When It Rains... by Angie Daniels Page B

can’t wait,” Candy said, bringingHoney back to the moment. Candy’s chocolate eyes lit up like a Christmas tree and she turned to leave, then remembered why she had walked to Honey’s office. “Oh yeah. I almost forgot. You asked me to remind you about a four o’clock appointment.”
    Honey looked down at her watch, then pressed her lips together in a gloomy expression. “Yes, I did. Thank you.”
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    Kendra faced the presence that darkened her doorstep and frowned. “Look what the cat brought in,” she muttered, voice cutting with sarcasm. Without bothering to invite Jay to follow, she turned away and returned to lounge across her floral jacquard couch.
    Knowing her attitude was justified, Jay flashed Kendra an embarrassed smile, which she chose to ignore.He shut the front door to the plush apartment and reluctantly joined her in the living room. Then, looking down at her sour expression, he replied, “I guess I deservedthat one.”
    â€œGood fuckin’ guess,” Kendra snapped before droppingher gaze to her manicured hands.
    Jay removed his leather jacket and draped it across a burgundy swivel rocker before taking a seat beside her. He dropped a hand to Kendra’s knee and squeezed it. “How you been?”
    Jay’s voice was so tender it took Kendra by surprise, taming her facile tongue. Tilting her head to the right, she considered his question for a moment, but when she saw his mellow expression her irritation brewed, and she raised her perfectly plucked eyebrows in a scowl.
    What did the sorry mothafucka want to hear? That she hadn’t seen her clit in months and it was driving her fuckin’ crazy? That she spent over an hour looking at herself in a full-length mirror this morning, and found her swollen nose and massive stomach repulsive? Or that she’d gorged last night on a gallon of butter pecan ice cream and a bag of chocolate chip cookies? Shhiiit! Whoever said being pregnant was a wonderful experience fuckin’ lied.
    â€œStill pregnant,” she answered, and was surprised when Jay’s gaze traveled over her with admiration.
    Kendra’s hair was pulled up into a bun secured with several decorative bobby pins, with bangs that lay flat across her forehead. Dressed as she was in a navy blue corduroy jumper with a coordinating white blouse, he found her appearance quite adorable. Too bad her beauty’s only skin deep. “Babe, you look good,” Jay said, then patted his thighs, motioning her to prop her feet up across his lap.
    Kendra, taken aback by his concern, complied with a smile. Leaning comfortably against the arm of the couch, Jay removed her leather moccasins and gently massaged her stocking feet. A sigh of relief escaped her lips. She’d had a long day at the office and as usual, by late afternoon her ankles had begun to swell. Her obstetrician insisted that she cut her days short and spend the rest of the afternoon with her feet elevated, but Kendra shit on that idea. With a new dental practice,it was important that she be available to her patients,especially if she wanted to compete with the numerous established offices in the area. She had learned a long time ago that customer service and flexibilitywere important to any business’s success. Besides,she depended on the money. Lease payments were high, and she needed new equipment for her office.
    While Jay kneaded the bottoms of her feet, she made herself comfortable and closed her eyes. This was what she missed most with Jay. The attention he used to shower her with. The pampering. Although a freak behind closed doors, Jay had always been a completegentleman. She wanted that back in her life. Sure, maybe she had been a little pushy at times, but she’d learned long ago that men had no respect for weak-ass women. Women who knew what they wanted, and weren’t afraid to do whatever the fuck it took to get it were the winners. Men