Shades of Desire: 10 Sweet & Spicy Romances

by J. A. Coffey

  Smoke coursed from the crushed engine, and Jerry smiled as he heard Eric repeatedly try to crank his engine. One man down. One woman to beat.

  Jerry smiled, happy that he'd annihilated the enemy this go round.

  He glanced across the arena, surprised to find there were only three cars still moving. Kimber, him and a white New Yorker that was dragging a back bumper. The green station wagon sat nearby, its engine refusing to turn over.

  He watched as Kimber headed across the arena, making it look like she was running from the white car. She stopped on top of a dirt hill, and he could see the fans in the bleachers cheering for her. It was as though she was declaring herself the king of the hill.

  Crazy, arrogant thing to do.

  Pride or something similar welled up inside him. He'd taught her that move.

  Then she backed off the hill, heading toward the white New Yorker with all the speed she could muster. The white car started to move out of her way until it sputtered. Sounds of an engine trying to turn over mixed with the loud, muffler-less rumbles of Kimber's car.

  The rear end of her Grand Prix collided with the New Yorker's hood, making a tent out of the metal, and leaving the car a smoking pile of worthless parts.

  "Looks like the Smash and Crash are all we have left today, ladies and gentlemen," the announcer's voice boomed over the crowd. "Who will take home the trophy?"

  Jerry sat on one side of the ring while Kimber faced him on the other.

  Time for a showdown.

  The rumble of her engine filled the air as she backed toward him. No fear there. For some reason, he found that kind of sexy.

  Not meaning Kimber.

  Just overall in a woman.

  He positioned his car so his rear end faced hers.

  She wanted it? He'd give it to her.

  He crushed his accelerator to the floor, the sound of his engine roaring in response. His car bumped as he cruised over some small dirt hills, aiming directly for her.

  He wondered if she'd chicken out at the last second and swerve, not wanting to take a direct hit. He wouldn't, though. He would see this through to the end. He growled as he prepared for impact.

  They met with a roaring crunch of stressed metal. The force would have sent his head through the windshield if the car still had one.

  He sat for a second, clearing the ringing from his head, then looked back over his shoulder. She grinned as she pulled away, taking his rear bumper with her.

  Smoke rose into the air, giving the crowd a visual of the damage his car had sustained. "Shit." He turned the key, but knew he wouldn't get a response.

  "Looks like the Crashmaster has taken down the Smashmaster," the announcer said and a wild round of clapping and yells came from the stands.

  Wasn't that the truth, he thought. And it wasn't the first time.

  Kimber's car let out a loud roar of victory as she revved the engine.

  With the race over, the drivers began climbing out of their mangled vehicles, in order to complete the customary handshakes. He could refuse and walk away, but his self-respect wouldn't allow it.

  Chapter Seven

  Kimber swallowed around her dry, dust-covered throat as Jerry walk toward her. Her heart stumbled. Damn. He looked good in his worn jeans and tight blue t-shirt. Every few steps, she caught sight of a tiny limp, but otherwise, there was no outward appearance of his injury. He sauntered the same way he always did, looking like he was hunting prey, making her wish he'd hunt her.

  She slipped the helmet from her head just as he reached her, her dark hair tumbling down her shoulders.

  He studied her for a moment with his sexy, bedroom eyes, and she wished she'd could throw herself into his arms and welcome him home.

  "Nice driving." He held out a hand for her to shake.

  She took it, allowing him to wrap his warm fingers around hers for the briefest second. "Thanks."

  "Better than when I left."

  "Only in some ways." Her head, her heart, the rest of her had missed him like crazy. He'd never know how sorry she was that she'd let him down. "Jerry, I-"

  "Congratulations, Kimber," Eric interrupted. "You get better every time."

  Heat rushed to her cheeks at the sexual innuendo. And of course, it was in front of Jerry.

  The two men exchanged dark glances before Jerry met her gaze again. The traces of civility and a touch of warmth were gone. Eric had crushed the tiniest bit of a chance that Jerry had given her.

