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  Leon heart was pounding in his ears. He went back to his table and talked to Mercedes then they left. Natalie watched as they left. She looked at Marcus and smiled at him. Natalie could still feel Leon’s hands on her body.

  Natalie looked at the ceiling as Marcus slept beside her. She looked at the ring. She did not want to hurt Marcus but her heart was not in it. She got up and put on her clothes. She left his home and went to her home. She got out the car walking to her door when she froze. She turned around and saw Leon standing behind her. He did not say anything but claimed her lips. She did not fight but surrender to him. His mouth lit a flame in her that seemed to spread throughout her body. Her hands pulled on his dreads. His moans were deep that it shook her body. He looked at her.

  “Happy Birthday.” he said against her cheek

  She smiled as he looked into her eyes. He touched her face as he backed away. Natalie grabbed his arm and pulled him back to her. She felt the earth shake as he smiled and began to kiss her again. Natalie touched his chest as his body pressed against her. The wall supported both of them. Natalie looked at him and smiled.

  “We can not keep doing this.” he said as their forehead touched each other

  “I know.” she said feeling his body

  “I have decided to move out of town.” he said looking into her eyes, “ I know if I stay here, I would wind up making love to you. Which will hurt Mercedes and Marcus?”

  Natalie felt her hurt again, “No do not leave. I would break it off with Marcus to be with you.” she said looking into his eyes, “I need you.”

  Leon smiled, “You don’t know how good that sounds to me.” he said as he kissed her, “I can’t let you do that. You love him and he loves you, just like I am fond of Mercedes. Besides I can’t leave her now.” he said thoughtfully, “She is pregnant with my child.”

  Natalie heard the crash as her heart hit the brick wall. Her hands fell from his face as she looked at him in anger. Leon backed away from her.

  “What in the hell was this?” she said angrily, “Your last hurrah.”

  “It is not like that.” he said trying to calm her down

  “You are a selfish bastard. I was ready to give up everything for you then you tell me that woman is having your child. You asshole.” she said as she pushed him aside

  “Natalie wait.” he said as he grabbed her arm

  Natalie looked at him through hurt eyes, “Let me go.” she said sternly

  Leon dropped his hand. He watched her opened her door and slammed it. He looked up at the sky as a tear began to fall.

  “Natalie, I love you.” he said to the air

  Leon walked back to his car and drove off.

  Natalie forced herself into making the relationship with Marcus work. She made plans for the wedding and remodeling his house. Natalie had her work and the wedding to focus on. Olivia helped her as much as she can but she will not answer her questions about the early morning slam the day after her birthday. Natalie refused to answer that question.

  Marcus helped Natalie when he could but his work was demanding at time. His new boss from Chicago was riding him constantly about his customers. Marcus did not know if the woman was prejudice or was she just mean? Marcus called Natalie to cancel their date for tonight.

  “Marcus.” she said disappointed, “I wanted to try an outfit I brought just for you.”

  Marcus smiled as he looked at his screen, “Tell me about it.”

  Natalie described it to him and Marcus closed his eyes imagining it on her. He looked at the screen and seen all that he had to do.

  “I am sorry, Nat. As tempting as that is I have to work late. How about tomorrow or I can call you to meet me at the house?” he smiled

  “I will meet you wear nothing but the outfit.” she said

  “I can’t wait.”

  Natalie hung up the phone. She finished cleaning her room. She was feeling sexy and needed her man to help her to relieve the pain. She waited and waited for his call but it never came. She called him the next day and his phone went to voice mail. She went to work that morning worried about him. When she got a break, she called him again.

  “Marcus Phillips.”

  “What happened to you?” she asked looking at the screen

  “I am sorry but I did not leave here until two and I just went home and crashed.”

  “I forgive you. How about tonight?” she asked touching her arm

  “No, I will call you later. I love you.”

  “I love you too.” she hung up the phone.

  Natalie sighed and went back to work. She did not want to pressure Marcus. She decided to just plan for the wedding, whenever that is?

  Olivia and Natalie went to try on dresses at a new store that opened up. The dresses were beautiful. Natalie tried on a dress and spun around looking at how it flowed in the mirror. Olivia was admiring how Natalie looked in that dress. Natalie looked in the mirror and smiled. Olivia was fixing the back when she looked in the mirror and saw Natalie’s face. She stared at the woman walking into the dressing room. She had a wedding dress in her hand. She was smiling as she went to the fitting room.

  “Nat, do you know her?” asked Olivia

  Natalie did not say anything but went to the fitting room to get out of the dress. Olivia stood outside the curtain. Natalie took off the dress and put on her clothes when she heard it.

  “Mercedes, any dress will be fine.” Leon said

  Natalie started to shake. She was trapped. Olivia was watching him. He looked at her feeling joy but he saw it was not Natalie. He nodded a hello. Olivia gave him a disgusting look.

  “Natalie, give me the dress so we can go. It seems like they do not have the best dress for you.” said Olivia not taking her eyes off of him

  Natalie stood tall and pulled the curtain back. She did not look his way. She gave her sister the dress and looked at her sister smiling.

