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definitely the body of a football player—or a male stripper.

Four
    I was enjoying the first sip of my café au lait at the popular New Orleans spot Café Du Monde when I heard a woman’s voice calling in my direction.
    “Are you going to use all that sugar?”
    “No, not using it all,” I said, passing her the light blue dish that held sugar and several kinds of artificial sweeteners.
    “Thank you. I thought this was supposed to be a classy joint, and they can’t even put sugar on every table.”
    I took another sip and nodded politely. I was just getting ready to taste my first bite of my beignet when she called out again.
    “Why are you sitting over there by yourself?”
    “I’m waiting for someone,” I said, hoping this girl wasn’t trying to hit on me so early in the morning. I was waiting to interview a candidate for the position of my assistant.
    “Why don’t I join you before he or she gets here?” she offered. Before I could respond she had picked up her coffee and roll and plopped down in the chair facing me.
    I was struck first by her boldness, then by how pretty shewas, with her overdeveloped breasts bursting from her silky tank top. She had a soft face with dark sparkling eyes that radiated warmth and confidence.
    “I’m Jade. Jade Galloway,” she said, extending her hand.
    “Nice to meet you, Jade. I’m Aldridge.”
    “That’s a nice name. You got a last name?”
    “Yeah, it’s Richardson. Most people call me AJ,” I said.
    “That goes together and I like AJ,” she said, blowing on her coffee with her full lips. I admired the way she was wearing her hair down, with a slight part amid an abundance of wavy black hair that looked part real, part weave. She didn’t seem to be wearing any makeup on her smooth, tea-colored face, but she was so pretty it didn’t matter.
    “I’m glad you approve.” I smiled.
    “Are you from New Orleans?”
    “No, I just moved here.”
    “Me too,” she squealed with delight.
    “Where are you from?” I felt obliged to ask out of courtesy. I looked at my watch and realized my appointment was running late. That wasn’t a good sign for someone who intended to be my right hand.
    “I moved here from Los Angeles, but I’m originally from St. Paul, Minnesota,” Jade said.
    “There aren’t a lot of black people up there.”
    “You got that right. That’s why I hauled ass right after I graduated from high school.” She looked me directly in the eyes like she was sizing me up, and I couldn’t tell if she was flirting with me.
    “Did you go to college in Los Angeles?”
    “No, I’m not the college type. I took a few acting classes and gave modeling a try like everyone else there.” Jade moved herchair back a few inches from the table and crossed her slender legs. She was wearing a cute plaid, pleated skirt with a slight split that revealed her thigh. I thought to myself, if I was into girls this would be the type for me. She was pretty and I could tell that she had a wicked sense of humor.
    “Have you been in any movies, or did you meet anybody famous when you were in Los Angeles?”
    “I did a lot of extra work, and once Denzel Washington and his wife came in the restaurant where I was a hostess. I used to see a lot of rappers and hip-hoppers when I went to the clubs.”
    “I would think Los Angeles would be nice for a pretty girl like you. What brought you to New Orleans?”
    “I got bigger fish to fry, and I need to catch my fish before everybody comes back here,” she said with a grin.
    “I heard that. Sounds like you got a plan.”
    “Miss Jade’s always workin’ on a plan.”
    “You think people will?” I asked.
    “Will what?”
    “Come back to New Orleans.”
    “I think so, but not until after the white folks buy all the real estate so they can sell and rent it back to poor black people for more than it’s worth.”
    For someone who had only completed high school, Jade sounded like she had a good head on her shoulders, even if