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.“I need a job.I’m desperate.”“I.” Lisa sighed.She started to say that she didn’t have anything, but how many times had Grandma, her sister, and even Aunt Anna and Gabrielle given her chances? What if people had stopped believing in her? Where would she be? She wished Wade had given Jackie a job here, but Jordan wouldn’t tolerate anybody slacking off.The first time Jackie showed up late or a room wasn’t cleaned properly, he’d have her butt hustled out the door so quickly dust would fly.But somebody had to believe in Jackie, like somebody believed in Lisa.And it looked like that somebody had to be her.“Okay.But I’m going to schedule you to work with me so you’ll know how I want things done.I can’t have any slacking off, Jackie.The work has to be done right.”She scoffed.“I know how to clean a house.”“This isn’t just house cleaning.This is my business, Jackie, and I need it to grow.I have to clean to certain standards so customers will spread the word to their friends.All my workers know to clean the house the way I want it done.”Jackie sighed.“You sure have changed.”“Jackie, I have to make this work.It’s important.” She touched Jackie’s hand.“Look, somebody gave me a chance, believed in me.I’m giving you a chance.I believe you can make it.”“Yeah, yeah.I’m going to set up another appointment with the psychic.You gonna come with me? She can tell us about Grandma.”“I’ve got a few things to do for Grandma.I don’t have time.”“You got so much to do you can’t even take out a little time to go with me? What Magdelena said is already coming true.” She nodded toward Brian, who was glancing at area brochures.“You already got yourself a fine-looking man.”“You know I don’t believe in that crap.”“But Magdelena is good.”“I can’t, Jackie.” Lisa stood.“I’ll give you a call.”“You gonna introduce me to your friend?”“Sure.” They walked over to where Brian was standing.Lisa introduced them and Jackie left for the parking lot.“Lisa?” Wade approached her.“Vanetta asked me to give you this.” He handed over an envelope.“Oh, thanks.” Jackie had her so rattled, she’d forgotten about the new potential client.Brian handed Lisa a cup of coffee.“Thought you could use this.”She smiled her thanks.“Want me to drive?” Lisa asked Brian as they exited the hotel.“I’ve got it.”Lisa slid onto the seat and Brian drove off.They talked about Naomi.Afterward silence reigned as Lisa mentally clicked through the new accounts she could work with Jackie.That meant extra work for her, but she couldn’t put Jackie on a job with another worker and expect her to train and evaluate Jackie’s work.Training was Lisa’s job.“Where to?” Brian asked.“I need to pick up my car.I have to work the rest of the day.”“Then I’ll see you tonight.”Lisa called the new client and they scheduled a time for her to come by for an interview.“What are you going to do for the rest of the day?” she asked Brian when she hung up.“Check up on a few leads.I talked to the guy my grandfather bought the bowl from.It was definitely delivered.”“Then the thief stole it.”“We didn’t see it there.And my grandfather hasn’t been around to store it anyplace.So I believe it was stolen.”Lisa sighed.For every step forward she felt as if she were taking two steps backward.“I know this isn’t a good time, but we need to talk about last night,” Brian started.He knew Lisa didn’t want to discuss their lovemaking, but they couldn’t avoid the subject indefinitely.“I thought it was women who always wanted to discuss things the next day.You don’t have to make any false promises.I’m not asking for anything.”“I don’t make false promises.”Lisa sighed.“I’m not looking for a relationship.The bowl is the only thing between us.Although I wouldn’t mind having sex with you again,” she said.Brian thought about it.It was obvious that Lisa had been hurt in the past.It wasn’t going to be easy for her to trust again.He wished that he wasn’t working blind here, that she’d open up more.“What if I want a relationship with you?” he asked after a moment.“Then we can end this thing right now.”“I’m a one-woman man and I won’t take it lightly with you fooling around with another man.Even if we don’t have a formal relationship.”“I’m not going to let you dictate what I can and can’t do.I want sex with you.That’s it.It’s too dangerous playing the field.So you don’t have to worry about me fooling around.Besides, I don’t have the time or the energy for more than one man.”“As long as I’m the only one you’re having sex with, I can deal with it.For now.” He parked in front of his motel room.They both got out.He met Lisa at the hood, gathered her into his arms and kissed her long and hard.He gazed into her eyes, making sure she was as affected by him as he was by her, before he limped to the door.Wow.Lisa pressed a hand to her chest.Pensively she watched Brian’s back as he paused to open the door to his room.What a kiss.She tried to throttle the dizzying current racing through her.She couldn’t deny what she felt, but his possessiveness disturbed her.Would he give in to her demands? Or was he waiting to press his wants at a later time? He didn’t seem the type to follow, but she wasn’t going to change her mind about their.what was it? Affair, friendship? Uneasy, Lisa went to her car.Justin tried to call Tootsie again.She answered for a change.“I’ve got to have that bowl,” he demanded.“I don’t have it.It’s probably still in the house.”“What the hell do you mean? I checked the house.It wasn’t there.”“I was just about to get it when everything happened.”“If you’re fucking with me I’ll take it out on your hide,” he said angrily.“It’s the truth.After you killed that woman, I was so out of it all I could think about was getting out of there.”Justin frowned, not knowing whether to believe the bitch or not.“Then why didn’t you say so before?”“I was mad as hell at you for killing that woman and getting me mixed up in murder.I’m in just as much trouble as you.I don’t want to talk to you or see you again.”“The woman wasn’t supposed to be there.How many times do I have to tell you that? I need that fake bowl, too.I don’t want it to look like a robbery and murder.”“How do I know you won’t murder me, too? I don’t trust you anymore
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