Redeemed Hearts (Thoroughbred Men Series Book 3)

Thoroughbred Men Series, Book 3

Teri Jones has found herself running away from living her life after losing her fiancé in a deadly accident. Independent and alone, she has thrown herself into her work and into the community in order to cope with the tragedy. She has been able to exist like this, retreated in her shell, for years… until she met him.

Richard has recently grown weary of his playboy lifestyle and the hassle that has come along with it. Serving at the fire station over time has shown him loss, comraderies and the value of life. When Richard sees there is more to Teri than meets the eye, he is enchanted by how different she is from other women.

Can Teri and Richard handle the warmth of a redeemed heart?

Thoroughbred Men series

Sweet Heat Rising

Stolen Hearts

Redeemed Hearts

Darling, thank you for loving me…

November 1st, 2014

Pleasureville, Kentucky

“Light her up!” Teri yelled, laughing loudly. She was referring to the veil that they had just adorned on Millicent Clark’s perfectly coiffed head. They stood in the parking lot, surrounded by several ladies at Tito’s Mexican Restaurant. Her friend was dressed way too conservatively for the bachelorette party that Danielle had thrown Millicent … and Teri was more than excited to help with the planning.

They had spent a rambunctious afternoon at the state line, shopping at the first (and sleaziest) sex shop they had come across driving down the highway on the way to Cincinnati. Teri had made sure she paid in cash and was not in her polo from work. There was no way this visit was being traced back to her company! Danielle may have no problem parking her Saab in the gravel parking lot, but Teri refused to take her truck. It was wrapped heavily in slogans and boldly stated “Jones Safety Home Inspections”. No, thank you! Danielle could drive for the day.

Seeing the veil turned on, and the flashing penis glow around Millicent’s laughing face, was worth the catcalls they got from the truckers that were in the seedy parking lot off the highway earlier in the day. Teri pulled out several other items from the bag to drape onto Millie, however, the bride had now completely lost her sense of humor at the set of glasses and phallic nose that Teri dangled boldly from her finger.

“I will never, ever, ever wear that in a million years, Teresa Jones! You might as well get a refund,” Millie said determinedly. “It is a distinct ‘NO’ on wearing those glasses, especially with that THING waving on the end of it,” she said pointing and cracking a smile.

Millie could be a good sport about a few things but Teri figured that she was maxed out for the night’s events with the flashing penis veil on her head. She sincerely hoped this was the most they had planned for Millie and glad she had laid a few ground rules with the girls earlier. She had no idea that she would ever have to eliminate flashing penile gifts and décor from the party planning list. Her friends never ceased to surprise her!

• • •

Danielle was inside, setting up the table for the girls, while Teri was outside with Millicent, who was now adorned with a pink sash that boldly proclaimed her status for the night. Danielle had spread a large pink tablecloth across several tables, tossed glitter on the cloth and put a “pecker straw” in each goblet. Teri had said no on the straws, however, Danielle just did not agree. It was a bachelorette party! You had to have penis paraphernalia in abundance, did you not? Danielle believed it was a “requirement”, along with trashy gifts and games that mortified the attendees.

Danielle had made sure the cake from BatterUp!, Sarah’s bakery, was delivered earlier that afternoon. Sarah had said she would personally deliver the cake and help set up because there was no way she was missing the party once she saw the bags of plastic genitalia everywhere in the back seat of the Saab. Teri was not sure she had ever heard Sarah cackle like that before and they had been “besties” since high school.

Sarah claimed to have made the cake Danielle had requested, but changed her mind at the last minute. She also had limits to what she wanted associated with her business, just like Teri. Sarah refused to have a cake in the shape of a man’s penis in a box labeled with BatterUp!.

She made a flat, sheet cake for Millicent and had a picture of Chris Evans from the Captain America movie printed on a sheet of edible frosting. She had to admit that the Captain’s pectorals looked amazing on screen and in the fondant icing. She would not mind having a piece of that… and that was the idea for all the ladies tonight! Sarah had carefully closed the box and taped it shut so she did not have to listen to Danielle complain about how she did not make the cake that Danielle had wanted.

