Robert and Nancy made their way up Karen’s walkway.  “There are no lights on.  You think she’s in bed?”  Nancy observed.

“Well she’s not known for going to bed so early it’s not even ten yet.”

“Well she’s pregnant Robert; her energy levels are not the same.” 

“I guess you’re right.”  Robert knocked on the door and they both waited in the dark for Karen to answer.  When there was none Robert pulled his keys out and unlocked the door.

“You still have a key?”  Nancy said with a raised eyebrow.

“Well it’s a good thing I did; Right?” 

“Yeah, I guess so.”  Nancy responded not fully convinced.  They entered Karen’s home, other than the hum of the appliances it was quiet. “I don’t think she’s here we should probably go.  I feel like I’m invading her privacy.”

“She’ll be fine.  Let me see if she’s here, give me a moment.”  Robert said as he walked into the bedroom searching for Karen.  “She’s not here!”  Robert yelled out to Nancy as he pulled out his cell phone and dialed Karen. 

“I told you!  I’m going to wait in the car, okay?” 

“Keep your tail where you are woman!”

“My tail!”  Nancy exclaimed in amusement.  “You sound like my father.” 

“You know I’ll be your Daddy anytime.” 

“No no that’s okay.  The one I have will do.”

Karen finally answered the phone.  In the background loud Hip Hop music could be heard.

“Hello?”  Karen said sounding half annoyed.

“I hope Gwinnett Medical has a clubbing section now.  Where the hell are you?”  Robert said as he tried to hold down the anger that was building up in his stomach. 

“I’m at Zion’s.  You know the new club that opened in Buckhead last week.  It’s hot.  You and your girl should come here to party too!”

Taking a deep breath Robert answered.  “I thought you were home with an emergency.  That is why I’m standing in your living room right now.”

“Well I called a couple girlfriends and they say a little spotting is normal.  I’ll ask the doctor when I go see him this week. Okay?” 

“Karen, why do I feel that you were trying to play me earlier?”

“Play you? No Robert I leave all the playin’ up to you.”

“Karen in your current condition I think you should be home.”  Robert said trying his best to sound like he cared.

“My condition is pregnancy.  You can’t even bring yourself to say it huh?”  Karen spat with bitterness.  “You make it sound like I have some disease and it’s attacking you.  I’m a grown woman Robert and I realized that I’m on my own with this one.  You have a lot of growing up to do.”  With that said Karen hung up the phone and returned to her dance moves. 

Robert stared at the timer blinking on his phone after Karen hung up.  Even though concern filled his mind he shrugged it off and turned towards Nancy who was staring at the dolls Karen had sitting on the top of a bookshelf.  “You ready to go?”

Nancy jumped.  The thunder of Robert’s voice had startled her.  “Porcelain dolls always freaked me out.  I don’t know how some people find the beautiful.”  She said as she made her way to the front door.  “Is she coming home?”

“No she’s at a club getting her groove going.”

“Really, this from a woman that was so panicked earlier?”

“Yup.”

“Why do I feel like we’ve been played?”  Nancy said.

“Nah, leave all the playing to me.” Robert said as he locked the door behind him.  “Leave it to me.”

 

Darren was having a great night with his new found friend, Lisa.  She was a great dancer and she was keeping up with Darren’s drinking so far. 

“Wow, you’ve been keeping up with me.”  Darren said as Lisa ordered a shot of Patron. 

“Don’t let the great looks fool you.  I’m a pretty tough girl.”  Lisa said with a smooth smile that indicated that shot maybe her last.

“Tough; really?”  Darren said with a chuckle.  “And what makes you think this?”

“I don’t think I know.”  Lisa whispered in his ear.  She let her lips light graze his lobe.  A chill ran down Darren’s spine and he fought to keep his composure.  “You are such a handsome man, I’d hate to see you go and not know if I’ll ever see you again.”  Lisa said as she sat back on her bar stool. 

“Well you can see me again in the morning.”  Darren said as he stepped closer to her.

“You would like to meet for breakfast; your place or mine?”  Lisa said as she pulled him closer between her legs and placed her lips closely to his.

“Who lives closer?”  Darren asked as he leaned in to touch her lips with his.  Lisa pulled back sharply.

“I live in the condos two blocks from here.  What about you?”

“You win.”  Darren said as he placed his hands on the small of her back.  “By the way, I don’t like to be teased.”  He brought his lips to hers in a deep kiss that took their breaths away. 

“Let’s go.”  Lisa said as she grabbed her clutch from the bar and led Darren out by the hand.

Within minutes they were at Lisa’s condos.  Very chic, Darren observed as he admired the LCD’s that lined the walls that displayed artwork.  “Wow this is a nice building.  Love the décor.” 

“Thanks after searching in and out of Atlanta, I finally found this place.  It’s only a couple years old and I feel safe and secure here.  Security is very strict about who they let in here.”

“Shouldn’t you be also?”  Darren asked as he stepped closer to her as they waited for the elevator. 

“At this point, I think you should worry more about your security.”

  “I know this may sound weird, but I like that.”

“I know you would.”  Lisa said as she slid past Darren onto the elevator.  “So do you have a girlfriend?”  Lisa asked as she watches the numbers light up.

“No I don’t.”

“By choice?”

“Yes, by choice.  What kind of question is that?”

“Well some men are just not meant for a relationship.  So they have no choice but to be single.”

“I hear you logic…”

“But you don’t agree.”

“No I don’t.  However, everyone has a right to their opinion.”

“So are you looking for anything?”  Lisa asked as she stepped off the elevator and made her way to her condo with Darren following close behind.

“I’m not looking.  This time I rather it finds me.”

“I see.  Welcome to my home.”  Lisa said as she stepped aside to make way for Darren.  She followed closely behind and slipped of her shoes at the door. “Have a seat.  Would you like a drink or have you had enough for the night?”

“I’ve had enough.” Darren answered as he observed Lisa’s surroundings.  Lisa slinked her way over to Darren and sat on the coffee table right in front of him. 

“So what’s on your mind?”  She asked as she ran her hands back and forth on his thigh.  Darren stared at her beautiful face. 

‘She is gorgeous.’  He thought to himself.  He also realized he was not getting turned on to give her what she wanted.  He stood up and walked towards the French doors that overlooked the city. 

“Is something wrong?”  Lisa said suddenly feeling subconscious. 

“No nothing is wrong.  It’s just that I had a great time with you tonight.  It’s been awhile since I could speak to a chick and actually feel like someone is on my level.  If we do what we came here to do.  I’m afraid we’ll start off wrong or we may have nothing at all.  I know it’s only been a few hours, but I feel like I’ve known you forever.  So we can do this, you’re sexy as hell, or we can have some more drinks for a couple more nights and see what happens.  We can always do this.”

Lisa was taken back for a moment.  She never had a guy spill the beans like that to her.  Then again she didn’t trust men and didn’t feel Darren’s intentions were good.  “Really, you want to try something on a deeper level?”

“Yeah we could start out as good friends, you know.  We’ll see what turns it takes.”  Darren knew he was going off the deep end.  Why meet this woman in a bar and try and get more than the obvious from her?   It was just something in her eyes that melted her and made him feel good.  Even if she was laughing at him.

Lisa stepped away from Darren as if standing too close would confuse her thoughts.  Darren stared at her ready for the answer to go anyway.