Spark

by Aliyah Burke

  Both women drew up short as they nearly collided with another man. Kendria sucked in a sharp breath. Holy fucking shit. And, she’d thought Vance was fit. This man had a coiled appearance that screamed danger. His dark hair touched the tops of his broad shoulders. He had a camouflaged baseball cap on his head with a curly W on the front.

  “Excuse me,” he said, his voice low and thready. “Well, well, if it isn’t little Sarah Mallery.”

  Kendria swore Sarah hissed like a cobra. “Grey Sorenson. What are you doing back? Aren’t you supposed to be out saving the world?”

  Something passed between the two of them, and Kendria wasn’t sure she should be witnessing any of it.

  “I thought I’d give someone else a shot for a while. Wanted to see you, of course.”

  Her sneer turned ugly. “Full of shit, just like always.”

  He stepped between them and spun on a heel. “I don’t lie, Captain.”

  “I know, Commander. I’m well used to the truths that fall from your lips.”

  If her words bothered him, he didn’t show it. Kendria gulped when he put his gaze on her, however briefly.

  “Ma’am.”

  She held up a hand. “Hi.”

  Just as quickly as they’d found her, he looked back to Sarah. “You know, if you’d just call in the right man to begin with, the Marines wouldn’t have to be called in.”

  Sarah gave him her back. “I’ve yet to find one who could hold his own with a Marine.” Another glare over her shoulder. “Especially a sailor.”

  “One day, your mouth is going to put you in a situation you can’t get out of.” Warning vibrated along his words.

  “Thanks for the concern, Commander. I’m sure I’ll be just fine. Come on, Kendria.”

  She gave him a wave and fell into step with Sarah. “Are you okay?” she asked, peeking over her shoulder in time to see the man finally turn away and walked off.

  “Yes. Sorry. That’s just the Navy and Marine animosity going on there.”

  Before them was a bevy of people working on a big gathering with five floats. “Sure, it is,” Kendria said. “Just like I didn’t get my brains fucked out last night by Vance.” Sarah’s slightly shocked expression had her shrugging without shame. “We’re friends now, I can speak my mind. Oh, by the way, I’m a bit blunt, as well. I think I mentioned that, but it deserved repeating.”

  ҉

  Vance wiped the grease from his hands and shoved the rag back into his pocket. Music blared through the shop, and he stopped to look around. His employees worked hard on vehicles. He stared through to his office, groaning at the thought of the paperwork awaiting him there.

  “Boss,” Charlie called out to him. “Some men here to see you.”

  “On my way.” Guess the paperwork will have to wait. He made his way to the front and slowed when he spied the three men who’d been around Kendria’s car alongside the road. “Can I help y’all?”

  Tall Man neared the counter. “Did that car get picked up?”

  “Nope. Still in the shop. I’m still working on it.”

  “The owner show?”

  He crossed his arms. “You told Deputy Boshay the driver was your friend. Who is this person?”

  “You don’t need to concern yourself with that. We just need to find her.”

  “So, it’s a her?” The one with the Napoleon complex walked to a display of model older cars. Vance bristled. “Be careful with that. I’d hate for it to get broken.”

  “It’s a shop; I’m sure things happen all the time.”

  He shared a look with Charlie. “They do. Just like, sometimes, people get caught under cars that are being lowered. Or have tools hit them, accidentally, of course.”

  Middle Man stepped up and held out his arms. “We’re not looking for trouble. We just want to find her.”

  “You seem pretty sure she’s here, but you weren’t even sure this was her vehicle, or so you told the deputy.” Vance made his way to the case and used his larger body to move the smaller man away.

  “Things change. This is the one she rented.” Tall Man kept messing with the inside of his coat.

  Vance knew he had a weapon there. No reason for someone to wear a jacket this time of year in Georgia unless they were hiding something. “Wouldn’t your friend call you if she were in trouble and needed your help?”

