Close Quarters: A Novel (Zane Presents) by Ray Shamara

Author:Ray, Shamara [Ray, Shamara]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Strebor Books
Published: 2012-12-04T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

MALIK

Kai wheeled her car out of the service station. I sat in the passenger seat, keeping an eye the road. Her driving wasn’t too bad, but she got easily distracted while talking. The driver in the car next to us blew his horn as Kai strayed into his lane. I just shook my head. She went on and on about how much she loved the holidays and couldn’t wait until Christmas. I was only half-listening when I caught the end of her question.

“So will you?” she asked.

“Will I what?” I said, diverting my attention to her.

“Come with me to pick out a Christmas tree.”

“When?”

Kai looked annoyed. “Were you listening to anything I said, Malik?”

“Of course, I was, but I was also concentrating on your driving, since you didn’t seem too preoccupied with it.”

Kai took a playful swipe at my arm. “I said that I wanted to get my tree today and wondered if you wouldn’t mind going with me. I’ll need help getting it up to my apartment.”

She had me just where she wanted me. My car was parked at her apartment and if I wanted to go my own way, I couldn’t. What choice did that leave me? I relented. “I don’t mind.”

Kai flashed a cryptic smile that I was apprehensive to interpret. It probably resembled how a spider must look at a fly caught in its web. Was Kai intricately spinning a web from which she didn’t want me to escape? I immediately unraveled that thought. I was not one to get entangled in anyone’s traps. Never have. Never will. Kai was on another level, but she was still a woman, and I knew women. Kai was used to men doing what she said, when she said it. She knew how to use her assets to get what she wanted. And, yeah, at that moment I was indulging her. But Kai shouldn’t have underestimated Malik Denton.

We turned into the parking lot where the Christmas trees were being sold. Kai and I stepped out of the car and joined the people milling around the aisles, checking out the various trees.

“What size tree do you want?” I asked.

Kai touched the branches on a spruce tree in front of her. “I don’t know but not too big or too small. Maybe a six-foot. Don’t worry; you’ll be able to carry it,” she teased.

“Me, worried? I think you know by now that I can lift, flip and carry when necessary. I handle my business.”

Kai laughed. “You always manage to make everything about sex.”

“Who mentioned sex? I was just letting you know that I won’t have a problem getting your tree into your apartment. I guess we know where your mind is.”

“Nice try, Malik, but I got your message loud and clear. I’m starting to think you have a one-track mind.”

“I thought that’s what you liked about me,” I said, smiling.

“Oh, I do. But sometimes it’s good to know that there’s more to it than that.”

I kept walking down the aisle, inspecting the trees.

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