“Are you coming home, Ms. Brimm? I wasn’t aware of you having church service this evening.” He was expecting an explanation.
I closed my eyes and took a long exhale. With as much confusion as this man has caused today, it was nice to be sought after by him. “Azmir, I’m sorry. I let time escape me. I’ve been working on my charts, trying to clean them up since I’ll be away for a week. I didn’t want to get behind.” This was partially true.
“Your dinner is getting cold,” Azmir said softly. Focus, Rayna...focus! Though he didn’t intend to, the tone of his voice spoke to my libido.
“Well, what doesn’t get done by eight twenty, won’t get done until I return. I’ll be there soon.”
“If I call there at eight thirty and get you, don’t bother driving. I’ll have Ray bring me to get you. I mean it,” he threatened.
“Deal,” I agreed, relieved he couldn’t see my face heating up.
And we disconnect.
After being snapped out of my trance, I looked down at my progress on the charts. Only two more to knock out and then I can leave with a cleared desk. I completed them and then headed over to the marina.
I couldn’t shake my conversation with Harrison on my drive. So many things he said just didn’t add up. Even over dinner I couldn’t escape the echoes of his voice. He was creepy. What was even more upsetting is that Azmir could tell something was going on.
“You’ve barely touched your steak. Boyd would be offended,” Azmir phished for my thoughts.
“The filet mignon is really good. And the béarnaise sauce sends it over the moon. I’m just really exhausted. I didn’t plan on working as late as I did. And I still have more packing to do.”
His intense gaze told me he didn’t buy my story, but I wasn’t ready to divulge the truth quite yet. I just wanted to finish up my packing and go to bed.
“What time should I be ready in the morning, again?”
“We ascend at seven sharp, so we should leave at six fifteen,” he replied, maintaining the interrogative gaze. Even that was sexy as all get. My goodness! Is this man even capable of making an ugly face?
I dismissed myself, saying that I needed to finish packing. He rose from the table with me, as he always does, being polite. I knew he was burning a hole in my back with his gawking, but I had to keep a straight face until I was out of his presence.
As I packed, I wondered why was I even going on this trip. If Azmir’s heart wasn’t totally with me or our relationship why should I go through the motions of vacationing with him? Was he really just out sewing his oats with me when his heart had actually belonged to Tara? Also, if Harrison knew about my past he could easily call my bluff and tell Azmir. I didn’t like the idea of that creep having privy to my past that not even Azmir had. For heaven’s sake, he described Azmir as some helpless puppet under his control. That stung my conscience. If Azmir found out about Akeem from a source other than me that could be devastating to our friendship.
Once done packing, I decided to do the only thing I could think of. I retreated to the shower and prayed. I prayed in silence, hard and long. I’m sure I was repetitive, but I wanted my requests clear and known. When I stepped out I had resolved to telling Azmir a piece of my past.
As I walked back into the bedroom, I saw Azmir lying in bed with his perfectly sculpted chest wondrously bare, watching ESPN, one of his favorite pastimes. I eased over to the bed, pulled back the cover and glided in.
He looked at me, this time more relaxed in his gaze and asked, “You good?”
I thought about his question for a few. Then I finally found the courage to say, “No.”
The next thing I heard was flicking from the television being shut off. That was apt. Azmir looked over to me, giving me his undivided attention. He murmured, “Pocket watch.”
It’s now or never, Rayna.