Free Love Gone Wild: A Contemporary Romantic Comedy by Michele Bardsley

"Maybe I can get through to her. I'll take her out for some dinner, get her side of the story, and talk some sense into her."
    Dane didn't want Brent anywhere near Marissa. Knowing her, she'd have Brent promising all sorts of sexual favors. The idea of her sharing herself with anyone but him, no, with anyone, period, made his gut clench. On the other hand, Brent was a counselor, and a damned good one. He could influence Marissa to tear up the list—or at least he might be able to get some information about who she had escaped and why.
    "All right. But if you get horizontal with her, I'll rip off your arms."
    "Don't worry, Dane. I won't touch her."
    "Yeah, but what are you going to do if she touches you?"
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    T UESDAY JONES HADN'T seen a butt that fine since—since never. Her name was Rozzinda Lewis and he hadn't heard a single thing she'd said about the TeenCenter since they'd started the tour. Her skin was like creamy chocolate and her eyes...he'd never seen eyes like hers. So dark they were like black pearls. They were looking at him with a quizzical expression. Rozzinda's thin brows raised. "You like what you see?" she asked.
    "Yeah, baby. You the finest woman I've seen in a long time."
    Marissa touched his shoulder. "She was talking about the equipment."
    "I like her equipment, too."
    Rozzinda laughed. "Boy, you a player. I'm finished with players." She walked around him and he followed her movements. "Get your eyeballs back in your head, player."
    Embarrassment burned up his neck and his cheeks heated. He wasn't no goddamned schoolboy; he resented that he felt like one right now. He'd just turned eighteen last week and he knew more about life than most people did if they lived to be a hundred. He pried his gaze off the woman and managed to look around the room. Bats, basketballs, tennis rackets...they had stuff for any sport ever played. So what?
    "Sports is a big part of the center?" asked Marissa.
    "Sports is an integral part of our program, but our focus remains on education. We help drop-outs get their GEDs and, depending on what the client wants, we get them enrolled at the community college or get them a job."
    "It sounds wonderful. Doesn't it, Tuesday?"
    "Yeah. It's great." He knew he sounded sarcastic, but he didn't care. He was here because he needed the money and he wanted to earn it. Stealing Marissa's purse had been a last-minute decision born of desperation. He needed to pay off that asshole, Jeremy.
    The thought of the drug dealer sent chills up Tuesday's spine. If his youngest sister, Slane, hadn't gotten hooked on the crack pipe... She was only fourteen. Just a baby. She'd given up her virginity and her dignity to Jeremy so she could have access to free drugs.
    Ain't nothing free, he'd told her. She'd come to his crib with a black eye and a cut lip and begged him to help her.
    "Tuesday?"
    Marissa's soft voice broke through his thoughts and he looked down at her. "Yeah?"
    "Is everything okay?"
    "It's cool. Are we done here?"
    Was it his imagination or had Rozzinda's cynical gaze softened? He wondered if his despair was evident. Lately, it felt like a palpable thing...crawling over him and threatening to choke him.
    "I'll take you back to the counselor's offices. That's where you'll find Dane and Brent."
    "Thanks, Rozzinda," said Marissa.
    "Call me Z. Everyone else does."
    "Z." Marissa grinned. "I wonder if I can get away with being called M. What do you think, Tuesday?"
    "Right on, Miss M." He couldn't help but match her grin. The woman's naiveté and enthusiasm shone like the sun breaking through the clouds. He liked being part of her adventure. He liked her. Surprise filtered through him. What was up with him? Chasing a white woman and taking notes on her craziness—and he liked it.
    "Tell you what. You and Z go back to Dane. I want to look around some more. I'll meet up with you in about ten minutes," said Marissa.
    "Okay. See you in a few."
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    S HE'D ESCAPED THE hotel fire. He knew she would. If