تسجيل الدخول* * * * *Kael drove home, scrubbing away any remaining lipstick that Raquel had left on his right cheek. His left cheek burned from the slap she had given him after he’d turned her down for a night of, “Let’s play doctor.” He smiled, tugging at the gray silk tie around his throat, loosening it. That was the first time he’d ever been slapped for not taking advantage of a woman. This night hadn’t been a total waste though. As he had sat across from God’s-gift-tomen, listening to her drone on about her many modeling assignments and watching her flirt with the underage waiter at every opportunity, Kael wondered how he ever found plastic women attractive. The only woman he wanted in this world was Soleil. But there were a few things standing in his way. As he neared Sol’s place, headlights straining through the evening fog, the tension in him grew. He gripped the steering wheel tightly, memories and uncertainties floating within his jumbled brain. He had come a long way from that nine
Sol was just stepping out of the store, on her way to a light workout at the gym, when she spotted Tracy walking toward her from the parking lot, waving a hand in the air to catch her attention. Tracy had quit her job two weeks ago and Sol hadn’t found a qualified replacement yet, which meant that she was the one handling both her job as supervisor and Tracy’s vacant position as cashier. The extra work was a burden now that she tired so easily, but it couldn’t be helped. “Hi, Soleil.” Tracy walked up to her, giving her a fierce hug, her young face beaming with joy. “Well, hi yourself,” Sol squeaked before being released. “I hear you’ve taken an early retirement.” “News does travel fast around here, doesn’t t it?” They walked together to Sol’s car. “Only good news,” Sol assured. “So I take it your night of seduction paid off?” She raised a brow in mock disapproval. Tracy laughed. “The cookies got me to first base. The nightie got me an engagement ring and a wedding date for next
* * * * *After they had polished off the bowl of popcorn, washing it down with large mugs of cocoa and little talk as they were too absorbed in the movie, Sol fell asleep half an hour before it was over. They sat close together on the couch, Kael completely engrossed in the action on the television screen until he felt Sol’s slack body lean against his shoulder. For a moment he just sat there; motionless, his breath trapped in his lungs, heat pooling into his groin. This woman had him in a constant state of awe. Here it was, four months now and he still desired her with every fiber in his taut body. A first for him. He had usually worked his way through three women within the same time period, keeping his radar on for the fourth one to come along. But Sol was on his mind day and night, leaving no room for any other women. And he couldn’t figure it out. Was it because she was pregnant with his child? That could very well be it. He’d never been faced with such a situation before. Wh
Three weeks went by in a blur. Kael was still staying with Sol after having vacated his old place, though they had mutually adopted their previous roles of friends-only. Which was perfectly okay with Sol—for the time being. She had asked him to accompany her to the doctor’s office, saying he’d be able to hear the tiny heartbeat of their infant if he went along, but he had declined. Evidently he wasn’t up to that yet. She figured it represented something too familial for him to accept just yet, so she had gone alone. He had relieved her from her duties at the gym, telling her she needed rest and shouldn’t be working twelve-hour days. Actually, he tried to get her to quit working altogether. He assured her he had enough money to support her, but she refused. If she had to stay home around the clock she would probably go insane. Besides, she was his friend, not his wife. Not yet anyway. She still popped into the gym to do a light workout each day after work as recommended by h
When everything needed was on the table, she sat down and picked up a fork, noting that he was already devouring his Kung Pao chicken, fried rice, and raw fish salad like a stray dog. She smiled to herself. "Soy sauce?" He shook his head, unable to talk since his mouth was full at the moment. Sol continued her previous line of conversation. "I guess you never really think about being alone. To tell you the truth neither had I until very recently. I suppose that expecting a baby can make you rethink a lot of things. Makes one sit up and take notice of situations, of their life in general. Like the fact that I'm here by myself when so much crime is running rampant." She added in a matter-of-fact tone, "Didn't they just catch that cat-thief a couple blocks away from here last week?" "Yeah. I remember reading something about that on the Internet." He frowned again, but his attention was on his plate. Now that she had properly primed his mind, using the I'm-alone-and-pregnant-tactic at
* * * * That night Sol went home, took a shower, slid on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt and went to the kitchen to make herself some warm milk. She’d called the gym earlier and left a message with Rick, asking him to tell Kael she wouldn’t be in this evening. She was still upset over their conversation at the park. He’d have to make do without her tonight. There was one consolation to crying so much; you eventually ran out of tears. Now she was just numb and confused. Hormones: Her doctor’s assurance of what caused her emotions to seesaw filled her head. Kael: Her heart countered. Both: Was her own conclusion. Just as she was about to sit down with the nine o’clock news, a knock on the door stopped her before she took her first sip of milk. She didn’t dare hope it was Kael. Lord knew he had practically done a back flip when she called off their customary get together. Still, she couldn’t help the sudden drumming of her silly, immature heart as she walked to the door. And it nea







