Steamy Nights Bonus Epilogue
Quinn sat back in his desk chair and listened to his ex-wife complain on and on about the quality of the products he’d ordered for her house.
“The furniture is poor quality. I’m used to better than this . I can’t believe someone let this go from the manufacturer like this. And…”
Why did he continue to let her dig under his skin like this?
He sat forward and took a breath. “Look, I’ve got to go. This is not my problem anymore. I won’t let you make it my problem. Figure it out for yourself.”
He tapped his end call icon and tossed his phone on the desk top. Swiping his hands down his face, he picked up the local newspaper and decided to see what was happening in town and let this tension roll off his back.
At the bottom of page one, read a medium sized headline: U.S. Army puts Blossom Springs Barracks on the market.
That was interesting. He read the short article:
U.S. Army has decided to sell the barracks located here in Blossom Springs. The holding costs are out of line with the current budget and the Army has confirmed it will no longer need these barracks. Citing the expense of bringing food in for the soldiers housed during their reserve activities and the diminutive size of Blossom Springs not offering enough of a night life for personnel during down-time, the Army has officially put the barracks on the market to sell them off. An Army official has further said, “We are a motivated seller.”
For more information on these barracks, contact Margo or Logan Price at the Price Realty Office.
Those barracks as they stood were an eye sore. They’d been vacant for more than ten years. He could possibly turn them into housing. His construction company was doing great. They were making money and he was ready for a new project. Actually his son, Jared, was ready for more responsibility.
He stood and marched across his office. On his way out, he stopped at the reception desk and told his assistant – slash – receptionist, Crystal, “I’ll be out for a while. I have my cell phone if you need me.”
“Sounds good. Did you see the Army is selling the barracks?”
He grinned. “I certainly did. On my way to Price’s to see what else I can find out about it.”
Crystal laughed. She was a woman in her forties, divorced with two kids and had always been dependable to a fault. “I thought that might interest you. Good luck.”
He nodded and stepped out the front door, which was on the square. The town square was where the courthouse was located as well as several businesses. Including his. Over time, businesses spread out down Main Street and the square was less busy than it used to be, which also suited him just fine. He hopped in his truck and headed out of the square, onto Main Street and making a left then a right, he drove down First Street, which is where the Price Realty office was located. He felt excited for the first time in a very long time.
***
Hanna Valentine hefted a box full of tile she’d purchased before she left Colorado. She’d actually purchased it years ago, in hopes they’d be able to finish off the bathroom in the house she shared with her ex-husband, Isaac. But, Isaac couldn’t be bothered with things like fixing up their home. He was usually ensconced in some gambling pursuit that always seemed to end up with them owing more money than they had and her needing to put in over-time at the restaurant to make up the difference. She’d seen this tile at an incredible deal and bought it. Carrying it now, or actually again for the um-teenth-time, made her feel both angry and determined. Angry that she’d had to move it so many times and determined to finally use this box of tile. Her tiny bathroom here in Blossom Springs was exactly where she’d use it.
Gently laying the tile on the bathroom floor, Hanna stood and rubbed her back. This was her last day to herself before taking over the bakery from her mom. Her very own bakery. Not that it had been a life-long dream or anything. She’d left Blossom Springs years ago hoping to set the world on fire with her cooking skills and business savvy mindset. After all, her mom had taken the bakery over from her mom and Hanna had grown up learning about the business. But, she thought a larger city was the answer for her. Her best friend, Jalyn was going off to college in Colorado to be a firewoman and Hanna decided to follow Jalyn to college where they’d both live their dreams. Jalyn quickly realized she wanted to live back home in a smaller town, but Hanna stayed. She married. Then she’d worked and worked and worked.
The trouble was, Isaac rarely worked. He had a hard time keeping a job. But, his worst habit, was that he was a gambler. He gambled on everything. Slot machines. Sports. Gads, he was terrible with the sports gambling. He bet on cards. Horse racing. Auto racing. If there was a bet to be made, Isaac made it. Which often left them with little money in their checking account.
Hanna had decided she didn’t get married to get divorced so she bailed him out. Over and over again. She’d finally confided in Jalyn and her parents about what was happening and her father insisted the allowance she received from the bakery, which was a small amount set aside for her future each month, would never go to Isaac. In fact, her father took immediate steps to ensure Isaac could not touch the trust set up for Hanna. She was never to use that money to bail Isaac out or it would become marital property and in order to take money from the trust, she had to have one of her parents permission.
She was so mad at them. How could they not trust her? She felt demeaned and belittled. She was also embarrassed that her parents went to such lengths to make sure she didn’t touch that money. How could she have ever let it get so far?
