Love UnExpected (Love's Improbable Possibility) (37 page)

“
Tired?”

“
Sapped. It's been a long forty-eight hours.”

I was reminded how the night before Azmir didn't get home until after
four in the morning and we left for the airport at nine. One thing he was right about in his rebuking me earlier is that he is a hard working man. Azmir worked like a horse even if I didn’t have total knowledge of his day-to-day affairs.

After dinner
, we returned back to the suite. It was after twelve a.m. Eastern time and even I was being called by the Sandman. Once I came out of the bathroom from showering and removing my makeup, I saw that Azmir wasn’t in the bed. I walked out to the living room expecting to see him on a mergers call. I thought I’d have to muster the nerve to tell him to disconnect the line because I was in need of him.

The suite was pretty much quiet
, only playing extraneous noises from things outside. I reached the living room to find Azmir's lengthy body facing the window, sprawled out on two single sofa chairs. One held his upper torso while the other supported his feet. He laid there with all but his shoes on.  He was a beautiful sight to drink in.

Boy! The things I could do to you right now, Mr. Jacobs
.

He lo
oked vulnerable and welcoming, but most of all tired so I decided right away that I wouldn't try anything with him. Feeling the urge to lay with him, I slowly crawled into his lap and planted my head on his chest. He smelled so good and was comfortably warm.

I exhaled deeply a
nd basked in everything Azmir. I thought of how nice this was, being in the arms of someone who cared for me and wanted me with him. He seemed so peaceful and uncomplicated. If I was not mistaken I could feel Azmir's bone protruding through his pants, poking my backside. My head shot up at him and stilled when I saw his serenely sleep face.

If only you were awake. We could make good on that promise
.

My thoughts drift
ed to all things consisting of him.

I w
oke up the next morning in the bed. It took me a minute to realize where I was and how it was obvious Azmir placed me in here. I opened my eyes to see I was facing the window and turned over to check on Azmir, only he was not there, though his tantalizing scent was. I rose from the bed and set out for the bathroom to find him, to no avail. I heard him on the phone, business related no doubt. I could always tell by his tone and vernacular. He was in the living room.

“
Peg, that's truly unacceptable of the water company. Deer Park has been vying for our business for years. You have full autonomy to terminate our relationship with them and move along to DP.”

H
is tone was placating and he looked over to me and rolled his eyes in annoyance of the conversation. Old Lady Peg can be a lot to handle...
I know
. I glanced over at the clock and it read eleven thirteen. This man never rested.

He tossed me the breakfast menu.
Good
. I was starved. I looked over it...waffles, pancakes, French toast—
ahhhhh
...French toast! 

After breakfast
, he offered to take me out for a city stroll. How could I resist. I dressed in a white, off the shoulder, tunic kimono-styled dress with floral print and flat silver sandals. I drew my hair into a ponytail against my right shoulder and let my dangling hair rest upon my clavicle bone.

While looking myself over in the mirror my disappointment grew at the realization that Azmir had not touched me since we'd been on NYC soil.
I was starved of his touch. Robbed of his fiery affection. Inwardly, I cursed myself for being so attached to this man and so soon—not that I had any frame of reference. But I didn’t like the need that I’d developed for him. This was so not like him, but I didn't have the nerve to address it and resolved to letting it blow over.

We hurried out of the suite with him barking instructions to someone on his blackberry. He didn't get off until we arrived on 5th Ave where
I took note of the various high-end stores. We walked past several of them until we got to Rolex. Azmir opened the door and held it for me to go inside, which I did.

An associate came over to greet us and Azmir asked about a specific watch. I wondered to myself if he had planned
to purchase an icebreaker gift for Yazmine. I stood at an adjourning case admiring watches as they spoke.

“Ms. Brimm?”
Azmir called over to me and I joined him. 

I immediately noticed the s
ales associate bearing a watch. Its beauty was breathtaking.

“
This is...exquisite, Azmir. You sure have singular taste,” I mustered, pondering if that was what he was getting her.

“
Can you try it on?” he asked looking at me inscrutably and I was suddenly confused. I looked over to the ever smiling sales guy and felt embarrassed so I reached out my arm for him to slide it on my wrist. 

“
Looks a little oversized but if you give me a moment I can size it for you,” the sales associate offered and walked off to do so after Azmir nodded giving permission.

My eyes went back to Azmir who was gazing at me intently. He eventually says,
“Ms. Brimm, I thought it would be nice if we had matching timepieces. I get lots of compliments from mine and wanted to share the love.”

I gasped as
my eyes involuntarily widened. “Azmir, you don’t have to do that.” This was all truly unnecessary.

He exhaled loudly through his nostrils as he flexed his jaw.
“It's simply a gesture of intimacy. It's really not that big of a deal.”

I didn't mean to upset him. I just d
idn't get why he liked to spend his money on me. For crying out loud he'd already purchased several things for me last week alone. As much as I was conflicted in thought about this I was not trying to ruin the weekend, not this important one anyway. I'd just have to sit him down about it when we returned home. 

He gave me a cold gape, one that actually melted my heart.
Ohhhhhh, Azmir!
Why must you be so difficult?

The sales guy called out.
“Would you like this wrapped or would the lady like to don it today?”

Before Azmi
r could respond I yelled out, “I’d like to wear it,” with a forced smile that never left Azmir. Azmir didn’t return the smile but his expression softened. We really need to get over this impasse. He paid for it and we left for more sightseeing. No need to mention, there were no more purchases made that day.

We returned to the suite to rest and change. Still no touch or mere affection from
Mr. Jacobs. I was so tense and emotionally wound up that I withdrew from him just to protect myself. 

