Page 78 of Lemon Drop

“I don’t need you financing me.”

“Here go this attitude. I didn’t say that.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Well, speak clearly.”

“I know you can finance yourself. I’m talking about advice and introductions if you want them. Things like we do now. You know, like me sitting across from you looking over numbers while you tell me I don’t know shit.”

A reluctant smile tugged at my lips. “Believe it or not, you don't know everything, Saadiq Masters.”

“See? Just like that.”

I laughed softly. Then I looked down at my hands.

“I don’t want people saying I slept my way into anything.”

The words came out softer than I intended. Saadiq didn’t answer immediately. When he did, his voice was just quiet.

“People who know you won’t.”

“And people who don’t?”

“Fuck ‘em.”

I rolled my eyes at him. He shrugged.

“I could male it sound better, but that’s my answer. You were brilliant before I ever touched you, Apple. You built your name before you ever got naked with me. Ain’t no man, including me, get credit for what you accomplished.”

For a moment, my eyes dampened. Damn him. Then, realization dawned on me.

“This ain’t your first time thinking about this.”

“Of course not.”

“How long?” I asked.

He was quiet for a minute. “For as long as I’ve known you wanted a career and hoped you wanted me,” he said finally.

My eyes widened. Years. That meant years!

“I knew you’d leave eventually. Hated that shit.”

“You did?”

“Hell yeah. You think I want to train another assistant?”

I threw my napkin at him. He caught it, laughing.

“You so damn irritating.” But I smiled, too.

The sun had nearly gone down now, a beautiful dusk descending around us. I stood and brushed sand from the back of my dress.

“Come walk with me.”

Saadiq looked up. “That a request?”

“No.”

His smile widened as he rose. “You even know how to make those?”