Free Stealing Candy by Allison Hobbs

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    “Anything look interesting?” Khalil’s voice was silk and Saleema was officially smitten.
    Perhaps it was the daggers being shot at her by the hostess on the other side of the counter, or maybe she just felt feminine and flirtatious, which prompted her next move. Whatever the case, Saleema felt compelled to let Khalil know that she found him appealing.
    Gently, she placed her hand on top of his folded hands. “Nothing on the menu seems half as interesting as you. I’ll have whatever you’re having.”
Bold!
And not bad for a woman who had indulged her earth mother inclinations for so long, she’d totally neglected her sensual side.
    Unprepared for Saleema’s personality that had suddenly shifted from demure to aggressive, Khalil removed his glasses and did that finger-rubbing thing against his nose. He was nervous and that fact was absolutely adorable.
    A male server approached. “Something to drink?”
    “Strawberry lemonade,” Khalil said.
    “Two?”
    “Yes, two.”
    Two.
It had a nice ring to it.
    As Saleema sipped the sweet and tart beverage, Khalil gave the waiter their lunch order: stewed chicken in mango sauce, rice and beans, with a side order of cabbage and fried plantains.
    “For two?” the waiter wanted to know.
    Khalil and Saleema both nodded.
    Wanting to know more about Khalil, she leaned forward. “How many kids at the detention center are on your caseload…and whatexactly do you do for them?” She was hoping he could give her some advice regarding Portia’s situation.
    “I’m not a social worker. I run an alternative school for young men. Boys who haven’t been successful in the traditional classroom.” He rose up a little, pulled his wallet from his pocket and withdrew a card and handed it to Saleema.
    Changing Lives Academy was printed in large bold letters. She perused the address, but her eyes nearly bugged out when they landed at the bottom of the card:
Khalil Gardner, Ph.D. Founder and Director.
    Saleema’s piqued interest now went beyond Khalil’s good looks and gregarious nature. Like her, this man was trying to make a difference in the lives of troubled teens. He was a kindred spirit.
    Then her heart sank.
Kindred spirits? Maybe not.
While Khalil possessed a Ph.D., Saleema was a high school dropout. They certainly were not evenly yoked. In an instant, she felt small and inconsequential.
    Back when she’d been guardian of her goddaughter, Markeeta, she’d made sure that Markeeta was educated in the best private school in the area. While running Head Up, she always stressed the importance of education to her girls, yet she hadn’t even put forth the effort to get a GED. What did that say about her? Saleema wondered.
    “One of my students…a misguided but good kid nevertheless, is being detained at the detention center.” He shook his head ruefully. “He’d been making so much progress…but like I said, keeping young men off the streets is often more difficult than keeping an addict clean.”
    “I’m still recovering from the fact that you’re the founder of an alternative school. That’s major. I’m so impressed,” she said in quiet admiration.
    “Well…don’t be. Not yet. The school just opened last year with fifty-three ninth-graders. By the end of the term, we were down to forty-one. Hopefully, enrollment will increase and the boys will all be attending the academy’s first graduation ceremony in three years.” He gave a sigh. “Wish us luck.”
    “I’m sure you’ll get there.” Typically, Saleema exuded confidence. She was an intelligent woman who read everything she could get her hands on but, at the moment, she was mentally focused on her own educational shortcomings and could offer only a few measly words of encouragement.
    “Trying to educate my boys is a constant battle. Keeping them interested in books and away from the allure of the streets is very challenging,” he said with sardonic laughter.
    “I bet,” she said simply, intent on