Craving Temptation (3 page)

Harper laughed. “I've seen women wearing the headscarf but why the veil?”

“My father insists on it. I would much rather just wear the hijab.”

“Hijab? That's just the head wrap?”

Amina nodded. “I'm wearing the niqab,” she said, explaining the difference. “It includes the veil to cover a woman's face.”

“I've heard of the term hijab before. I don't think I've ever heard the other word.”

“Unless you're wearing it you might not know the difference. Most people just lump it all under the hijab label. It's just easier that way.” She shrugged her shoulders slightly.

“Did you just come back from mosque,” Harper said, leaning against the counter. “It's mosque, right?”

Amina nodded. “Yes, it's mosque. But no. I had to attend a program at the Memphis Islamic Center on Humphreys Road. My father insisted I participate,” Amina said, her eyes rolling skyward.

Harper smiled. “Sounds like a story there.”

“I'll share it with you one day,” Amina responded.

“How about Tuesday?” Harper questioned. “We can do lunch?”

Amina nodded. “I would really like that,” she answered.

Troy looked from one to the other, his head shifting from side to side as if he were watching a tennis match. He was surprised with the level of comfort the two women shared; the duo engaged as if they were age-old friends. Harper shot him a quick look.

“The chocolate cookies are back in the kitchen, Troy,” she said, a wry smile pulling at her mouth.

He shot both women a quick look and nodded. “I'll go get those,” he said, an index finger pointing toward the back as he disappeared through the swinging doors.

Harper and Amina burst out laughing.

“He's so cute!” Amina exclaimed, her voice dropping to a low whisper.

Harper nodded, whispering back. “He's a great guy. You're the first woman I know who's ever had him tongue-tied,” she said with a low giggle.

Amina's eyes widened with joy. “I hope that's a good thing,” she said softly.

The two women fell silent as Troy suddenly made his way back, an empty confection box in his hand. “I didn't ask how many you wanted,” he said, looking from Amina to Harper and back.

Both women laughed again, the lilt of it warming the room.

Troy rolled his eyes skyward, his own grin blooming full and wide. “Okay, I am officially embarrassed. I'm not usually this awkward,” he said, his eyes meeting Amina's stare.

“Yes, he is,” Harper said as she pulled the cardboard box from his hands. “How many cookies would you like, Amina?”

“I'll actually take two dozen if you have them,” she answered.

Harper nodded her head as she pushed past Troy into the back kitchen area.

Troy could feel his anxiety level rising. He took a deep breath and held it. “So how long have you known Harper?” he asked, reaching for conversation.

“We just met the other day, remember?” Amina answered. Amusement shimmered in her light eyes.

The man's head bobbed against his broad shoulders, his eyes skating back and forth. From the corner table Quentin and Michael were each giving him a thumbs-up. He felt a rush of heat pierce his cheeks, color flooding his caramel complexion. He was grateful Amina had her back to them, his embarrassment already acute.

Harper suddenly returned with Amina's box of cookies, the white box sealed with the Just Desserts sticker. She and Troy were still staring at each other as Harper rang up the transaction and passed Amina her change.

“It was very nice to meet you, Troy,” Amina said sweetly. “Harper, I'll see you on Tuesday.”

“Great,” Harper responded. “Let's meet here at eleven-thirty.”

“Can we do one o'clock instead?” Amina questioned. “I have an appointment that might run over and I wouldn't want to rush or be late.”

“I can definitely do one o'clock,” Harper answered.

In agreement, the two women nodded as Amina shifted her eyes back to Troy. “It was very nice to see you again, Troy!” Everything about her body language confirmed the statement.

He grinned. “It was nice to see you, too, Amina,” Troy said.

As she turned and headed for the bakery door, Quentin and Michael both came to their feet and applauded, cheering Troy on from the peanut gallery.

