Chocolate Goodies

“Hey, I was just talking about you,” he said to her. “Coco, this is Ransom Winters. He’s the owner of D-Unit.”

She looked surprised, but recovered quickly and held out her hand. “Hi, I’m Constance, but everyone calls me Coco. It’s very nice to meet you.”

“The pleasure is all mine,” he replied.

Ransom was struck silent by Coco’s beauty. He estimated her to be about five-seven. Her body wasn’t too thin or too thick—just the perfect size, in his opinion, and her clear complexion was a golden-butternut color. Coco wore her hair in a sassy, short style that gave her a youthful look. He guessed she was in her mid to late twenties.

He finally pulled his attention away from her and glanced at Michael, to find him smiling.

Busted.

He had been caught ogling the man’s sister. Hopefully this would not cast him in a bad light. He wanted to leave them with a good impression.

“Sis, I think you need to hear exactly what D-Unit is,” Michael told her, sending a wave of relief through Ransom. “It’s not what you thought it was.”

He smiled at Constance. “I heard that you believed I’d opened a music store. That’s not what D-Unit is about.”

“I did,” she confirmed. “So if you don’t sell music, what do you sell?” Coco scanned his clothing. “Are you selling clothes?”

He shook his head. “I don’t sell anything. D-Unit is a center for teens. Right now we’re geared to helping boys in particular, but plan to add services for girls by next year. We offer a structured day program.”

She regarded him with somber curiosity. “What exactly is that?”

“It’s a program designed to help boys stay in school and on target even when they have been suspended.”

“So all those teens I’ve seen coming in and out of your shop are your students?” Coco asked, trying to hide her astonishment. To her they looked more like gangbangers than students.

“Yes,” Ransom answered. “When they’re suspended from school, they usually do nothing but run the streets or stay home playing video games. Neither is the best choice for them.”

She nodded in agreement. “Wow, you’re definitely not a music store. I totally had you figured all wrong.”

“I guess with the music always playing, it was natural you made that assumption,” Ransom said. “The students seem to relate well to music.”

He liked that she seemed interested in his pilot program. Hopefully Coco would allow one of his boys to put in some volunteer hours at her store. “I haven’t been to your shop, but I’ve heard a lot of good things about it.”

“Thank you,” she said. “I’m pleased with the way things are going. Word of mouth is the best advertisement.”

Michael snapped his finger. “I knew that I recognized your name. You won a Grammy earlier this year.”

Ransom smiled and nodded. “Most people have never heard of me.” He could feel the heat of Coco’s gaze as she quietly observed him.

“You’re one of the biggest songwriters out there,” Michael said. “I know because I have a couple of friends in the industry. My sister here plays the violin.”

Ransom glanced over at her. “I’d love to hear you play sometime.”

She gave him a smile that caused his heart to flip. “You might regret it afterward. I haven’t played much in years. I’ve had my hands deep in chocolate.”

They laughed.

If her brother had not been standing there, Ransom most likely would’ve asked Coco out on the spot. But he decided to keep it professional between them. He still held out hope that she would allow one of his students to fulfill his community service hours in her shop. She was one neighbor he was happy to have.

Coco could hardly keep her eyes off the handsome man standing before her. He was not at all what she expected. Ransom had to be at least six-four or –five, his shoulders broad and muscular. His skin was the color of delectable dark chocolate and his eyes a dark brown with a hint of hazel.

He looked familiar, but Coco was sure they had never met. There was something about his eyes. She searched her memory and came up with nothing. She knew some Ransoms but it was their surname.

“I need to get back to the center,” he said. “But before I go, I was talking to Michael about community service.”

Her brother quickly gave her a recap of their conversation.

“Part of the program includes my students volunteering for community service hours,” Ransom interjected.

“I’m going to have some of them help out in the plant,” Michael announced.

Guarded, Coco met his gaze. “Really?”

He nodded. “I think it’s a good idea, sis.”

Although she was very attracted to Ransom, Coco was not about to have a bunch of teens she didn’t know working in her shop.

“Would you be interested in having one of my students come in a couple hours a day?”

“I’m sorry, Ransom. My shop brings in a certain type of clientele and, well, I’m not sure how…” Coco looked to her brother for help.

Ransom gave her a polite smile. “Thank you for your time. I need to pick up lunch for my students and get back to the center.”

“You left me hanging, Michael,” she said after Ransom left the plant. “Now he probably thinks I’m nothing but a snob.”

“Ransom is doing a good thing with those teens,” her brother responded. “It wouldn’t have hurt to let one come over to help you.”

“I’m not saying it isn’t a good program, but he can’t change those kids overnight. Michael, you are taking a great risk by bringing them into the plant. You need to discuss this with Dad and see what he thinks.”

A flash of anger ignited in Michael’s eyes. “I’m the one in control, Coco. I don’t need to report to Dad—not about this.”

“Those boys lead troubled lives and if they are involved in gangs, who knows what will happen?”

“Maybe all they need is to know that they matter in this world, sis,” Michael pointed out. “We grew up with two wonderful parents. Most of those kids are from low-income, single parent homes.”

“So you think I’m wrong for not letting them come to my shop?”

He met her gaze. “I never said that, Coco. I can’t tell you what to do in your shop.”

“And you don’t want me telling you what to do in this plant, right?”

“Right,” he confirmed. “I have everything over here under control.”

Coco released a soft sigh of resignation. “Michael, I hope you know what you’re doing.”

Chapter 2