Chapter 1
~A Desire for Mahogany

It had to be her, it just had to. Seto tightened the leather strap of his briefcase and focused very hard on putting one foot in front of the other.

She was juggling a mess of papers and folders while trying to keep her white styrofoam cup of coffee from tipping onto the sidewalk. Seto racked his brain for the memory, desperately searching for the minutes of details.

Ruby was a great friend of his from college. One of his business trips had taken him not far from her rural hometown and of course and desperate for a distraction, thought it was appropriate to pay her a visit. His call was somewhat short notice, and she was very much surprised, but did not decline his self invitation. He remembered clutching the steering wheel of the car and forcing himself to take long and drawn breaths. Ruby's wedding had been almost 3 years before; therefore her soft milky complexion and nurtured blonde hair were no longer anyone's to be sought after. Especially not his.

But he yearned for her company all the same. Ruby's gentle way of being had always allowed him to release the tension in his muscles and fell at ease. Not to mention without her help, that sophomore year of chemical-science lab credit never would have made its way to his transcript.

"Seto!" Ruby cried spreading her arms wide and running at him. He had quickly closed the car door with his hip and buried the keys in his pockets with enough time to spare to catch Ruby in mid leap, and let her arms and legs wrap around him for a longer-than-necessary embrace. Her arms became locked around his neck pulling her close enough to feel the warmth of her body press against his, and so that he could hear her breath in his ear. He sighed and tightened his grip around her waist before breathing in the sweet rich scent of her hair. She pulled away and he gently lowered her to the ground, making sure not to remove his hands from the arch of her back until her feet had completely returned to the pavement.

"It's been so long! How have you been?" she gasped, her light blue eyes growing wide. She reached her hand up to touch his upper arm.

"Uh-fine" he had stuttered, still overwhelmed by his last sweet breath; which had found its way into his chest and was steadily increasing the pace of his heart. "Yeah-I've been well…I've missed you." He quickly blurted, hoping she would miss the growing pink in his cheeks.

"I've missed you too." She answered quietly, placing the hand that was on his arm on her chest. She parted her lips and smiled widely before completely taking him in. "Look at you, in the black suit! You must be roasting!"

Seto smiled uncomfortably and pulled at the tie around his neck. He was hot but didn't want her to cater to him.

"Come inside!" She motioned him to the front door and he fell in step behind her. "I have another friend visiting at the moment, but her bus leaves soon, she won't be here long I promise."

"Ruby, It's fine. I- I can't wait to meet her." He loved the way her name rolled of his lips in the sweltering heat.

Seto removed his shoes by the heels after being escorted by Ruby through the screen door and immediately observed the comfy ranch home. Nothing had changed, just like she hadn't. The sun shone in from the patio door on to the cream colored walls giving the room a pleasant warm glow. And the dark cherry wood of the trim reminded him of an old movie.

"Seto, how've ya been friend?" Ruby's husband quickly stood up from the dining room table to squeeze his shoulder and offer his hand. Seto retuned the gesture and shook; making sure to release his grip quick, to ensure his lack of dominance in the given situation.

"Mark, I've been well." He answered with his businessman manners. "And yourself?"

"Wonderful, wonderful." Mark smiled. "Wouldn't complain if I could." Mark released his shoulder and returned to his seat at the table.

Seto turned to look at Ruby who was tucking a sun bleached strand of hair behind her ear. I wouldn't complain either… he thought. He discretely studied her as her fingers followed the same strand of hair all the way down to its end, near her waist.

"Um-Seto, this is my friend Ari. She's in town and stopped by for a visit too." Ruby extended her arm in gesture and Seto followed it across the dining room to the kitchen to the counter against which Ari was leaning. "Ari and I went to high school together." Ruby laughed. "Best friends, completely inseparable"

Seto tried to speak up but found that he could not. So he settled with a nod and a raise of his hand. Ari laughed, probably at his poor excuse for a greeting, and when she did her cheeks swelled causing her green eyes to narrow and glint in the reflective sunlight. Mahogany hair fell in large curls around her face long past her shoulders. Its deep brown color flecked with red when it caught the sunlight streaming through the kitchen window. Her slender wrists were crossed in front of her, just below were the dramatic curve of her waist became her very predominant hips.

"Ari lives in the Minneapolis area as well." Ruby piped in to end the increasingly long silence. "She's an accountant for Blue Harbor Bank, right?

"Mhm." Ari gave her head a quick nod allowing her curls to bounce around her neck like springs. "It's nice to finally met you, Ruby's told me all about your little college adventures."

"Oh-really?" He finally managed to choke. He glanced back at Ruby who was now standing behind the head of Marks chair and laughed.

"Well I didn't' get into NEARLY as much trouble as you did missy." Ruby teased, giving Ari a pretend stern look. Then she whipped all of her hair over her left shoulder and smiled wide, ensuring that it was all just fun.

Ari rolled her eyes and pushed herself away from the counter to grab for her purse.
"Well, I'm sorry to break up this little gathering, but I really must be going. Then next train to Minneapolis doesn't leave for another 3 days." She buttoned up her cardigan and flattened the back of her skirt so she could bend down to pick up the rest of her things.

"Do you need help with your bags?" Seto blurted, taking a step towards her.

"No, that's ok." She answered straightening up and narrowing her eyes. "I think I can manage."

Seto backed up to lean against the dining room table to make room for her to pass, and felt his heart flutter into his throat as she swiftly brushed past him. He stayed out of the way and watched as Ruby hugged, and waved her last goodbyes to her friend for the last time, wishing he could think of something to say.

He looked down at his shoeless feet and sighed until he was confident he had released all of the air in his lungs. He ran his fingers through his hair and shook his head, one hundred percent positive he had just met, fallen in love with, and lost, the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life.