Laughing, Amina tossed Troy one last look as she waved good-bye. Her seductive stare hardened every muscle in his body. It was only after the bakery was behind her, Amina reaching her Toyota Corolla that she saw the oversize poster in the window. Troy Elliott's smiling image was looking back at her, his campaign slogan printed in bold letters:
TROY ELLIOTT FOR MAYOR—WHEN ALL ELSE HAS FAILED YOU!

Troy stepped into a hot shower, tilting his head beneath the spray of water. He savored the sensation of wetness that rained over his face, down his broad chest, to the ceramic tiles beneath his bare feet. With both hands pressed against the shower wall he relaxed into the stinging pulsation that massaged his shoulders and back, the heated moisture feeling near perfect.

His day had been long and tedious. Laying out the game plan for his campaign was time consuming. Between planning his calendar for appearances, the telephone calls for sponsorships, and everything else necessary to kick off his campaign, he was exhausted. And exhilarated. Because support was quickly coming from people and places he had only hoped for.

He took a deep breath and then a second. He imagined that until the election he'd have little time for anything that didn't revolve around the campaign. Under normal circumstances that wouldn't have bothered him but for the first time it gave him reason to rethink what he wanted. Because for the first time he couldn't get a woman out of his mind, thoughts of Amina consuming him.

Since their encounter on Saturday, Troy hadn't been able to stop himself from thinking about her. He was curious to know more about her. There was something intriguing about the woman and it had little to do with his being unable to see her face or the wardrobe that hid her body from view. There had been something in her stare that had warmed his spirit and he liked what he saw when she'd looked at him.

Troy couldn't help but think about the old English proverb about the eyes being the window to the soul. Having only had Amina's eyes to look into had been engaging. She was spirited as evidenced by the fire in the pale orbs. And affable, her deep gaze filled with kindness and compassion. But there was something else about her eyes. Something intoxicating and sensual that fired his nerve endings with excitement.

Troy was mildly disturbed by his body's reaction to the nearness of her. Saturday had been a first for him, anxiety sweeping over him as her eyes had teased and taunted his sensibilities. He'd been nervous and tongue-tied, every ounce of rational thought melting beneath her gaze. And excited, her presence igniting a wave of heat through his groin as his muscles had hardened with the look she'd given him. Troy's composure had been lost and no other woman in his life had ever affected him like that. Amina had him feeling some kind of way and he found it both intriguing and disconcerting.

Blowing a deep sigh Troy reached for his washcloth and the bar of soap that rested below the showerhead. As he lathered his body, his hands gliding over his muscles, the scent of patchouli and vanilla teased his nostrils. He couldn't help but smile, the organic cleanser representing yet another change in the family home since Harper's arrival. Her feminine presence had completely transformed the all-male aura the home had once exuded.

Troy hadn't planned to stay over but his last meeting with his friend Mike had lasted longer than any of them had planned. Both Harper and Quentin had insisted he stay since both knew his day would be starting early. Troy had resisted at first, thinking nothing of making the thirty-minute drive to his Oak Ridge home. And then he remembered that the next day was Tuesday and Amina was coming back on Tuesday. He didn't want to risk missing another encounter with the beautiful woman. Troy was suddenly grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of seeing her again.

Stepping out of the shower Troy wrapped a large white towel around his solid frame, swiping at the moisture against his skin. As he stared at his reflection in the mirror he couldn't help but wonder if Amina had given him a second thought since he'd made a bumbling fool of himself. His head waved gently from side to side as he imagined the thoughts that had to have run through her mind. Hopefully he'd be able to redeem himself when he saw her next, he mused. Hopefully seeing her again might be eventful for them both.

 

 

Amina whispered her last prayer of the day, then crawled into the twin bed in her sister's room. Rasheeda was already snoring softly on the other side of the small space, the deep inhalation and exhalation of her breath muffled beneath the covers. It had been a long day and the next was going to be even longer as they officially announced her father's run for the mayoral office. She was looking forward to that moment being over, when she could steal away to have lunch with her new friend Harper and maybe see Troy Elliott one more time.

