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“We’re gonna have hot dogs and hamburgers.”
“Yum.”
“Auntie, did you make me a special chocolate for my birthday?” Cinnamon asked eagerly.
Every year Coco created a special bag of chocolates for her niece. She pulled out a silver bag now. “How about some white chocolate and orange crème delight?”
“Oooh, that sounds delicious.” Cinnamon held out her hand. “Can I please try some of them now?”
“You have to ask your parents,” she replied. “But you know what I think?”
“What?”
“These will taste better after you’ve had a hot dog or a hamburger. This will trigger the yum-yum buds.”
“Really?” Cinnamon asked, her big brown eyes wide. “A hot dog can do that?”
Coco bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. “S-sure can, honey.”
“I’m gonna go get one now. I might eat a hamburger, too. I’ll get lots of yum-yum buds then.”
“Sounds like a plan to me,” she told her niece.
“Liar liar pants on fire,” Michael said from behind her.
She turned around. “See, that’s why you’re not married.”
He chuckled. “Why? Because I won’t tell lies? You’re probably right. Honesty certainly hasn’t gotten me any closer to the altar.”
Coco feared she had hurt his feelings somehow, so she said, “Michael, I was kidding.”
“I know that, sis. I think there may be some truth to it, though. You know what my date told me last night? She actually said that I was too nice.”
Coco felt a rush of anger. “What?”
Michael shrugged nonchalantly. “Any woman who needs a little thug in her life definitely isn’t the one for me.”
“She actually told you that?” Coco asked. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard.”
He nodded in agreement. “I couldn’t get away from her quick enough.”
Coco looped her arm through her brother’s. “Well, it’s just you and me.”
“Not anymore,” Michael responded with a grin. “You’re hanging out with Ransom these days. How did your date go?”
“I ruined his silk shirt,” she announced. “But other than that, everything went well, I thought.”
“How did you mess up the man’s shirt?”
“I was trying to eat with chopsticks and, well, the food sort of flew away and landed on his chest. I really was aiming for my mouth.”
Michael cracked up laughing. “Stay away from chopsticks, Coco.”
“You don’t have to worry about that,” she said. “I’m amazed the man wants to go out with me again.”
“Me, too,” Michael said.
Coco jabbed him in the arm.
She heard Cinnamon calling her name and said, “I guess we’d better get back there and do the auntie-uncle thing.”
“Let’s do it,” Michael said.
Chapter 4
On Monday Coco walked over to D-Unit with a gift for Ransom. She had ruined his shirt so she went out first thing that morning to buy him another one. Coco had found one that was pretty close to the color he’d worn the other night, purchased it and had it wrapped.
He currently had three students, who were sitting at desks working on class assignments or homework. They seemed busy and focused, and she regretted disturbing them by her arrival.
Ransom ushered her into his office.
“How was your Easter?” she asked, taking a seat on the sofa.
He sat down beside her. “It was good. I went to sunrise service and then had breakfast with my pastor and his wife. How about yours?”
“My brothers and I all attended church with our parents and had dinner together afterward.” I thought about you all day long and how much I enjoyed our dinner together.
“I bought this for you,” Coco said. “I felt really bad for ruining your shirt.”
“You didn’t have to do this,” Ransom told her.
“I did,” she replied. “That shirt was very expensive and I’m pretty sure it was ruined. The one I bought isn’t quite the same color, but it’s close.”
He opened the box. “Coco, I actually like this color much better.” Ransom leaned over and kissed her. “Thank you.”
She resisted the urge to touch the place where his lips had been. Her heart was racing and Coco could feel her blood rushing through her veins. She hadn’t known Ransom a week yet and she was already falling for the man.
“Coco…”
She glanced at him. “I’m sorry. Did you say something?”
“I didn’t offend you just now, did I?”
“No, you didn’t,” she answered. “Not at all. To be honest with you, I loved it and would do it again.”
Whoa. Slow down.
Coco took a deep breath, then exhaled. “I can’t believe I just rambled on like that.”
“You didn’t ramble. In fact, I enjoyed hearing it and would love to kiss you again.”
Laughing, she boldly met his gaze. “What are you waiting for?”
His mouth covered hers hungrily.
A knock on the door had them scrambling for air.
Ransom rushed to his feet and said, “Come in.”
One of the teens peeked inside. His eyes darted back and forth between Coco and Ransom suspiciously for a moment.
“What do you need, Benjamin?”
