Free One Way or Another by Rhonda Bowen Page B

radiating off her skin. There was that vanilla again. He stepped back to clear his head.
    â€œI just fixed your roof.” With her hands on her hips and her body pressed against the door, she effectively blocked his way inside. “Do you know how much a professional would have charged to do that? Plus I got my lawyer friend to not just look over your case like he initially agreed to, but to take it on full time. Do you know how much money his time is worth? Do you know how I had to twist his arm to get him to do it?”
    He saw a vein near her temple stand up. “But I did that all for you. For free, I might add, out of the goodness of my heart... .”
    Adam coughed. “Goodness? Heart? You know what those things are?”
    â€œI gave up my time to help you,” Toni continued, ignoring his jab. “The least you can do is hear me out.” Her eyes burned into his, daring him to say no.
    â€œWell?” she demanded after a moment when he didn’t respond.
    He raised an eyebrow, and she visibly backed down a notch. He bit back a smile. “Okay, what do you need?”
    He saw her relax a little.
    â€œI just need to talk to a few more kids from the center, maybe talk to whoever it is that you work with from the church to make this happen... .”
    She paused and bit her lip. “And I need to interview you.”
    â€œMe?”
    â€œYes.” Toni rolled her eyes. It was clear that she was equally annoyed at the proposition. “My editor thinks that we need to get your outlook on what brought you here, and where you see the center going.”
    Adam shook his head. “The other stuff, maybe I can pull. But I don’t do interviews.”
    Toni smirked. “You don’t do interviews? Who are you? Kanye West? You gonna refuse to be photographed next?”
    Adam glowered. It was amazing how easily she could push his buttons. “Not the way to get what you want, Toni.” He reached past her for the doorknob.
    â€œOkay, okay, I’m sorry.” She quickly slid her body over the door handle as a last attempt. There was a hint of desperation in her eyes. “I just really need—”
    He held up his hand to stop her as he pulled his vibrating cell phone from his pocket.
    â€œHello?”
    â€œAdam. It’s Tina.”
    Adam turned away from Toni to talk to the fellow Jacob’s House administrator. “Hey, what’s up?”
    â€œIt’s about the trip over spring break,” the woman said. “I just called Sabrina and she says she’s not going.”
    â€œWhat do you mean she’s not going?” Adam asked before his brain could modulate the irritation in his voice.
    â€œShe says she can’t believe you still expected her to go after ...”
    Tina trailed off and let Adam fill in the blanks.
    After they had broken up.
    â€œYeah, I know,” Adam said with a grimace.
    â€œSo we’re short one volunteer.” Adam could hear the worry creeping into her voice. “And you know we can’t go legally unless we have four.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œAdam. We only have a couple weeks left.”
    â€œI know.”
    â€œAdam ...”
    â€œI’ll find someone,” he said, even though he didn’t have a clue where.
    Adam ended the call and looked up to the sky. Okay, God. What now?
    â€œHey, I’m still back here,” Toni said in the relaxed tone of someone who had not just been handed a big problem.
    Adam laughed. No way, God. That’s Your idea?
    Adam sighed and turned around to face Toni.
    â€œYou okay? That sounded like a rough call.” She didn’t even bother to look up at him as she dug through her purse for something. A moment later she pulled out a piece of gum.
    Adam smiled. “I’m fine. And you can have your interview.”
    Toni’s hands froze on the gum wrapper and she looked up. “You’re gonna let me interview you.” Her eyes