  "Gotta go," he said before he turned and walked away.

  "What the hell was that?" she said when Jerry was out of hearing range.

  "What? I was just congratulating you." Eric shrugged, trying to look innocent, but they both knew he hated that she was still in love with Jerry. He'd weaseled his way into her life during a very dark and lonely time and had taken advantage of her weakness, convincing her the life of a soldier's wife would be misery. She'd since set him straight.

  "Just...stay away from me."

  He lifted his hands into the air. "What did I do?"

  She didn't bother with a response as she walked away.

  *****

  Heated blood pulsed through Jerry's veins as he stomped toward Milo and Luke. The two of them leaned against the fence that surrounded the ring. They'd had the perfect spot to view the entire travesty.

  He never should have gone over to congratulate Kimber. It might have been the courteous thing to do, but she's the one who muddied the waters first. It had been a less than tactical move to make, leaving his heart exposed like he had. The moment she'd locked her sexy green eyes on his, she'd had him.

  Until Eric had shown up. He should probably thank the jackass for reminding him of Kimber's viper heart. Instead, he wanted to beat the shit out of him.

  "Why didn't you tell me she would be out there?" He focused his question and a killer glare on his supposed buddies.

  "You didn't want to talk about her," Luke tossed back at him.

  "The hell." This wasn't funny anymore.

  "You didn't," Milo responded. "You said you were done, said you didn't care."

  He shook his head, not understanding at all where they were coming from. "You guys are supposed to have my back. If I would have known she'd be here, I would have stayed home."

  "You said you didn't care," Milo reminded him.

  That was all it took to set him off. "What the hell do you want me to say? That her email was like a grenade that blasted shrapnel into my heart, tearing it to pieces?" The look he gave them was blacker than a moonless night out in the nearby hills. "Fine. She dumped me, and it still hurts like hell. Okay?"

  The baring of his soul generated an awkward silence between the group, and his friends looked away, obviously uncomfortable with his frank admission. He turned with disgust and started walking toward the truck and trailer.

  "Where are you going?" Luke asked.

  "I'm going to load that piece of shit on the trailer and get the hell out of here."

  "But you qualified for the final round," Milo said as he caught up with Jerry. "You're not going to let her scare you off, are you?"

  "I know my limits. I saw the way Eric looked at Kimber. You might say it's over between them, but that's not what he thinks. I sure as hell am not going to put myself anywhere near the two of them."

  "You're going to let him win, then?" Luke taunted.

  He knew what his buddies were trying to do, but it wasn't going to work. "In case you don't remember, she dropped me faster than a steaming pile of shit. He may or may not win her, but I've already lost."

  "But you still want her," Milo said. "Maybe you should fight for her."

  "I told you, I'm done. I know when to cut my losses."

  *****

  Jerry didn't look in the direction of Kimber's car as Luke and Milo helped him load the beat up New Yorker on his trailer. Tyler joined them and convinced the others to stay for the rest of the derby. That was fine with him. He'd had enough of everyone's shit to last a lifetime. He
needed to go home and lick his wounds, and figure out where he wanted to go from there.

  The family home was quiet when he parked his trailer to the side of the garage. Everyone would still be at the derby until much later.

  He left his truck and headed toward the creek that ran alongside their property. Crickets chirped as he walked, the warm evening air like a sweet balm to his lungs.

  Even in the darkness, he found the large, flat rock at the edge of the creek where he'd spent many summers fishing. He folded himself down on it, listening to the inky water gurgle its way downstream. Pent up tension eased out of his lungs.

  Damn.

  When had his life become uncontrolled chaos?

  It seemed everyone around him got to decide what his days would be like. The army had controlled his existence while he'd been overseas. Now that he was at home, he'd let his friends, Kimber, hell even Eric control his mood. He was damn sick of it.

  Starting now, he owned his life.

  As soon as he finished his last two months in the army, he'd go back to work for Luke's family on the oil rigs. It was a tough job, but it paid well, and he wasn't afraid of hard work. He'd see if old lady Johnson's farm was still for sale and get his own place.