  “She’s proud and doesn’t always ask for help. Just like many people, she doesn’t recognize that she may be in deeper than she first believed.”

  Turning to face Middle Man, Vance whipped back around at the crash of glass. The small one had shoved over his display. He reacted instantly, striking out as he whirled, he knocked the small man down. Middle man jumped on Vance and began raining blows on his face and shoulders. The other two jumped in, as well, and it turned swiftly into a brawl.

  “I’m getting tired of this game,” Tall Man uttered, rolling away and removing a weapon from his jacket.

  “Let’s not do that.”

  Vance smiled at the deep sound of another of his employees. Dan was a man who’d done a few years in the NFL as a linebacker. He still retained his size. He wrenched the Tall Man’s arm away and confiscated the weapon.

  “Charlie, call Deputy Boshay and have them pick up this scum that’s invaded my shop.” Vance glanced around. “And destroyed it.” He stood, wiping blood from his nose as he stared at the mess of his waiting room. It looked like a tornado had ripped through. Broken glass, overturned chairs, not even the water dispenser had escaped harm. It lay knocked on its side, water spread out from it into a large pool while a few droplets dripped from the opening.

  The other two men on the floor had been carrying guns, as well. More men from his shop had come at the commotion and took them before trussing them up. They’d not joined in the fight, but Vance knew, had he needed help, they would have jumped in. Only Dan retained his hold on the man he’d grabbed.

  “Cops are coming, boss.”

  Vance gave a nod and stepped up to the man Dan held. “You can let him go, Dan.”

  “Nope, I like this. I think I’m hurting him. It’s been a while since I’ve hurt people.”

  That was Dan. Vance got in the man’s face, holding the angry gaze before opening his jacket and locating the cell phone. The man’s attempt at struggling was meager at best. Dan grunted and held him without any problems.

  “I crush you if you move,” he snapped.

  Vance took the phone, turning away to hide his smile. Dan loved to revert to stilted words and grunting, using his size to intimidate people. Vance scrolled through the numbers called until he was confident of the one he was about to dial. Then, he did so.

  “Where is she?” A heavy male voice posed the question.

  “You must be Joe,” Vance said. He moved to the broken front window.

  “Who the fuck are you?”

  “Doesn’t matter who I am. What matters is I know who you are. Your boys fucked up by coming after me.”

  “Don’t do anything stupid.”

  “This is what we’re going to do. Your boys will be leaving, and you will stay away from my Kendria.”

  “Yours?” Anger lined the question.

  “Yes, mine. She’s my wife, and if I see any of your fucking goons around here again, I’m going to send them back to you in pieces.”

  “Kendria is your wife?”

  “Not much gets by you, does it?” Sirens filled the air, and he watched the two deputies cars squeal in the lot. “Your boys will be needing some bail. Don’t forget what I said.” He ended the call and crossed his arms as Tim and Vicki strode over the graveled parking lot.

  “What the fuck happened here, Vance?” Tim asked even though Vicki’s expression mirrored the man’s question.

  “You do know you’re bleeding, right?” Vicki pointed at her nose.

  “Had some people who wanted to cause some trouble. And, yes, I’m aware.”

  Vicki glanced at Dan. “Those are the ones from the road.”
<
br />   “Yep.”

  They shook their heads as they entered. “You know she’s with Sarah at the school working on floats.”

  Vicki’s words calmed him a bit. Around a large group of people, she was probably doing just fine.

  “I’ll go check on her after we’re done here.”

  He was antsy while they took statements and got everything squared away. Charlie and Dan shooed him along his way, saying they would take care of the cleanup, so Vance hopped into his truck and headed for the school, a deep need to see Kendria was fine for himself.

  Chapter Five

  “What do you think about this?”

  Kendria looked at the blue streamer London Rhymes, a teacher and homegrown Cottonwood Falls, held up. She nodded. “It will look fine at the back with the purple, I would say.”

  “I agree.”

  She got back to stapling on the flowers. London moved to the back and peered around the corner. “Thanks for helping out.”

