Good Ol' Southern Romance Read online

  Good Ol’ Southern Romance

  By Dahlia Rose

  Copyright © August 2010, Dahlia Rose

  Cover art by Anastasia Rabiyah © August 2010

  ISBN 978-1-936110-88-9

  This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this novel are fictitious or used fictitiously. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form.

  Sugar and Spice Press

  North Carolina, USA

  www.sugarnspicepress.com

  Dedication

  For those southern boys who drawl the word darlin’

  and make us tingle in all the right places.

  Chapter One

  “I should’ve known, stupid me, I should’ve known,” Carolynn muttered as she drove down the street.

  Trying to find something redeeming in a man who everyone could see was pond scum was bad enough, but to come home and find him in your apartment and in your bed with a girl you knew from work…well that was just plain ignorant! Ned was the guy she was seeing and now she could call him her ex. When she walked in and saw him in her apartment with Sharla the girl who worked two cubicles down from her desk, she was livid.

  Not only did he not pay any of her bills but when she told him get out of her place, he had the nerve to try to grab her and slap her face! She couldn’t believe she thought this guy was cute, tall and dark, not to mention looked like a basketball player, but she should have known. The ‘touch of thug’ she thought was endearing when he wore a suit and tie hid the pompous ass he really was. He thought he was God’s gift to women so one woman would never suffice for a man like that.

  Carolynn recalled the scene. When she tried to call the cops and Ned broke her cell phone against the wall, skanky Sharla left the door open in her haste to leave. He went to grab her again but luckily her neighbor was passing by and saw the exchange and promised to call the police. It was only then he left with fire in his eyes and a promise to be back.

  “No one leaves me. I do the leaving and I’m not done with you yet, bitch,” he said.

  She had no doubt if her neighbor hadn’t passed by Ned would have beat the living crap out of her. She, of course, would have fought back, but his six-foot-two, power-house body would have overpowered her easily. Needless to say, she didn’t feel safe staying there that night so she went to the place that was always a sanctuary, her best friends Jasmine’s apartment. She was off on a whirlwind honeymoon with her new husband Ben. The apartment would be empty and she could stay there until she figured out what to do about Ned. She parked right in front of the building and took Jasmine’s keys from the seat where she had thrown them and went up to the brownstone.

  Carolynn opened the door and went inside Jasmine’s homey little apartment. The little breakfast nook had the two tiny bonsai trees she gave her friend for her birthday. Even though they were plants, Jasmine had name them Ozzy and Harriet. Carolynn dropped the keys on the counter and turned around when she heard a noise from the bedroom. A man walked out drying his hair with a towel and wearing another towel slung low around his hips.

  He looked up at her and gave her a smooth grin before saying in a sexy, southern drawl, “Hello, darlin’.”

  Carolynn began screamed for all she was worth. She frantically looked for something to throw and wondered if she could get to the kitchen to grab a knife. The guy looked at her curiously, as if she had grown two heads all of a sudden. Carolynn figured she should deflect him so she grabbed a pillow off the couch which was just past the door of the breakfast nook and threw it at him then ran for the kitchen counter to grab a knife.

  “Whoa, whoa, whoa!” The guy held up his hands in defense when she pulled the big, razor-edged blade from the chopping block.

  “Wait for what exactly?” Carolynn shot back. “For you to rape me or eat my face? No way buddy, I’ve had a hell of a day and you come one inch closer I’m cutting off the balls—and the bat.”

  “Um yeah, I so don’t even want to picture that,” he said with a wince. “Listen, let me get my coat and show you my credentials. My name is Jasper Hansen and I work with the girl who owns this apartment.”

  “Yeah right!” Carolynn snorted and kept her defensive stance. “I’m her best friend and she didn’t tell me one of the guys from her unit would be staying here.”

  “Okay lady, why would be here in a towel if I wasn’t meant to be here?”

  “Easy answer—you are some kind of freako who likes using women’s bathing gels or something.”

