Chapter 11*~

Aaliyah looked up from her book and looked back at her daughter who was sitting on the floor of the deck studying her looks. If there was one thing Issabell accomplished at a early age other than two languages was reading peoples body language. Often she would study her mother and could read every look on her face, which made Aaliyah nervous.

“What’s wrong mommy?” Issabell asked her mother as she looked up at her from her coloring book.

“Nothing’s wrong,” Aaliyah glanced up from the book and looked at her daughter.

“Mommy, you know it’s not nice to lie.” Issabell said and glanced at her mother. “Remember you said that it wasn’t nice to lie, and that you should never lie, and from the look on your face, I know your not being truthful.”

“Damn,” Aaliyah said to herself and knew she was trapped. Why had she told her all that. She knew Issabell would get her one of these days with something she had told her. “I’m just a little tired, that’s it sweetheart, I had a lot of work to do today and I just need to take a little break.” She hoped that would keep her quiet for a little bit.

“If you say so….” Issabell said and got up and walked past her and ran up to the two puppies under the tree.

Aaliyah shook her head and sighed. How did her life end up like this? She loved her daughter and her job but just how did she get into this? Why was it her life that was like this? She sat there in deep thought when she felt light breathing on her neck.

“Guess who,” He smiled and ran his fingers through the hair on her shoulders.

“Hey Ryan,” She said and leaned her head back and smiled. “What are you up to?” She asked and saw him sit down next to her.

“Nothing, as usual.” Ryan looked at her and smiled. “Now I’m sitting here in the presence of a beautiful young woman, who happens to be one of my closest friends.”

“You know you were always a charmer.” She laughed.

“Yeah I have my way with the ladies.” He grinned and looked at her, “So where’s the little woman at?”

“She’s over there,” Aaliyah said and pointed towards the tree. “She’s finally done interrogating me for the day.”

Ryan laughed, “See that’s why I like her soo much.” Ryan shook his head, “Because she’s so much like you, you always loved to ask too many questions.”

“Like in fifth grade when I kept asking the teacher why.” She laughed, “She was so mad that I had like detention for a week.”

“I felt so bad for her.” Ryan laughed. He liked her a lot. She was beautiful, she was sexy, and she had a wonderful personality.

“I didn’t I thought it was pretty funny myself.” Aaliyah said and looked at him with a smile.

“Did you learn a lesson from asking too many questions?” Ryan asked her.

“Nope, never learned a lesson from her.” Aaliyah said and looked at Ryan, “Ok other than that some kids are just annoying.”

“And you were one of those annoying kids.” Ryan said and laughed.

“Right.. I’m really that much trouble.” She said and looked at him, “I haven’t caused any trouble today.”

“Yet..” Ryan said as she laughed. “I’m sure you have something planned.”

“Maybe I do have something planned, just not for today.” Aaliyah smirked. “I’m sure I have more than one thing up my sleeve.”