Chapter 3
Amiyah purposely didn't answer his question.
"What about your dinner with Greta?"
"I canceled it."
"Why?"
Devin rose an eyebrow, incredulous.
"You said you had to talk about something important,"
"Oh of-course," She felt stupid for asking him that.
She had been in such a daze from his arrival, she had no clue what she was saying.
"I'm ready to take Alfredo's custody."
Relief filled Devin's face.
"That's great news.
God, Greta will be so relieved."
Swallowing the bitter taste in her mouth, she smiled.
"But-"
The smile dropped instantly as he interjected.
"There's always abut.
What do you want?
Money, this house."
Tears swelled in her eyes.Is this what he thought of her?
She blinked a couple times.
The shield of strength and cold ice was back in place.
"No, I don't want any of it.
Keep your house.
I'm capable of buying another for my son and I."
"What else do you want, Amiyah?" He asked her, puzzled.
She took a deep breath in. "I want you to kiss me in-front of our son for twelve days,"
Devin didn't ask her why.
He was afraid she would change her mind if he did.
After three months of pleading, she had finally given in. Twelve kisses if that was all it took to get rid of her then so it be.
He stepped forward, eyes of green forest and honey met half-way.
Before Amiyah had chance to stop him, he lowered his face and captured her soft lips.
It had been a while since he had last kissed her, a while too long.
Amiyah felt her heart race, faster and faster as he gently cupped her cheek.
No, no, noshe chanted inside her headnot now, not when their son was sleeping upstairs.
She did what she had to and pushed him away.
"Were you listening to what I was saying?
In-front of our son-"
Devin brushed off her comment with a bored expression.
"The faster we get this done the better.
One down.
Eleven to go."
He started walking towards his room, leaving Amiyah angry and frazzled.
How she wished that kiss hadn't dazed her?
Before entering his room, he turned around one last time.
"If you think in these twelve days, I'm going to fall in love with you again then you're heavily mistaken."
Was Devin always this cruel?
Amiyah thoughtbecause she no longer recognized her husband.
*
Devin was sitting at his desk when Greta walked into the cabin.
In her tight police uniform and a revolver around her waist, she looked like an angel ready to kill.
"Any updates on the elementary school case?" She asked, tossing a red file on the table.
Devin sighed and shook his head.
"Darn," She pressed her palms on the table.
"We need to get some leads on that principal before things get out of control."
"I won't let that happen." He placed his hand on top hers and smiled.
"So officer, how was your day?"
"Tiring.
Just came back from the East Bay patrol.
Yours?"
"I have good news for you," He grinned.
She rose an eyebrow.
"Really now?"
"Amiyah agJacob to take the custody,"
Relief flooded Greta's striking features.
She ran over to the other side of the table and hugged Devin.
He wrapped his arms around Greta's waist.
They pulled away a minute later.
A strange look glazed Devin's eyes.
For a second too short, he felt unsure if they were doing the right thing.Why was he feeling this way?
Greta clasped her hands together.
"That's great news.
You know Devin, I'm not mother material.
I know nothing other crime and theses guns.
It's relief that your son won't have to suffer with a horrible step mother,"
"You're not horrible.
Plus it's for the best if Alfredo stays with Amiyah.
I don't think they belong in our world."
Greta gave Devin's shoulder a gentle squeeze.
"You've got me.
I've got you.
That's all that matter for now.
Let's not talk about them,"
"Yah," Devin stared at the computer screen blinking before him.
"Let's not talk about them."
"Devin," Greta spoke after a moment.
Deep down she knew no matter how hard she tried, Devin's heart would never belong to her.
"You're over Amiyah, right?"
Devin met her scared stare.
"Of-course, I am." He stood up, straightening his long, grey coat.
Greta was about to lean down and kiss him but he quickly uttered the first thing that came to his mind.
"I've got to go.
I'll do some more investigation on the case."
"Okay, be careful."
Devin didn't know why he hadn't told Greta about the twelve kiss deal.
Devin didn't know why he was lying to Greta.