  “Who likes to eat faces?” he summed up and his lips twitched with a smile.

  Carolynn’s eyes narrowed to angry slits. “Don’t make fun of me. I’m the one holding the knife.”

  He moved as quick as lightning, had the knife from her grasp and her pinned against his naked chest in seconds. Carolynn struggled in vain to get away but his powerful arms had her captured.

  He began to move towards the door, talking casually as he went. “Now, I’m going to show you my credentials and then we’re going to have a beer and laugh about this situation.”

  “I highly doubt it,” she muttered. “As soon as I can get free, I am going to kick you in the golden ones. Trust me.”

  He tiled her head back and she made a muffled sound of surprise when he kissed her. He rubbed his lips against hers leisurely and licked at her lips begging for entry. Carolynn couldn’t help her response. The next sound she made was a moan of delight and her lips parted for the stranger who said he was a friend. He held her with one hand and even then, she could not get free. He reached into the pocket of his jacket which was thrown over a chair and pulled out his wallet. He pulled away from the kiss and raised his identification to her eyes. She was almost disappointed at his ending their lip lock. He flipped the worn leather open and showed her the same kind of I.D as Jasmine’s, which she had seen numerous times.

  “Fine. So you work with Jasmine. It doesn’t mean you should manhandle me or kiss me like that,” Carolynn said grudgingly. She leaned back to put distance between them even though his arm was still wrapped around her.

  He looked at her with amazement. “You had a knife on me accusing me of being Hannibal Lecter.”

  “How was I supposed to know you were in her place?” Carolynn replied. “She and Ben are in Caracas on the beach somewhere.”

  “Yes, I know this, and I told her yesterday I was going to use her place for a day or two before I head home to South Carolina.” He looked at her with a raised eyebrow. “What’s your excuse?”

  “I’m her best friend. I don’t need an excuse.” He looked at her with eyes that seemed to know all her internal turmoil. Unable to resist when he said nothing but just kept looking at her, she said, “I needed to get away from my place for a day or two to figure things out.”

  “Crazy husband?”

  Her laugh was short and sarcastic. “Try crazy boyfriend who happens to be my supervisor and I just found in my bed with a strumpet from work.”

  “Strumpet, huh?” He nodded knowingly. “Yeah, I can see why you need to get away.”

  “You’re still holding me.” She pointed out in a quiet tone.

  “I think I like holding you,” he said seriously. He pulled her closer.

  Carolynn was keenly aware that her body was pressed up against, from what she had seen, abs you could wash clothes on. Now, she was pressed up again his wide chest and holding onto his broad shoulders looking into amazing blue-green eyes. She could see the stubble against the curve of his jaw and watch the pulse beat at the base of his neck. He was positively gorgeous for a man. From the top of his dark brown hair down to the muscled abs and thighs she saw when he came out of the room earlier.

  You can let me go now,” Carolynn ordered. She was uncomfortable with the signals her body was sending out in response to being too close to Jasper.

  “Okay,” he responded to the simple request. “So, now you know my name. Care to tell me yours?”

  “Carolynn Sims.” She walked over to the breakfast nook to put some needed distance between him and her and pointed to the plants. “Have you watered Ozzy and Harriet?”

  He gave a shot of laughter. “She named the plants?”

  “Don’t laugh at her!” Carolynn snapped. “You guys made her feel like she always had to be this tough thing. So she named her plants. So what? Want to make something of it?”

  Jasper held up his hand again. “Damn, girl, I thought it was cute…don’t be so defensive.”

  Carolynn sighed. “I’m sorry. Like I said, it’s been a day.”

  “I’ll throw some clothes on. You can share my dinner and I’ll even make you a drink.”

  “I should go home. I mean you’re staying here and I don’t want to intrude.”

  “No,” Jasper said firmly. “You came here for a reason and we’re both Jasmine’s friends. You are going to stay, too. I slept on the couch anyway, so you can have the bedroom. Plus, if I sent you back home J.D., would have my head on a stick. So please…stay.”

