When I reached my floor, Apollo stood in the doorway of my office with a frowning Frankie. “There you are,” I sighed. “Let’s go inside so we can talk.” My office was modest and not nearly as big and glamorous as some other politicians but it was perfect for what I needed to do.
A heavy, ornately carved mahogany desk sat in the middle of the floor peppered with alternating crystal and silver picture frames all holding photos of Frankie at various stages. Those pictures carried me through so many long nights in the office when Alexis and I were going through our divorce. I moved around the desk to the high-back leather chair and had a seat after I unbuttoned my suit jacket.
“You lose something, Freeman?” Apollo said, flicking his stern gaze to Frankie.
“Yeah, got away from me,” I sighed, folding my hands on top of my desk. My assistant, Navy Lucas had already left folders stacked neatly in the middle waiting on my signature.
Frankie sat in the plush chair across from my desk and fixed her icy stare on me. “I need to speak with her privately. Thank you, Apollo.”
He grunted before walking out of the office and closing the door behind him. Once we were alone, Frankie came to life. “I don’t want a nanny.”
“I know that.”
“I don’t need one.”
“I disagree.” I leaned back in the chair and she pursed her lips together. “You need someone to pick you up from school when I’m unable to. You need someone to take you when I’m out of town. You need someone to cook for you when I have late nights, and since you can’t drive, you need someone who will bring you back and forth to my office.” I hoped my explanation helped her to understand but she was a preteen. Nothing I did or said would make her understand. “Work with me here, kiddo.” I softened my voice and leaned forward on my elbows.
Frankie’s brown eyes lost their ice once our gazes locked. She couldn’t stay mad at me for too long. She was a daddy’s girl to the core. I made sure of that when she was born. I rocked her to sleep every night, played her all the 90’s r&b classics to get her to take naps in the car, and read her books using my best voices. She was my world and I knew I was hers.
“I get the final say-so on whoever this old woman is. Deal?” She aimed a white painted nail at me and I nodded, letting a smile sweep over my face. I got her to come around at least a little. That’s all I asked for.
…
THREE
The only thing my parents let me keep was the money I had in my checking and savings accounts. It wasn’t much but it was enough to hire movers to pack my shit up and move it to a storage unit.
I didn’t have much time to get out of my beautiful apartment, so I was trying to get on top of it before they physically kicked me out. That meant they’d have to touch my harp and I’d fight them before I let that shit happen. Sunshine was my child. Point blank. Period.
Once the movers had most of my things packed into the truck, they headed outside. One of them hung back to get my signature and to confirm where I wanted my things stored.
He was fine as fuck.
He ticked all the boxes on my list and I wanted him to tick one more box if he had the time…
He was tall.
Chocolate.
Perfect white teeth.
Broad shoulders.
Tattoos.
Bingo.
Playing the harp wasn’t the only way I released stress. If there was good dick around, I’d sniff it out like a bloodhound. Mama needed some stress relief even if it was only a quickie from a mover. Something about those clean gray overalls against his deep brown skin made my nipples hard. I was definitely experiencing blue-collar lust. That was a real thing, right?
“Can you sign here?” He asked, his voice was so deep and smooth I wanted to burrow under it like a blanket. I took the pen from his hand and signed my name on the line then smiled up at him. “Thank you,” he grinned showing even more of his pretty teeth.
“You’re welcome. Hey, how long before you have to deliver the boxes to their destination?” I pulled the hair tie out of my curly puff and let my kinky spirals bounce free. I squeezed the curls in place with my hands while I listened to him talk.
“In an hour. We’re on lunch as soon as we leave your place. Why?”
Oh, he knew why with his sexy ass.
“Well, I’m stressing about this move and I’m absolutely not ashamed to tell you that I use dick as a stress relief method.”
A deep and loud laugh fell from his lips as he tucked his clipboard beneath his massive arm. He said, “Wow, you’re…forward.”
“I am. I don’t like to waste time.” I pulled my Calvin Klein tank top off and tossed it to the side, baring my breasts. His eyes dropped and he let out another chuckle while he rubbed the back of his neck.
“You’re serious right now?” He looked down at the clipboard and back up at me, “Xari? Am I saying that right?”
“Yup. The X sounds like a Z. My parents were fancy and dramatic,” I shrugged. “So, are we fucking or what? I have condoms.” I tipped my head to the side and ran my tongue over my lips. “You look like a gold wrapper guy. Am I right?” I already saw his erection thickening in his overalls. He was definitely gold wrapper material.
“Gold wrappers all
