Carter spoke to the man behind the desk on their way to the elevator. “Hey, Max. How’s it going?”
Max responded. “I can’t complain, Mr. Owens. He shook his head to clear it. “Déjà vu.”
Harlem stopped walking and half-turned. She smiled. “Déjà vu?”
“Don’t mind me. I’m tired. I get off in half an hour. I’ll feel much better then.” Max laughed and pointed to her stomach. “Not much longer, huh?”
Harlem rubbed her belly. “Forever if you ask me.”
Carter laughed. “It’s just a couple more months.”
Max laughed too. “My wife was antsy towards the end. My advice, as a father of six, is to get all the sleep you can. Once the baby comes, you’ll never get a full night's rest again.”
“Will do,” Harlem said as they began to make their way over to the elevator. Harlem leaned into Carter. “God, I’m tired.”
He swept her up off of her feet and into his arms.
Harlem giggled. “You should be tired too.”
“Never too tired for you.” Carter leaned in and kissed her. The elevator doors opened, and they got inside.
Harlem placed her head on his chest as they quietly rode up. She loved to listen to the steady beat of his heart. When the doors opened to her floor, Carter slow-walked Harlem to her front door. He just wasn’t ready to let her go. “You should seriously consider moving in with me.”
“Carter.” Harlem didn’t want to talk about it. “It’s late.”
He knew what was up. Carter knew that Harlem was afraid his feelings might change after Elaina had the baby. They wouldn’t, and every day Carter worked hard to prove it. But it was clear that Harlem was biding her time. Carter wanted to respect her feelings, but it was a challenge. Harlem was the one. She wasn’t perfect but perfect for him.
Slowly, Carter lowered her body to the floor, then placed his hands on her rounded stomach.
Harlem was caught up in his gaze and the feel of his hands. They were heavy and warm and only hours ago had been roaming her entire body. She shivered. Even at seven months pregnant, Carter still made her feel like the sexiest woman he’d ever seen.
“If you don’t stop looking at me like that, you’re going to have to reschedule that damn appointment.”
Harlem tore her eyes from his and lowered them. She turned and opened the door, not really wanting Carter to go either. They walked inside.
“What time is that damn thing over with anyway?” Carter was irritated. Harlem should be in his bed. Period.
“I think around ten.”
“I’ll be here at nine-forty-five. We can hit up Benny’s for breakfast after it’s over.”
“That sounds heavenly.”
“Let me use the bathroom before I get back on the road.” Carter left Harlem alone in the living room. She had a craving and went into the kitchen. Harlem opened the freezer and pulled out a pint of black-walnut ice-cream, then grabbed a spoon.
By the time Harlem came out of the kitchen, Carter was standing next to the door. “I don’t know how you can still eat that.”
Harlem had just put a spoonful in her mouth. “What?”
“That nasty ass ice-cream.” He laughed.
Harlem took her spoon and pointed it at him as she waved it around in a circle. “I refuse to have you analyze my life-choices, Mr. Owens.”
He pulled her close. “One more for the road.” Carter leaned in for a kiss.
Playfully, Harlem leaned back. “Are you sure? I taste like that nasty ass ice-cream.”
Carter grabbed a handful of her butt. “I kinda like nasty, and I love ass, so I guess it’s a win for both of us.” He leaned in, this time connecting with her lips.
Harlem didn’t know how long their kiss lasted, but she was breathless when it ended.
“See you tomorrow. Be ready.” Carter walked out of her condo.
Harlem closed and locked the door. She leaned against it with a goofy smile plastered all over her face basking in the feel of his touch. Finally, she pushed off of it and headed toward the bathroom. “I need a shower–a cold one.”
*****
Elaina hid in the closet by the door. She had seen and heard every word between Harlem and Carter. If she wasn’t sure about her plan before, she was now one-hundred percent sure. I have to get rid of that bitch.
Once Harlem left to go into the bathroom and Elaina heard the shower come on, she eased out of the closet.
Her plan had initially been to leave the hidden cameras and listening devices behind so that she could plot her next moves. But Elaina realized this was an excellent opportunity to deal with her Harlem problem once and for all.
Silently, Elaina tip-toed into the kitchen. She turned the burners on the stove just enough that they wouldn’t catch but would emit gas. It might take a few hours to fill up the condo, but that was perfect. Harlem would probably be in bed. Elaina couldn’t have planned this better, even if she had tried to choreograph it.
She put the hood up on her trench coat . . . Harlem’s trench coat. Elaina had stolen it from the closet earlier.
Everyone thought Elaina wanted to transform into Harlem for kicks and giggles. There was always an ulterior motive. It started to form the day Harlem left her purse on that carousel. Elaina went through it hoping to find her keys, but that damn best friend came back too soon. After losing the baby, Elaina had to activate her back-up to the back-up plan. It was a good thing