With security in tow, we headed out for the night. After a scrumptious dinner
, we attended a listening party in the Meatpacking District for an up and coming artist signed to one of the bigger record labels. There was a small crowd but lots of energy. We sat cocktail style in the room where there was informal seating and not enough for every guest. I could surmise that it was by invite only because Azmir had to give his name and have it verified by a list when we arrived.

The young male artist was a
mix of R&B and country. The songs that were played and performed featured minimal effects from electronic instruments. His sound consisted mostly of guitar, drums, keyboard, organ, and a couple of live horns. It was eclectic but I enjoyed it. The artist, Ragee, spoke a lot about the sounds of the singles and inspiration behind the lyrics in between tracks. It was like being at an intimate concert. 

R
agee sang a cut about being blissfully in love and not knowing why. The lyrics blended so well with the horns that accompanied it. It struck a chord. At one point during the performance I looked up and found Azmir's searing eyes. I didn't know why he was staring at me. Perhaps I swayed a little too hard? I didn't think I did. But then out of nowhere, he shifted closer to me and draped his arms around my waist as I was perched on a barstool. He bent down and softly kissed me behind my ear. That good ol’ current flashed through my body. It was so powerful that I had to steady myself by using his arm. I'd missed him so much. It was as if I'd been there in the Big Apple with an entirely different man.

It was a good moment. So good that my heart had urged me to say so much but I lacked the gall to tell him how much I needed his balance and affection.
Perhaps later
.

In the middle of that thought a brown skin
ned, medium build guy with well-tailored clothing and noted jewelry approached Azmir.

“
Divine!” he called out. The song had ended. 

“Money Mike. What it do!”

“
I'm surprised to see yo ass here. When the event coordinator mentioned your RSVP I was like this dude ain't coming. He never shows!” Mike shouted in excitement while giving Azmir that manly hug and dap. 

“
I never RSVP and not show, man. You know that.”

“
True...true. Where you been? Niggas been tryna touch you for the West Coast love and ain't heard from you in damn near a year.” Even with his sheer excitement and pleasant surprise of running into Azmir, Mike was cornering him.

“
I've been grinding, man...switching up my shit.”

“
Yeah! I heard about your born day party a couple months back. I got my invite but I had to prep my artists and shit for the BET Awards. My bad, man! I heard that shit was off the fucking chain. I ran into TyTy and he told me Jay, Ye, Common, Mo, Black and all 'em niggas was there representing!” Mike screeched as he was amped up at the news.

Azmir
’s tone wasn't as spirited. He had his one arm wrapped around me and eventually slipped his other as well.
Talk about PDA.

“
Yeah, that shit was proper. My right hand, Petey Crack, went all out...even threw in some surprises that still got me feeling blown away.” He ended lowly and squeezed his arms around me as if he were speaking directly to me.

“
Oh, Money M, this is a good friend of mine, Rayna Brimm. Ms. Brimm, this is Mike Brown. He’s the top A&R from the label. I go back with this dude since grammar school. I remember you following Stacy Bronson home. Had her scared of your pissy ass and now look at you. You the man up in the industry now. Proud of you, duke,” Azmir said sincerely.

A
face-splitting smile eclipsed upon Mike’s face. “I appreciate that, Divine. Nice to meet you, lady.” He gently flashed a generic flirtatious eyes toward me. I only nodded because it was obvious that he was not interested in meeting me. He was all up Azmir's butt. 

“
You've always had that buttah taste in the ladies, D. This one is really fly.”

I didn't find that
comment appropriate but somehow didn't feel the need to become offended because Mike struck me as heedless; I knew he wasn’t attempting to be offensive.

“
Really? I don't think I've ever come across anything as beautifully rare as Ms. Brimm,” Azmir cleaned up though it was unnecessary. I knew that this Money Mike character had put his foot in his mouth. His facial reaction to Azmir's remarks confirmed it.  

“
Yup, you right, D! Y'all hitting up Marqui tonight. A lot of heads gonna be there. I heard it's off the damn chain right now. Jay and all 'em headed over there.”

“
Yeah. He’s hit me up since I’ve been in town. Maybe we will roll through. The night's still young,” Azmir ended that line looking to me for approval. I shrug my shoulders in agreement.

“
But wait! Before y'all bounce I want you to meet Ragee, man.” Mike turned and demanded a young female to go and grab Ragee right away and she quickly scurried off. Turning back to us he said, “Yo, D, I really need all the help I can get with this one, man! The label is putting alotta dough behind him because I promised I could get people like you to push work.” 

While Mike pleaded
, Azmir held an insusceptible face giving an occasional nod. My poor Azmir wasn't interested. He was getting hassled and it didn't look good.

See, MirMir, this is why I don't like you buying me things. I don't want you to ever get the impression that I only value what you do for me materialistically.
 
I wished I could explain this to him and soon.

“
Yeah, man. I heard what you did for RinRin. That marketing plan was genius.” Azmir's arms tightened around me again. He was uneasy. 

“
Money, man...my hands ain't been that deep in the industry in a minute. I'm in a different industry all together.”

“
Yeah, I heard that, D, man...but you still got radio connects in LA. I just need you to vouch for me. This why I want you to meet him, man.”

And as if on cue
, Ragee walked up on Mike and taps him on the shoulder. When Mike turned over to him telling him who Azmir was, I whispered to Azmir, “I'm going to the ladies room and when I return I'll be ill and need to leave.” I nodded slowly and he winked at me conspiratorially. I walked off just as Mike started his introductions.