Free For Your Love by Beverly Jenkins Page A

workers. Can you set up a payroll system so they can get paid? You’re going to need suppliers. Do you know anything about inventory or invoices? What about small business taxes?”
    Bobby’s lips tightened. Admittedly he knew nothing about any of those things.
    â€œIf you want that business of yours to be successful, you’ll need to know all of that and more. You’re what, nineteen?”
    Bobby nodded.
    â€œPerfect age to begin setting up for your dreams, and you start by learning all the things you need to bring to the table. Let us help you.”
    Bobby met Trent’s gaze. Since the age of thirteen, he’d been in charge of his own life because he’d never had anyone in his corner—­not parents, teachers, or social workers. Kiki had always been supportive, of course, but aside from her, the closest he’d ever had to someone having his back was during his gang years. The members functioned as the family he’d never had. But now Trent was proposing something totally new and foreign, and the way he broke it down made Bobby consider a different path and a different way of tackling his life. He wanted better—­had he not, he wouldn’t have moved his family to this place in the middle of damn nowhere. Could he really achieve his dreams here? Trent was making him realize all the things he didn’t even know he didn’t know.
    â€œWell?” Trent asked.
    â€œWhat if I can’t do it?”
    â€œWhat if you can?”
    Bobby smiled and looked down at his feet for a moment. When his gaze rose, Trent was smiling, too. “You’re something. You know that?”
    â€œMy sons think I’m an okay guy.” Trent’s voice took on a serious tone. “I need you to try this, Bob. It can’t hurt. If you don’t want to, I suppose we can find something else. The school and the Dog are always in need of custodial help. It’s honorable work, but it won’t set you on the path you say you want to be on.”
    â€œCan I think about it?” Bobby asked. He could tell by Trent’s posture that it was not the answer he wanted, but Bobby never liked being pressured.
    Trent relented. “Sure. If the answer is yes, I need you at my office in the morning, eight sharp.”
    â€œThank you.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.”
    On the drive back to their trailer, Bobby was silent.
    â€œI’m really excited about being able to do hair again,” Kiki said happily.
    Bobby, lost in thoughts about Trent’s offer, replied distractedly, “Yeah, baby. That’s great.”
    â€œWhat’s up with you? Was Trent serious about making you his assistant?”
    â€œYes. Not sure I want to do it, though.”
    â€œWhy not?”
    â€œI don’t know anything about being a mayor’s assistant.”
    â€œHe’s going to teach you, though, right?”
    â€œHe said he would.”
    â€œThen what’s the problem?”
    â€œStill trying to deal with how they roll here. Never had anybody want to do something for me with no agenda attached.”
    â€œIt’s different, but it’s a good different, don’t you think?”
    â€œI suppose.”
    â€œSo if you don’t take the job, what’re you going to do?”
    He turned onto July Road. “Custodial work for the diner and the school.”
    She looked away, shaking her head in what appeared to be either disbelief or disgust, he wasn’t sure. “What?”
    â€œDid we come here to get a better life or not?”
    â€œWell—­”
    â€œYes or no?”
    â€œYeah, but—­”
    â€œBut, my ass. Come on, Bobby. Either we’re in, or we go back to Dallas. I’m just as scared as you. This seems way too good to be true to me, too, but what if it isn’t? What if you actually can get that business you’ve been dreaming about? What if we can really have a life that’s not