by J. A. Coffey
"Yes, God, yes." Chloe slid her arms around his neck and pulled him close, kissing him to seal the deal.
The End
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WOUNDED
(An Aspen Series Novella)
(Prequel to Relentless)
By
Cindy Stark
Also by Cindy Stark
Aspen Series
Wounded
Relentless
Lawless
Cowboys and Angels
Come Back To Me
Surrender
Reckless
Tempted
Pinecone Valley Series
Love Me Again
Whispers (An Argent Springs Novel)
Retribution Novels
Branded
Hunted
Banished
Moonlight and Margaritas
Sweet Vengeance
Which Witch is Which
Dedication
To my daughter, Sierra - You are one of the greatest joys of my life. Thank you for the smiles and laughter, and for introducing me to The Doctor. I love you beyond words.
Chapter One
Jerry Tierno's new Camaro ate up the distance between Salt Lake and his hometown of Aspen, Utah, like a mid-summer storm rolling over the Rocky Mountains. The miles of pine-laden canyons interspersed with green valleys disappeared faster than he would have liked, even though he was anxious to see his family.
If he could find a way to stop thinking about her, life would be bearable again.
But how could he? The last time he'd deployed, he'd left Aspen believing Kimber Reynolds was his everything, and that when he returned, they'd start their life together.
Believing that had made him the world's biggest idiot, along with the instant he'd taken his focus off the mission in Afghanistan and had become the target of an attack.
He pretended he didn't notice the three-bedroom house nestled in a grove of aspen trees just off the highway as he passed it. The for-sale sign was still there, but that no longer mattered.
As he cruised past Aspen's welcome sign, stating a population of 250, he lowered the window and cranked up his stereo, trying to drown out his cursed memories. The sweet, summer air heavy with the scent of freshly cut alfalfa filled his lungs, a complete contrast to the harsh desert in a part of the world so far from his home.
He slowed as he hit the so-called city limits, grateful to be back where life moved at a slower pace and every person he met wasn't a potential threat. Hanging baskets of flowers and numerous displays of the Stars and Stripes reminded him the small town's celebration of America's independence was only two days away.
The vibrations and sounds of his loud music drew the stares of a couple of his mother's friends talking outside the market. He waved, knowing they wouldn't recognize him in his new car, but wanting to be friendly just the same.
Then he choked. His foot slipped off the accelerator as he caught sight of Kimber walking out of the coffee shop that had opened a few weeks before he'd left the last time. Hell, for all he knew, her last name might be Cameron by now.
Wavy brown hair caressed her sun-kissed shoulders, her unforgettable tan legs disappearing under a short, pink skirt. She'd probably been working in the city clerk's office that day.
He remembered exactly what it felt like to kiss those shoulders, to trail his fingers up the smooth skin of her legs. The way she walked, her scent, everything about her had been seared into his brain, and he would have been able to pick her out of a crowd with a bag over her head.
As he passed, she turned toward him, their gazes connecting for the briefest of seconds. He swallowed past his choke and slammed on the gas pedal. His engine growled with delight as he pushed the boundaries of acceleration, and he could suddenly breathe again.
He was so over her. Over the pain. Over the wrenching heartbreak. Rehabilitating from shrapnel severing his calf muscle had been easier than getting over her, but he'd managed it.
Before he made it to the end of the little town, a piercing wail filled the air. He glanced in the mirror to find flashing red and blue lights hot on his tail.
This wasn't the homecoming he'd hoped for. He punched off his stereo as he pulled to the side of the road. "Shit," he ground out.
He pulled the license from his wallet and dug out his vehicle registration while he waited for the officer to approach his car.
"If it ain't Jerry Tierno, back from the trenches," the older officer said as he took his license, not bothering to look at it.
"Hello, Sheriff Reynolds." Kimber's dad. Double shit.
Other than some gray lightening the dark hair above his ears, the officer didn't show much of his forty-something years. "Didn't recognize the car, J.T."
