Page 16 of Solomon’s Temple

“About how you’re pressing me when you have a whole girlfriend.”

I frowned, genuinely confused. “The last time I checked, I was a single man. May I ask where you got your resources from?”

“The horse’s mouth. According to her, you all are trying to rekindle an old flame.”

“And when did this happen?” I was curious as well. When did Shareece have time to talk to Temple? Furthermore, how did she even know her when I’d just met Temple two days ago?

“The day of the fundraiser. She approached me on some woman-to-woman shit.” She laughed. “It’s nothing though. I was just curious. I don’t want to step on her toes, so this will probably be the end of your pursuit of me.”

I shook my head as I looked her square in the eyes.

“Love, first, let me extend my apologies. Shareece had no right to even approach you at all. Secondly, nothing is ending when it hasn’t even begun yet. Shareece and I haven’t been together since high school. I’m thirty-six years old, so what does that tell you? I hadn’t seen that woman in over twenty years, and I don’t plan to ever see her again.

“Right now, my focus is on my business, my faith, and trying to find me a wife. There will be no rekindling anything with a woman I thought I knew but never did.”

Temple’s eyes perused my face with that pretty smirk on her luscious lips. “I figured she was a bit delusional. But, honestly, I don’t know about you yet. You seem to be looking for a certain type, and I’m not sure if I’m there yet.”

“You can be. If you just put forth the effort.”

Her eyes lowered, making them look even more feline as she glared at me.

“What do you want from me, Mr. Solomon?”

“I thought I made it obvious.”

“You also made it clear that you’re trying to live a righteous life. I’m not saying I don’t believe there is a higher power, but it’s clear we don’t have the same agenda when it comes to what we want in a relationship.”

“And what is it that you’re seeking, Beauty?”

She shrugged. “I stopped dreaming of fairy tales when I was old enough to believe that love doesn’t exist. Just loyalty.”

“So you don’t believe in love?”

“Not in a romantic sense. I didn’t exactly grow up being shown what love is.”

“I don’t want to seem as if I’m interrogating you, but I’d like to know why you feel that way. What man broke your heart to where you don’t believe that love exists?”

She shook her head. “No man broke my heart.” She then released a soft breath. “I grew up in the foster care system. My mom died giving birth to me, and I never met my father. For thirteen years, I lived with a woman who could barely remember my name, and two foster sisters who were mean girls.

“It wasn’t until my mother’s mother found me, and fought for custody of me, did I feel cared for. I got to meet my two real cousins and an aunt I didn’t know I had. I guess when you talk about loving someone, I can only tell you about the love I get from my family. Men were never trustworthy enough for me to fall in love with them. Every man I’d dated could only supply two needs for me. Sex and money.”

I nodded. “I see.”

We were quiet for a moment until a soft chuckle left her mouth.

“So, I like I said, I don’t think I’m your type of woman.”

“I beg to differ.”

“How so?”

“Because I see beyond the layers and guard you’ve put up. I know somewhere inside your heart, you want to be seen, loved, and cared for by someone other than your family. You’ve been programmed to survive, so you’re very much guarded. I know you have your vices, but I’m willing to put in a little work to get you where you should want to be, not where someone else wants you to be.”

She giggled. “Are you the second coming of the Messiah or something?”

“Nah . . . His shoes are a little too big for me to fill, but I’d do my best to be just as like-minded as Him.”

The server finally arrived with our meals as I said grace, and we dug in.