Page 30 of Love Delayed

“I’ll be finished with this in about thirty minutes. So, go relax, baby. Daddy will be done soon,” he said before turning his attention back to her plump ass.

After entering the side room, I spoke to the peeps that I knew and nodded to the two chicks that I didn’t. I suddenly thought I should’ve left my overpriced handbag in Rush’s booth. Fresh dressed in one of my fabulous outfits, I didn’t want one of them to think they could try to get me for my bag. Then again, I was with Rush, so them whores knew better. Once I fixed a drink, I went with my first thought and took my purse back to the front. Rush chuckled as he watched me put my engagement ring inside the zippered pocket and place it under the cabinet where he kept his supplies.

“What?” I said. “I can read the room.”

“I feel you, and it’s all good. But they already know, boo. Never will you have to ever worry about shit with me,” he expressed while still focusing on the body art he was finishing up.

“I know,” I said and went back into the side room where they were up dancing to an old house track, jumping and hopping around like they were in their twenties.

After an hour, Rush was showing his last client out. Then he locked up, set the alarm, and checked to make sure the camera was recording the front door, back door, basement door entrance, and our vehicles parked out back. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me up from his booth chair.

“I fuckin’ missed you,” he said, grabbing me by the neck.

“You know I missed you, too.”

“Is that right? Well, grab yo’ bag and come upstairs to show me how much,” he said.

Instead, my hot ass fell to my knees, feeling good from the few mixed drinks I had while waiting for him to finish working. I had been craving him, and he didn’t stop me. We ended up fucking and sucking right there on his worktable. By the time we were done, I needed his help standing. He guided me to the upper level of his building, and as soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out like a light.

Chapter Thirteen

Marcus

Despite having called and texted Eliana several times, I didn’t get a response and could only assume she was very upset with me. So, I decided to go by her place the next morning before heading to work. I didn’t want her to be mad at me for something that was nothing. No, I didn’t tell her that Zamora was staying in my family’s penthouse, but I figured she would never know since she rarely came to the hotel. I had to assure her there wasn’t anything going on with Zamora and me. Now, if she asked me if I wanted something with Zamora, I would have to lie through my teeth. I couldn’t explain in words how Zamora was my fit, and if I tried, it would make no sense to a sane person.

Eliana was a smart, vibrant, edgy, gorgeous woman who carried herself like a diva––usually not the type I’d go for. However, she had this sophistication that attracted me, and when I sat down and had a real conversation with her, she was more down-to-earth than I expected. She was not only intelligent and ambitious, but we also shared many of the same interests. I admit my feelings for her were nothing like those I carried for Zamora, but I told myself they would grow with time.

Eliana supported my business endeavors, cheering me on when I expressed wanting to open a hotel in Vegas and even saying she would move there if that’s what I wanted. That sealed the deal, and I proposed. That she would leave the Windy City with me showed she had my back, so I had to make it right with her. I thought the perfect way to do that was to take Eliana with me to the meeting with Zamora so she could see it was strictly business between us.

I pulled up in front of her building and hit the remote to open her garage. When I saw her vehicle wasn’t there, I parked and dialed her again. Once again, my call went to voicemail. I shut the garage door, exited my car, and entered her condo. After checking her bedroom, I noticed her bed was still made, which meant she hadn’t slept there the night before. I immediately sent her a text.

Where are you? I’m sorry, babes. Call me.

Thirty minutes later, I still hadn’t received a response. I was set to meet Zamora in an hour but didn’t want to go without Eliana with me. So, I called Zamora.

“Hey, hey, hey,” she sang, answering after the third ring.

That was a corny thing we used to say when we called each other, and I couldn’t help but smile at the thought.

“Hey, hey, hey,” I sang back.

“Okay, before you come, don’t eat a morsel of breakfast. Your staff and I are not only going to present you with the new menu but also let you sample a few of the dishes. So, come prepared to indulge in some deliciousness,” she said excitedly.

I squeezed the bridge of my nose and blew out a deep breath. “Zamora, thank you so much for all your hard work, but I need to reschedule for tomorrow if that’s okay. Eli and I have a slight…” I paused, not wanting to share my situation with Eliana. So, I continued by saying, “Would it be possible to do this tomorrow?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” she replied, sounding slightly disappointed. “We can do it tomorrow, but it has to be in the evening because I have a breakfast and brunch gig. Does six o’clock work for you? Wait, that will be peak time. What about Friday around ten again after your breakfast crowd and before your lunch rush?”

Just as I was about to agree to the time, I heard Eliana coming through the front door.

“I’m sure ten will be perfect. Let me call you back,” I said, abruptly ending our call.

My fiancée walked in looking like a hot mess. With her hair mangled and carrying her shoes and handbag, she stumbled down the steps of her entryway.

“Eli,” I said, and her head quickly snapped in the direction of my voice.

“Marc, baby, what…what…what are you doing here?”

Since she seemed surprised by my presence, I figured she hadn’t parked inside her garage, or else she would have seen my car.