by Mari Carr
Sparks Fly
A Red Hot and BOOM! story
Mari Carr
Sparks Fly
Copyright 2014 Mari Carr
Smashwords Edition
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Epilogue
About the Author
More Red Hot and BOOM!
Other Titles by Mari Carr
Prologue
“Well, look what the cat dragged in. This is an unexpected surprise. Didn’t know Maris’ biggest, baddest lawman was planning to stop by tonight. Where’s Annie?”
Lieutenant Evan Sparks claimed a seat at the counter and smiled at his cousin, Macie. He’d left work a little later than normal and had almost been home when he found his cop car making an illegal U-turn in the middle of Sagebrush Lane to come to Sparks Barbeque instead. The restaurant had been in his family for three generations and it felt more like home sometimes than his actual house.
He’d been depressed all day and he needed some advice. He could count on straight-shooting Macie to lay it all out for him.
Evan shrugged. “She’s at home, I guess.”
Macie narrowed her eyes. “You guess?”
He glanced at his watch. It was almost six-thirty. Quitting time at the bank, where his wife Annie was a loan officer, was at five o’clock. “Yeah. She’ll be home by now.”
Macie reached into the cooler and pulled out a Heineken. She popped the cap and slid it across the counter to him. “And you’re here. Looking like someone shot your dog. Did you two have a fight or something?”
He shook his head. He and Annie rarely fought. At least, not with words. Instead, there was a tension hovering in the air so thickly these days that sometimes Evan thought it would almost be a relief to break it up with some screaming. However, they couldn’t do that because they’d both be yelling at the wrong person. No one was to blame for what was making their lives together so unbearable.
Macie looked around the restaurant. Their older cousins, Jeannette and Sydney, would be in the kitchen cooking, while Macie’s mom Stella and their Uncle TJ were serving dinner and chatting with a large table of patrons in the corner.
The general consensus in Maris, Texas, was that the Sparks family made the greatest barbeque in the world. Countless entrepreneurs and food critics had found their way to Maris in he hopes of bottling the sauce or creating a chain of Sparks restaurants. The family had turned down every offer, dedicated to maintaining quality over mass-producing something that wouldn’t live up to their standards.
Macie always manned the bar, since she was damn easy to talk to and made one hell of a Bloody Mary. She had a bubbly personality and an incredible memory. Evan suspected she knew the drink of choice of every single person who had ever walked into the restaurant.
Once Macie was sure they could chat relatively undisturbed, she leaned over the counter and lowered her voice. “Okay, spill. What’s wrong, Evan?”
He hesitated, though he wasn’t sure why. He’d come here because he needed someone to talk to and he trusted Macie. Evan wondered if it was embarrassment or pride holding him back.
“You know, Mace, there’s only one thing I’ve ever been sure of in my life. One thing I’ve known about myself since I was young.”
“What’s that?”
“That I want to be a father. That’s the life I’ve always wanted to live. The feeling’s always been there.”
Macie sighed softly, her eyes filled with compassion. “Still no luck?”
He shook his head miserably. Evan and Annie had married when they were in their early thirties, both well established in their careers. They’d planned to start a family immediately, hoping for a honeymoon baby. Everyone in town knew they were anxious to become parents and in those early days, very few weeks passed when someone hadn’t asked if they were expecting yet. Then the months turned into a year and that year extended into another. With the passage of time, people stopped inquiring, and actually tried to avoid making eye contact with him and Annie anytime the subject of babies came up.
“I know the doctor said there was nothing medically wrong, but have you and Annie considered talking to someone else?”
“We have.”
Macie seemed surprised by Evan’s admission. He didn’t blame her. She’d been his confidant for most of his life. Maybe it was strange for him to be so close to a female cousin who was several years older than him, but even when they were younger, Macie had felt like a kindred spirit. “When?”
“We drove to Austin a few months ago to see a specialist.”
“And?”
“And Dr. Bryan was right. There’s no medical reason why we can’t conceive, so the specialist gave us some tricks to try. None of them are working.”
“So adopt.” It was an answer Macie had offered countless time in the past two years.
“You know I’d do that in a New York minute, but Annie really wants to have a baby. She doesn’t want to stop trying yet.”
Macie smiled sadly. “None of this is news, Evan. What’s wrong? Why are you here, sweet pea?”
He took a drink of his beer, then he stared at the bottle, unable to hold Macie’s gaze. Then he heard the words that had been trapped inside him for well over a year falling out.