  To hell with Kimber. She'd had her chance. Another woman would come along-the right woman this time-and he'd settle down and make the family he'd always wanted. At some point, Kimber would realize what she'd lost, and he hoped to hell she regretted it every day of her life.

  He filled his lungs with more of the sultry air and closed his eyes. The only person keeping him from getting what he wanted was him. And now that he'd figured that out, the world was back to good.

  He hoped.

  Chapter Eight

  The next morning, Jerry was up early enough to help his dad drive some of his horses into town for the livestock show and auction that would be held later in the afternoon. They went for breakfast at Sparrow's and hung out with a bunch of guys from town. Jerry took a moment to enjoy the excitement of a small town celebration. Sure, they didn't have the fancy stuff people might find at bigger town fairs, but it gave the townsfolk a chance to come together and celebrate their way of life along with their country's independence day.

  After spending most of the last four years out of the state or overseas, Jerry could appreciate that.

  He met up with his buddies to watch the annual parade, and of course, they cat-called the reigning queen like they did every year. At the end of the parade, they got in line and followed the procession to the usually empty lot at the south end of town where the car show and the rest of the activities would take place.

  Jerry found now that he'd taken that first step toward the rest of his life, things seemed a little easier. Hot July sun beat down on him as he and the other guys sauntered through the old cars that had been restored and detailed with loving hands. The thick, sweet scent of cotton candy hovered in the air along with the sound of children's laughter.

  A cherry red '67 Camaro caught his eye, and he wandered toward it.

  "Like what you see?" a female voice said from behind.

  He turned to find Kelsie Wayne looking as beautiful and blond as she had in high school. "Hey, Kelsie." His smile came easy, and it was nice to talk to a woman that didn't flip his heart on the ground and stomp on it. He glanced at the car. "This yours?"

  She matched his smile. "I wish. It's beautiful."

  He eyed her soft blond curls, thinking she was pretty as well as nice. He preferred brunettes to blondes, but look where that had gotten him. Maybe it was time to start looking beyond his usual preferences.

  "I heard you were back in town." She hooked her thumbs in her front belt loops in a flirty gesture.

  "I got back a couple of days ago."

  "Too bad you couldn't get your car fixed for the last round of the derby."

  Is that what people were saying? "Yeah. Maybe next year."

  "You and Kimber still broke up?"

  He narrowed his gaze. Aspen was notorious for gossip spreading like wildfire, but he didn't like it when his personal life was the topic of conversation. "Why do you ask?"

  She shrugged, still smiling. "Half the town thinks she's been waiting for you to come home. The other half says she's still seeing Eric."

  The dagger sliced deeper into his heart, and suddenly, the little blonde in front of him didn't seem so sweet. "I guess if you want to know what she thinks, you should ask her."

  The mood turned awkward, Kelsie's smile slipping a bit. "Okay." Her smile faded completely as she focused on something beyond his shoulder. He turned to find Kimber several hundred yards away, obviously watching them. She quickly turned, and then Jerry spied Eric standing only a few feet from her.

  Perhaps the rumors were true.

  "I'll ask her later. I gotta go now." He turned back to see Kelsie's curls bouncing as she headed in the opposite direction.

  What? Did she think he was going to make her go ask Kimber right now?

  Hell. Women. Maybe he should just go celibate. He did take the slightest bit of satisfaction though, that Kimber had seen him with Kelsie. No time like the present to make her start regretting her choices.

  He turned and followed Kelsie. He had no idea if Kimber watched him go after her, but he sure as hell hoped she did.

  *****

  Kimber watched Jerry walk away, her heart crumbling. He was never going to give her a chance to explain. She couldn't tear her gaze from him, even as he drew farther apart. The love she held for him crushed against her lungs, making it hard to breathe. She had to find a way to get him to listen. She only needed a few minutes alone with him. If she could have that, she'd know for certain if she still had a chance or not.