But, she’d finally made the decision to leave him. It had gotten too bad, and frankly, she was tired. So tired. They never seemed to get ahead. She felt like no matter how hard she worked, and how many promises Isaac made to change, nothing changed.
She went home to visit her parents and Jalyn and told them all what she’d decided to do. They were all over-joyed. Her father went with her to Grant Park’s office, their attorney, and Grant helped her find an attorney in Colorado.
And, it was hard. Every day Isaac called her. He begged her not to divorce him. Then he’d call and beg her to make him something to eat because he didn’t have food. But, she was over it. All of it. She’d tell him to figure it out. Nine long months after she’d filed for divorce, she was a single woman once more. She went to work with a new vigor. This was what she needed to get promoted at work, to excel and achieve the status she really wanted. Master Chef.
It didn’t happen. Then, one day, Issac called again. He’d gambled his car away and had no way to get to work. Could she please take him to work?
She said no.
An hour later her mom called. “Hanna, honey, will you please come home? I’m struggling with the bakery. The arthritis in my hands is getting worse and like I’d done before with my mom, I’d like you to take over the bakery. You’d be here at home with your father and I. Jalyn would love to have you back home. And, you’d be away from Isaac. You’ll be free to start all over.”
Hanna took a deep breath. “Mom, can I give it a couple of days of thought?”
“Of course honey.”
“Thank you.”
She felt like she was in a fog after that call. She went to work but now things bugged her. Every time the master chef yelled, “Order.” She cringed. The restaurant was loud. Had it always been this loud? The other kitchen staff irritated her. Her shoulders tightened up and she had a constant headache for three days.
Arriving home she flopped on the sofa and called her mom. “I’m coming home. I quit my job today and gave notice with the landlord. I’ll be home in two weeks.”
“Oh, honey, we’re so thrilled. Thank you so much for coming home. I can’t wait to see you.”
“I can’t wait to see you too mom.”
Her next call was to Jalyn to help her find a place of her own. It would need to be a fixer upper, as that was all the budget she had at the time. But, she’d rebuild. And she’d do it on her own. Without Isaac trashing their bank account, she’d managed to save enough for a very small downpayment on a little house. She’d build easily back home where expenses were less. And her soul was weary of constant turmoil. The nice thing about Blossom Springs was it was a small town with little upheaval. That sounded perfect right now.
Sultry Nights draws inspiration from the real-life experience of a close friend. It’s a captivating tale that twists reality and perception, revealing shocking truths just when you think you truly know someone.
If you’d like to hear the story of where Sultry Nights came from, head over and sign up for my newsletter here – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/38f3mk0ck8
Or…grab your copy of Sultry Nights and read Quinn and Hanna’s story.
Sultry Nights Bonus Epilogue
Jace Marriott sailed through his little bar during the busy dinner hour, steaming hot plates of food in both hands and a smile on his face.
Arriving with a flourish at the table of his four friends, he set the plates in front of his friend Sid’s wife, Grace Hoffman, and his friend Quinn’s, future wife, Hanna Valentine.
“Dinner is served, ladies.”
Hanna glanced at her plate of food, then turned to face Quinn. “That looks delicious. I’ll bet you’re sorry you didn’t order the baked salmon now.”
Quinn laughed as a waitress set a sizzling steak in front of him. He grinned at Hanna, “I’ll bet you’re sorry you didn’t order the steak.”
She chuckled. “I kind of am. Care to share?”
Quinn grinned, then winked at his beautiful fiancé. “Of course not. But I want a bite of your salmon.”
Jace glanced around the table and saw everyone had a drink and full plates of food. “Okay, if you all are satisfied with your meals, I’ve got things cooking here.”
Sid laughed. “Go ahead and get your shine on Jace. Come back and visit when you can though.”
Jace nodded. “I’ll have a drink with you as soon as the main dinner rush is over.”
As he skirted tables on the beach, he grinned. He loved it here. His business was booming. Where else could a confirmed bachelor live and work all day long and see beautiful women in short -shorts and bikinis? Nowhere, that’s where.
“Hey, Jace,” called the little blonde renting one of his cabins on the beach with her girlfriend.
“Hey, there Cabin One. How’s your meal?”
Her sensual lips spread into a beguiling smile and her eyes batted just enough to hook his gaze. “Excellent. And all the better because I thought of you cooking it for me as I ate.”
Oooh, a tingle slid all the way down his spine. “Think of me doing other things darlin’. Then, come and find me.”
She giggled and so did her brunette friend. Jace kept moving toward the kitchen, his smile never bigger and his swagger a bit more pronounced.
