My Married Boyfriend by Cydney Rax Page A

it her way, she would never relive her old ways again.
    * * *
    Sunday morning, Rashad woke up to the lovely aroma of French toast, crispy bacon, and fluffy scrambled eggs. He sat up in bed, noticing that Nicole wasn’t lying next to him. He wandered into the kitchen and was met by a surprise.
    Nicole stood in front of the sink wearing a red apron. She had learned that red was Rashad’s favorite color; red was also the color of sex, passion, and love, and she planned to wear lots of it.
    Myles stood on a tiny stepstool by the counter that stored the hearthstone canisters. One by one, he dropped lemon slices into a glass pitcher. Rashad saw the big metal spoon, a measuring cup filled with sugar, and six teabags that were sitting in a pot on the stove with steam rising over it.
    â€œHomemade sweet tea?”
    â€œI’m a Southern girl. You know how we roll.”
    â€œAw, man, that’s what I’m talking about.” Rashad yawned and stretched. “I tried to enjoy my sleep, but all the noise in this kitchen plus the good smells wouldn’t let me.”
    â€œAnd it’s about time Daddy woke up, right, Myles?” Nicole asked.
    â€œHe’s a lazy bum.”
    â€œHey, watch that, son! Why y’all teaming up on me? I work hard . I deserve to sleep in once in a while.”
    â€œIf you had slept any longer, you would’ve missed all this good food. And I know how much you love to taste my stuff.”
    â€œYou damn sure right about that.” Rashad took a hard look at Nicole. She was getting her sexy on by wearing a pretty dress underneath her new red apron. She looked so beautiful that Rashad imagined she was naked, even though she clearly wasn’t.
    He enjoyed watching Nicole cook for him. The way to his heart was definitely through his stomach, among other things. Rashad learned the hard way that most women want to be valued. He wanted to do the right thing with this lady. So he came and gave Nicole an encouraging hug. She moved her face near his lips for a light kiss, but he shook his head as a stern warning.
    â€œWhy you trying to hide our relationship?” Nicole asked. “You know I’m hot for you whether little man is in the room or not.”
    â€œYeah, but—”
    â€œIn my opinion, if you are happy and you’re doing what you want with the chick you really want to be with, ain’t no need to hide it, right?”
    â€œCan we eat now and talk about this when the time is right, babe?”
    â€œStop avoiding important issues, Rashad. Now is the right time to talk about it.”
    Nicole called on Myles. “Hey there, son. Remember the conversation we had yesterday when your dad ran his errand?”
    â€œSon?” Rashad muttered under his breath.
    â€œYeah, Ms. Nicole. I remember. What about it?”
    â€œUm, like I already told you, whenever you come over here you’ll be sleeping in your own room.” She lovingly placed her arms around Myles as she talked to him. “And the truth is your daddy sleeps with me in the bed that’s in my room. I mean, in our room.”
    Rashad cleared his throat. But Nicole ignored him.
    â€œYeah. You see, last night Daddy tried to sleep on the couch, but doing that isn’t healthy for him. It hurts his back. And if his back is hurting, he can’t work. And if he can’t work, he can’t make money. And if he can’t make money, he can’t afford to buy you all the helicopters you like to play with. And without enough money, he won’t be able to buy you the foods you like to eat. And he definitely can’t take you on a safari. That’s why Daddy needs to sleep on a nice, firm mattress. You understand what I’m trying to say, Myles?” She released the little boy. She then winked at Rashad and walked over to him and physically closed his open mouth with her fingers.
    â€œOh, okay. I get it! To get all the stuff I want, my daddy gotta make his