"I just bought it yesterday."
"Kim said you'd be back before too long. Healing okay?"
He ignored the comment about Kimber. "Yes, sir." The reminder of his injury sent a recurrent pain through his left leg, and he stretched it out, trying to ease the stress holed up in it. He considered himself damn lucky to have escaped with only a few patches on his body. Some of his friends hadn't been so lucky.
"I heard they ambushed you good."
Jerry inhaled a slow breath through his teeth, hating how a casual question could send him right back to that place. The attack on their unit in a supposedly safe area had taken them by surprise, catching some of them with their pants down. Literally. The ensuing situation had been ugly. Very ugly.
"We lost some good men that day."
"Yeah. I heard that, too. I'm glad you weren't one of them."
He caught a hint of sentiment in the older man's voice, and he fought against his own rising emotions. If Kimber hadn't deserted him, the man would have become his father-in-law. Despite her lack of mercy, Jerry still admired and respected her dad.
Sheriff Reynolds handed his license back to him. "Son, I'm going to assume you were speeding 'cause you were in a hurry to see your mama after all this time, so I won't give you a ticket."
"Thank you, sir." There was no way he could tell the man it was because he was trying to outrun the memory of his daughter.
"Do it again, and I'll slap a ticket on your ass so big you'll be working two jobs to pay it off. Am I understood?"
A smile cracked on his lips, and he quickly buried it. "Yes, sir." The old man loved to play hard ass. For the longest time, he and his buddies had been deathly afraid of the cop. The day Jerry had shown up on his doorstep to pick up Kimber for a date had been one of the most terrifying days of his life. At least up until he'd joined the army.
The man tipped his hat and headed back to his white Tahoe. Jerry waited while he turned around and drove to his hiding spot, preparing to catch the next sucker who decided to speed through his little town.
Instead of continuing through Aspen to his parent's house, Jerry turned into the parking lot of Sparrow's Bar and Grill. He needed something to fortify his spirit before he faced the rest of the world.
Chapter Two
Kimber stood outside Rumors Coffee Shop, stunned. The hot July sun beat down on her, melting her caramel frappuccino. She'd walked over from City Hall on her afternoon break for her favorite treat and found herself completely unprepared for the shock of seeing Jerry.
Moments had passed since her father had sent him on his way, and still, she couldn't move. She had no idea if her father had ticketed him for his illegal behavior. All she knew was when they parted ways, Jerry didn't come back to see her. The stark reality hit. He might be home, but he was never coming back to her.
Her insides shook, leaving her with a sick feeling.
But he was home. He was alive.
Her prayers had been answered. It remained to be seen if he could forgive her, but at least he was alive.
And he hated her.
Jerr
y had caught her gaze and then raced away as though he couldn't get far enough from her fast enough. He might as well have wrapped rusted barbed wire around her heart.
"Hey, Kimber."
She was pulled from her daze as Tara Dixon and her mom passed by on the sidewalk. "Hi, Tara. Hi, Mrs. Dixon." Tara had to be close to nine now, the same age Kimber had been when her mom had been killed by an escaped convict.
What she wouldn't give to have a loving mother she could go to for advice right now. Thank God she had her best friend, Noelle.
She turned around and went back in the coffee shop, knowing Noelle would help her figure out how to proceed with the next minute of her life.
The sunny café didn't seem as cheerful as it had when she'd been inside a few minutes before. Noelle looked up as she entered, a strand of silky, blond hair falling into her face. "Forget something?"
She shook her head.
"Kimber? Are you okay?"
She blinked and tried to breathe. "He's home." For the longest time, she'd wondered if she'd ever see him again. She knew from the local gossip that he'd survived the attack, but he'd been so far away, so far out of her grasp, and it seemed she'd never see his beautiful face again.
Noelle stared at her for a moment, confusion on her face. Then clarity dawned. "Jerry?" she whispered.
