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

bakery.
    The second floor boasted a family room, a kitchen with a breakfast nook, and a mudroom. There was also a third floor with a master bedroom and bathroom, a guest suite, a home office, and a deck that sat atop a garage and looked out over a garden. The calming green color from the bakery below flowed throughout the space.
    â€œThis is very nice,” Amina said as Harper showed her around upstairs.
    â€œThis is where my father and the boys used to live,” Harper said. “When I moved in Quentin was camping out here periodically. Once we got married it didn’t make much sense for us to move, especially with the schedule Quentin has to keep with the bakery.
    â€œTroy has a beautiful home of his own across town,” Harper added, answering the question Amina had hesitated to ask.
    The woman smiled. “I really appreciate this. You’d think I was sixteen and not twenty-six the way I’m sneaking around,” she said with a loud sigh.
    â€œHave you thought about getting your own place?” Harper questioned. “Quentin actually owns a town house not far from here that we’re thinking about selling. There’s a tenant there now but her lease is up at the end of the month and she’ll be leaving so it’ll be available if you need something fairly soon.”
    Amina nodded. “I’ve thought about it but my father was so adamant about my moving into the family home with them. I didn’t think about it at the time but it’s really an issue of control with him. And appearances. Especially now that he’s running for office.”
    Harper nodded. “The things we do for a parent’s approval,” she said.
    The two women paused in the doorway of the guest room. “Make yourself at home,” Harper said. “If you need anything just let me know.”
    Amina smiled. “Thank you. I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate this.”
    Harper leaned and gave her a quick hug. “That’s what friends are for.”
    Behind the closed door Amina dropped down against the corner of the queen-size bed. She took a deep breath and then a second, holding them both until she couldn’t hold them any longer.
    Her nerves were frazzled and she couldn’t begin to explain to anyone how she was feeling. She had known girls in high school who would come to school and change out of their parent-approved clothing into garments that were usually too short or too tight for any parent to approve. Her mother had allowed her much freedom in her choices and Amina had never felt the need to do such a thing. Now, here she was, hiding from her father, knowing that he would never approve of her dating, let alone approve of her wardrobe choice for a date. Had she not overheard some of the young women in the mosque whispering about sneaking out of their hijabs without their father’s or husband’s knowledge, she would never have given the idea any consideration. She shook her head at the absurdity.
    Taking a quick glance at her wristwatch, Amina blew a deep sigh. She needed to change and get back downstairs to meet Troy. She hated the secrecy but she would have hated not being able to spend time with Troy more.
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    Troy was surprised to find his family in the front of the bakery. The shop had closed an hour earlier but they were still there with the lights on. Quentin gave him an easy wave as he made his way inside.
    â€œHey, what’s up?” Troy said as he greeted the two couples. He leaned to kiss Rachel’s cheek first and then Harper’s. He shook Dwayne’s hand, leaning to coo at the sleeping baby resting on the man’s shoulder.
    Dwayne nodded. “It’s all good,” he said as he kissed his daughter’s forehead.
    â€œShe is too sweet,” Troy said, rubbing a palm against the infant’s back. “How are you two enjoying parenthood?”
    Rachel smiled. “It’s amazing. Our