Free What the Heart Desires (Contemporary Erotic Romance) by Allora Adderly Page A

aren’t supposed to speak, idiot,” she whispered to herself.
    “Did you say something?” Felix asked from behind her.
    “I did,” she said, thinking quickly.  “It looks like it’s going to rain or maybe even sleet.  We should leave now so we don’t get caught in it on the way back to my place.”

Chapter Eleven
    “You have to admit, this is pretty cool.”
    “What!”  Kimberly eyed Jane with horror.  “It is not cool!  Maybe it’s entertaining for you but this is my life we’re talking about!”
    “And your life is finally exciting!  I didn’t know you had it in you – I’m proud of you!”
    Living in a different city than her best friend was tough.  Kimberly and Jane were indulging in a much-needed girls’ weekend.  They’d met in a quiet town halfway between their respective residences and had checked into a hotel with suitcases full of fashion magazines, mud masks, nail polish, hair products, junk food and booze.
    Jane’s face was coated in bright green goop that was meant to minimize pores.  She wore a towel on her head and had painted each of her toenails a different color.  It was tough to take her seriously while looking at her, so Kimberly buried her face in a magazine before continuing the conversation.
    “I’m not proud of myself,” Kimberly mumbled, looking dejected.  “Felix is the perfect guy.  He’s loyal and caring and dependable.  He treats me like a queen.  And I know he’s completely devoted to me.  What more could I ask for?”
    “What about excitement?” Jane offered.  “Or passion?”
    She had a point.  Excitement and passion were two things missing from Kimberly’s relationship with Felix.  He liked to lead a boring, quiet life and, until recently, Kimberly had thought she did as well.  She was starting to find, however, that there was more to life than structure and predictability.  She wanted surprises and flexibility.  As for passion – there was chemistry between Kimberly and Felix but no real fireworks.”
    “Are there supposed to be fireworks?” Kimberly asked aloud.
    Jane laughed.  “You tell me.  Why am I giving you love advice anyway?  I’m not married.  Hell, I’m not even capable of staying in a relationship for longer than a month.  I dabble in polygamy even though someone always winds up getting hurt, I have one night stands and I have a fear of commitment.  My personal life is a train wreck.  You should probably do the opposite of everything I say!”
    Kimberly smiled.  “Are you really happy doing all that?” she asked with interest.
    “Well I don’t want to settle down and pop out a couple kids, that’s for sure.”  Jane paused and then admitted, “I don’t want to be tied down right now, so this works.   I get laid.  I have fun.  But someday, who knows.  Someday I might want the white picket fence.”
    “I want the white picket fence,” Kimberly confessed softly.
    Jane took another swig of vodka straight from the bottle and eyed her thoughtfully.  “From everything you’ve told me, Felix is offering you the white picket fence.  And he sounds like the perfect guy - on paper.  So why are you so hesitant to get engaged?  Do you have cold feet?”
    “Yeah, maybe I do,” Kimberly said unconvincingly.
    Jane, drunk as she was, wasn’t one to be fooled.  “Nah, that’s not it,” she decided with a belch.  She reached for a bag of salt and vinegar potato chips and ripped it open.  “There’s something else.  There’s…”  Jane stopped mid-sentence and stared at Kimberly.  Clearly she’d had an “a-ha!” moment.  “Kimberly,” Jane said, no longer sounding quite so drunk, “is there someone else?”
    “No,” Kimberly said quickly.  Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she added, “well, not someone that I’m dating or anything like that.  I wouldn’t cheat on Felix.”
    “But you’d like to be dating this guy?”
    Kimberly was quiet.   She busied herself examining a bottle of