  His eyes had softened towards her and it was Carolynn’s undoing. She needed not to be home. Just thinking about Ned and the way he acted scared her more than she would like to admit.

  “Okay, what’s for dinner?” she asked with a smile.

  “Spaghetti with garlic bread.”

  “Wow, a man who cooks. How come I’ve never met you before?”

  “I’m starting to wonder myself, darlin’,” he replied.

  The cool, easy grin on his r
uggedly handsome face caused Carolynn smiled in return. Maybe walking in on a man wearing a towel was not so bad after all.

  * * * *

  Jasper almost choked on his spaghetti with his laughter. “You’re trying to tell me after you found them she ran out like a coward? Why didn’t he run with her?”

  He had dished out two plates of his famous pasta dish with the ground turkey and sausage meat sauce and two of his favorite beers. He wanted to get to know Carolynn Sims, best friend, social worker and spit fire.

  She took a sip from her beer bottle. “Oh, he wanted to stay and threaten me since he knew I would not fall for his lies. Hence, me being here.”

  She said it with a casual ease but Jasper was instantly on alert. He hated men who cheated and men who cheated then threatened usually meant they had a penchant for using their hands to get their point across. That was his trigger. He watched his mother get smacked around and vowed he would never be the one to do it to any woman. And men who did hit on the women got his special kind of treatment.

  “Has he hit you before?” Jasper asked. “Please don’t lie for him.”

  Her eyes widening in alarm. “No-no, he hasn’t really. I mean, there have been times where I thought he might but he never got to that point. And if he ever did, I would have been outta there. No man gets to put a mark on my skin.”

  “Good.” Jasper threw her a charming grin. “It’s very fine skin. It looks like polished ebony.”

  “Are you flirting with me, Mr. St. Cloud?”

  He could hear the teasing in her voice but after only being around her for a few hours, sharing a meal and learning more about her. Jasper had a definite attraction to the lovely Carolynn Sims. So he responded honestly. “I’m most definitely flirting with you, Carolynn.”

  She met his gaze with her own and soon looked away shyly. She rolled a forkful of pasta onto her fork and placed it in her mouth. He felt heat roll through his body watching her sucking the pasta into her mouth. He was amazed at his reaction to her. He wanted this woman from the time he pulled her against him and blew his mind with that kiss. He could feel the delicious curve of her body when she was against him.

  “You said you were only here for another night. Where are you off to? Some big secret mission?” she asked, effectively changing the subject.

  “I am going home for a three week vacation.”

  “Wow, must be nice. I don’t even know how I am going to go to work on Monday and face this mess.” Carolynn sighed. “I love my job but he is so not worth going back there right now.”

  He could see her sadness and turmoil but even though she was being brave, her fear about seeing this guy Ned again showed. Jasper made the decision quickly and the words flowed from his lips. “Why don’t you come with me?” It was an easy solution and even though he told himself he was doing it for her, he could see the possibilities of getting to know her intimately on the horizon.

  She laughed. “You’re kidding, right?”

  He shook his head. “Nope. I mean, you’re a friend of Jasmine’s which means you are now my friend. You are in a bad place and you need time to think. Why not do it lying on a beach in South Carolina enjoying the sun and the water?”

  “Oh, that sounds so good,” Carolynn sighed wistfully.

  “Come on, do it. Take leave from your job. Think of it…three weeks on in a house right on the water with sand so white and fine it’s amazing.” Jasper grinned. He could see her caving in. “Do it, darlin’. I’ll even take you fishing.”

  “I’ll do it.” She gave a little squeal of pleasure. “I have vacation time built up anyway. I’ll take that and opt in for a transfer and go to a different department or a new site altogether. Would you mind going back to my house with me so I can pack? I don’t want to go by myself.”

  “Of course.” Jasper smiled but his jaw was tense. He hated the fact that she had to be scared to go back to her own home to pack. He vowed while they were in South Carolina he would find a way to help her out with the little problem called Ned.