Amina smiled as she pulled the covers around her thin frame, a light chill running up her spine. She'd been thinking about Troy since their last meeting at the bakery, anxious to know more about him. She was also curious to know more about his run for mayor, to discover how his platform was different from or similar to her father's. She hated to acknowledge that her attraction to the beautiful man was suddenly a conflict of interest that could easily prove to be problematic.

She pinched herself, her head waving from side to side against the down pillows. She had no business being interested in any man. That wasn't why she'd come to Memphis and it definitely didn't fit into the plans her father suddenly seemed to have for her future. She rolled onto her back, pulling an arm up and over her head. As she stared toward the ceiling, Amina's mind raced, conflicted by the mountain of emotion flooding her spirit.

She was surprised that Troy Elliott had managed to capture her attention and hold it. There was something about the good-looking man that had her excited to know more. That interest went against the grain of everything she prescribed to. But the man's presence was magnanimous and when he walked into a room he captivated everyone's attention. Such an ability would make him a formidable opponent. It also teased her feminine spirit, striking heat deep in her center. That heat radiated into every nerve ending and left her in a thick sweat. Amina couldn't remember any man ever making her feel that way.

Since graduation from law school she'd been focused solely on her career and her ability to effect positive change in the community. A relationship had never been on the agenda. But since meeting Troy she was suddenly fantasizing about a relationship, pondering the mechanics of sharing her life with a man. She must have fallen and bumped her skull, she mused, a smile pulling at her mouth.

Amina heaved a deep sigh. Even if she wanted a relationship, her father would never approve of her being with a man who was not Muslim, and her mother would be adamant that she
not
marry a Muslim man. Amina knew she'd be caught smack-dab between a rock and a hard place. The more she thought about it, she fathomed that it would be better if she abandoned all carnal thoughts she suddenly found herself having. Nothing good could ever come from her giving any credence to such a thing. But minutes later she was still tossing from side to side, unable to get thoughts of Troy out of her head.

 

 

“I think it's love at first sight,” Harper mused, a wide smile filling her face. She looked from her husband to his brother and back, the two men standing in deep conversation as Quentin tested a new bread recipe.

Troy rolled his eyes skyward. “No one said anything about love, Harper,” he stated.

Quentin shook his head. “Why are you eavesdropping on our conversation?” he questioned, his eyebrows lifted as he met his wife's stare.

“You two are standing in the middle of the kitchen and expect that no one is listening to your conversation? Really?” Harper tossed a look to the other employees in the room.

Everyone around them laughed heartily. The two brothers cut an eye at each other as Harper continued.

“If you want to have a conversation about a woman and not have anyone hear you then you might want to talk in a more private place,” she said matter-of-factly.

Troy nodded. “Point taken,” he said with a soft chuckle. He should have known better than to mention his interest in Amina to his brother while they were in the bakery. Harper had been nowhere in sight when he'd come down the back staircase but her eagle ears hadn't missed a word. Having a woman in the space was still causing some adjustments between the two men.

“But she's cute, isn't she?” Harper chimed. “And you like her, right?”

Quentin laughed. “I can't help you, Big Brother!”

Troy laughed with him. “Thanks!” He turned his attention back to Harper. “Why wouldn't I like her, Harper? Amina seems like a very nice girl.”

“Well, then you should come say hello,” Harper replied. “She's in the front.” Harper reached to give her husband a kiss. “I'll be back in a few hours, honey!”

Quentin kissed her back. “Have fun! I love you!”

Harper grinned as she turned an about-face. “Ah, love! You should try it, Troy,” she said, tossing her brother-in-law a wide smile as she moved back toward the door and disappeared from view. Troy and Quentin both laughed again.

Following on her heels Troy hesitated for a brief second. Taking a deep breath he tossed Quentin a quick glance over his shoulder before moving into the other room.

Amina and Harper were standing in the center of the room when Troy made his way inside the storefront. He came to an abrupt halt as Amina turned toward him, a bright smile on her face. The sight of her took his breath away, air catching deep in his broad chest.

