Isaak had hoped Imani would stay behind.  He wanted to ask her to stay but wasn’t really sure how to go about it.  He wanted to know more about her.  Only one woman had captured his heart once, but she’d died years ago.                                                           

“Aliyah, you aren’t related to Obadiah Aliyah, are you?”  He asked curiously.

“Ah yes, he is my father.”

Isaak couldn’t believe his luck! 

“I thought your last name sounded familiar.  I’m headed to his house this evening for dinner, will you be joining us?”

Imani laughed sweetly.  Her father asked her to come to dinner tonight that he had a gift for her, but he mentioned nothing about a guest.  Now she really wondered what her father was up to.

“Yes, I will be there.”  Imani’s eyes lit up.

“Good, I’m going to be here for two weeks and your father kindly offered for me to celebrate Hanukkah with him and his family.”

Imani’s heart skipped a beat; this gorgeous man was going to be in her father’s home for the next eight nights of Hanukkah!  Her father had never allowed anyone to stay before and she wondered what made Dr. Silverman so special.  They began to walk to the staff parking lot.

“That’s very interesting, he’s never mentioned you, and how do you know my father?”

“We met in the 80’s in Ethiopia, when several Ethiopian were trying to cross the Sudan, making their way to Israel.  I convinced his family that it was not safe to go that way and I promised to make other arrangements.  His family waited and made it safely to Israel due to Operation Moses in 1984.  I only wished my girlfriend’s family had waited.”  The deep sadness in his eyes made Imani want to hug him.

“Your girlfriend was a refugee?”

“Yes, her father insisted they go by foot.  About 4,000 people, including my girlfriend, perished during the journey.”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Silverman, you must have really loved her.”  Imani brushed his arm. 

“Please, call me Isaak and yes, we were to be married in Israel.”

Imani could stand it no longer; she pulled him to her and hugged him.  He smelled of soap and Old Spice aftershave.  She nuzzled his face and neck with her cheek.  

The hug caught him by surprise, but what surprised him even more was his reaction.  He dropped his briefcase and held her.  She was warm and soft as he held her tightly.  He leaned into her, feeling the curve of her body against his.  The sweet smell of her short black curly hair and the softness of her skin stirred things low in his body.  She made a sound that sounded almost like a purr. 

If she’d had the strict Jewish upbringing like he did, she would know that what they were doing at this moment is wrong.  He didn’t care, but he didn’t want her to regret it.  He pulled away suddenly.

“I’m sorry; I don’t know what came over me. You are a respectable woman and I …”

“Shhh,” Imani pressed her index finger to his lips.  Her eyes glowed like a cat’s eyes in the darkness.

“It’s alright, “she whispered.

Isaak blinked to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.  He took a step back and jumped when Imani’s cell phone went off.

“It’s my dad, we better get going.”        

Isaak picked up his briefcase and sighed heavily.  There is something about her that unnerved him a bit, yet he felt drawn to her even more.

“Do you know the way or do you need to follow me?  I’m parked in the student parking lot.”  Imani said after telling her dad she was on her way.

“Why don’t I give you a ride to your car and then I’ll follow you?” Isaak smiled. 

“Works for me,” Imani laughed.