  “No problem. When Sarah said we were coming here, I wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but I’m having a blast.” Somehow, Sarah got wrangled into staying, and Kendria didn’t mind at all. She was enjoying herself. Maybe it was hot and sexy we ran into. She cringed again when the choir hit another note she wasn’t sure was supposed to exist.

  “There’s no way I can do it!” the young girl cried. “Just give it to Marsha.”

  “Try one more time,” the teacher said gently.

  “The choir always performs before the judging table. Not sure why they’re having such a hard time today.” London’s comment reached her over the ill-hit note.

  Lowering the stapler, Kendria couldn’t let it go, even though it wasn’t any of her business. “Excuse me a moment.”

  Well aware she was about to intrude where she may not be welcome, she made her way over to where a group of children had gathered around a piano that rested on another float a few of the non-singing ones were decorating.

  “You need to hold that note, Terry,” the teacher said with a hint of aggravation in her voice.

  “I’m trying!” She stomped her foot. “I told you I can’t do this.”

  “Pardon me,” Kendria called out as she paused by the wheel.

  “Yes?” The teacher put her green eyes on her.

  “I don’t mean to interrupt, but might I make a suggestion to the young woman having a problem with holding the note?”

  “Please, I can’t get her to do it.” The teacher waved her hand.

  Ignoring the sarcasm and the pain in her arm when she climbed onto the wagon, Kendria smiled at the kids standing there. All ages.

  “She called you Terry, right?” The frustrated girl nodded, dashing the tears away from her eyes. “I’m Kendria.” She crouched down before the girl so they were eye to eye. “I used to have that problem of not being able to hold the note long enough.” She glanced around to the rest of them. “I had a teacher one time help me out with it.”

  “I’m trying. I’m just not as big as the others.”

  “That’s got nothing to do with it.” Kendria got back to her feet. “Are you all standing or sitting for your songs?”

  “Standing.”

  She nodded. “My teacher told me I had to stop singing from here”—she touched her chest—“and sing from down here.” She laid a hand over her diaphragm. “Push up the air from your diaphragm to hold and hit those notes you didn’t think you could.” She almost touched the girl then pulled her hand back. “It will feel a bit different then you may be used to, but place your hand here.” She directed Terry to touch her belly. “Now, when you sing a lot it feels like this… Wait, do you know ‘Let It Go’ from Frozen?”

  “I do.”

  “Okay, for example with that song…” She began signing it, moving her chest up and down to take deep breaths. “Compared to this.” She started over, her voice flowing clear and crisp as if she were on the stage.

  When she finished her example, she stared down at the girl. “Do you see what I mean?”

  Terry nodded. “You think I can do that even being so small?”

  “Absolutely. Let’s try it together, then you do it on your own. Perhaps your teacher would be so wonderful as to give us the starting note so we can start again with the Disney song you’re performing,” she said with a glance to the woman.

  The teacher hit it, and with a shared look to Terry, they began signing. Kendria sank back down on her haunches and sang with the young woman. Holding her gaze, they went through the entire part she had to sing solo, Kendria giving her encouraging nods along the way. When they finished, she smiled. “You’ll be fine. Try it once more.”

  She moved back by the piano as they sang again. Not perfect but way better than it had been. She clapped when it was over, and the group neared her.

  “Are you a professional?” Terry asked her.

  “I am. I sing for a living. Some jazz, and I perform on stage in musicals.”

  “Jazz?” The teacher asked. “Thank you for helping by the way. I’m Christy Parks. I know of one singer, Kendria Bonher, who is an international jazz singer.”

  “Guilty.”

  The blonde’s mouth dropped open. “I think I’m about to have a fan girl moment. Are you kidding me?” She turned to the group. “Do you remember that jazz singer I played in class? This is her. Would you sing something for us?” She reached out and took Kendria’s hand. “I’m so honored to meet you.”

  “Thank you, but I didn’t want to interrupt your practice.”

