Page 14 of Mr. Blackwood

He flashed a brilliant smile at me as he slowly took his seat. “I try.”

“I won’t waste your time. I just came up here to let you know that I’ve been thinking about your offer. I will go out with you.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

“There’s only one condition,” I stated, stopping him in his tracks.

“I don’t know if I like that, Camilla. I’m usually the one dictating the terms and conditions of a contract.”

“Consider this a lesson in business arrangements, because this will be different.”

“What’s the condition?”

“You have to prove that you’re not the arrogant asshole you came off as, or I will cut you off so quickly.”

“That’s fair. What made you change your mind?”

“I thought long and hard about it, and I decided maybe you have the potential to be romantic. It was thoughtful what you did, saving me a few days ago when I didn’t have a ride.”

He smiled, and I swore there was something in his smile that warned me he wasn’t who I thought he was, and I should proceed with caution. The problem with that was, I never backed down from a challenge, and I was ready to dig into this mission with both heels.

6 – JABARI

ONE WEEK LATER

The dusty rose pencil pants, cream colored sleeveless blouse, and the dusty rose blazer were form-fitting and showed off her sleek, natural curves. Camilla wore her hair up in a bun with tendrils hanging down on either side of her face in curls. She was gorgeous this evening, and I couldn’t wait to spend time in her presence.

I held the car door open for her to get in.

“I’m surprised,” she declared, once I settled in the Range Rover beside her.

“About?”

“I didn’t expect you to exit your car to ring my doorbell. I thought you would send your driver.”

“I can be a gentleman, Camilla,” I explained, handing her the bouquet of colorful tulips I had picked up on my way to her.

She inhaled them and smiled at me. “Thank you, Jabari. You really didn’t have to do this.”

“Let me be clear. I don’t want you looking at me as a landlord or a potential feature for your magazine,” I explained as I poured her a glass of champagne.

“Is that what you think I’m looking at you as?”

“I don’t know. I just want to make sure that we’re on the same page. I have only one intention for you.”

“Which is?”

“To have you on your knees saying, ‘Yes, Mr. Blackwood.’”

“Yes, to what?

“Whatever I ask of you.”

Her gaze widened and then narrowed. A tiny smile lightened her features as she held up one finger. “One date only.”

“You didn’t’ say that. You said that the condition was that I had to prove that I’m not the arrogant asshole I came off as. That’s what tonight is about. Once I prove that, there should be no reason for you to turn down further dates. Or will you have me jumping over other barriers?”

“I’m not a woman who plays games, Mr. Blackwood.”