  Chapter Two

  Excitement was running through her veins. A three week vacation on the sunny coast of South Carolina. It was an escape from her problem and have a little fun was the best thing that could have happened to her. The man beside her in his car was intriguing. He had such a calm manner but she could tell there was more beneath the surface. She could see the restrained anger when he heard about Ned. She couldn’t help but be thrilled at this new prospect. She’s known for awhile now she was going through the motions and maybe she was a bit scared of her ex’s outbursts. Either way, she was out before it got any worse.

  They finished dinner over a great conversation. She hadn’t had so much fun talking with anyone from the opposite sex in a long time. After that, he jumped up ready to go and soon they were driving down Kosciusko Avenue

  and heading to her apartment. Apprehension gnawed at her stomach when he helped her out of the sleek Navigator in front of her brownstone. At the broken door of her apartment she could see it was for good reason. The door was kicked in and she could feel the tension rolling off Jasper as he became instantly alert.

  “Stay behind me,” he ordered. Not even waiting for her to act, he tucked her behind him and held her there with one strong arm while he looked inside.

  Carolynn made a sound of frustration while she tried to peek around his large frame. She was not a wilting daffodil that needed protecting. “How bad is it?” She soon got her question answered when she ducked under his arm and looked into the devastation that was once her apartment. Everything she owned had been destroyed and looking at it made her heart break. She didn’t have much growing up, she worked hard and got everything she owned through hard work and persistence.

  Now it was all ripped apart by a man who could not take no for an answer. Chairs and pillows were shredded and the soft white material that filled them was all over the floor. Every picture was broken, every knick knack shattered, everything she owned in the word was destroyed. The bedroom was no better. The clothes were pulled from hangers and bleach thrown over them. Colors ran and bled into each other. Ned had done it all in vengeance and she felt tears spring to her eyes.

  “How could he?” she whispered as the tears fell. “How could he? I mean, this is all material possessions but all I have worked for is gone!”

  “Honey, how long have you been seeing this guy?” Jasper asked as he looked around. “Anger like that had to be building for awhile.”

  She whirled on him, needing to hurl her anger at someone. “So I should’ve known this was coming? What gives him the right to break into my place and do this? Because I wouldn’t play nice and let him fuck around in my home!”

  Japer pulled her into his arms and Carolynn was stiff with anger. “No, I mean he is a sick guy to do this and I know in cases like this there are signs. You didn’t deserve this. No one does. I’ll make him regret it. Just lean on me, darlin’. I’ll make it better.

  “No, I’ll handle it,” Carolynn sighed. “I got involved with him. It’s against policy at work to fraternize and I let him charm me. If I bring this up or press charges I will lose my job and he gets to keep his since he is my superior. The way things are going I need to pay the bills so I have to suck it up and ask for a transfer.”

  “Well, that’s a suck ass policy,” Jasper murmured.

  He pulled her head against his chest and caressed her hair. Carolynn had to admit the action eased the tension inside her and the fear. If she had found this by herself she didn’t know how she would have reacted. Having him there gave her a feeling of protection.

  “Are any of your clothes salvageable?” he asked gently.

  “Maybe he left me something I could wear,” she muttered against his chest. “I don’t know if I can still go, Jasper. I have to get this cleaned up and try to see if my renter’s insurance will cover this.”

  He lifted her chin with the crook of his finger. “Uh-uh, no backing out. I know some people that can help out and take care of your renter’s insurance and all that stuff.”

  “Jasper, I just met you—I can’t let you do all this,” Carolynn protested.

  “No, you’re Jasmine’s friend and now you’re my friend,” he answered. “I won’t say I don’t have ulterior motives for wanting to take you to South Carolina, but even if you had came to me at the office and this was going on I would do my all to help you. This is wrong, Carolynn. No one should have to deal with this. This is abuse and treachery at its worst.”