Read Online Craving Temptation by Deborah Fletcher Mello - Free Book Online

brother.”
    Rachel shook her head at her husband. “Didn’t I just say that?”
    Quentin nodded. “You know your man is a little slow.”
    Dwayne tossed a look around the table, his eyebrows raised. “So that would make Nasser Salman, who’s campaigning against Troy for mayor, your father?”
    Amina nodded. “Yes, he is.”
    â€œAmina is her father’s campaign manager,” Harper added.
    â€œPlease don’t hold that against me,” Amina said, making them all laugh. “So how do you know my family?” she asked, looking from Dwayne to Rachel and back.
    â€œYour brother and I did some business together a while back,” Dwayne answered. “Rachel was the attorney on the deal.”
    â€œWhat business was that?” Amina questioned. She eyed him curiously.
    â€œI own a large food-services company and your brother brokered the sale of a small business I acquired.”
    In the back of her mind Amina recalled her father’s excitement over Basil’s accomplishment. “You own Home Grown Foods?”
    Dwayne smiled. “I do and at the time we were looking to expand into the halal market. Your brother was instrumental in helping us acquire the right partners.”
    Quentin looked confused. “Halal? What’s that?”
    â€œIn Arabic, the word halal means ‘permitted or lawful.’ Halal foods are foods that are allowed under Islamic dietary guidelines,” Amina answered.
    â€œInteresting,” Quentin said.
    â€œIt actually is,” Dwayne added. “According to the guidelines gathered from the Quran, there are a number of foods that Muslim followers cannot consume. It’s not just about pork or pork by-products. I wanted a product line aimed at that market and I wanted to make sure we got it right.”
    â€œThat was very socially conscious of you,” Amina said.
    Rachel shook her head. “I wish. With my husband it is always about the money. Don’t let him fool you.”
    Dwayne shrugged. “I won’t lie. My bottom line is very important to me.”
    Amina gave him a slight smile as she nodded her head slightly.
    â€œDidn’t Basil and Troy go to high school together?” Rachel suddenly questioned.
    Quentin shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
    â€œNo,” Dwayne added. “I think Basil went to Melrose High. You all went to Melrose, right?”
    Amina shrugged. “I actually went to school in Atlanta.”
    â€œSpeaking of Troy,” Harper said, a puzzled expression crossing her face. “Don’t you two have a dinner date tonight?”
    Amina took a deep breath as an awkward silence suddenly filled the space. Her eyes shifted around the table, everyone staring in her direction. Her voice dropped an octave as she met Harper’s stare. “I do,” Amina answered, biting down against her bottom lip, her anxiety rising a second time. “I actually need a big favor,” she said.
    Harper nodded. She passed Baby Joanna back to her mother’s arms. “Anything,” she said as she excused herself from the group and guided Amina back across the room, through the double doors and into the kitchen.
    Once they were out of everyone’s earshot Amina blew a calming breath past her thin lips. Harper eyed her curiously, waiting for her to speak.
    â€œDo you think I can change my clothes here?” Amina finally asked. “I can’t go home to change so I told Troy I’d meet him here. My father would have a fit if he found out.”
    Harper laughed. “That’s not a problem at all.”
    Amina looked skeptical. “I’ll have to change again when our date is over. I promise it won’t be too late though,” she said.
    Harper nodded. “Don’t you worry about that. Come on,” she said, gesturing for Amina to follow her to the back stairwell that led to the private living space above the