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

sparkly pink nail polish.
    Jane wasn’t about to give up.  Vodka and potato chips now forgotten, the green goop-faced young woman walked over and sat directly in front of Kimberly.  She stared into Kimberly’s eyes as though trying to peer into her soul.  It might have been easier to take Jane seriously had she not been hiccupping.  It was all Kimberly could do to keep a straight face.
    “Who is he?  What’s he like?  Tell me everything!” Jane demanded, leaning forward with great interest. The green goop on her face dripped onto the floor as she moved, but she paid it no heed. 
    “His name is Garrett,” Kimberly said.  Even just hearing his name said aloud sent a rush of excitement through her body.  “He’s in the music business.  I met him at a Thai restaurant and then we bumped into each other again and then…well, I’ve seen him a few times.”
    “Ooh!” Jane trilled, looking titillated.
    “No, no,” Kimberly quickly corrected her.  “It’s not like that.  Nothing happened.”
    “But you wanted something to happen.”
    Kimberly was about to deny the allegation, but then she remembered the sexy, naughty fantasies she’d had about Garrett.  She remembered the way his talk of spanking and kinky sex had made her squirm with longing on the entire bus ride home.  “I…I don’t know,” she said softly.
    “What’s he like?”
    “He’s kind of pompous jerk,” Kimberly confessed. “He’s not the type of guy I ever thought I’d like.  He smokes and drinks too much and swears a lot.  He expects the world to revolve around him – and sometimes it seems like it does.  But he’s also funny and interesting and behind all the bravado, kind.  I think there’s more to him than he lets on.”
    “And I take it he’s sexy as hell?”
    Kimberly blushed.  “Yes.”
    “And he’s into you?”
    “I – I’m not sure,” Kimberly said.  “There’s definitely a spark there.  At least I don’t think I’m imagining it.  He likes spending time with me.  He keeps inviting me to see him.  But he’s never made a move.  I don’t know if it’s because he knows I’m with Not-Hu – I mean, with Felix, or if he’s just not interested in me like that.”
    “So find out,” Jane suggested.  “You’re with Felix but you can’t get this other dude out of your head.  That means something.  You’re young.  Play the field – God knows I am.  Why settle for the first nice guy you meet?  Live a little!”
    Kimberly hesitated.  “I really do care about Felix,” she said.  “He’s everything I’ve ever dreamed about.  I know we’d have a great future together.  It’s just that when he started talking about getting engaged, it kind of freaked me out, you know?  And I don’t know why it freaked me out because let’s face it, I’m absolutely the type to get married.”
    “You are,” Jane agreed. 
    “Maybe we just need to take things slower,” Kimberly said hopefully. 
    Jane shook her head.  She wasn’t buying it.  “Look, I think subconsciously you’re not sure if Felix is The One.  So my advice is that you shouldn’t rush into anything.  But my advice is also to take your time and play the field.  Find out what – and who – you like.”
    “I can’t do that to Felix.”
    “Sure you can,” Jane insisted.  “Tell him you need a break.  Tell him you need time to reevaluate your priorities or to focus on work or whatever.  Just tell him something so you can chase after this Garrett guy with a clear conscience.  It’s your life, baby.  If you don’t put yourself first, who will?” 
    Felix will .  Kimberly immediately thought the words but kept them bottled inside.  She was already feeling guilty at the mere thought of telling Felix she wanted to take a break.  He was such a good guy.  She didn’t want to hurt him. 
    Jane, it seemed, was reading her mind.  “What’s going to hurt Felix more?” she asked logically.  “Taking a break now