señor – (SEN-yore) means “mister” or is a term of respect to an older guy. Señora is what you say to a woman. Señorita is a young, unmarried girl.
¿Estás loca? – (ess-THAHS LO-ka?) Are you crazy?
Mija – (MEE-ha) short for mi hija, which means my daughter. It’s not always literal. It’s what you might call one of your girls.
mami or papi – (MAH-mee or PAH-pee) This is what Belinda and I call our parents.
mi hermana – (MEE air-MAHN-nah) H’s in Spanish are mostly silent. This means “my sister.”
por favor – (POR fah-VOR) please. Very useful word.
*puta – (POO-tha) okay, this is tricky word. Technically, it means slut. (A word I hate, by the way.) But it also means “bitch,” especially if it’s used with “hijo de”…(see below)
¿verdad? – (vair-DAH) technically, true. Often used as a question to mean something like, “isn’t that true?”
¿Entiendes? – (en-thyee-EN-dess) Do you understand?
Madre de Díos – (MAH-dray thay DEE-ose) Mother of God. Usually used as a curse.
los niños – (lohs NEEN-yose) Babies! I love babies. Los niños applies to boy babies or just babies in general. Little girl babies are las niñas.
*culo – (COO-lo) Butt, ass, moneymaker. You get the idea.
*maricón – (ma-rhee-CONE) Okay, technically, this is a derogative for gay guys. But in my neighborhood, it’s used for any jerk who’s a pain in the culo.
Díos mío – (DEE-ohs MEE-oh) Dios is God. This is “my God.” This is something you say when you’re shocked or surprised or frustrated…it’s a go-to exclamation. My mother says it, so, no star.
Por favor – (POR fa-VOR) please.
¿Es muy guapo, sí? – (ES MOO-ee GWA-po, SEE?) He’s very handsome, yes? Guapo is handsome. Sí is yes. Muy means very. Lia and I use this phrase a lot, when we’re lucky.
*pendejos – (PEN-day-hose) Literally, pubic hairs. In West Tampa, we use this word for stupid idiots or jerks. Less offensive than maricón, because you’re not challenging the manhood.
vidita – (vi-DEE-thah) If you know your Ricky Martin, you know that “living la vida loca” means “living the crazy life.” “Vida” means life. Spanish people add “-ita” to the end of words to make it cute or personal. Frankie has always called me vidita. I’m not sure when he started or why he still calls me that, but he does. And just between you and me, I like it.
cállate la voca – (KIE-ya-thay la BO-ka) La voca is the mouth. Cállate means to shut. Put them together and it’s self-explanatory, yes?
Las Reinas – (lahs-RAY-nahs) Literally means, “The Queens.” These are the girls I used to run with, aka, my gang.
gracias – (GRAH-see-us) Thank you. Roll the r a little. It’s fun. Trust me. I think there’s a correlation between men who can speak Spanish and the reason why they’re such good lovers. Just sayin’.
machismo – (mah-CHEEZ-mo) The reason for all the problems in the world. In other words, it’s an overabundance of testosterone. Men thinking they’re “all that.”
El silencio está matándome – (el sil-LEN-see-o ess-STAH mah-THAN-doe-meh) Literal translation of, “The silence is killing me.”
hombre – (HOME-bray) A man, a guy.
*garrote – (gar-ROH-tay) You’ve probably heard this word to describe a weapon that’s mainly a thin wire used to choke people. No? In my neighborhood, it’s also slang for a penis. I’m not exactly sure what the connection is—and I’m not sure I want to know.
lo siento – (lo see-EN-toe) The two most important words I’ve ever learned: I’m sorry. I probably don’t use them as often as I should.
lo siento del fondo de mi corazón – (lo see-EN-toe dell FON-do day mee core-a-ZONE) Used for the worst offenses—I’m sorry from the bottom of my heart.
café con leche (caf-FAY cone LEH-chay) Nectar of the gods, baby. Coffee and milk. Only not just any coffee. Cuban coffee. Strong and creamy with lots of sugar. If you put less than four sugars in your café con leche, you didn’t grow up in my house.
que desea – (kay deh-SEE-yah) You wish. Can be used both literally and sarcastically. Guess which one I prefer?
Y yo tambíen – (ee yoh thahm-bee-EN) And me, too.
*una puta grande – (OO-nah POO-thah GRAHN-day) A big bitch. Like karma, entiendes?
cálmarte – (CALM-ar-thay) Calm down.
*tetas – (THAY-thahs) Tits. Boobs. Mammaries. Our word sounds better.
*cabrón – (KAH-brone) bastard, son of a bitch.
Noche Buena – (NO-chay BWAY-nah) One of my favorite holidays! Literally means “good night” but traditionally, it’s Christmas Eve. We eat roast pork with garlic mojo (a sauce made with sour oranges and olive oil), black beans and rice, platanos maduras (overripe plaintains fried to crispy, yet mushy delectableness) and other Cuban staples. We end the night with flan. Doesn’t everyone?
¿Puedo sentarme? – (poo-WAY-tho sen-THAR-may) May I sit down?