  “Do you want to have lunch with Marcus and me? I can not believe the wedding is so close.” she said leaving the fitting area

  “You will be the most beautiful bride in Tampa.” smiled Olivia as she nodded to him and left

  Leon did not look at them but he felt each word as it pierced his soul. He became rigid. He heard the door open and closed. He sat in the chair wondering should he go on with this charades. Mercedes came out and twirled around in the dress and smiled.

  “What do you think?” she said looking at him

  “You look lovely.” he said with a half smile

  “I can not believe I am getting married and going to be a mom within the same year. I hope it is a boy. He will be just like his father; strong, handsome and sweet.” she said as she went back into the fitting room

  Leon held his head in his hands and wonder if he can truly go through this.

  Natalie got around the corner; she could not hold it any longer. She held onto a building as tears flowed. Olivia held her and continued to walk with her to the car. They got in the car and Olivia drove to an empty parking lot.

  “Okay, spill it.”

  “She is pregnant.” cried Natalie

  “Are you talking about the woman in the dress store?” asked Olivia

  Natalie looked at her with tears streaming down. ”He came by the house the early morning of my birthday. We made out. Then he told me he is moving away to let me live my life with Marcus. I told him I would give it up for him.” she said wiping the tears from her eyes, “He told me she was pregnant with his child. I feel really stupid.”

  Olivia hugged her sister until the tears stopped.

  “That is why you are working hard on the wedding.”

  “What else can I do? I am in love with a man who is marrying another woman who is carrying his child. I can not compete with that.” she began to cry again, “How can I be so damn stupid?”

  Olivia just listened. When Natalie finished crying they drove to the house and had their favorite food.

  “Nat, I am not the best person to consult with about love.�
�� she said eating a spoonful of ice cream, “What I saw at the store was a man trapped? When he saw me his whole demeanor changed? He thought I was you. Then he realized I was not then he’s eyes seemed to lose its light. I do not know if he really wants to be with her.”

  Natalie looked at her sister taking a cookie and dipped it into her ice cream as she began licking it.

  “Olivia, it is over. I am marrying Marcus and that is that.” she said getting up and getting her purse, “I have a client at two and four. I will call you when I get off.”

  “Hey sis.” said Olivia stopping her, “I love you and I am here for you.”

  Natalie hugged her and smiled, “I love you too. See you later.”

  5

  Marcus sat at his desk and realized that he had gone back to his old ways. He looked at a picture of Natalie and thought of words to say to her. He could not lose her. He would have to tell her and hope that she would forgive him. He looked at his watch it was six at night. No one was in the office but him and his reports. He looked up as his boss stood in the door way.

  “Marcus, I need to see you in here for a moment.”

  “I am on my way.” he said walking to her office

  Marcus walked in and sat down in the chair, “Yes Ms. Cross. Is the report how you wanted?” he asked as she looked at the report

  “Marcus some of these numbers are wrong.” she said walking around the desk with the report in her hand, “This figure is wrong and the outcome is not high enough.” she said leaning over him

  Ms. Cross was a medium height Asian woman with jet black hair and a body of a model. Marcus looked at her chest and saw that her she took off her bra. He licked his lips and looked at her face. She sat on her desk in front of him and hiked up her skirt a little. Her legs were not closed and he saw she had on no underwear. His heart began to beat faster. He touched his beard and rubbed his head.

  “Ms. Cross, I will work on the numbers again.” he said touching her leg

  “I appreciate you doing this for me.” she said as she got off the desk and straddle him, “I really need you to work hard to fix the problem.” she whispered as she grind on him

  Marcus tried to hold back but she felt so good and she smelled awesome. She unbuttoned her shirt as he began to kiss her breast. Marcus could not resist her. He laid her on the desk and kissed her as his hand went between her legs. Marcus heard his phone ringing and he looked up and looked at his desk. Ms. Cross pushed him against the desk and unzipped his pants and began to blow his mind. Marcus forgot about the phone.

  Natalie looked at her phone and wonder where he could be. She sat in one of the stylists’ chair at the shop. Everyone had gone home and she was by herself. She locked the door and began walking to her office when she heard a knock. She ran to the door.

  “Marcus, you could have called.” she said as she pull the shade back and looked at Leon

  “What the hell you want?” she asked through the glass

  “Can we talk?” he asked

  “Talk about what? I have nothing to say to you.” she said as she dropped the shade

  “Natalie please, I love you.” he yelled, “I love you!” he said against the door

  Natalie stopped in her tracks. She held onto a chair trying not to cry but it was too late, tears began to fall. She wiped her face and opened the door as Leon came in. She locked the door as she turned around. He was right behind her. She walked around him to give herself some space.

  “Leon, why are you saying these things to me?” she said standing by a dryer

  “Natalie it is true. I have broken it off with Mercedes. I could not do it anymore. After seeing you in the store, I realized it would never work between Mercedes and me.”

  “Leon, she is having your child.”

