Page 24 of Set My Soul Ablaze

“I know I don’t, but I want to. I want to show up for you after depriving you of a good night’s rest, so text me your favorite order from your favorite spot and I got you.”

“You’re so sweet. I have about an hour and a half until I need to head out the house. I’ll text you when I get in the car.”

“Sounds good.”

We talked for a few more minutes before we hung up. Even with no sleep, I felt rejuvenated from his attention and kindness. I got out of bed with a pep in my step, excited to see what the day brought me.

ME:

Good morning, beautiful. I hope you made it to work on time.

Mali:

Hey! I almost fell asleep, but I fought it long enough to get ready. I made it to the spot on time. I’m with a client now. She’s a small yorkie who doesn’t give me a hard time, so it shouldn’t take too long to finish up. If the delivery comes while I’m in the back, one of my employees will bring it to me.

With a quick swipeof my finger, I reacted to her text with a heart as I pulled out of the drive-through of her favorite coffee shop, Bower’s Brews. They specialized in a THC blend in their coffees and menu items. It surprised me to know my lady indulged in marijuana occasionally.

After I ordered her favorite drink, I stopped by the donut shop and got a dozen donuts, two dozen donut holes, and a dozen kolaches. I ordered myself some boudin stuffed kolaches to eat on the drive. The only thing I wanted to do was see Mali’s face when she saw I was her delivery man.

Last night, I didn’t expect Mali to call me, but when she did, my whole mood shifted. I clung to every word she shared with me. I loved learning new things about her. Conversations with Mali flowed so smoothly, I didn’t realize night had turned to morning. It was the first time in a long time that I saw myself picturing forever with a woman. Yeah, I had my fun, but those were throwaway flings that couldn’t compare to what I imagined with Mali. It might have been crazy for me to think like that, but I was smitten with Mali . . . It was the only word that encompassed how I felt.

With the life I lived, a lot of women didn’t like the dangerous lifestyle. They often brought up the fact they wouldn’t be able to handle it if I went into a job and never came home to them. It was very valid, which was why I didn’t mind being single. I had the patience to wait for the person God set aside for me.

As I pulled up to Floral Fur Pet Groomers, the sign lit up in bright green letters. The sans serif font was bright with paw prints for the o’s in groomers. The glass windows had cartoon animals with bright smiles painted on them. I parked off to the side and grabbed the boxes of food and her drink. I didn’t bother to lock the truck as I headed inside. I expected the distinct animal smell, but a lavender and chamomile scent greeted me instead.

The inside was spotless. There was a grass wall with white neon letters and a stool for photos, I assumed. In the front room was a waiting area, a television, and framed pictures of different animals.

“Welcome to Floral Fur Pet Groomers. I’m Kira, how may I assist you this morning?” the woman at the front desk greeted me with a beautiful smile. She was a deep brown complexion with whimsy makeup and flowy lashes.

“Good morning, Kira. I’m here with a special delivery for Mali. Is she still with the yorkie?” I returned her smile with one of my own and held up the food for her to see. “I actually brought donuts and kolaches for everyone.”

“Oop. Please hold on a moment. Let me go get the boss lady.” Kira stood up and scurried down the hall. When Kira returned, it felt like she had the whole place following behind her. There was a man and two other women in tow behind Mali.

Mali.

She was a breath of fresh air as she moved through the hall toward me. She had her hair pulled into a half-up, half-down style with the top being two buns. The style sculpted her face perfectly. She had a bare face with lashes and lip gloss—a combination that always drove me crazy on the right woman.

“Flame?” Mali asked with a raised eyebrow when she saw me.

As our eyes locked, my lips pulled into a smile. Her lips mirrored mine.

“Hey, beautiful. I brought your favorite drink from Bower’s Brews. I also brought everyone breakfast. I hope that was okay.”

“Of course. Let me introduce you to everyone before they dig in.” Mali introduced me to the employees on duty today: Diego, Kira, Dominique, and Clareese. I set the boxes of breakfast pastries on the desk and held her coffee cup for her to take. Her employees happily moved over to the boxes while I escorted Mali over to a corner for a bit more privacy.

“A pleasant surprise, huh?”

“When you said you were ordering me coffee, I didn’t think you’d be the delivery man.” She took the cup and giggled. I waited patiently to see her reaction to the drink. She took a sip and hummed.

“I got it right?” I asked as I rubbed my hands together.

She nodded. “You did. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome.”

She took another generous sip of her drink and eyed me. “What do you have planned for the rest of the day? Are you off?”

I nodded. “Yeah, I had nothing else planned. What’s your schedule like today? You got a jam-packed day?”