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1413 Words
Bailey shuddered. Spencer made her feel a certain type of way. The way he looked when he was...well choking Eric was...
She knew he was a fighter.
He was so effortlessly strong, and his need to protect her baffled her as much as it thrilled her.
Who wouldn't want a man like that to call them Treasure?
She sat at her table, sipping coffee. She hated coffee. Coffee hated her. She drank it anyway.
She wanted to go over and talk to him, but she didn't know how. Besides, he couldn't like her in that way.
She was black, he was white. Typically, in her experience, white men didn't really date black women.
Of course it was a thing but...no one liked her like that.
She was too...frumpy. Unappealing. Too thick, too dark. Too everything.
It never left her mind. Everyone but her little brother and sister said that.
She just resigned to the truth. She was writer; her words would love her, and that would have to be enough.
Still, she did want to thank Spencer.
Here phone rang, she answered it hurriedly.
Then she got an idea.
⚡
Spencer lounged with his friends, some on the chair, him on the floor against the chair. All of them chatting, that morning's incident all but forgotten.
Spencer sipped his beer, his mind whirling. All he could picture was her. Her her her.
Bailey. What was her last name? What was her favorite color? Her favorite animal?
Did she like meatloaf?
He just wanted to know her. He wanted her. But then...
He didn't want a relationship right now. He just wanted to settle in, get comfortable. Get started on his new life here.
He had to start over.
A knock sounded. Spencer frowned.
“Someone's at the door,” Vince whispered. “You want me to get it?”
Spencer shook his head, holding up his hand as a silent no.
He got up, sat his beer down, and went to the door. Without a second though, he opened it.
There stood Bailey. In black business skirt, a pink blazer, pink heels and a cake.
A cake?
She smiled shyly.
“Can I come in?”
Spencer debated for a moment, but in the end nodded, shutting the door behind her.
“So... what brings you by?”
Bailey hadn't noticed all the men in the living room. It's as if she never noticed men because she expected not to be noticed.
They were all watching her, and yet she didn't seem to know it.
“I wanted to thank you. So...I made you cake.”
He smiled at her adorableness.
“I appreciate it. Let me set it on table for you.”
She handed him the platter.
Her eyes roamed the kitchen.
“It seems f*****g Vince found your van.”
He chuckled. “Yeah he did.”
He was waiting on her to see the four men sitting across from her looking at her, but her eyes never went that way.
She looked at him. “So, I had a bit of an ulterior motive for the cake.”
“What do you need?”
Still hadn't noticed them.
“Well, see, I need a favor,” Her nervousness got his full attention. He frowned.
“Go on.”
She sighed, shifting as if she didn't want to do this at all.
“I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. But I have a meeting with my publisher, and I'm running late,”
Bailey sneered just thinking of her. “And if she threatens me one more time I'm gonna snap her neck,” She added mentally not realizing she'd said it aloud.
“My little brother and sister are coming over and I need you to keep an eye out on the door. Peter is sixteen and Lia is only six,”
She glanced down at her watch. s**t. She sped up her words.
“All I need for you to do, is make sure that no one,” She emphasized, “No one, I don't care who they are, don't let them in."
Bailey's phone chimed. She looked it.
“What if police come?”
Absentmindedly, she shook her head. “Shoot 'em for all I care just don't let them in the house.”
“Especially not my mother or sister. I don't care what you do with them, throw em cliff if you want, but they can't know I live here.
She pulled out her phone.
Shit s**t s**t!
“Okay. One more thing,” She whipped out her card. “Order a pizza please, I expect to see a charge on my bank statement.”
“Thank you so much, I'll make it up to you I promise byeee!”
She kissed him on the cheek, and answered her phone, as she left.
“Damn it, Kathy I said I'm coming. Don't have a f*****g heart attack.”
“I know there are alternatives to curse words, words are my thing, I said what I meant, and I meant what I said.”
She rolled her eyes, shooting one more grateful look his way, mouthing a thank you, before walking out the door
He was frozen at his doorstep.
“Kathy, today is not a good day. I'm very stressed today. Today's a day I'll cut you.”
“How many times do I have to tell you: I meant I said and I said what I meant?”
He could hear down the hall locking her door.
“Yeah right, I pay for all your surgeries. Build a bridge and get the f**k over it.”
“One minute, Kathy,”
“Rhonda? Yeah, I need that cover like last week you are putting lives in danger here my friend, I haven't slept in weeks!"
“No not me. Kathy. Always Kathy. God, I hate that bitch.”
She disappeared down the stairs and he still hadn't moved.
All the guys bursted out in laughter.
“Damn! Who was that?”
“That's the neighbor?”
He finally came to his senses, he shut the door.
Stunned, he looked at his friends.
Who was that? Where that shy, adorable girl? That was a sexy shark. She had many sides he was learning.
“Spence, share my friend."
“Didn't she see us?”
That snapped his attention to them.
“No. She didn't see you.”
“How though? I mean we were like Superman laser visioning her,”
Spencer cringed at his lack of grammar.
“I dunno. She doesn't pay attention to guys.”
“Except you.”
Except me.
“Why does she call me f*****g Vince?”
Spencer smiled. “Remember when I told you I met her when I was cursing you out?”
Vince nodded. Then he understood, sending
a glare his way.
“She's pretty."
“Beautiful.”
“I didn't know you like black girls?”
Neither did he. Until he met her.
“I'm into her. Besides what's not to like? Did you see her?”
Dayton shrugged. “I didn't say she wasn't sexy,”
Spencer shot him a warning glare.
“I just said she's not your usual type.”
He smiled. “She's unusual. I like it.”
“So she's a writer? A famous writer, apparently. Do you read her books?”
He shook his head. “No. Maybe she writes under a pen name?”
“Either way, she didn't tell me when her siblings were coming—”
“Can we eat cake?”
“It's my cake.”
“What? You won't share?"
“I'll taste it first. Then I might share.”
At the guys urging, he went the table and cut the cake. He noticed a note with her number on it.
They should be here around two. Call or text if you have any questions or need anything.
Thanks again,
Treasure
He instantly put her in his phone. Of course he saved her as Treasure.
It was a marble cake, and it looked beautiful. He cut it, his mouth watering.
Sharing seemed out of the question.
He took on bite of it, and swallowed.
“It's horrible. Taste like poison you don't want it.”
The guys sulked, feeling disappointed.
“I'll get rid of it."
He snuck away, and went into his room.
“Suckers.”
He finished his slice, and left the cake there.
- Writer
