like two seasons!”

“Oh, damn, I forgot about that.” Nasir shook his head at the memory. “Lorraine and I gave him so much shit for doing it. But that was a while back, he’s just been chilling since then. Real talk, I didn’t think you’d have any idea who he was.”

The announcement system crackled with static as the pilot informed the passengers that they were beginning their descent. Feyi covered her mouth with her hand and stared at Nasir as even more realization dawned. “Wait, I’m about to meet Alim Blake. Oh my God! Joy is gonna lose her entire mind when I tell her!”

“Ma’am,” said the flight attendant, leaning over their seats. “I need you to put up your tray table and fasten your seat belt, please.”

“You’re totally a fan,” Nasir said, amused wonder tracking over his face. “This is hilarious—are you gonna be this hype when you see him? ’Cause you’ve got like maybe twenty minutes to pull yourself together, baby girl.”

“Twenty minutes?” Feyi’s eyes went wide with shock. “He’s picking us up at the airport?”

Nasir winked and reached around to buckle her seat belt. “Welcome,” he whispered, kissing the side of her neck. Distracted, Feyi felt her skin skitter with pleasure, and she put a hand to the back of his head, her fingers digging into his tight curls. Nasir nuzzled against her, flicking his tongue over her throat.