  She turned, catching a glimpse of Eric hovering not too far away, and she groaned. When would he get a clue?

  Then thankfully, she spied Noelle amongst the crowd of milling people. She was headed her way with the oddest grin on her face. Kimber didn't spare Eric another glance as she took off to meet her friend. She linked arms with her and tugged her toward the row of trees that grew along the lot's edge.

  "You have a wicked grin on your face. Spill," Kimber said as they reached the shade.

  "I found you some allies."

  "What do you mean?"

  "Ian is pretty good friends with Milo Sykes, and Milo just happened to mention to Ian last night at the derby that he thinks Jerry is still in love with you."

  Her heart stopped. "Seriously?"

  "It gets better." Noelle beamed, spiking the pounding in Kimber's chest. "I just happened to run into Milo a few moments ago. So, of course, I had to ask him." She gripped her hand. "He confirmed it."

  Kimber tried to breathe. "This is good." It was what she'd prayed for. "It means I still have a chance."

  "More than that. You have allies. During my little conversation with Milo, he agreed that you and Jerry need a chance to figure this thing out before you actually call it quits."

  "We do," she said, her voice breathless.

  "I'm not sure exactly what he and Luke intend to do, but he said to tell you to keep your eyes open for opportunities."

  A pinch of uncertainty pricked her. "What does that mean?"

  She laughed. "I'm not sure. I guess just go with the flow. But it seems you now have a couple of cupids on your side. Oh, did I mention that I told Milo you'd be in the kissing booth between seven-thirty and eight?"

  Excitement flooded her. "Oh God. I hope this turns out okay. Promise me you'll find a way to keep Eric as far from that booth as possible."

  A mischievous glint sparked in her friend's eyes. "That, I can definitely do."

  A deep burning fire fanned to life inside Kimber at the thought of kissing Jerry again. She hoped Milo could somehow pull it off. If she could just get that close to him again, she might be able to show him how much he meant to her.

  *****

  The smell of grilling hamburgers and the sound of laughter hung in the air over the small town
square. Jerry sat at one of the many picnic tables under the town's bowery, he and Milo checking out any available ladies who walked by.

  "I haven't seen Sierra all day. Where's she been hiding out?" Jerry asked his friend.

  Milo shrugged. "No clue."

  "What's the deal with you two?"

  "No deal. She's a friend."

  "She seems like more than a friend."

  Milo grinned as a long-legged redhead passed by. He made no attempt to hide his obvious attraction as he swiveled to follow her movements. "They're all friends, if you know what I mean. I'm up front with the ladies I date and make no promises. If they don't like me the way I am, that's their choice."

  Jerry knew exactly what he meant. Most of his friends, Milo and Luke included, had no desire to settle down any time soon. Wanting marriage seemed be a disease only he'd been cursed with. "One of these days you're going to fall, and then you'll know what kind of misery I'm talking about."

  "Exactly what I'm determined to avoid." His friend glanced at his watch. "Let's go see if we can find Luke. He's supposed to be around here somewhere." He stood and headed across the grass, toward the many booths that had been set up to sell food and crafts.

  Milo seemed to be walking with purpose, which surprised Jerry since they didn't have a designated meeting place or time with Luke. They rounded a corner, and Milo stopped abruptly.

  Jerry looked at his friend and then followed his gaze.

  Kimber leaned forward and placed her lips on an old man's cheek. The red, white and blue sign above her head stated, "Kissing Booth".

  His heart started beating faster like it always did when she was around. Jerry turned, but Milo caught his elbow.

  "You should kiss her," Milo said under his breath.

  He lifted his brows, not believing what he'd heard. "You're kidding, man."

  "Not at all." He turned his back to Kimber. "You're the one who wants to make her regret leaving you, so go up there and lay one on her that she'll never forget."

  Jerry hesitated. He did want to see her in as much misery as he was, and maybe this was the first step in sending her down the road of regret. He looked at his friend, a grin spreading across his face. "You don't think I'll do it."