“I’m fucking done in, Mace. I’m tired. Sex is completely regimented. We’re on this schedule. I’m all but punching a goddamn time clock in the bedroom. It’s hurting my marriage. I love Annie. Really love her, but we’re just so tense. Every month when we find out she’s still not pregnant, I hold her while she cries and tell her it will be okay. But what if it’s not? What if those words are a lie and it’s just another way I’m failing her?”
Macie reached out and took his hand, waiting until he raised his eyes to look at her. “You aren’t failing her. Don’t say that. Don’t even think it.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
Macie squeezed his hand. “Everything happens for a purpose and in its own time. Can I make a suggestion?”
Evan nodded. Her advice was the reason he’d come. He was out of ideas and running on empty. He needed someone to point him in the right direction.
“Stop trying.”
He frowned. Hadn’t she been listening? He and Annie wanted to be parents. They wanted to have a baby of their own. “Macie—”
“It’s time to put the baby thing aside and focus on your marriage, Evan. I’m not saying you and Annie should stop trying to get pregnant, but don’
t schedule sex or read charts about ovulation times or have Annie stand on her head for twenty minutes afterward or whatever other voodoo shit y’all have been trying.”
Evan laughed. “You think the standing on her head thing would work?”
Macie shook her head and snorted. “I’ll bet you twenty dollars Annie is sitting at home feeling like she’s failing you.”
The thought bothered Evan more than he cared to admit. “That’s ridiculous.”
“She’d say the same thing to you, and you’re both right. It is. You and Annie are a solid couple. You always have been. Don’t fuck that up. So here’s my solution. It’s a holiday weekend. Y’all should put it to good use.”
“I think you’re forgetting I’m a cop and the words ‘Fourth of July’ in this town are synonymous with ‘party ’til you’re stupid’. I’ll be patrolling the streets, arresting drunk drivers.”
Macie frowned. “Maris isn’t that big a town and most of the drunks know to stay put once they got a snoot full. Besides, everybody and their brother will be down by the lake, dancing on the beach then passing out in tents and cabins. You’ve got some seniority at the department. Take the early shift. Give the rookies the later one. It’ll be good experience for them.”
Evan admitted she had a good point. He’d been with the Maris police force for eight years. And though the Fourth typically included lots of heavy partying, he could count on one hand the number of drunken arrests he’d made during the holiday weekend—be it driving under the influence, idiots picking fights, or one fella pissing in the fountain in the middle of town.
“Well…” He couldn’t think of a good reason not to ask for some time off, except lately, work had been his escape from the stress at home.
Macie must have sensed she was wearing him down. “We’re closing the restaurant tomorrow and taking our meat on the road, setting up a big spread like we always do. You and Annie need to come eat, drink, listen to Tyson’s band and then watch the fireworks with all of us. Let’s face it. One night with our crazy family is sure to make you forget your worries. Kick up your heels and shake the rest of this crap off for a little while. The two of you need to give yourselves a break.”
It was good advice. His thoughts had been consumed with worry and fear of what the future held for so long, he couldn’t remember the last time he’d relaxed and simply lived in the moment. Macie was right. If he and Annie didn’t take a big step back, they were in danger of destroying a good marriage. He loved his wife more than anything and the idea of losing her felt like a hard punch to his gut.
It was time to reignite the romance, time for them to remember what it felt like to be in love, without a care in the world. It was time to make the sparks fly again.
Chapter One
Evan glanced at the clock on the dashboard of his car and sighed. He only had a few more minutes left on his shift. Traffic had been steady most of the day as revelers headed to the lake to celebrate the Fourth, but it had slowed down in the last hour or so. He figured most everyone had already gathered by the lake and had started digging into the barbeque ribs Sparks laid out every year. His mouth watered just thinking about them.
He’d taken Macie’s advice and managed to talk his captain into letting him get off early. He had made plans to meet Annie at the lake around six for some barbeque and dancing.
For the first time in months, he was actually looking forward to seeing Annie, rather than worrying about heading home to find her either waiting to rush him into the bedroom because it was a good time for sex, or upset because she’d gotten her period again.
It was date night, and he was determined they were going to have fun. They were going to turn things around this weekend. Get back on track.
He was just about to pull onto the road when he saw a familiar car speeding by, going way faster than the forty-five mph limit. He turned on his lights and followed, grinning at the chase.
His wife had always had a lead foot. They’d actually met when he pulled her over for speeding.
Evan caught up with her car on the outskirts of town. She had the top down on the convertible, enjoying the last of the day’s sunshine. The weather was surprisingly mild for July in Texas, the temperature not creeping much above eighty-five all day. In Maris, any summer day that didn’t touch a hundred was a cool one.
