Read Online One Way or Another by Rhonda Bowen - Free Book Online Page B

they still hadn’t been able to figure it out.
    â€œYo, Bayne, I’m not trying to say you can’t do this,” Tarik began easily. “I seen you fix the plumbing in the bathrooms, and even Ray-Ray’s bed after he popped it down with his heavy self. But ain’t none of that ever taken two hours, and we been on this roof for two hours. You get what I’m tryin’ to say?”
    Adam got exactly what he was trying to say. He rubbed his hand over his face. What he wouldn’t give to have a roofer appear right now.
    â€œHey! What’s going on up there?”
    The three of them looked over the edge of the Jacob’s House roof to where the voice was coming from. Adam grimaced. This woman had a knack for showing up at the worst possible times.
    â€œHey, it’s the honey who was here for Jerome the other day. What up, shorty!” Sheldon called down from the roof.
    Tarik socked him in the arm, and they both looked over at Adam, who was glaring.
    â€œI know you can do better than that,” Adam admonished. Sheldon scowled. “Sorry.” He leaned back over the edge of the roof. “How are you today, Miss Toni?” he asked, enunciating each word for Adam’s benefit.
    Adam could hear Toni’s laughter below. “I’m good. Tell your boss to come down so I can talk to him.”
    â€œI’m kinda busy,” Adam called out as he turned away to focus his attention back on the roof in front of him. He couldn’t waste any more time. There were still three other parts of the roof waiting for similar attention.
    â€œBusy doing what?”
    â€œTryin’ to fix this roof,” Tarik answered dryly. “Too bad he don’t know nothin’ ’bout what he doin’.”
    â€œMaybe if you quit runnin’ your mouth and got your behind over here you could help me figure this out,” Adam threw back.
    â€œLet me take a look,” Toni called out. All three heads on the roof and those on the ground shifted to look at Toni.
    For the first time that day, Adam grinned. “You want to take a look at the roof,” Adam said, the amusement in his voice poorly disguised. “For what?”
    â€œMaybe I can help,” Toni called back, cocking her head to the side as she stared up at him from under huge sunglasses.
    â€œI don’t think so,” Adam said. But before the words were properly out of his mouth, Toni dropped her bag on the grass below and took off her tiny belt. Adam watched in horror as she kicked off her shoes and slipped the oversized dress shirt she was wearing over her head. She tossed it on the ground in the pile with the rest of her stuff, all to the background sound of the boys’ whistles and catcalls. He thought about reprimanding them, reminding them of the importance of respecting women. But what should he expect? They were street kids, and an attractive woman had practically stripped down to her basics right in front of them.
    She seemed oblivious, however, and Adam almost forgot the purpose of the whole show until she slipped on some work boots and climbed the ladder to the roof, clad only in the boots, black leggings, a tank top, and her sunglasses. He knew instinctively that the image of her slim, curvy body would leave a scar on his brain. At least nothing was see-through.
    â€œJerome, come hold this ladder so I don’t break my neck,” she called out, even though she was already halfway up.
    â€œFor what?” Jerome argued, eyes narrowed. “Ain’t nobody send you up there.”
    Toni paused on the ladder and turned to look at Jerome. Adam couldn’t see her face, but whatever was there did something, for Jerome slunk his reluctant form over to the ladder to steady the base.
    â€œYou can’t be up here,” Adam said testily, when she finally made it past the three stories to the roof. “If you fall off or get injured, you’re not covered under our