Almost Doesn't Count by Angela Winters Read Free Book Online Page B

get my hopes up for my client.”
    Ricky didn’t seem to share her enthusiasm. “I don’t know, Ms. Carter. I think . . .”
    â€œBillie,” she corrected him. “I doubt our ages are that far apart, so no need for formalities. I can call you Ricky?”
    â€œYou can call me anything you want,” he said, suddenly flashing a flirtatious smile. “But there is some seriously shady business going on with my case. You can’t fight the man.”
    Suddenly Billie heard music and the muffled sounds of singing.
    So you got to try a little tenderness . . . a little tenderness . . . a little tenderness . . .
    â€œSorry,” Ricky said as he reached in his back pocket and pressed a button. “That was my phone.”
    â€œIs that Otis I hear?”
    â€œThe one and only,” he said, smiling. “You like Otis Redding?”
    â€œI don’t associate with anyone who doesn’t.”
    â€œHe was the man.” He looked impressed. “I’m surprised a young woman like you even knows who he is.”
    â€œMy daddy was his biggest fan,” she said. “He used to play his music all the time. I don’t care who you are, when you hear that man sing, you have to fall in love with his voice.”
    â€œThat,” he said, pointing into the air. “That is the God’s truth. That man just had soul seeping from every pore. R&B these days . . . these boys just don’t know.”
    Billie laughed, nodding in agreement. He looked at her and their eyes met for a moment that made things suddenly awkward. She should be happy that they were getting along since this wasn’t always the case with a client. But something told her this was probably not a good idea and she better get back to business.
    Billie looked down at the file folder on the table, flipping it open as she cleared her throat.
    â€œI can tell you that you are wrong on one account,” she said.
    â€œNot about Otis,” he answered back.
    She looked back up at him, her head held high. “No, but when you said you can’t fight the man. You can fight him. It’s what I do. It’s what I love to do and I’ve gotten pretty good at it.”
    His eyes softened as a satisfied expression came over his face. “Well, you have spirit, and I could tell from the second I read up on you that you have the brains. Not too bad to look at, either.”
    â€œThank you,” she said appreciatively. “First, I want to let you know that I appreciate you coming to our offices on a Saturday. I’m sure you’re busy.”
    â€œI’m busy?” He laughed, looking around. “I walked up in here expecting half the lights to be off and see nothing but a janitor. I must have passed at least twenty people on my way to this room. This is how you guys roll here?”
    â€œGotta make those hours,” Billie said. “This place is pretty much poppin’ on Saturday and Sunday.”
    â€œThat’s wrong,” he said. “I mean don’t get me wrong. I’m glad you’re here to help me, but a beautiful sister like you should be out running the streets with her man or her girls on a nice summer Saturday.”
    Billie agreed, but she had given up a lot of her personal life when she started working at the firm, but there was no point in going into that now.
    â€œLet’s get down to business,” she said. “I’m gonna tell you what I know of your case and you fill in any blanks.”
    â€œShoot,” he said, leaning back in his chair.
    â€œYou started working at the shelter, Saturn House, ten years ago.” She was looking directly at her notes. “You house immigrants who have acquired asylum from prosecution in their countries in transition. They stay with you an average of two months before moving on their own or to relatives in other parts of the DC area or the country.”
    â€œWe take entire families,” he