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“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 from Beethoven’s “Für Elise.” Young Buck used beats from Mozart’s Requiem. Ludacris snagged from both Requiem and Dvorĭák’s Symphony No. 9.”
“I didn’t know that,” Coco said. “That’s pretty interesting—this whole hip-hop, classical combination.”
They continued to talk about music while they finished their meal.
Afterward, Ransom drove her home. Since it was their first date, he didn’t want to keep her out too late and sought to end the night on a high note.
She was still on his mind when he pulled into the garage at his home in Santa Monica.
Coco had a wonderful sense of humor. He had enjoyed the evening with her. Ransom smiled as he recalled how clumsy she was with chopsticks. She’d been laughing so hard at her inability that the results had been disastrous. He glanced down at his stained silk shirt. It was ruined, so he decided to toss it. The evening had been worth it, however. Ransom was looking forward to seeing Coco again.
Coco had misjudged Ransom completely.
He was a really nice person who cared deeply for youth in the community. He was also a lot of fun, she admitted to herself.
He certainly is a good sport. I don’t think I’d be that nice if someone ruined my silk blouse.
Okay, so I know I wouldn’t be as magnanimous.
Coco loved the way his kissable lips parted when he laughed that deep, throaty laugh. He was a very handsome and sexy man. She thought about the sensual product line in her store. She’d sold quite a few of the items, but had never tried them herself. She really wanted to try the body frosting, since she had received such rave reviews on it.
Okay, so I’m totally in lust over this man. Maybe I should go take a cold shower.
It had been months, maybe even a year, since she had been involved in a serious relationship. The older she became, the quicker she was able to detect the jerks, and since she refused to settle, Coco was still single.
She was not a woman who believed she needed a man in her life, but it didn’t mean she wanted to be alone, either. She was ready for that special someone, but he had to come with the whole package.
Her ideal man was family oriented, had a strong work ethic and great sense of humor, and would love her with his whole heart.
Her mind traveled back to Ransom.
“Cold shower, here I come,” she said with a groan.
The next day Coco got up early and drove the short distance to the shop to work on a special treat for her niece. The store was busy because it was the day before Easter Sunday. All of her employees were there and things appeared to be going smoothly.
She didn’t leave until shortly after two. She talked with her assistant manager and another employee before saying, “I’ll see you all on Monday. Happy Easter.”
“Thanks for the Easter baskets,” Valencia told her.
Coco had made one for each of her employees. “You’re quite welcome.”
She walked outside and quickly made her way to her car.
Singing softly with the music, Coco merged onto the 405 freeway, going south. Her brother and his family lived in Marina Del Rey.
“Auntie Coco, you’re here,” Cinnamon exclaimed when she arrived forty-five minutes later. “What took you so long?”
“I’m sorry for being late. There was a car accident on the way over here and traffic was backed up, honey.” The trip normally took her less than thirty minutes.
The little girl hugged her. “I’m so glad that you’re here now. We’re gonna have lots of fun.”
“We sure are,” Coco said.
She waved at her brothers and her parents as Cinnamon led her over to the table where the birthday cake was on display.
“Look, Auntie…I have a Barbie doll cake.”
“I can see that,” Coco responded. “It’s beautiful.”
“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.”