Grabbing an order at the end of the counter, he checked the ticket hanging above the plates. Table Fourteen.
Grabbing two clean potholders, he picked up the plates and breezed through the bar and outside to the beach once more.
Table Fourteen was occupied by four women, but they were wearing black dress clothes and looked as though they’d been crying.
A brief moment of uncertainty halted his progress. Taking a deep breath, he stopped at the table and nodded. “I have the Grande Nachos and a Mushroom Swiss Burger.”
The woman with long dark hair lifted her head and stared into his eyes. “I ordered the nachos.”
“Hi, Margo. I’m sorry, I didn’t recognize you.”
He slid the plate in front of her and lay the plate with the burger in front of the woman who sat next to her with her hand raised. Margo and her husband, Logan had run the real estate office in town for years. And, he’d recently heard her husband was… Oh.
“Yes. Sorry, Jace. These are my sisters, Holly, Carley, and Josseline. Ladies, this is Jace Marriott, owner of Sarge’s Sandbar.”
Jace nodded at Margo’s sisters and received smiles and nods in return. “It’s nice meeting you ladies. I’ll be right back with the rest of your order.”
He turned to hustle inside to retrieve the other orders, and heard one of the ladies say, “Ooh, he’s handsome.”
He smiled slightly, it never hurt to be called handsome.
Then he heard Margo reply, “And just about as faithful as a hungry dog.”
His steps faltered. Ouch, that hurt. He wasn’t a dog. He was a single man and enjoyed his single life. Why on earth would she be so disrespectful? Pulling his shoulders back he hurried inside, entered the kitchen, and saw Amy, one of his servers, wiping her hands on a towel.
“Amy, do you mind taking these two orders to Table Fourteen?”
“Not at all.”
Amy smiled, slid her hands into hot plate holders and carried the two remaining plates out of the kitchen.
Jace took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He’d never been called a dog before and that rankled.
Rotating his head on his shoulders, he moved out the back door and sidled the tables on the beach until he reached his friends sitting near the newly constructed stage.
“How’s your dinner, folks?”
His friend Sid looked up from his meal and stared into his eyes. Sid’s smile fell. “What happened to you?”
“Nothing.”
“Not nothing, Jace. I can tell you’re tense and irritated. What’s up?”
Quinn leaned back in his seat and stared at him for a moment, then nodded. “May as well fess up, Jace. We know you well enough to know something’s up.”
Jace shook his head, lifted his right shoulder, and let it drop. “That table over there called me, and I quote, ‘About as faithful as a hungry dog.’ It got to me.”
Grace tilted her head up to him. Her smile was sweet, “That’s not true. So why does it bother you so much?”
“I don’t know. It just does.”
Hanna turned in her seat and glanced toward the table he’d mentioned. She took a deep breath. “That’s Margo Price and her sisters. Today was Margo’s husband’s funeral. You know he died of cancer a few days ago. She’s probably just grieving.”
Jace turned his head and glanced at the women at the table. “That explains the black attire out here in the heat on the beach. Why on earth would they eat here after a funeral instead of somewhere more private?”
Hanna shrugged. “I don’t know. But don’t let something said in grief bother you, Jace.”
He swallowed the lump that formed in his throat at his friend’s kind words.
“Thank you.” He rotated his head again then took a deep breath. “Anyway, is everything here, okay?”
Hanna smiled. “Everything is delicious. Thank you so much.” She set her fork on her plate and then turned toward him. “If it means anything, I was at the funeral today and something big went down just before it started. Margo and her sisters were huddled up and they weren’t crying. They were angry. Very angry.”
Jace’s jaw clenched. “Okay. Well, that’s no reason to be a bitch about me, but, for the sake of a fellow businessperson, I’ll let it go. This time.”
Grace smiled at him and nodded her head. “That’s really the best thing.”
Jace nodded and turned toward the kitchen once more, careful to keep a distance. No need to let them set him off again because they’ve been having a bad time of it. But he’d be lying if he said he wondered what on earth had gone down at a funeral. Margo and her husband, Logan, had owned the real estate office here in Blossom Springs for years, as far as he knew. They’d both always been upstanding in business practice. Of course, he knew nothing of them personally.
As he passed Table Fourteen from afar, he saw the women watch him walk by and his heartbeat increased.
Seductive Nights draws inspiration from the real-life experiences. It’s a captivating tale that twists reality and perception, revealing shocking truths just when you think you truly know someone.
If you’d like to hear the story of where Seductive Nights came from, head over and sign up for my newsletter here – https://dl.bookfunnel.com/ucspfzqbf4
Or…grab your copy of Seductive Nights and read Jace and Margo’s story.
