Page 12 of Merci

“If you decided not to date after cutting him off, I’m assuming he did something that hurt or disappointed you.”

Her eyes finally returned to mine, and they were watery. “Yeah. I didn’t love him or anything like that, but I expected more loyalty and transparency than he was capable of giving. And it wasn’t just him. It was a situation with an old friend as well. Having those betrayals back-to-back makes me want to isolate and not meet anyone new. I’m not saying you have ill intentions, but I don’t want to invite someone new into my life just to be hurt again.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to tell her I’d never betray her, but I didn’t know if she’d consider me knowing the truth about our fathers as a betrayal since I hadn’t told her. I didn’t know when I’d tell her, honestly. A part of me felt like she’d cut me off when I told her, so I was in no rush to do that.

“I’m not pursuing you to hurt you. I would never intentionally hurt you. I’m loyal, allegiant, and too love-deprived to get it and risk losing it by cheating or not treating the woman giving it to me the way she deserves.” I paused and took her hand into mine. “There is something about me and my family that I don’t want to share with you, because I know there’s a chance it will change the way you view me. What I can tell you is that, if things get serious between us, I promise to be transparent.”

“Oh, so that’s why you won’t tell me your real name?”

I laughed before kissing her palm. “Hammerismy real name, sweetheart. I’on know why you don’t believe me.”

“What’s your last name, Mr. Hammer?”

“Freeman. But don’t look me up. Let me tell you when it’s time. Anything else you want to know about me, I’m an open book.”

Her body relaxed softly, but I could tell she still had her reservations. No longer able to resist, I wrapped my hands around her waist and pulled her between my legs and into my chest.

“Your secret… is it going to embarrass me? Put me in danger? Are you hiding a wife and kids?”

“Nah, nothing like that. It doesn’t have anything to do with me, actually, or you. It’s just… something that happened a long time ago that’s hovered over my family for decades. It’s strained our relationships to the point where I’m only really close to my grandmother and cousin. You’ve already met my brother, and then there’s Ma. But it won’t embarrass you or put you in any danger. I’m not living a double life or no shit like that, and I don’t have a wife, girlfriend, or kids.”

“Is there a woman emotionally or physically attached to you that can claim you and annoy me?”

“No,” I answered directly but with a laugh.

“What about a man?”

“Merci.”

“I just had to ask,” she said softly yet quickly, lifting her free hand in surrender with a smile. “You so sexy,” she mumbled, almost so low I wouldn’t have heard her if I wasn’t standing so close. “I wasn’t expecting a beautiful white smile under your gold grills.”

“Yeah, they in the car. I’ma put ’em in as soon as I leave the office.”

“What do you do?” she asked before taking a sip of her latte.

“I’m an attorney, and I run the crisis management department at MPWG Law Firm.”

Her eyes widened and head jerked back slightly before she rested her hand on my chest. “Yeah, I definitely judged you based on your appearance. I certainly didn’t think you’d be an attorney working with the big dawgs.”

“Lesson of the day is to never judge a book by its cover. Especially this one,” I said with a wink before smacking her ass and pushing off the car. “I’ve taken up enough of your time, though.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket and told her, “Unblock me.”

Her eyes rolled playfully, but she pulled her phone out and did as I said.

“You’re unblocked, Mr. Freeman.”

“Good. I’ma send you a link to access my calendar. By day’s end, I want you to go in and mark the days off with red that you’re available so I can start planning our time together.”

A slow smile spread her lips as Merci stared at me. She bobbed her head softly before agreeing with, “Yes, sir.”

After handing her the oatmeal, I dropped a kiss on the center of her forehead, then walked her to her car that was still in the garage. I helped her get inside and wished her a good day before heading to mine. A long exhale escaped me as I ran my hand over the top of my fade. I’d have to make peace with her father before telling her about our families’ past. Otherwise, there was no doubt in my mind I’d lose her before I truly got her.

“You have two options,” I told Maya. “I can handle this as your lawyer or as your crisis manager.”

“What’s the difference?” she asked, voice shaking as she gripped the handle of her purse.

Even with me telling her that she was safe here, Maya was still on edge. That was understandable. Currently, she was a suspect in her husband’s murder. The police might not have cared, but Maya was a victim too. The politician’s wife had done everything she could to honor and protect her husband while he lived…andafter he died. If Dennis had been just as loyal to her, maybe he wouldn’t have been in his current situation.

The gay politician was attacked while at a sex party with his lover. To try and preserve his image, Maya had his body transferred to their home so he’d be found there. Unfortunately, there was video footage of the men she’d hired carrying his body out, and rumors were spreading that she’d had him killed because he was cheating on her with a man. She’d already been charged with murder and tampering with evidence, and it was her father’s idea to hire me.