Her bright eyes shimmered against her crystal complexion. She was smaller than he'd realized, her petite stature making her appear almost fragile. She wore a tailored navy dress with pearl buttons running the length of the bodice and pumps with just a hint of heel giving her some height. She had a wisp of a waist and just enough curve to her body to quicken a man's pulse. Natural auburn curls cascaded past her shoulders, the reddish brown tones complementing her warm coloration. With her hazel eyes radiating vivaciously, she was absolutely stunning.

The two women giggling brought Troy back to his senses. He shook his head, his eyes blinking rapidly as he moved to where they stood.

“Good afternoon, Troy!” Amina chimed warmly.

He cleared his throat, finding his voice. “Amina, how are you?”

Her smile was full and wide. “I'm really well. It's good to see you again.”

“It's good to see you again, too,” he responded. “Wow!” he exclaimed, the word flying past his full lips before he could catch it.

Amina's smile widened.

Harper laughed heartily. “Well, Amina and I are off to lunch. Would you like to join us?” she asked. She waved an index finger in his direction, gesturing for Troy's attention.

He struggled to take his eyes off Amina and meet Harper's intense gaze. “Oh . . . well . . . I . . .” he suddenly stuttered, unable to think coherently.

The two women shot each other a look and giggled.

Troy took a deep breath, heat coloring his cheeks a deep red. “I can't. I wish I could but I have a meeting with Mike,” he said, words returning to him.

“Maybe next time?” Amina said, the comment coming as a question.

Troy nodded. “I would like that. I would like that a lot.”

She grinned warmly. “So would I. A lot!”

Harper shook her head. “You two can arrange that when we get back. Bye, Troy!” she said as she ushered Amina toward the door.

“Good-bye!” he said, lifting his hand in an easy wave.

Tossing him one last look as they made their way out of the bakery Amina waved back, everything about her making Troy wish he could follow behind them. He heaved a deep sigh and then a second as he watched the two women get into Amina's car and disappear into traffic.

Quentin moved to his side, two cups of coffee in hand. “Harper might have a point,” he said when his brother turned to give him a look.

“What do you mean?” Troy questioned.

“It might be love at first sight!”

Troy shook his head. “I don't know about love, but it's definitely something. The woman's got me tongue-tied and sweating. I'm usually a lot more together than that around women. She's ruining my image.”

Quentin laughed as he passed one of the mugs to Troy. The two men moved into the new space and took a seat. Both paused to admire the décor. Harper had duplicated the design from the original interior, continuing the warm celadon green color on the walls and the chocolate-tinted concrete on the floors. Just a handful of tables decorated the space, affording them the ease of manipulating the seating as each event dictated. Eventually there would be a separate catering kitchen in the back, that area still under construction.

Two flat-screen televisions sat high in opposite corners. Both Quentin and Troy had been opposed to the additions but eventually agreed once Harper had pitched the decorative framed cases that could easily hide them from view. They had quickly become a popular attraction for the clientele; morning customers starting their day with the early news and the after-school crowd enjoying cartoons. The televisions were still playing although the space was empty, the midday crowd having thinned out considerably.

The brothers were enjoying their coffees when something on the television screen caught Troy's eye. “Hey,” he exclaimed, sitting forward in his seat. “Do you have the remote? Turn that up,” he said.

Quentin shifted in his seat to stare where Troy pointed. He reached for the remote and increased the volume. The local television station was broadcasting the afternoon news. The newscaster had noted a forthcoming story, the byline announcing someone's bid for mayor. Days earlier they had all watched the same announcement play out about Troy. When the channel returned from its commercial break, the newscaster played back an early morning press conference. Town councilman Nasser Salman had announced his candidacy with his family standing by his side.

Troy and Quentin turned to stare at each other at the same time. Neither had missed the beautiful woman who'd stepped up to introduce herself as Salman's campaign manager. The camera loved everything about his daughter Amina.