Recipe for Desire by Cheris Hodges Read Free Book Online

dinner. Let’s give her a hand.”
    The women clapped as Serena stood in the middle of the kitchen. “Thanks for having me here,” she said. “I think I want some of the lasagna.”
    The women laughed and Serena began her speech about business etiquette. As Devon began to line the pans, Elaine Harper walked into the kitchen. “Devon,” she whispered, so as not to interrupt Serena’s speech. “May I see you for a moment?”
    He nodded and followed her out into the hallway. “What’s going on, Mrs. Harper?”
    “Well,” she said. “I just got a call from the Mecklenburg County Probation Office.”
    “This sounds serious,” he said.
    “Kind of,” she replied. “We’re going to have a woman coming in to do some community service.”
    “What did she do?”
    “It was a nonviolent offense,” she said. “I have her file in my office. I know it’s asking a lot, but you’re going to be the one to make her schedule and sign her time sheets.”
    “That’s fine, I’ll just have her come in when I do. I do want to see her file, though,” Devon said, thinking about Bria. The last thing he wanted was someone coming in that may have a connection to her past. She was slowly opening up to him, quietly telling him about how she’d moved to Charlotte after her mother died and her father’s new girlfriend made living at home very uncomfortable. Every time he’d ask her about a boyfriend, she’d grow silent. But he did notice that she was meeting with one of the counselors from the Mecklenburg County Women’s Commission.
    “It’s in my office,” Elaine said.
    “I’ll follow you,” he said. “How’s Bria doing?”
    “Oh, Devon, she is making very good strides. She’s a good girl with some really big problems for someone so young.”
    He nodded as they walked into the office. “But,” Elaine said, “these women really enjoy working with you and they trust you. I can’t believe that you’ve been working so closely with us.”
    “I’m doing it for my mother,” he said as she handed him the file marked M ARIE C HARLES .
    “Your mother?”
    “She needed someone for her, and there was no one there to listen to her,” he said.
    Elaine nodded. “I understand,” she said as Devon flipped though the file.
    “DUI, huh?” he said. “Wait, is she that public-relations chick who got into trouble a few weeks ago?”
    “One in the same, and the daughter of attorney Richard Charles III. He actually represented us when we were in a dispute with some of the neighbors here about rezoning this land. He’s a good man, but from all accounts, Marie is a spoiled brat.”
    “Well, we’ll try to get some of that out of her. We have plenty of work she can do.”
    Elaine smiled. “Yes, there is a lot of work to do here. Have I thanked you for this fund-raiser that you’re organizing? Everyone is excited about it.”
    “I’m excited as well,” Devon said. “Maybe Marie Charles can help, since the court has ordered her to be here.”
    “Not a bad idea. She sure does know how to get media attention.”
    “Yeah, but we want to make sure that we’re getting the right kind of attention,” Devon said, and Elaine nodded in agreement. He waved good-bye to her and headed back to the kitchen, catching the tail end of Serena’s speech—which had obviously captivated the women.
    “And remember,” Serena said, “a setback is just a setup for the biggest comeback.” The ladies erupted in applause and Serena smiled brightly at them.
    After they settled down, Devon directed the women on how to can the pasta sauce and told them to finish the lasagna. He turned to Serena as they worked and shook her hand.
    “I have to say, I’m impressed.”
    Serena punched him on the shoulder. “You should be, jerk. Jade told me that you weren’t even going to ask me to come. If Jaden hadn’t gotten sick and Jade hadn’t begged me to take her place, I would have left you hanging.”
    “Come on, Serena. You know I’m still not