Y yo repito – (ee yoh reh-PEE-thoe) And I repeat.
cómo se dice? – (coe-moe say DEE-say) Very useful phrase, means “how do you say?” When you can’t come up with a word, say this. If someone knows what you mean, they’ll fill in the blank.
pero – (PEH-roh) But. Should not be confused with perro, which means dog.
mujer – (moo-HAIR) Woman.
mira – (MEE-tah) Very useful verb in Spanish and Spanglish. It means, “Look!”
coquito – (coh-KEY-thoh) Okay, I suppose I should feel some sort of Latina competition with my sisters from Puerto Rico, but let me tell you, when it comes to eggnog, they’ve got us beat. Homemade and with a punch.
*hijo de puta – (EE-hoe day POO-thah) Son of a bitch.
Qué pasó? – (KAY pah-SO) What happened? (Not to be confused with ¿qué pasa? which is a common greeting like, “What’s up?”
Nada, por favor, mi amor – (na-thah pour fah-VOR mee AH-moor) Nothing, please, my love.
*concha – (CONE-cha) I didn’t know whether to star this one, chicas, because I don’t think there’s anything dirty about mine, but as I wouldn’t say it in front of my mother, I starred it. It means the female genitalia, figuratively. It’s comes from the conch shell.
**¡No me jodas! – (noe may HOE-thas) Don’t fuck around with me. I probably don’t use this as often as I should.
cojones – (coe-HONE-ace) Literally, balls. Not baseballs. Boy balls. But it’s sometimes used to mean “courage.” Personally, I think they should concha (see above.)
qué? – (KAY) What?
Afterword
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for purchasing a copy of DIRTY LITTLE CHRISTMAS. I hope you enjoyed it. It was amazing to be able to go back to these characters that I have loved for so long and give them new life! If you would like to see more books in this series, you can help by going to Amazon and leaving an honest review. It only a takes a moment and it is very helpful in spreading the word to other readers! You can click the link here to leave a review.
This story would not have come into being if not for the readers who have written to me over the years, asking me for more Marisela and Frankie. With the advent of self-publishing, I was able to re-release the prequels, DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS and DIRTY LITTLE LIES and luckily for all of us, readers responded! Be sure to check them out if you missed them!
I’m currently working on the fourth installment, TALK DIRTY TO ME, which will be out in 2013. To make sure you’re among the first to know when the next installment is out, please visit my website www.julieleto.com and sign up for my newsletter.
Happy reading!
OTHER WORKS by
New York Times Bestselling Author
JULIE LETO
Dirty Little Secrets (Sexy Suspense)
Book One
Sex, lies and lethal weapons…
PRAISE FOR DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS:
“Stephanie Who? Readers looking for a genuine and credible bad-ass kick-butt heroine may want to check this
book out.”
~ Mrs. Giggles
“Readers who love a great kickass heroine, propulsive action and plenty of steam shouldn’t miss Dirty Little Secrets.”
~ Leigh Thomas, All About Romance
“Get out the ice and set your fans on high! Julie Leto’s Dirty Little Secrets will set you on fire the minute you pick up this steamy, high-speed book of love, action, and adventure.”
~ Anne Lum, Writer’s Unlimited
OVERVIEW:
— A disgraced bounty hunter pursues her sexy ex
— The secret agent on the run catapults her into his treacherous underworld
— Is her super-sexy lover her ticket out of a mundane world–or is he setting her up to crash and burn?
Buy Dirty Little Secrets with your Kindle
Dirty Little Lies (Sexy Suspense)
Book Two
Staying alive isn’t easy when people with guns tell Dirty Little Lies…
PRAISE FOR DIRTY LITTLE LIES:
“A must read for anyone enjoying a little female butt-kicking with a little flare.”
~ C.J. Yasay, Bookstove
“Leto’s style is fast, breezy and loaded with tension. She’s created a complex plot that’s executed with precision. Her characters have no middle ground and are worth a second look.”
~ Donna M. Brown, RT Bookreviews
“Compelling drama, engaging and vibrant characters, along with a spicy Latin flavor all combine together to make Julie Leto’s latest story a must-have for fans of truly well written romantic suspense.”
~ Sonya, Fallen Angel Reviews
OVERVIEW:
— A disgraced bounty hunter faces down a deadly assassin.
— A brush with death changes the rules for friends with benefits
— Should she stop the seasoned killer’s quest for vengeance…or join her on the hunt?
Buy Dirty Little Lies with your Kindle
In addition to Sexy Suspense, Julie also writes Sexy Contemporary Paranormal romances with a strong suspense plot. Check out the first in her Phantom series:
In this world, covert operations take on a whole new meaning…
Dare Me
(Sexy Suspense Novella)
Prequel, Dirty Dare series
Given the choice between great sex and saving the world…why not do both?
PRAISE FOR DARE ME…
“Dante is uber male, sexy, smart, full of himself yet underneath it all he knows he screwed up and wants to get Macy back. Sigh. This is a hot, fun quick read.”
—Brenda, Goodreads
“Moved really fast and full of smart characters.”
