Page 82 of Promised To A Menace

He laughed, shaking his head. “Ma, you don't know what the hell you talking about.”

“Yes, I do.”

“Nah, you don't.”

“Okay, Cassian.” I laughed, taking another bite of my food.

I knew how some men operated. They would go through something, then start dealing with different women instead of actually dealing with whatever they had going on. I wasn't saying that was necessarily his situation, but from what he'd just told me, I couldn't help wondering if losing his girlfriend had something to do with why he never got into another relationship.

I wasn't about to sit there and question him about it all night, though. If he wanted to tell me more, he would.

Cassian had me laughing again before we finished eating. I still had questions about him, but tonight I’d gotten to see more than the man who kept telling me what to do.

“So, let me ask you something,” I said, reaching for my glass.

“What's up, ma?”

“Why you really wanted to bring me out tonight?”

He looked at me for a second before setting his fork down. “What you mean?”

“Exactly what I asked. Why you wanted to take me out?”

“Because I wanted to spend some time with you outside the house. Shit, every time I see you, you either coming from work, cooking, or getting ready for bed. Ain't nothing wrong with us getting out and enjoying ourselves.”

I nodded, taking a sip of my wine. “Okay, I was just asking.”

“You thought I had something else planned?”

“With you, I don't ever know what to expect.”

He chuckled. “Well, you ain't gotta worry about that tonight. I just wanted to take you somewhere nice, feed you, and enjoy your company.”

I looked at him for a moment before smiling. “Well, I appreciate it. I actually had a good time.”

“Actually?” He raised an eyebrow. “Damn, ma. You thought you was gone have a bad time with me?”

“I ain't say all that.”

“You ain't have to. I heard how you said it.”

I laughed, shaking my head. “You always got something to say.”

“Look who's talking.”

“Whatever, Cassian.”

He laughed and went back to eating while I finished the last few bites of my food. Once we were done, the waitress came over to clear our plates and asked whether we wanted dessert. I was about to tell her no until Cassian picked up the dessert menu and started looking through it.

“You want something sweet, ma?”

“I don't know. What they got?”

He turned the menu toward me, and I looked over the options. The warm butter cake caught my attention, but I was already full.

“That butter cake look good, but I don't think I can eat nothing else.”

“We can get one and take it home.”