He turned and reached into the fridge, grabbing a bottle of water for each of us. Then slid mine across the island towards me.
“Try me. I would love to hear what you think I’m thinking.”
I uncapped my water and took a drink. He gave me that sexy smirk that seemed to be his signature look. One that I had missed in the moments he hadn’t spoken a single word to me.
He shrugged and walked around the island, heading for the closed in back patio. So I followed silently with my water in hand.
“I’m sure you didn’t expect my house to look like this. Second, you want to know where my wife and kids are at since the shit looks like a family could live here. Oh, and I’m sure you’re racking your brain about who chose my decorations and shit. Am I close?” he asked with a lift of his brow.
I couldn’t help but smile with a tilt of my head.
“Maybe, all of that.” I responded then laughed.
“I knew it. Haven’t you realized being around me all this time, you can’t judge a book by its cover, Sweets?” he asked.
I shrugged and followed his lead to sit down as he turned on the fire pit he had. I took the seat next to him as he turned to give me his undivided attention.
“My grandma helped me decorate this place. My family’s the only ones who’ve ever been here—I don’t just bring anybody here. I’ve got a place in the city that probably fits your cliché ideaof who I am. But this… this is where I come when I need to clear my head. When I need to feel at home.”
My eyes widened at his revelation that he’d never brought anyone here. I hadn’t expected him to say that. What was so special about me—someone who’d kept her fair share of secrets from him—that made him bring me here?
“Why did you bring me here?” I asked.
I needed to know.
Duke leaned forward from his slouched, relaxed position.
“I see what I need in you, but I also see your need to release whatever is on your chest. I couldn’t think of a better place for you to do that.”
I placed my bottle of water to the side and turned my body to face him. I removed my shoes, then tucked my feet beneath me on the couch. I needed to be comfortable if I was going to go there with him.
“Yeah, I went back and forth with myself before I came to see you.”
He slouched back into the seat again, giving me the floor to say what I needed to. Then he tilted his head to the side.
“Tell me this. Why did you come to the club? You didn’t want to say anything when I was outside your shop. What changed in those few minutes?” he asked.
“I see a chance at life with you. I don’t want to keep allowing my past to take everything from me. I deserve to be here in this town, with this community, my friends, my shop, and I deserve a chance with you.”
Duke reached a hand out and I placed mine in his. He pulled me lightly onto his lap and kissed my jawline. So tender that it brought tears to my eyes. In this moment, I felt safer that I’d ever had. Like his arms could shield me from all my pain. I snuggled into his body as he rubbed circles against my back.
“I listening, sweets.” he said against my ear.
I released a shaky breath.
“My name isn’t a lie. It is Solana. But those girls didn’t run up to the table for bakery Solana—they came for actress Amore. I was one of the highest-paid actresses in the world… and I walked away from all of it—the money, the houses, the cars. I just didn’t want any of it anymore.”
Duke gripped his chest dramatically. “Sweets, I thought yo’ ass had killed your husband or something. Then went on the run to get away from the law.”
I swatted his shoulder with a smile. “I can’t believe you. You were just going to invite a killer into your midst?”
Duke shrugged with a smirk. “I’ve been around a few killers before, Love.”
I sucked my teeth and then continued the story.
“Anyway, sir. Because of the roles they often cast me for, I had become somewhat of a sex symbol. My hair was bright red. I was that girl. But in the end, those things brought me crazed stalkers. People sending me death threats, dolls they’d stabbed, letters that were stained into my memory. Things I wouldn’t dare send to another person.”
I paused for a moment, and Duke stayed quiet, giving me the space to get it all out. His hand continued to move in slow circles against my back.