In Firm Pursuit by Pamela Samuels-Young Page A

“Hey, LaKeesha, what’re you doing here?”
    â€œI was hoping to get some studying done.” She resisted the urge to tug at the hem of her dress, which had crept farther up her thighs. “I was at a party with some friends, but I got bored. I figured I could make better use of my time by coming over here to study.”
    LaKeesha headed over to Stan’s desk. “Is it okay? I promise I won’t bother you.” She kept her back turned and hoped Jefferson was enjoying the view of her ass.
    â€œNo problem,” Jefferson said.
    He sounded preoccupied, but she planned to fix that very shortly. “How about some coffee?” LaKeesha asked, turning around. She was disappointed to find Jefferson’s eyes back on the blueprint.
    â€œThat would be great,” he said, without looking up.
    LaKeesha prepared the coffee, then settled in behind Stan’s desk. She opened her psychology book and pretended to read. After a couple of minutes, Jefferson yawned and began rolling up the blueprints.
    â€œYou’re not leaving, are you?” LaKeesha asked with a bit too much anxiety in her voice.
    â€œNot until I have that cup of coffee.” Jefferson wrapped a rubber band around the blueprints and placed them underneath his desk. “LaKeesha, it’s not a good idea for you to be here by yourself this late at night. Isn’t there someplace else you can study?”
    How about your place? “Not really,” she said. “The library closes at ten on Saturdays. I live with my grandmother, my sister, her son and two teenage cousins. Trying to study there is impossible.”
    â€œWhere’re your parents?”
    â€œMy mom died of breast cancer when I was twelve,” LaKeesha said. “I never knew my father.” Actually, her father’s new Bible-thumping wife had put her out nine months ago. The woman insisted that she dress like a nun and spend every freaking night in church and LaKeesha wasn’t having it. The part about her mother, though, was true.
    She could tell from Jefferson’s expression that he felt sorry for her. Excellent.
    When the coffee finished brewing, LaKeesha hurried over and poured Jefferson a cup, then walked it over to him. She strolled back to the coffeemaker to pour a second cup for herself.
    LaKeesha could not afford to wait much longer for things to get rolling with Jefferson. Londell, the married man she had dated for the past year, had started having a guilty conscience and broke it off with her so he could go to counseling with his boring ass wife. But that was going to be a futile effort. From everything Londell had told her, his wife was too evil and too selfish to keep him or any other man happy. LaKeesha did not understand why married women acted so bitchy. Didn’t they realize that there were busloads of women out there willing to treat their man right?
    â€œSo what’s your major?” Jefferson asked.
    Getting next to you. “Psychology,” she said. “I want to help people solve their problems.” She paused, then softened her voice. “Do you mind if I ask you for some advice?”
    â€œHey, you’re the future psychologist, not me.” Jefferson chuckled and took a sip of coffee. “I can’t promise you my advice will be worth much, but go ahead.”
    LaKeesha ran her fingers through her braids. “I’m really having a hard time finding a decent boyfriend.”
    Jefferson grinned. “If you can’t find a man, then the brothers around here must be crazy,” he said. “Just be patient, the right guy will come along. I didn’t get married until I was in my mid-thirties.”
    â€œAre you saying I should set my sights on an older man?”
    Jefferson smiled. “No, that’s not what I meant. You should concentrate on getting your degree. Everything will happen when the time is right.”
    â€œI wish I could find a man like you,”