Craving Temptation by Deborah Fletcher Mello Page A

accepting of your role as a woman.”
    â€œMy role?” Amina questioned, her eyes wide.
    Nasser nodded. “As the prophet Mohammed has said, men have authority over women because Allah has made the one superior to the other, and because they spend their wealth to maintain them.”
    â€œAnd that justifies him treating us badly? Because I don’t see Basil paying any of my bills.”
    â€œGood women are obedient, Amina. Your mother would not accept that and she has not taught you that. Now you come home to us and want to criticize our ways and our beliefs and your brother is offended by that.”
    â€œI have never criticized any of your beliefs, Father. Never!”
    â€œBut you mock us, Amina. Look at how you’re dressed. You know how I feel about the attire you wear and you still don’t heed my words, or your brother’s.”
    Her father quoted his beloved prophet a second time. “Women should guard their unseen parts because Allah has guarded them.”
    Amina looked down to the business suit she wore. Her silk blouse was buttoned to the neck, the collar a large bow tied neatly beneath her chin. The skirt fell below her knees with a matching blazer in a dark shade of gray. The heel on her shoe was barely an inch high, the simple leather pump as nondescript as she could find. She’d be willing to argue that her unseen parts were very well guarded. She couldn’t fathom how her father would deem her clothing modest and appropriate only when she was wearing a hijab and veil. She looked back up and met his stare.
    â€œYour brother is offended when you do not heed Allah’s teachings.”
    Amina took a deep breath. “Are you offended, Father?”
    Nasser smiled. “I hope that in time you will change your ways, Daughter. I am confident that we will help you to know and understand where your mother failed you.”
    Before Amina could respond Basil called out to their father, gesturing for his attention and just like that Nasser dismissed her. She watched as the two men stood huddled in conversation. She suddenly imagined that if things were bad before they were only going to get worse.

6
    â€œYou cannot go to dinner with that woman,” Mike admonished as he maneuvered his car through downtown Memphis. He cut an eye toward Troy, then returned his gaze to the road.
    â€œWhy not?” Troy questioned, cutting an eye back at his friend.
    â€œShe’s working for your opponent. Her father wants to be mayor, too. Isn’t that reason enough?”
    Troy shook his head. “No.”
    â€œShe’s a distraction and your being distracted could very well cost you the election. How about that?”
    Troy had to ponder his friend’s comment. Amina was a distraction, he thought, but a very pleasant one. Since that first call, he’d called her every night, his day feeling incomplete until he heard her voice. Their conversations lasted into the wee hours of the morning as they were slowly getting to know each other. Troy liked talking to her and he imagined that spending time with her would be even sweeter. He had no interest in heeding his friend’s concerns.
    He chuckled. “You’re worried about nothing. It’s just dinner.”
    Mike cut another eye at him and shook his head.
    â€œChange the subject,” Troy countered. “Because I have no intentions of changing my mind or canceling my date.”
    â€œThe fundraiser went exceptionally well,” Mike said, referring to the lunch event they’d just left. “Those women were just clamoring to support you. You might not get that kind of support if you’re chasing after one woman.”
    Troy blew a loud sigh. “Leave it alone, Mike. I mean it.”
    â€œI’m just saying. If you’re going to sport that GQ thing you have going on we might as well work it to our advantage. You can be a political superstar and instead of the babes tossing their