7-19-1997, 11:05 PM

Colt stood in the doorway of LaDawnya's room and watched Kourtnee tuck LaDawnya in the bed. Kourtnee looked so natural being a mother. Kourtnee looked up at Colt and smiled, then she went back to adjusting the cover on LaDawnya.

Kourtnee had finished adjusting the covers on LaDawnya when Colt said, "She doesn't look like she could cause all the trouble she has caused." Kourtnee put her right index finger to her lip to hush Colt before she said, "Would you be quiet before you wake her up. Haven't you had enough of that already?" Colt smiled at the wrinkle that had formed on Kourtnee's forehead. "Girl, if you keep wrinkling your forehead like that, they are gonna stay there," Colt playfully returned. Kourtnee unwrinkled her forehead and then walked out of LaDawnya's room.

Colt walked out of the room behind Kourtnee. He grabbed her arm and spun her around so that she was facing him. A strong urge to kiss her came over him. Kourtnee looked into Colt's eyes. She had seen that look before. She knew that he wanted to kiss her. She twisted away from him and said, "We have got to talk this out." She beckoned for him to follow her.

Colt followed her down the hallway into the study and then into the nook. Kourtnee sat down in one of the chairs. Colt sat down on the love seat. Colt looked at Kourtnee. Kourtnee frowned as she said, "Quit looking at me like that." Colt responded, "Dang, girl, I am just playing with you. You use to be fun to play around with." Kourtnee looked off.

Kourtnee: You have no idea what kind of stress you are putting me through.

Colt: Are you talking about because I still care about you?

Kourtnee: Yes.

Colt: Why it gotta be stressful? All we gotta do is get together.

Kourtnee: You know I can't date an employee.

Colt: Well, I'll just quit.

Kourtnee: Please, you are not going to quit your job at Shimmers. You like it too much.

Colt: Probably. Maybe we could go out and not tell anyone.

Kourtnee: Are you forgetting about LaDawnya?

Colt: We don't have to tell her.

Kourtnee: Colt that would be unfair to her. Besides, I am not going to do her like that.

Colt: I already know. Paula would know about us anyway. You tell her EVERYTHING.

Kourtnee: So, you tell your mother everything.

Colt: Ouch woman.

Kourtnee: You started it.

Kourtnee laughed.

Colt: What you mean you can actually laugh in my presence. I feel so special. I thought you could only laugh if Martin was around.

Kourtnee: Don't start.

Colt: Ok, I won't. If there was a way for us to be together without any hitches, confusion, or turmoil, could we be together.

Kourtnee didn't say anything.

Colt: Are you gonna answer my question?

Kourtnee: No, I am not.

Colt: Why not?

Kourtnee: Because I don't want to visit that subject again?

Colt: Why did you bring me in here?

Kourtnee: To tell you to stop doing what you did in the hallway and to stop trying to get together with me.

Colt: What did I do in the hallway?

Kourtnee: Almost kiss me.

Colt: I wasn't gonna kiss you.

Kourtnee: Yea, but you wanted to kiss me.

Colt: Yea, I did. It's your fault. If you weren't so fine, a brother wouldn't be overcome with emotion.

Kourtnee blushed

Colt: Look at you now. Girl, you gonna have me acting up in here.

Kourtnee: Whatever Colt. You are so silly.

Colt: Yea, I know. What are we gonna do about us?

Kourtnee: There is no us, so there is nothing to do.

Colt: You just have to be hard and stick with that same old theme.

Kourtnee: Why can't you understand my position and be alright with it?

Colt: Because I love you girl and I want to be with you. Are you gonna tell LaDawnya that we were intimate?

Kourtnee: No, I am not going to tell her that. Why did you have to say that you loved me?

Colt: Because I love you. That's usually why you say I love you to someone!

Kourtnee: You need to watch your tone with me! There is nothing I can do about how you feel. We can't be together as long as you work for me.

Colt: Ok, fine. If you want to lie to yourself and tell yourself that you don't love me, then you can do that. I am not going to lie to myself about how I feel.

Kourtnee stood up and walked over to the window in the nook. She stared into the darkness. She knew that she loved Colt, but there was really nothing that she could do. Colt was an employee. She couldn't expect him to quit a job that any degreed scientist would covet.

Colt felt bad. He had upset Kourtnee. She was probably fighting a tremendous battle with herself. If only LaDawnya had never walked into his office, none of this would have occurred. He wouldn't have had to share personal moments with Kourtnee. Sitting in a company meeting with other people was one thing, but having to be so close to Kourtnee was bringing back so many fond memories.

Colt watched Kourtnee rub her hands up and down her arms as if she was cold. He had seen her do that before, so he knew that she was worrying about something. He stood up and walked over to where she was. He put his arms around Kourtnee's waist and held her close to him. He waited for her to pull away from him, but she didn't.

Kourtnee felt Colt put his hands around her waist. She felt him squeeze her. She wanted to free herself from his grip, but she didn't. She felt secure in his arms. She wanted to stay there for a few minutes.