“Uh…Mr. Winters, I wanted to let you know that I finished my math. Can I get on the computer? We’re supposed to get the information on the history projects. Since I’m not there, I wanted to see if she posted it on the Web site.”
Ransom nodded. “That’s fine, Benjamin. I’ll be out there in a few minutes to check your math assignment.”
His eyes traveled once more to Coco and his mouth curved upward. “I’m sorry for disturbing y’all.”
“It’s all right,” Ransom said. “Back to work, Benjamin.”
“I just want to say one thing, Mr. Winters. You got great taste.” Grinning from ear to ear, the teen closed the door and was gone.
“Wow,” Coco said with a smile. “He’s good for my self-esteem.”
“Benjamin is a good kid. His father left when he was six years old. He’s the oldest of four and his mother is sick. He works nights and takes care of the family.”
“He’s how old?”
“Sixteen. He’ll be seventeen next week. He’s here because he mouthed off at one of his teachers, who was ragging him about homework.”
“Does she know all this?”
Ransom shook his head. “She’s never asked Benjamin about his life. She’s never inquired why sometimes he falls asleep in class or doesn’t have all of his homework done. She assumes that he’s just lazy and doesn’t want to be in school. She has no idea that Benjamin sees getting into college as his only way to a better life for him and his family.”
“Does he have the grades to get into college?”
“He could,” Ransom said. “He’s certainly smart enough. He is a phenomenal basketball player, too, but because he has to work and doesn’t get off until midnight, he has no time for sports or any other school activities.”
“Is there anything that can be done to help him?” Coco asked. “He needs to be able to focus on his academics if he wants to get into college. What does he want to study?”
“Mechanical engineering.”
Her eyes widened in surprise. “Really?”
“He can do it,” Ransom said. “I’m looking into what services are available to help his family. I’m also trying to figure out a way for him to make some decent money and not have it interfere with his schoolwork. I’m afraid he’ll start looking for ways to make a lot of money in a short period of time, and if that happens…”
“I don’t even want to think about it,” Coco said. “Wait a minute! Maybe Michael can help. Benjamin could work at the plant after school and on the weekends, but he’d still be able to get off in time to do homework and spend time with his family. I’m sure we pay more than what he’s making right now.”
“He makes minimum wage.”
“Yeah, we definitely pay more than that. Let me talk to Michael and I’ll give you a call later.”
Coco was about to walk out of the door, but Ransom pulled her back into his arms and kissed her.
She returned his kiss with a hunger that belied her outward calm. Burying her face in his neck, Coco breathed a kiss there.
“I’d better get out of here while I still can,” she whispered. “I want to catch Michael before he leaves. He has a meeting sometime this afternoon.”
“Thank you,” Ransom said when they parted. “Benjamin deserves every chance he can get.”
Coco waited for her breathing to return to normal. “I’ll call you after I speak with my brother.”
An hour later, she and Michael walked back over to D-Unit.
Ransom met them at the door.
“Coco told me about Benjamin,” her brother told him. “I’d like to speak with him, if you don’t mind.”
“You can use my office.”
While they were in the back talking, Ransom introduced Coco to the other teens and his staff.
“You the lady that owns the chocolate bar over there?” the one named Jerome asked.
“Yes, I am,” she said.
“I bet you have some real expensive candy in there—it looks like it from the outside. I only peeked in once and I felt like I couldn’t afford to even walk in the place.”
Coco wasn’t sure how to respond to his comment.
“I like to see my people do good,” he told her. “It inspires me.”
She smiled. “Jerome, what is it that you’d like to do?”
“Stay alive, for one thing, and then go to college so that I can have my own business one day.”
“From what I’m seeing, you are on the right track, Jerome.”
He gave her a genuine smile.
Coco turned to Ransom and said, “I know what’s missing over here. You need chocolate. Michael and I will get together and send over a nice selection of chocolate snacks.”
Before he could respond, her brother and Benjamin strolled out of Ransom’s office. From the big grin on the teen’s face, Coco knew that Stanley Chocolates had a new employee.
She wished there was something more she could do to help Benjamin.
Ransom took Coco to a Christian hip-hop concert on their second date. Initially, she wasn’t thrilled with the idea, but as she listened to the words, she found herself warming up to the music.
Coco could tell that Ransom was thoroughly enjoying himself. He caught her watching him and flashed her that sexy smile that caused a shudder to pass through her. When she closed her eyes, she could see him covered in body frosting lying in the middle of a bed.
