Free Craving Temptation by Deborah Fletcher Mello Page B

nice.”
    He chuckled softly. “There is nothing nice about Rachel. Don’t turn your back on her. She is a shark through and through! That’s why I practice law with the woman!”
    â€œI’ll keep that in mind,” she said.
    Troy nodded. “So tell me more about your family. Your mother raised you, right?”
    Her smile was bright. “She did. I adore my mother. She’s very much a free spirit. I look at her and then at my father and I can’t imagine the two of them together.”
    â€œSo it was just the two of you growing up? Just you and your mom?”
    â€œNot at all. My mother comes from a big family. I have uncles and aunts and cousins. They give new meaning to it taking a village to raise a child.”
    â€œI can see that. Quentin and I used to joke that we had a dozen mothers. Every woman who had her eye on Pop mothered us!” he said with a hearty laugh.
    Amina laughed with him as they fell into a moment of pause. “Thank you,” she finally said, her smile seeming even brighter.
    â€œFor what?”
    â€œFor showing me a wonderful time. For your friendship. For understanding. I really appreciate that.”
    Troy leaned back, his eyes appraising her. “I really like you, Amina. I like you more than you realize and I want you to have more from me than just friendship.”
    Amina’s eyes were wide, her expression stunned as Troy dropped his credit card onto the table and gestured for the waiter to come retrieve the check. Minutes later they were back in his car, heading through town toward Beale Street. When they reached the bakery, Troy pulled his car around to the driveway in the back of the building. An awkward silence billowed between them as he shut down the engine. At the back door, a light was still on, Harper having promised to open the door for Amina no matter what time she returned. Neither moved, both hating that their time together was coming to a quick end.
    Amina’s hands were clenched tightly together in her lap, her palms beginning to perspire. The radio was playing softly, someone’s love song singing the sweetest melody. She could feel her heart beating in her chest, the intensity of it like a drum line in full swing. Beside her Troy’s breathing had become heavy, a deep, low pant that seemed to further ignite her nerves.
    As Amina searched for words to express what she was feeling, Troy reached for her hand, his own sneaking into her lap to clasp her fingers between his fingers. He pulled her hand to his lips and gently kissed the back of it. As he did a current of heat coursed from the center of her feminine spirit and spiraled throughout every nerve ending in her body. She felt her breath catch in her chest as she took a swift inhalation and held it. Tears suddenly pressed hot behind her eyelids.
    â€œI really want to see you again,” Troy said, his voice a muffled rasp rising from someplace deep in his chest.
    She nodded, knowing that there was nothing and no one that would be able to keep her from seeing him again. “Just call me!” she said. “I definitely want to spend time with you.”
    He shook his head. “No. I want to know now when you will see me again.”
    Amina squeezed his fingers. “Whenever you want,” she answered.
    His head was still waving from side to side. “What I really want is for us not to let this night end. What I want is for you to stay with me and not go home. But I know I can’t have what I want. ”
    Amina lifted her gaze to his, the intensity of his stare consuming. It took her breath away and despite her best efforts a tear rolled past her lashes. Before she could utter another word, Troy leaned his torso over the center console and captured her mouth beneath his own. A current of electricity shot through them both as flesh touched flesh. His lips were eager and searching as they skated easily over hers. No man had ever kissed her with so