Holland's SUV fit right in in my neighborhood. He looked more like a dealer driving around than he did a powerful businessman, and regardless of his age, he was youthful. No one would guess he was in his mid-thirties. Late twenties at best. The black Mercedes had tinted windows, well above the legal limit, and rims every guy in the complex had eyeballed when he locked the car. I was standing outside talking to Miss Pearl, who again was babysitting for me, when he came strolling up. Standing in the projects, I looked completely out of place in the dress he'd chosen, but I didn't care. I felt like a million dollars and couldn't wait to go out with him. I didn't care what we were doing. I got to play dress-up and hang out on the arm of a man women all over the city would be lucky to have. I w