Oh no, I’m at a Christian concert. Please forgive me, Lord. Okay, I need to really get a grip on this lusting.
Coco crossed her legs and focused on the music. She didn’t dare look at him until it was time for them to leave.
“So what did you think?” he asked her afterward.
“Huh? Oh, I had a great time,” Coco told him. “I actually surprised myself because I really enjoyed the music.”
He broke into a grin.
“Okay, you were right. There, I’ve said it.”
“Hey, I’m just glad you had a good time,” Ransom stated. “Coco, thank you for coming with me. I didn’t want to go alone. Concerts are no fun when you’re by yourself, in my opinion.”
I’d go anywhere with you. Well, not really anywhere, but most places.
She caught Ransom staring at her. “What is it?”
“Sometimes you have this look of pure amusement. It’s as if you’re hearing something no one else can hear.”
Man, he’s good.
“No, it’s not that,” Coco said. “Ransom, we’ve only known each other for a very short time, but there are moments when I feel as if I’ve known you forever.”
He nodded. “I feel the same way. Maybe it’s because I really enjoy your company.”
She smiled.
“Coco, I’m not a man to beat around the bush. I’m very interested in you and I would like to pursue a relationship with you. I’d like to see where this road takes us.”
“I feel the same way,” she said.
“Then that means another date has to follow, hence the whole dating thing.”
“Just tell me when and where,” Coco responded with a chuckle. “Actually, I have it. Ransom, my parents are having a dinner party on Saturday for some of our VIP clients. I’d like for you to be my date.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said.
Ransom met Coco at her parents’ Century City home. She had gone over there earlier to help her mother with last-minute details.
A woman dressed in a black-and-white uniform greeted him and directed him to the back of the house, where everyone was gathering. As he passed by the kitchen, the smell of freshly sautéed garlic and herbs tantalized his senses, causing his stomach to growl in protest.
Coco saw him and navigated through the sea of guests toward him. “I’m glad you made it. My mom’s dying to meet you.”
“Where is she?” he asked.
“She went upstairs for a moment, but she’ll be back.”
Ransom chuckled. He silently noted the muted gold walls and deep emerald green tones displayed throughout the furnishings. He was still in the process of decorating his new house, so he looked to pick up tips wherever he could.
Coco led him over to her father.
“This is my date, Ransom Winters.”
“It’s nice to meet you, son.” After a brief pause, he added, “I apologize for staring. You look familiar to me and I was trying to figure out if we’d met before. So your name is Ransom Winters, huh?”
“I’m afraid we haven’t met until now, although I grew up with Stanley Chocolates,” Ransom said.
“Well, it’s a pleasure to have met you, Ransom. A real pleasure.”
There was something in the elder Stanley’s eyes—a flash of recognition… What was that about? Ransom wondered briefly. He gazed around the room, taking in the dining guests and the ambience.
Coco introduced him to her brother Daniel and his wife. Then her mother approached them. “This must be Ransom,” she said.
“He is,” Coco replied. “This is my mother, Eleanora Stanley.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Stanley.”
Smiling warmly, Eleanora nodded in approval. “He’s a very handsome man, Coco.”
“Thanks for pointing that out, Mama.” Coco took him by the hand and said, “Will you please excuse us?”
Ransom burst into laughter. “I like your mom.”
“Yeah, I guessed you would.”
A waiter walked up to them carrying a tray of wineglasses. Ransom took one and handed it to Coco. He then got one for himself.
“Just so you know, my mother is not ashamed of her quest to have me married and pregnant. She fully believes that I should have a husband and that Michael needs a wife. Actually, I think my brother needs one, too.”
“So you’re not looking to get married?” Ransom murmured. He was more than ready to settle down himself and start a family. It was all he really wanted in life, since he had achieved everything else.
“I’d like to get married one day,” Coco admitted. “I’m just not obsessing over it.”
Everyone gathered under the huge white tent that had been set up in her parents’ backyard. After her father said grace, the guests formed lines for the buffet.
“Everything on the menu is delicious,” Coco whispered to Ransom. “But one of my personal favorites is the prawns with sun-dried tomatoes, roasted peppers and spinach. The other is the lobster tail soaked in a lemon-butter sauce. And the baked chicken is really good. We use this catering company all the time. If you’re ever looking for a caterer, you should try them.”
Ransom filed that piece of information in the back of his mind.
They sat down at the table that had been reserved for them.
He sampled the food. “I’ll definitely give these folks a call when I’m looking for a caterer,” he told Coco.
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