Bought (His For A Week)

“Some.”

He set down his now empty mug. Unlike most dates, she seemed interested in details. But this wasn’t a date, even though it was beginning to feel like one. He didn’t date because he wasn’t looking to start a family.

“Are they commercial or residential?”

“These days policymakers like to see mixed-use for urban areas.”

“Do you like mixed-use?”

“If the pro forma works, sure. Mixed use is key to smart growth principles.”

Her brows went up. “You care about smart growth?”

“Why shouldn’t I?”

“I thought...”

“Thought what? That developers are evil and have no conscience when it comes to the environment? That we just care about maxing returns and triple net?”

“What’s triple net?”

“It’s a lease agreement in which the tenant agrees to pay the three ‘nets’ on the property: taxes, insurance and maintenance.”

She seemed to be storing away that bit of information. He was surprised to find himself talking about lease agreements with any woman who wasn’t in the business, but he believed few subjects would intimidate Kimani. And he found he talked rather freely with her. Hell, he had even revealed he had once hung with a gang. He couldn’t remember the last person he had told that to.

Noting that she still had half a mug full, he told her, “Finish the tea.”

She looked him in the eyes. “What if I don’t want to?”

He returned a tight smile. “You sure you want to find out, pet?”

She pursed her lips but lifted the mug. “I’m drinking it because I know it’s good for me.”

He didn’t bother disputing her. If the mug had root beer, she would be drinking it because he had told her to.

After the coffee shop, they walked to the drugstore where she found a package of Hanes underwear, various hair products, toiletries, a notepad, and pens.

“I’ll pay you back,” she said as the cashier rang everything up.

“I got it,” he reminded her.

“I’d rather pay you back. It’s all stuff I would have needed at home anyway.”

He studied her, wondering why she insisted on paying him back when she was financially desperate enough to participate in the Scarlet Auction.

“You’ll pay me back,” he assured her, “just not in the way you think.”

Her lips parted ever so slightly in a frown, and he had to look away before the urge to kiss her took over. As an Asian male and black female, they had received a handful of curious looks about town. He wasn’t going to give them more to gawk at.

“I need something from the hardware store,” he said when they were done at CVS.

She followed him the few blocks and watched him peruse the different ropes available. He looked first at a solid polypropylene braid. It was soft and smooth to the touch and had solidity and weight. But the thickness would make for large knots, so he went for the twisted nylon, which was also soft and smooth. It wasn’t as good as jute, but it would have to do. The white nylon would be a nice contrast against her skin.

“What’s the rope for?” Kimani asked.

He raised his brows. “You don’t know?”

She hesitated. “Is it for the boat?”