Kimber nodded. "What do I do?" She fell into the closest chair, not sure her legs would continue to hold her. "I've been waiting for this moment for months, and now I'm lost."
"You talk to him." Noelle came around the front of the counter and sat next to her. "Tell him you screwed up. Ask for forgiveness. You know you're not the same girl he left behind. You've grown. You've started your foundation for military wives. He needs to know this."
"It's not going to help. He hates me."
"No. He might still be angry, but once you explain things, he'll understand."
She bit her lip until it hurt and shook her head. "I just saw him outside."
Noelle widened her eyes. "What did he say?"
"Nothing. The second he saw me, he sped away." His rejection drove a hot, searing pain into her. She deserved it, but it didn't make it any easier to take.
"He was in a car? You saw him driving? Maybe he didn't see you."
She nodded, trying to keep her fears and grief inside. "He saw me."
Noelle's expression turned sympathetic. "Oh, honey. Maybe he needs some time."
Could she hope that's all it would take? "He looked good, Noelle. So good."
"Yeah?" Her friend smiled.
"Yeah." The moment she'd heard of the deadly attack on his unit, her world had collapsed beneath her. She'd known then she couldn't live in a world without him no matter how many nights she'd have to stay awake worrying and wondering.
"He has a new car. A hot-looking black Camaro."
Noelle's smile grew bigger. "Really? Not that he'd need it to look hot."
Hot. Handsome. Loyal. No longer hers. She deserved every shattered piece of her heart. She'd had a good man. The best. She'd let her fears and loneliness get the best of her, and she'd let him go.
"You have two choices, girlfriend. You can fight for your man or walk away. It all depends on how much he means to you."
That brought some of the fire back in her. "You know what he means to me."
"That's what you keep telling me, but that's not what I'm seeing. If you love him so much then tell me what you're going to do to get him back."
"I don't know." There was no doubt she wanted to mend things between them, but how? "I'm willing to do anything."
"I'm pretty sure I know where he'll be tonight." Her friend widened her blue eyes and blinked several times in a flirtatious gesture.
"I can't." The thought of a public display of any kind freaked her out.
Noelle nodded, encouraging her.
"Seeing him for the first time in months? In front of all his friends?"
"You're the one who wants to make amends. Go to Sparrow's dressed all sexy. Buy the man a drink. You know he won't be able to resist you."
"That's the problem. I'm afraid he can."
Noelle shrugged. "There's only one way to find out."
*****
The cool, dim atmosphere of Sparrow's was a direct contrast to the warm and brilliant glare of the sun outside, and it hit Jerry like a soothing balm. Eighties rock music chimed from the jukebox in the corner. Since it was barely past four in the afternoon, the bar was relatively quiet. The lunch bunch had gone home, and the early dinner crowd and later drinkers had not yet arrived. Thank God.
He needed somewhere to hide for a few minutes, somewhere to gather himself after seeing both Kimber and her father within seconds of getting to town. He didn't need to be reminded the moment he returned of everything he'd lost.
He claimed an empty stool at the end of the bar, the farthest away from the door.
"Well, hello, J.T." The blond female bartender grinned as she approached him, flashing her dimples along with a decent amount of cleavage. "Good to see you all in one piece."
"Hey, Becky." They'd flirted off and on since high school, but nothing had ever come of it. For some reason, their timing had always been off. He glanced at her left hand, and sure enough, a new diamond twinkled in the glow from the subdued overhead lighting. "Heard you got married."
"I did." Her smile grew brighter. "I wasn't too sure about Brandon when we met, but he was persistent, and he finally got me to see things his way."
"You look happy." The twinge of jealousy burning inside him flared.
"I am. I never realized marriage could be this good."
"Yeah." He forced a smile. "I sure could use a beer if you don't mind."
Her glowing smile morphed into understanding. "Sure thing. How about one on the house? It's not every day we get to welcome one of our boys home."
"That would be great."