She waved when she spotted him, not bothering to pull over or slow down. Obviously she thought his pursuit was a joke. They were only a few miles away from the turn off to Harper’s Lake, where they’d planned to meet up.
Annie’s family owned a cabin on the lake that they used on weekends and holidays. However, her parents were out of town, visiting Annie’s brother in Seattle this Fourth of July, so he and Annie had decided to take advantage of the empty cabin, packing overnight bags and staying there after the fireworks. It saved them driving back into town later and added to the element of romance. They could almost pretend they were away on vacation if they weren’t in their own bedroom.
As Annie continued to fly down the road, a wicked plan began to play out in Evan’s mind. It would mean missing the barbeque, but it would be worth it. The more road they ate up, the more Evan was convinced he’d discovered the perfect way to rejuvenate and reignite the passion in his marriage.
He and Annie were going to recreate the first night they met—only this time, Evan intended to put a sexy spin on it. A very sexy spin.
He sped up, not bothering to turn off the lights or siren. The road was clear, so he began to overtake her. Once he pulled even to her car, he used the loudspeaker.
“Follow me,” he commanded before continuing past, enjoying the confusion on her face.
When he made the turn for the lake, Annie was right behind him. This was the same road he’d pulled her over on nearly five years earlier. She’d been on her way to the cabin to spend a long weekend with her parents when he’d stopped her for driving way past the legal limit. They’d struck up a conversation as he studied her license and registration. He hadn’t been fooled by her obvious attempts to charm her way out of the ticket, but he’d pretended to fall for them just the same. She’d been flirtatious and funny and he’d tried hard to find ways to keep talking to her. Plus, she’d been wearing a bikini beneath a low-cut cover-up and it had been difficult for him to concentrate on much of anything besides her sexy tits.
Luckily, it had been late and, just like now, he’d been at the end of his shift. Somehow, they’d wound up taking their conversation down to the lake, the two of them sitting on the sandy beach, dipping their toes in the cool water. They’d talked all night. Then, somewhere around four a.m., he’d gotten his courage up enough to lean over to kiss her. He hadn’t kissed another woman since.
Unfortunately tonight, the public beach by the lake would be packed with people celebrating the Fourth of July. What he had in mind required more privacy. A hell of a lot more privacy. He took the left that would lead them down the long, meandering dirt road to her parents’ cabin. It was isolated and perfect for what he planned.
His phone beeped. Glancing at the screen, he spotted a text from Annie. It was simply a question mark, but it made him chuckle. She was probably wondering why he’d gone the wrong way, driving away from their destination.
Texting while driving. Another violation to add to his growing list. She was making things too easy for him. He didn’t bother to reply. Instead he tossed his phone onto the passenger seat and continued. After several minutes, they reached the cabin. It was on a slight incline with a path that led to the lake and a large dock he and her father had built a year earlier after a flood had wiped out the old one.
Maybe they’d make it down to the water eventually. But first, he had some punishments to mete out. His wife had been a very naughty girl.
She started to park her car behind his, but he gestured out his open window for her to go around him. If all went according to plan, he intended to make use of his police car’s spotlights later on.
Annie followed his
directions. He stepped out of his car slowly, letting her curiosity build. She started to open her car door, but he said, “Don’t get out of the car,” in his most authoritative policeman’s voice.
She hesitated, glancing over her shoulder, and he wondered if she’d obey. Then she leaned back against her seat and waited for him.
As he approached, she gave him an exasperated look. “Were the siren and lights really necessary the whole way here?”
“License and registration.”
She laughed, making no move to reach for either thing.
He crossed his arms. “License and registration, ma’am.”
Her laughter died at his stern expression. “What are you doing, Evan?”
Evan refused to break character. He had plans for the evening. Back in the early days of their relationship, they’d taken a few walks on the wild side, incorporating role-play into their sexual exploits, blowing vanilla sex out of the water as they experimented with bondage, domination and submission.
The fact that she still hadn’t picked up on his intent proved to just how far they’d let their relationship fall to the wayside.
“Evan—”
“You have ten seconds to produce the paperwork I’ve requested or I’m citing you for not complying with a policeman’s orders—in addition to the speeding and failure to pull over. There are stiff fines attached to evading arrest.” He made sure to emphasize the word stiff, but she missed the sexual innuendo attached to it.
Her eyes narrowed at his haughty tone and he saw a spark of anger flash in her eyes. It had been too long since he’d seen any expression other than sadness or disappointment there. The fury was a welcome sight. It meant the lively, opinionated girl he’d fallen in love with was still there.
She dragged her wallet from her purse, muttering curses that sounded a lot like “jackass” and “arrogant prick,” as she produced her driver’s license.