  “Please, we could do with a break.”

  “Okay, how about something from Mamma Mia!, one of the last musicals I was in?”

  “Please,” Christy said.

  She sat at the piano, caressed the keys, and worked the first few notes, giving herself time to fall in the moment. With a deep breath, she began singing “The Winner Takes it All”.

  As she allowed the final note to fade from the air, she noticed two things. One, the entire area had fallen silent, and two, everyone was staring at her. She cleared her throat before moving away from the piano.

  Everyone applauded, some whistled and stomped their feet. Beyond them all, she spied Vance striding up to the platform, a proud smile on his face. She noticed the bruising on his skin and the busted lip. Still, when he reached up to lift her down, she went easily into his embrace.

  “You’re amazing, kitten.” He slid her along his hard body to the ground.

  “And, you look like you’ve gone a few rounds with someone. What happened?”

  He cupped her face in his hands, the calluses scraping along her skin with unforgettable familiarity. “Later,” he muttered seconds before he slanted his mouth over hers and took possession of it.

  ҉

  Vance stood off to the side, arms crossed, and watched Kendria as she hung out with Sarah and talked to the people who came up to speak with her. An international jazz singer. His gut flipped as he realized she had no reason to stay here, then. He couldn’t give her the travel and whatever else came with what she did.

  There was no denying her voice, however; she was amazing. The purity of her love poured into what she sang. He’d noticed that this morning, as well. He had a dull ache behind his eyes from the fight earlier and wanted to lie down. Hearing her pushed it away.

  She lifted her head and looked across the field in his direction, a soft smile playing on her full lips. He returned it but didn’t move. Vance didn’t know what to make of the feelings flowing through him when she walked away from the group around her and approached him.

  “Are you okay?” she asked, reaching up to touch two fingers to the cut above his eye.

  “I’m fine.”

  “Are you planning on telling me what happened?” Her touch moved to his lips.

  He parted them and drew her fingers in, sucking on them before he nipped the tips. She trembled, and a light whimper escaped her.

  “Joe’s boys came to the shop.”

  Devastation filled her
features. “Oh my God. I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”

  He pulled her into him. “Yes, it is. And, I’ll extract payment tonight. I need you to sing for me, and me alone.”

  Devilish merriment came into her eyes. “Is that all you need me to do? I’m up for anything.”

  His cock jerked in his pants. “You’re hell on my libido, kitten.”

  Her gaze sparkled as she grinned. “You’re just hell on my body but in an entirely amazingly and wonderful way.” She sobered. “Seriously, Vance. Is there anything I can do to help or to make up for what they did? Is your shop okay?”

  “Broken window, few smashed things inside.” He shook his head. “Not so you feel worse, I’m just telling you. Everything is fine.”

  “I’m paying for the repairs.”

  “No.”

  “Yes. Bastard knows where I am so no point in hiding any credit card activity.”

  He hated the worry in her tone. “Come on.”

  “Where to?”

  “Home.”

  “What about them?”

  “They all have their own places to get to.” He tugged on her arm and led her away. “They’re not needed for what I have in mind.”

  “My clothes are in Sarah’s bag on her bike.” She waved at people as they headed off.

  “Also not needed for what I have in mind.”

  “I charge to sing naked,” she teased as he lifted her into his truck.

  “I’ll pay whatever you require.” He went to step back, but she gripped his shirt and held him close.

  “I’m seriously close to falling for you, Vance Hendrickson, and it’s scaring the shit out of me.” She planted a fierce kiss on his lips before pushing him away.

  Her words echoed in his mind as he wandered to the driver’s side and climbed in. In addition, they remained on the trip back to his house. He was right there with her. He’d already fallen for her.

  They stumbled to the bedroom upon their return to his home. A home he had already—despite the short time—gotten used to seeing her in. Having her in his bed.

  Vicki stopped by as Kendria took a shower, and he sat with the deputy in his kitchen. “What’s going on with them?”