“Can you stop with the acting? I told you, you’re terrible at it,” Edison said dryly.
Bishop and Trent both looked surprised at Edison’s insensitive words.
“I once had an audition at the North Carolina School of Drama, thank you.” Presley squinted at him, “I’m better than you give me credit for.”
“Only in the courtroom.”
“You two have an interesting relationship,” Bishop commented, still watching their exchange.
“Edison is my everything. He knows more about me than anyone should,” Presley admitted with a fond smile on her pretty, face. She was light-skinned and chose to highlight her African American features with little make-up or enhancements, and it worked perfectly for her.
“True. I know more than I want to. Which speaking of—” Edison checked his watch. “What are you doing here? You have a three forty-one meeting this morning with Trustee Williams.”
“I know, I know. I told Mila to let them know I’d be late,” she said, glancing at her own expensive timepiece.
“Why?” Edison asked.
“I just wanted to peek in on your meeting really fast to make sure our community project is set to run nice and smooth tomorrow.” She smiled brightly then turned to Bishop and Trent. “Did Edison invite you to Saturday’s extravaganza? You’re all invited. You guys have my building’s lawn as the talk of Town Center, you know.”
Edison waved for her to settle down. “Yes, I already did. And he’s coming.”
“Good.” She nodded. “Well time is money. I gotta run. Bishop and Trent, it was a pleasure. Bring your family and friends out tomorrow. It’s all about the community.”
When she was inside Edison nodded in her direction. “Now you’ve met my boss.”
“She seems great. I wouldn’t mind working for her.” Bishop laughed when Edison popped him in his chest. “Well, she is fine. I’m in a relationship, baby, I’m not blind. Is she married? What’d you think, Trent?”
“Nope.” Edison smiled at Trent. “She’s young, successful, smart and single.”
Trent shrugged. “She was okay.”
Bishop looked suspiciously at his friend, but Edison figured Trent must still be upset about his recent break-up. Which reminded him. He pulled the container out of his bag and moved to Bishop’s other side. “Trent. I made you something this morning. Bishop said chocolate was your favorite.”
Trent removed his sunglasses and placed them on top of his NY Yankees ball cap. He laughed at the scowl that Bishop was wearing as he popped open the lid and pumped his fist at the two, large, chocolate chip muffins inside. “Hell yeah, thanks, Edison.”
“Is there enough for me?” Bishop frowned.
“Nope,” Trent said. “There’s only two.”
Edison laughed and Bishop spun around pinning him with a hot glare of intimidation all over his handsome face. He brought their bodies close together, his lips barely moving as he rumbled sexily, “And what are you gonna give me?”
“You guys are like horny teenagers,” Trent said with his mouth full of muffin.
Edison backed away, not daring to answer Bishop’s question. He had a meeting to start.
“I’ll see you tonight.”
Edison smiled. “Yes, you will. If you’re finished with work before me, just use-”
“Shit. Yo, Bishop. Three o’clock, man,” Trent gritted.
Edison turned his head in the same direction as Bishop just in time to see Skylar walking towards them in a sharp gray three-piece suit. Oh no.
Chapter Fifty-Two
Bishop
Motherfucker. Bishop liked not seeing Skylar’s smug face every day when he came to work, even though he missed being in Town Center, so close to Edison. It’d probably been for the best that he and Trent had moved on to their next project when they had. But the way Skylar was advancing towards them, it was clear he hadn’t cooled off in the past few weeks.
“Sorry to interrupt your little powwow, fellas,” Skylar said instead of a polite good morning.
“No problem asshole. Join the circle jerk and grab a cock,” Trent sneered.
Skylar twisted his mouth but otherwise ignored them both, and kept his eyes on Edison. “Are you gonna be late for your own meeting, boss?”
Bishop had his hand on the back of Edison’s neck, his thumb idly rubbing the smooth skin at the base of his jaw. He’d reached out and touched him to calm himself because otherwise he might’ve lurched forward and slapped Skylar in his mouth for speaking to his boyfriend in any way.
“I don’t need you to check on my timing,” Edison replied.
“That’s right. Because you’re the boss of me.” Skylar narrowed his eyes.
Edison shook his head, appearing confused at how to even respond to that.
“This dude is disrespectful as hell, B,” Trent said from beside him. “I think you should let me at ’em. Sometimes an asshole needs to be taught a lesson.”
Skylar scoffed and ran his manicured hand down the front of his designer jacket. “That’s a vicious guard dog you got there, Bishop.”
“Oh yeah,” Trent growled, taking a step forward, until Bishop put his forearm on his chest to stop him. Trent glanced down at Bishop’s barrier and didn’t press any further. They were not about to get Edison fired and they damn sure were not about to lose Manny and Mike’s contract. “You’re fucking right I’m vicious. And one day B is gonna let me loose—he always does—and I’m gonna take a big bite out of your stuck-up ass, Sky-bitch.”