Reece
After Troy left, I stood in the office for a few minutes longer. I couldn’t move as the words that Troy just told me kept repeating in my head. Even though he said he wasn’t running game, was he really telling me the truth? The man is a huge player, so he could be telling me that to let my guard down, especially since I said we shouldn’t be getting involved.
I went to the desk to sit down when the door from outside opened and Jamarcus walked in.
“Hey. I didn’t know you were in here. I was about to help Nena on the register,”
“Oh, yeah. I forgot for a second that I was working.”
Jamarcus came closer to me. “Is everything okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, something that Troy said kind of caught me off guard.”
“Please don’t tell me he made a crude comment,”
I shook my head. “No. He was actually being honest and sweet,”
Jamarcus chuckled. “Troy Jimenez being sweet? That’s funny.”
I shook my head again. “You know him better than I do. Has he tried the sweet routine to get laid?”
Jamarcus shook his head. “From the time I have known Troy, he has always been straightforward about what he wants. He’ll always tells a woman that all he wants is sex and she’ll agree. But even I have noticed that he’s a little different around you. It’s still too soon to tell, but I think he actually wants to do things differently with you. He might actually want a relationship.”
I glanced at Jamarcus as he shrugged. “I guess we’re all in for a wild ride with you two.”
I smiled. “I guess so,”
The door opened from the other side as Nena stuck her head in. “Can someone please help me? The line is getting longer,”
“Sorry, Nena. I’ll be right out.” I said.
She closed the door and I smiled at Jamarcus. “Thanks, Jamarcus,”
“For what?”
“For listening and being honest.”
“Of course.”
Jamarcus walked out as I took another deep breath. What if things progressed between Troy and me? I can’t let that happen, especially since I’m up to head the Dallas store. I couldn’t let that jeopardize the real reason I was there.
I can’t fall for this man. I made a promise to Vanessa, so I need to stick to it. I have to.
***
After the long work day, we were all exhausted and hungry since we didn’t even have time to eat. The car wash pulled in a lot of cars today, so at least majority of the city would be riding in clean cars.
Once Nena and I closed the lobby, we were sitting down at the counter waiting on Jamarcus and the rest of the managers to close. He’d told us not to leave yet, which I wanted so badly to do. Although I had mixed feelings about how things would go with Troy and me, I still wanted to go out with him. I was anxious to know what he had planned for us that evening.
We were still waiting when we saw Jamarcus, Troy, and several employees walking in with food and drinks.
“Okay, we know we should be leaving, but none of us had a chance to eat, so I wanted to show my gratitude by buying some food.” Troy said putting the food on the table by the window.
Patrick also brought in a few cases of beer, and several employees went to grab a bottle.
“Should we be drinking on the job? There are cameras.” I asked.
“Technically, we’re closed, and the cameras are off.” Troy said as he came to me. He handed me a beer and I took it after hesitating for a few seconds.
“If anything happens, I’ll take care of you. Remember the last time I did?”
I glanced at him as thoughts about the sex dream I’d had about him came into my head. I quickly pushed that out of my mind as I pushed the beer away. “I hate beer,”
“You’re in luck then, because I have these as well,” Jamarcus said as he handed me a spiked lemonade. I smiled as I took it from him.
As Troy was trying to get the food separated, Nena stood watching me. “Are you seriously going on a date with him? How do you know that he’s not being all nice to get you into bed?”
I glanced at Nena and shrugged. I’d told Nena earlier about Troy asking me out. She was a bit hesitant on me even thinking about going, but that’s a risk I would have to take.
“I was thinking that too, but I’m curious to see what he has planned.”
I continued to stare at Nena, who shrugged. “Okay, girl, spill. It seems as if you have a huge issue with Troy. I know because of his reputation, but there has to be more there.”
Nena looked a little uncomfortable . “I never slept with him, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“Then what is it?”
“I know what Troy can do to women. I’ve seen it first hand. Many of these women think they can change his bad boy persona, but no one has been successful. Even my best friend.”
I sighed. “She blames you for getting her heart broken, doesn’t she?”
Nena nodded. “She met Troy while visiting me at work. I warned her on several occasions to not mess with him. I even told Troy if he hurt her I would hate him for life; but of course neither one listened.
“When things turned bad between them, my friend pretty much stopped talking to me. She regretted that she met him and that it was at my job that she did.”
“But what happened wasn’t your fault. Your friend is grown and you warned her.”
“Try telling her that? She hasn’t forgiven me since.”
“You think I’m going to fall into the trap, huh?”
“I feel like you already have. I know you two have been talking more, but how do you know this is not a new way for him to get what he wants?”
“I don’t know, Nena.”
“All I can say is just be careful.”
I squeezed her arm but she refused to look me in the eye. “I really appreciate you looking out for me, but I can handle myself.”
“I know you can. I’m sure if Troy pisses you off, which he will, you’ll know how to handle it.”
I smiled, “Let’s hope that doesn’t happen,”
I looked over to the table where Troy was talking with Jamarcus. He looked over at me and winked. I smiled as my heart fluttered. What the hell?
After everyone ate, we continued to hang out. Tyler turned on some music from his phone, which had some people dancing.
“You know we could go out for this,” Nena said and laughed.
“Does it matter where we dance at? As long as we’re having fun. Right, Reece?” Troy asked as he took my hand into his.
I smiled and hopped off the counter. Troy and I e began dancing in the middle of the store. I was kind of nervous, several employees were watching, but we were into the music, and Troy spun me around, I didn’t care. I was just enjoying the moment with him.
“I love when you’re relaxed like this,” Troy whispered in my ear.
I blushed as Troy held onto me. My heart fluttered again, I found myself wishing it would stop because I wasn’t suppose to be feeling anything for this man. He’s a womanizer, and Nena could be right about him. This could be a plot to sleep with me.
Or is it?
“Be ready for tonight, because it’s going to be a night to remember,” Troy said.
I nodded, still in shock that I was going out with Troy, but I was really looking forward to the night ahead.