She filled a tankard with golden beer and set it in front of him as the door to the bar opened letting in filtered light. Becky glanced at the newest customer before looking back at him. "I'll be back in a few to check on you."
Jerry looked over his shoulder to see Brandon greet her with a kiss.
Love.
He took a healthy swallow of beer. To hell with it.
The atmosphere lightened again as more customers came inside, but Jerry didn't bother to see who'd entered. He just wanted to sit quietly and nurse his beer. He needed a few moments to settle and to remember what it was like to be in his comfortable, safe hometown. Afghanistan had been harsh. The V.A. hospital had been a little better, but there was nothing like coming home.
"Good God," a male voice sounded behind him. "Look what the cat dragged in."
He recognized the voice and turned, his lips automatically curving into a smile when his gaze connected with Milo Sykes's. "Shit." He stood, and the two men hugged, clapping each other on the back. "I should have known I'd run into you here."
"Hell, yeah. Where else in town can a guy find a little excitement?" He grinned. Milo had always been a good-natured, fun-loving guy, and that, along with his blond hair and blue eyes made him the perfect lady-magnet.
Jerry nodded. "You ain't kidding."
Milo took the seat next to him, and Becky brought him a beer. "Luke's just outside. He accidentally hit some fancy black Camaro with his truck."
Chapter Three
Jerry choked on his beer as he jumped out of his seat. "What?"
Milo laughed and shook his head. "I'm just kidding."
He punched his friend's arm. "Not funny. That's my new lady you're talking about. I just put six months of savings down on her, and I'd like to pay off the loan before anyone trashes her."
"Sorry." Milo grinned, his blue eyes flashing. "You were an easy mark."
He frowned at the comment. He was tired of being an easy mark. "How did you know it was mine?"
"I stopped to talk to my boss a few seconds ago, and he told me he caught you speeding through town. Luke really is outside. He'
s checking out your new ride."
Jerry smiled, his emotions settling. Nothing like being back with his buddies to keep him humble and keep him happy. "Yeah, well, he'd better not touch her."
Milo tilted back his glass, taking a drink, before sliding his gaze to Jerry. "What about Kimber? Are you planning on seeing her?"
"Nope." He refrained from mentioning his earlier encounter. Milo was a smart guy. He'd quickly piece together the sighting of Kimber and the subsequent speeding, and Jerry would never live it down.
"It's a small town, man. If you stay long, you know you're going to run into her."
"I'll deal with it when I have to. If I see her on Eric's arm, I'm liable to punch someone."
"Uh..." Milo looked around. Luke had entered the building and was approaching, but other than that, no one was near. He leaned in closer to Jerry. "Didn't anyone tell you? She dumped Eric on his ass faster than she did you. I think they lasted all of one week."
"It's true," Luke said as he reached them and stuck out his hand. "Good to see you, man." The overhead light caught on one of the small silver hoops his friend wore as a show of rebellion. He'd been the subject of some nasty gossip over the years, most of which had faded, but it had left its scars.
Jerry grasped his hand and shook it, his emotions at war between his happiness at seeing his friends and his confusion over Milo's news.
"What do you mean, she dumped him?"
"Flat on his ass. He's been trying to get her back ever since, but she's not having any of it." Luke sat next to Milo. "Who the hell knows what goes through women's minds? If you ask me, they're all mental."
It was a known fact that Luke had had his share of trouble with women, starting with Hannah Morgan back in high school.
Jerry kept his face passive, but his insides were a battlefield. There was the dumbass part of him who rejoiced to find her still single. But then there was the smart half who repeated over and over that it didn't make a damn bit of difference. She might have dumped Eric, but she'd done the same damn thing to him. "It doesn't matter if she's with Eric or not. She made it clear she doesn't want anything more to do with me. So, it's like I said before, I don't have any intention of seeing her. If and when I do, I'll deal with it." He shrugged. "We're finished. I've moved on. I'm just looking forward to the day when she realizes what she lost, and she finds herself swimming in regret."