Once he was outside the police department building, he took a deep breath to calm his agitated nerves.
"What the heck is wrong with me?"
❁❁❁
"I'm hurting, baby, I'm broken down.
I need your loving, loving" Amiyah sang along the radio, her hips swaying with the beat as she whisked the cold butter.
She was so engrossed in making the pancake batter and jamming out toMaroon 5that she didn't notice the opening and closing of the front door.
"Sugar.
Yes, please.
Won't you come and put it down on me?
I'm right here, 'cause I need.
Little love and little sympathy"
Noticing the commotion coming from the kitchen, Devin walked into the dining area.
To his great surprise, he found his wife, dancing and twirling around.
Dressed in a floral chiffon top and capris, her curves flowed under the nearly transparent top.
Was it the heat?
Or was this room getting hotter?
Devin loosened his tie.God, when did his wife become so damn hot.Had she started working out or something?
He removed his coat.
A droplet of sweat trickled past his brow.
This was going to be a-lot harder.
Especially, when his wife was so irresistible.
The soles of his shoes clicked on the tiled floors.
Amiyah turned around suddenly, her breaths caught in throat.
Her honey spilling eyes widened.
The hungry look in Devin's eyes.
Damn.
He slipped his hand around her waist.
Amiyah's arms tightened around the bowl, holding it between them.
"What are you doing?" She spoke sharply.
Devin blinked, once, twice.
"What?" His breath smelled like tea and peppermint.
"What are you doing?" She repeated, removing herself from his grasp.
"Um... there was...some batter on your face." Devin brushed a finger along her jaw.
"I've been cooking for ten years."
Devin backed away, holding up his hands.
"I was just doing what the deal required me to do,"
"Not now, later.
In-front of our son.
Don't make me repeat that."
He nodded.
He couldn't wait to kiss those ruby lips.
When Devin realized what he had just thought, he shook his head violently, his pulse rising.
What the hell did he just think?
"I'll come home early," Devin quickly went to living room and grabbed his coat from the rack.
"Wait, what?" Amiyah came after him.
He wished she hadn't.
His body was reacting in ways he thought he had forgotten.Oh, those curves, those eyes, those lips.He couldn't stop staring at them.
"I got to go."
"But you just got here.
We have to go pick Alfredo from school."
Devin wanted to get out of here as fast as he could.
"I'll be there for dinner."
He slammed the door in her face, leaving Amiyah stunned and frazzled.
"Did I do something wrong?"
As promised, Devin arrived in time for dinner.
He parked his1998 Mercedes Benzbehind Amiyah's redCamry.Alfredo was playing with the neighbor's six year old girl, Lilah.
The kids were drawing chalk daisies on the sidewalk.
Lilah shook head, her ink black hair falling out of the bow.
"No, no.Loewis,flowers are not green,"
Alfredo glared at her.
"Flowers be green."
"Mrs.
Mole said flowers are not green," Lilah crossed her arms over her chest.
Alfredo stomped his feet.
"Alfredo want green flowers."
"I'm not playing.
Goodbye." Lilah flipped her hair and started walking away.
Her sandals flopping on the side-walk.
"No," Alfredo ran after her, the chalk fell from his hand.
"Wait, don't go, Lilah."
Devin laughed to himself as watched his son chase after the neighbor's daughter.The woman is always righthe thoughthe better learn that lesson.
He opened the door of the house.
To find Amiyah sitting by the dining table, a thick pad of paper by her elbow and a pen stuck behind her ear as she typed out an article on her laptop.
Even in her messy, dismantled state, she looked gorgeous.
She met his gaze, startled.
She seemed to be surprised a-lot these days.
Was he really that bad at keeping promises?
"Sorry.
I haven't started on dinner yet.
My back had been killing me.
I'll start on it now."
"No, chill." Devin placed his coat on the rack.
His wild green eyes took hers in.
She breathed out a shaky breath as he walked to her side.
Gently, he pushed her back in the chair.
He smelled of worn leather andValentio, it was Amiyah's favorite scent.