Page 182 of The Sweetest Return

I smiled. “May I?”

She glanced over her shoulder. “You may.”

I took the picture.

“Do not post that.”

“I wasn't going to.”

“And do not send it to your mother.”

“She asked for pictures.”

“Your mother is not on this date.”

“Technically, she helped raise the man who planned it.”

“Andre.”

I put the phone away. “Private.”

Her shoulders eased.

“I know.”

A few minutes later, Ellis returned with another staff member carrying a long black floral box tied with satin ribbon. When the lid opened, two dozen Rouge Royale roses rested against cream paper.

Imani turned slowly toward me.

“Dre.”

“Mr. Jones asked us for something rare,” Ellis said. “These are scheduled for delivery to you tomorrow morning.”

She touched one petal with the tip of her finger.

“So these are mine?”

“Yours.”

Her eyes lifted, brown and shining in the low light. “Thank you.”

I stepped closer. “You deserve beautiful things, Mani.”

Her expression softened enough to make the entire room feel quieter.

Then she slipped her hand into mine again.

The ride back to her condo didn't need much conversation. Her hand rested in mine until I needed both on the wheel, then moved to my thigh like touching me had already become something she no longer needed to discuss with herself first.

When I stopped in front of her building, she looked toward the lobby and then back at me.

“You are not supposed to be looking at me like that.”

“I know.”

“Yet here we are.”

“Here we are.”