—Elizabeth Brown, Amazon Reader
“Steamy hot…”
—Diana Ketterer, All About Romance
OVERVIEW
—A female James Bond submits to seduction with the man she’s sworn to hate
—A suave super-spy risks everything to win back the woman he betrayed
—Can they put aside their pain long enough to save the world?
Buy Dare Me with your Kindle
When Titan International meets the world of black ops, the results are explosive!
Dirty Dare: The Rescue
(Sexy Suspense Novella)
Part One
Captivity has never been so hot and steamy…
PRAISE FOR JULIE LETO…
“I put Julie Leto on my must read list of authors.”
—Julie A. Lowery, Amazon Reader
“How can you not love kick-your-butt females and absolutely yummy men?”
—Christina R., Amazon Reader
“Fast paced spy/romance novel with enough intrigue to satisfy thrill lovers and enough sex to satisfy romantics.”
—Kaki, Amazon Reader
OVERVIEW
—He endures weeks of torture for information he does not possess…
—She risks her life and her career to save him from a horrible death…
—Is the spymaster who’s calling the shots in this dangerous rescue an ally, or will he ultimately betray them both?
Buy Dirty Dare with your Kindle
Ghost stories…for grown-ups!
PHANTOM SERIES – BOXED SET
Three full novels for one low price!
(Sexy Paranormal Romance)
PRAISE FOR THE PHANTOM SERIES
on Phantom Pleasures: “Phantom Pleasures is a paranormal treasure hunt that will keep surprising you at every turn.”
—Sabella, Joyfully Reviewed
on Phantom’s Touch: “When Hollywood magic meets real magic, the collision leads to a sexy and thrilling tale.”
—Jill Smith, Romantic Times
on Kiss of the Phantom: “Fascinating, thrilling, and sexy as all get out – with a twist of intrigue – this author has made her way onto my must read list!”
—Thia McClain, The Romance Reader Connection
OVERVIEW
—Three brothers who survive by the sword or cursed by a mad Romani curse
—Three modern women with the power to set them free
—Will they teach each other the true meaning of love, or will evil foil their happiness?
Buy The Phantom Series Boxed Set with your Kindle
About the Author
New York Times bestselling author Julie Leto is the multi-published and award-winning author of over forty-five novels for publishers such as Simon & Schuster, Penguin and Harlequin who has now turned her attention to independent publishing. She pens the popular “Dirty” sexy suspense series starring kick-ass, ex-gang girl Marisela Morales and the sensual paranormal “Phantom” books, as well as the crossover series, “Dirty Dare.”
Julie lives on the west coast of Florida with her daughter, a spoiled dachshund, a haughty lynx-point Siamese and a wide range of relatives all within driving distance. Readers can find her at www.julieleto.com, on Facebook and as @JulieLeto on Twitter.
Contact Information
Website:
www.julieleto.com
Email:
[email protected]
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/readjulieleto
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/julieleto
Blog:
www.plotmonkeys.com
WRAPPED AND SEALED
by
Leslie Kelly
Copyright © 2013 Leslie Kelly
All rights reserved. No part of this may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, without permission in writing from Author.
Chapter One
Tanner Boudreau wasn’t intimidated by much.
He’d endured the seven months of grueling torment that the U.S. Navy called BUD/S training, capped off by a hell week to rival Dante’s. He’d swum waters frigid enough to stop a man’s heart. He’d seen battle. He’d leapt out of planes and dangled from helicopters and crawled through caves as dark as a demon’s soul. And while all of those experiences could—and had—caused a twinge of anxiety here or a moment of concern there, none had ever really scared him.
But this? This intimidated the hell out of him. “Gram, I just don’t…”
“Oh, Tanner, it would mean so much to me,” his elderly grandmother said, casting him one of those melting, I’m-just-a-weak-old-lady looks.
He noticed those looks were seldom around when she going all crazy with her weed whacker in the back yard, or when she walked the neighborhood with her gal pals. The woman had a spine of steel and the constitution of a fifty-year-old. She only played the helpless-senior-citizen card when she w
anted to get her way quickly and without argument.
“Grandma…”
“It won’t take much time.”
“It’s not that. I just don’t think I’m right for this, uh, role.”
“Of course you are. Who could possibly be better than someone as brave and wonderful as my handsome grandson.” She sighed deeply. “I’ll be so disappointed if you say no.”
Oh, low blow. She’d dragged out the d-word.
Disappointing this kind, loving old woman, who, along with Gramps, had raised him and his sister after their parents had died, was the one thing Tanner truly couldn’t handle. He could face physical danger, discomfort and even the threat of his own death, but he could not deal with causing his grandparents a moment of grief or sadness. He’d already put them through enough when he’d decided, on September 12, 2001, to enlist in the Navy, with the intention of becoming a SEAL. And God knows they’d had a lot of scary moments since.
Fortunately, that would soon change. When he gave them the gift of his news on Christmas morning, and they realized he would soon be home for good, their worries and fears would be lifted. How he would feel once he told them and made it more-or-less official, he couldn’t say.
Part of him was ready—beyond ready—to get back to some kind of normal life. Another part wondered if he was making a mistake. It had been so long since he’d lived in the “real world” that he wasn’t sure he even remembered how.
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