  “I know. I will be there for my child. I will support it and make sure I am in his or her life but I am not happy. I need you. I love you.” he said stepping closer

  Natalie took a step back, “I can’t. It hurts too much.” she said walking away from him, “I am sorry. I love Marcus.” she said walking to the door, “Please leave.”

  Natalie felt her body fighting with her heart. She needed to sit down but she can not show that to him. Leon stood in front of her as his hand was on the door. His face was determined to change her mind.

  “Natalie, look me in the eyes and tell me you do not have feelings for me.” he said looking at her

  Natalie looked into those eyes and licked her lips. He touched her face and held it in both hands. Natalie felt the tears coming to her eyes again. She took a breath and felt her heart die.

  “I do not have feelings for you, now please leave.” she said sternly

  He looked into her eyes dropping his hands. He backed away. He felt the earth opened up and swallow his heart. She opened the door wider. He looked at her as he began to walk through the open door. He stood beside her as Natalie looked at the back of the salon.

  “I hate that my love is not enough.” he said as he walked out the door

  Natalie locked the door. She fell into the chair and cried. Her heart could not be healed this time. Her mind told her she did the right thing but her heart said “You are a damn fool to let him go.” Natalie cut off the light and went to her office. She lies on the sofa and let her heart proclaim its pain.

  Leon stood by the door as he heard her crying. He walked to his car. He laid his head on the steering wheel. His heart was moaning for her but he could not change her mind. He drove to his apartment to put the last of his stuff in a box and put it in the car. He took a final look at the apartment and closed the door. He had bought a house in the Brandon area. Mercedes did not know about the move. He remembered her expression when he told her he could not do it anymore. He had walked in the kitchen and told her.

  “What do you mean you can not do it anymore?” she said looking at him as she made dinner

  “Mercedes, I can not pretend anymore. I love you but I am not in love with you.”

  “You are going to leave me with this child.” she yelled as she held a knife

  Leon stood his ground, “Mercedes, we have been drifting for awhile. I have tolerated you, your tantrums and your affairs for too long.” he said getting angry as he thought about it

  Mercedes looked at him, “I thought you forgave me for that. I told you I was sorry.”

  “I forgave you but that does not mean I forgot about it. You hurt me when you slept with that man. Right now, I am not leaving you for that I am leaving you because I can’t love you the way you want or needed to be loved.”

  She looked at him “You bitch. Who is she?”

  “You do not need to know that. Just know that I am leaving you.”

  “I hate you. Get out of my house.” she yelled as she started throwing things at him, “You are nothing but a user. I hate you.”

  Leon walked out and for the first time he felt free, only to have his heart crushed by Natalie.

  He made it to his new home and unpacked his car. He put the box down in the living room. He went to the bedroom and lay across his bed. He thought of Natalie, her body and her kisses. His heart yearned for her. He had to let her make up her own mind. He closed his eyes and felt his world trapping him again.

  Marcus called Natalie and asked her out for dinner. She agreed and they went out that night. The dinner was quiet.

  “How is work?” asked Natalie

  “It is hectic. When everyone leaves, I am by myself crunching numbers and working them out until I am tired.” he said smiling at her, “How is your business?”

  “Business is good. I got new clients. I had time to work on the wedding plans. Which I need a date for?” she said

  “What date would you like?”

  “It is June now. I would like to have a fall or winter wedding.” she said looking at him

  He looked at her and held her hand, “September is in the middle.”

  “I like that. September what?” she said smiling

  “You can
pick the date.” he smiled at her

  “No I am doing the other things. You can help with something.” she smiled as he kissed her hand

  “Okay.” he said pulling out his phone, “I see that the 25 is free. Are you free Saturday, September 25?”

  Natalie looked at him and smiled, “For you yes.”

  They continued to talk about the wedding plans. They decided to have dessert at home. Marcus drove to his home. He surprised her with her favorite, vanilla cake with ice cream. They sat on the sofa and watched TV. He held her close. Her mind was not on the show, she needed him. Natalie started kissing him on his neck. He smiled as she put ice cream on his neck. He took the bowl away from her and began kissing her. They lay on the sofa kissing and feeling each other’s body. Natalie took off his shirt and began to kiss his neck when his phone ranged. He answered it. Natalie came up behind him and started kissing him. He smiled as he talked.

  “I will be there to fix that.” he said as Natalie looked at him, “Give me twenty minutes.” he said hanging up the phone

  “What the hell?” she said with her hand on her hips

  “I am sorry babe but that was the boss and I have to fix a report. I promise I will be back. Just bookmark where I was.”

  “You better.” she said as he kissed her

  He left the house and her alone with her thoughts. She went to the computer and finished with her wedding announcement. She was excited.

  Marcus made it back before midnight. Natalie was asleep on the sofa. He went in and took a shower. He came out and started kissing her on her neck as he rubbed her butt. She smiled at him with her eyes closed.

  “John, my fiancée will be here any moment.” she smiled

  “Who is John?” he asked in her ear