Free Saving Her: BWWM Interracial Romance by Mandi Moane, BWWM Team

back.
    “Damn, you look good,” Raquel said as she peered in the bathroom from the doorway.
    “You're on time. Thank you.”
    “It's okay. I wasn't doing anything and I can use the money.”
    “Can't we all.” I turned from the mirror to her. “You sure I look okay?”
    “What kind of date is it?”
    “Not a date really.”
    Was it? I wondered.
    “When you gonna be back?”
    “It's Christmas Eve. We're not going to be out late. Thanks for coming over last minute.”
    “I'm your girl.”
    “You are...”
    I smiled at her then walked out to the living room to spend a little time with Edward before Mike showed up. When he arrived and knocked on the door, I didn't feel nervous. Since we already knew each other, I felt comfortable about going out with him.
    We went to the same Italian restaurant we'd gone to before. Strangely, I ordered the lasagna and he had the Chicken Parmesan this time. As we drank wine while waiting on our food, I broke down and told him about Ron suing me.
    I knew it was not the right thing to say after calling him on Christmas Eve to take me to dinner – especially since we were the only two people in the restaurant at five in the evening – but I couldn't help myself.
    “I think I can help,” he said casually.
    My head tilted to the side. “Explain?”
    “My brother is a lawyer. I can have him help you.”
    “Really? You would do that for me?”
    “For you? Yes. He owes me one anyway.”
    “Why you doing all this for me?”
    “Just being nice, I guess.”
    “You wanting something, aren't you?”
    “I just like spending time with you. I think you're a fascinating person.”
    I rolled my eyes as our food arrived. The conversation slipped to other topics, like how his gym was going and the fact that I'd gotten my bachelor's degree and could take my RN exam to get certified finally. We both seemed to naturally know when to stop talking and just listen.
    The food was good. When we were done, we left right away so that the restaurant could close and the employees could go home to their families. He drove through the nearly empty streets toward my apartment, and I wondered if I was going to invite him up.
    Edward knew enough about Christmas and his waiting presents that he would probably be asleep already so that he could get up at the crack of dawn and have at them. The scene of him ripping wrapping paper was one I cherished.
    “You want to come up and chill for a few?” I asked when he parked in front of my building.
    “Sure.”
    We walked upstairs. Raquel left quickly without saying a word, but she had a grin on her face as she slid out the door. Edward was asleep, so I headed into the living room and changed the television to an R&B station. Miraculously, a Jeremih song played.
    He sat down on one end of the couch. I sat next to him then slipped my hand behind his back. We looked at each other, each knowing what was going to happen next. Our heads moved forward and our lips touched slightly. I pulled back briefly then pressed them against his again.
    Music played softly as we kissed each other. When he moved his hand to my thigh, I thought I was going to die. I had to pull back because I was getting so hot. He looked at me as if he was trying to read my thoughts.
    “I can't go any further tonight,” I said after a moment of silence.
    I half expected him to react like Ron, who had always gotten upset when I wasn't in the mood.
    “It's okay. You have a big day tomorrow. Do you have the paperwork on the custody thing so I can give it to my brother tomorrow?”
    “Yeah.”
    I stood up and fetched the paper from a drawer in the kitchen. We had gone from sensual kiss to paperwork and favors in a flash. Had I ruined the moment? He appeared to be okay with me not wanting to go further, but I really couldn't tell. He was a man after all.
    “Thanks again,” I said.
    “My pleasure.”
    After he left, I fell asleep on the couch. My dreams were sexual. Someone who could have been Mike