LITMIR.BIZ

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after they’re returned to school.”

      “Is that enough time to make a real difference in their lives?”

      He set his drink down on the bar. “I know we can’t save everyone, Coco, but we have had some great successes. I’ve had two boys give up their flags.”

      Puzzled, she said, “Give up their flags…what does that mean?”

      “That they are leaving their gangs,” Ransom explained.

      “Are they safe when they do that?” Coco asked. “I thought the only way out was through death for most of these kids.”

      “We move them into a safe house outside of Los Angeles, so that they can live without fear. I have four houses around the country just for situations like this.”

      She was impressed. “Wow. Ransom, I think that’s wonderful. It sounds like you’re really dedicated to these boys.”

      “I am,” he confirmed. “I really believe that it takes a village to raise children, Coco. Most of the students who have come through my program show a marked improvement when they return to school. When they come to me, I get copies of their school records, which show that most are not bad kids. Many are growing up in single parent homes, and gangs provide the family they crave. Some are misjudged because of the way they dress or who they associate with.”

      “I guess I’m guilty of that,” she murmured.

      He flashed a winning smile. “It’s not too late to change your way of thinking.”

      “Point taken.”

      Ransom surveyed his surroundings as he finished his drink. “What are those?” he asked, pointing to the bottles behind the bar.

      “Vintage dessert toppings,” she responded. “You should try them. I created them by blending wine and chocolate. I have Caramel Chardonnay, Chocolate Raspberry Cabernet, Chocolate Espresso Merlot, Strawberry Champagne and Extreme Dark Chocolate Decadence.”

      “Now I’m impressed,” he said. “I’m definitely going to have to try them.”

      “I hope that you will,” she said. Ransom made her heart skip a beat.

      “Coco, I hope I’m not about to make a fool of myself, but would you be interested in having dinner with me tomorrow?”

      She released a soft gasp. “You’re asking me out? Like on a date?” Duh…

      He nodded.

      “Sure,” she said. “I’d love to have dinner with you.”

      He raised his eyes upward. “Thank you, Lord.”

      She laughed. “Okay, what was that all about?”

      “I was giving thanks. I’ve wanted to ask you out since yesterday, but I wasn’t sure what you’d say. I don’t even know if you’re seeing someone.”

      “I’m single,” Coco assured him. “Since you asked me out, I’m assuming you are, too.”

      “You assumed correctly.”

      Coco continued to search her memory, trying to place where she could have seen him. “Ransom, what did you do before taking on the plight of teens?”

      “I worked as a high school counselor for three years, and then as a songwriter at a big record label for four years, and I freelanced after that. I guess my name got around and I started writing for some major singers. It’s been really good to me. This is why I’m able to start this facility, and I hope to have them all over Los Angeles. I have another one opening soon in Inglewood.”

      “It sounds like you are truly one of the good guys,” Coco told him. “I really hope those boys appreciate what you’re doing for them. I certainly do.”

      “They show me by doing well in school.” Ransom checked his watch. “I guess I need to get back to my office. Coco, thanks for the drink and the conversation. I enjoyed both.” He pulled out a twenty and handed it to her.

      “The drinking chocolate was on the house, Ransom.”

      “This is a tip.” He dazzled her with an incredible sexy smile. “I look forward to our dinner tomorrow night.”

      She waited until he walked out of the shop before shouting, “Yes!”

      Amused, Valencia glanced over at her.

      Ransom took Coco to the Jade Empress Pavilion for their first date. She told him she had eaten there once before, but never in one of the private rooms.

      “This is nice,” she said, her eyes bouncing around the space, which was draped in rich but soothing jewel tones. “All the green foliage and rice paper lanterns really add to the ambience. I feel as if I’m away at an exotic retreat.”

      “I’m glad you like it,” he responded. “I wasn’t sure what you’d want to eat, so I might have overordered, but it won’t go to waste. I can take whatever we have left to the staff and students on Monday.”

      They sat down facing each other.

      Coco looked stunning in a teal-colored sundress that seemed to love her body, judging by the way the material fell around her hips and flattered her curves.

      Waiters started to bring the food out, arranging it attractively on the table.

      “We have scallops with a sea garden topping, deep fried stuffed crab claws, Peking duck, Maine lobster, fried rice, and for dessert, mango pudding and Chinese pastries,” Ransom told her.

      “Wow,” she murmured. “I think I’ll have a little bit of everything.”

      “You are a woman after my own heart!” He chuckled and picked up the chopsticks.

      “Are you really going to eat with those things?” Coco asked.

      “Aren’t you?”

      She shook her head. “Oh no, that’s not part of my skill set.”

      “You have to try it,” Ransom said. “C’mon, I’ll help you. Just watch me and then you do it.”

      Coco put forth a valiant effort to eat with chopsticks, but ended up laughing at herself. “Okay, I give up. I’m using my fork or I won’t be able to enjoy dinner.”

      “You were doing fine.”

      “Yeah, right,” she said, pointing to the stain on his silk shirt. “That’s why you’re wearing some of our dinner. Seriously though, I’m real sorry about that and I’ll be more than happy to pay for the cleaning.”

      Ransom waved away her concern. “Don’t worry about it.”

      Coco stuck a forkful of lobster in her mouth, savoring the flavor. “This is delicious.”

      “Have you tasted the duck?” he asked.

      “I’m trying it now.” She sampled the tender meat and nodded in approval. “It’s really good.”

      Coco took a sip of her iced water. “So tell me something,” she said. “Why are you always playing rap music? Most of that stuff degrades women and glorifies gang life, right? I would think that it goes against what you stand for.”

      “Have you listened to the lyrics?” he inquired.

      “Not really,” she admitted. “I can’t stand hip-hop, so I don’t really pay attention to it. I’m more of a classical music and old school R & B kind of girl.”

      “I think you should be more open-minded when it comes to music, Coco. All you heard coming from the center was hip-hop and you immediately assumed it was bad. You didn’t even bother listening to the lyrics. If you had, you would have realized that it was gospel or Christian hip-hop. I don’t know if you’ve realized this but classical music has been sampled in several hip-hop songs,” Ransom explained. “Nas skimmed

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