There were so many warning bells going off in his head. Still, Garrett went with his gut. “Imani, my son is everything to me. I need you to be really sure about us, and what it means to be with me before you make that decision. I’m a full-time father before I’m anything else. If we do this, I mean really do this, you need to think about that. What’s more, if we go next level, are you ready to be a mother because that’s what you’d have to become.” Garrett held his breath hoping and waiting for the right answer.
She pressed her hand against his cheek. “I don’t know if it’s possible after just a couple of weeks, but I’ve never felt like this with anyone. Garrett Jr. is a part of you. I want to explore whatever it is we’re doing. So, whenever you think the time is right, I’d love for him to get to know me.”
Garrett could exhale. “I’d like that.” His brain said don’t do it. He didn’t listen. “Maybe we can set something up for this weekend.”
“Really?”
He nodded. Garrett kissed Imani for a long time not wanting to let her go. He was tempted to ask her to pack a bag and come home with him. Not yet, but soon. After the kiss had ended, he got out of bed and started to get dressed.
Imani wrapped herself in a sheet and watched him in all his naked glory. The man had her shivering all over. She did her best to ignore it.
“Can you come by the office tomorrow?”
Imani was putty in his hands. She’d do anything he’d ask right about now. Gazing dreamily at him, she responded. “Sure. Why?”
“I promised you a job.”
His response threw cold water all over her. “Garrett, I don’t want to . . .”
He cut her off as he finished putting on his clothes. “We’re not going to argue about it. I need the best interior designer in the Chicagoland area. That’s you. Come by tomorrow around noon. We’ll discuss everything over lunch.”
Imani got out of bed and pulled on her robe. She walked him out of the bedroom to the front door. “I’ll come by, but only if it’s a real business meeting.”
“What else would it be?”
“Okay, then, instead of a lunch meeting, we can meet at one o'clock?”
His eyes furrowed together. “You do know people have lunch meetings all the time?”
“Yes. But, usually, not after sleeping with the client the night before. I need you to take me seriously, Garrett. This is my dream.”
He understood. “I get it. I’ll have my assistant call to confirm just to make sure there’s nothing on my calendar.”
Imani wrapped her arms around his neck. “Thank you.” She kissed him softly on the lips.
Garrett didn’t want to let her go. “You taste so good. I don’t want to leave.”
“I don’t want you to, but I understand.”
“I’ll call you from the car.”
Imani nodded.
Garrett kissed her one last time before walking out of the door.
Chapter 15
It seemed as if it was only yesterday that Garrett had thrown Shannon Hadley out of his office. He had to give it to her; she worked fast because her divorce lawyers had already sent over an amendment to her demands by late this morning.
She was going to try to do everything in her power to make the divorce more difficult by trying to contest the prenuptial agreement. She’d even gone so far as to use their son against him—demanding full custody.
Garrett was going to see to it that Shannon never laid eyes on the boy ever again. He didn’t need her brand of crazy.
Lately, the only bright spot in Garrett’s life had been his son and Imani.
Imani had flown back into town yesterday, and they’d spent the evening together, mostly in bed. The thought brought a smile to his face.
Garrett had lofty ideas about courting her, but the moment he started getting ready for their date, he had a feeling it would spiral out of control. It did, and he wasn’t sorry about it. Being with her was incredible not just physically, but it gave him a sense of something he’d never experienced—peace.
Today, Imani was going to meet him at his office for a business lunch. Garrett checked his watch every fifteen minutes waiting for one o’clock to arrive. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been this excited about anything. After yesterday, there was no way he could claim they were just friends. He wouldn’t even try to put the genie back in the bottle. He might try for an afternoon quickie.
His assistant rang him at exactly one o’clock. “Yes?”
“Ms. Imani Jones is here to see you.”
“Please send her in.”
A moment later, the door opened, and Imani appeared like an angel. Even all business, she was a vision wearing a black form fitting dress that hugged every delectable curve. Her dark hair was bone straight, and she’d even done her makeup.
Garrett already thought those almond shaped eyes and full lips were the sexiest he’d ever seen and tasted, but this Imani left him speechless. She was beautiful without any make-up, but like this, she was simply drop dead gorgeous. “Wow.”
Imani smiled just a bit as she glided into his office, hoping for just the reaction she’d received. She’d spent all morning getting ready. Her plan was to be all business, but the heat in his eyes made her forget all about that.
She cleared her throat. “Garrett.”
He stood drinking in the sight of her. “Wow.”
“You already said that.”
Silently, he began to walk closer. He touched her cheek then
