Page 49 of Certified To Handle You 2

Renza ain’t say nothin’ right away. His eyes moved over my face and then down my body before slowly comin’ back up, and I could tell from the way he was lookin’ at me that he had missed seein’ me just as much as he claimed.

I leaned against the door and stared at him. “What you doin’ here, Renza?”

“I came to see you,” he answered like that was the most obvious shit in the world.

“You been seein’ enough of my porch and my car for the past four days,” I reminded him, tryna hold on to my attitude even though I could smell his cologne from where I stood.

Renza’s mouth curved into the slightest smile before he looked past me into the house. “Can I come in?”

I should’ve told him no…

Matter of fact, four days ago I probably would’ve shut the door right in his face and let him stand his ass out there. But after flowers, notes, food and constantly wonderin’ when he was gon’ pop up again, I ain’t have the same fight in me that I had when he first got to Greystone.

I rolled my eyes and stepped out the doorway. “Come on before I change my mind.”

Renza ain’t say nothin’ slick ‘cause I think even he knew not to push his luck. He walked inside slow and looked around while I closed the door behind him.

This was his first time inside my mama house, and he took his time lookin’ at the pictures on the walls and everything around the livin’ room before finally sittin’ down on the couch.

I walked back toward the livin’ room and sat on the other couch across from him. I ain’t offer him shit ‘cause as far as I wasconcerned, him bein’ inside the house was already more than enough hospitality for one damn mornin’.

Renza looked at me from across the room, then glanced at the space beside him before lookin’ back at me.

I knew that look…

“What?” I asked, crossin’ my legs while I stared back at him.

“You really gon’ sit all the way over there?” He asked, and the slight amusement in his voice made me roll my eyes.

“Yes, Renza. I am,” I answered ‘cause I knew exactly what his ass wanted. “You asked to come in. You in.”

He looked at me for another second, then leaned forward and rested his forearms against his thighs. “You always gotta make shit difficult.”

“Ain’t nobody makin’ nothin’ difficult,” I told him. “You just don’t know how to be satisfied with what you get.”

Renza rubbed his hand over his beard while he watched me, and I could tell he was thinkin’ about what he wanted to say. Instead of arguin’ back, he stood up from the couch and started walkin’ toward me. My eyes followed him the entire way.

He moved slow ‘cause that was just how he moved when he knew he had my attention. He walked over until he was standin’ directly between my legs, and all of a sudden, I was lookin’ at the front of his jeans instead of his face. I turned my head so fuckin’ fast.

“Renza, what is you doin’?” I asked, even though I already knew.

“Tryna get you to look at me,” he answered as he reached down and touched my chin.

His fingers moved slow across my skin, and I hated how familiar that simple touch felt.

My feelin’s had already been all over the place for days, and havin’ him this close wasn’t helpin’ shit. I kept my eyes turnedaway ‘cause I knew what was gon’ happen if I looked at him. He lifted my chin anyway.

“Look at me, ‘Nelle,” he told me.

I finally raised my eyes to his, and I immediately wished I hadn’t.

The nigga was lookin’ down at me with all that love and shit in his eyes, and mine started gettin’ glossy before I could stop ‘em. I ain’t wanna cry, and I damn sure ain’t wanna give Renza the satisfaction of knowin’ how much this situation was gettin’ to me, but I knew he could see it.

His thumb moved across my chin again before he spoke.

“Come spend some time with me,” he said, keepin’ his voice low while he looked down at me. “You ain’t gotta pack no bag or do none of that shit. Just come kick it with me for a lil’ while.”

I swallowed hard and dropped my eyes again. “Renza…”