Danielle had also ensured that Jacob and his band of cronies would not be coming by the restaurant while the ladies were having fun. If they were not having a stripper (a ground rule set by Millie) they were darn sure getting foxed and planned on it being an obnoxious evening for their friend. Jacob had said one of the groomsmen would pick the girls up late tonight and drive them home, so they would not have to worry about driving drunk. Sweet, thoughtful and a police officer. No breaking the rules with that man.

Sarah had also pitched in to make sure the girls were undisturbed. They wanted no pictures from the restaurant leaked out on to the internet or Facebook. In order to do this, she offered to make the groom’s cake at no charge for Jacob. She even threw in cupcakes for the Bachelor party that was being held elsewhere. Especially since he had been her rescuer some months ago and practically guaranteed her very own happy ending with the love of her life, Matt Geary. She took every chance she got to thank him for her happiness, even if it embarrassed him. She loved being married to Matt and it would not have been possible if it hadn’t been for Jacob, or so she felt.

Millie and Teri walked arm in arm into the restaurant to enjoy the evening’s celebration. They were greeted by a few more ladies gathered around the table that was decorated tackily. Large, frosted goblets were placed in front of each lady and Mama Maria herself poured each woman a pink margarita, filling the glasses to the brim. “My very own concoction ladies! To Millicent and Jacob, may they always be happy together!” she said toasting and turning up her own glass as she patted Millie on the back.

Millie beamed as there was a rousing, high-pitched cheer from the group. “To Millie and Jacob!” Every woman exclaimed over how sweet and delicious the strawberry margaritas Mama had made. The sweet of the drink and the saltiness of the chips were fantastic opposites and made Teri’s cheeks twinge from the tartness of both. The women drank and laughed for quite some time.

Teri felt quite tipsy after a few drinks and was glad that they had someone shuttling them all home this evening. She was also relieved she had scheduled herself a few days off in a row because she would have a helluva hangover and be worthless for climbing on roofs or checking out electrical on an inspection.

After a dinner of fajitas and more margaritas, they cut the cake. Danielle had groaned, frustrated there was not a massive frosted penis in the box, however, she was more than pleased to see what was inside. There was almost a drunken brawl over which lady got what slice.

Teri thought it was humorous to see Millie claim her stake by drunkenly licking a fork and stabbing it in the middle of the cake slice Danielle grabbed quickly. “I will still eat it! Don’t think I won’t!” she slurred. Millie almost knocked it out of Danielle’s hands with an aggressive move, but Danielle’s reflexes were quick. “I am not letting his frosted pants out of my hands!” she crowed loudly, to which the group laughed hysterically.

The girls started handing Millie bags and boxes for her to open, under the condition that she had to hold each item up for them all to see. There was no hiding amongst friends. Danielle tried to coax Millie to put on the glasses with the prosthetic, again Millie declined heartily. She stood and opened several small bags with skimpy items inside, stretching each across her bosom as needed.

Laughter peeled across the room as Millie opened the package from Teri. Inside were an officer’s hat, cuffs, and the skimpiest lace negligee that she could find online. Millie slapped the hat on her head, over the twinkling veil, and clamped a handcuff on her wrist, the other cuff dangling freely. She was delighted with the gift that distinctly had Jacob in mind when purchased.

Richard Danvers stood back and watched the ensemble with amusement. They were a sight to see, all drunkenly leaning on each other. The volume of their talking got louder and louder as they tried to outdo one another with their stories. The laughter brought on tears, more drinking and they struggled to stay up in the chairs.

He had never seen Jacob’s girlfriend other than very calm and stoic. To see her laughing and smiling made him certainly understand the appeal she had to him. When he saw her smooth the lace negligee over her bodice, it confirmed Jacob’s good taste in women. She was quite the buxom lady and they both definitely liked a healthy female shape.
Too bad she was taken
, he thought with a wry smile. He liked the looks, but preferred a bit more vivaciousness and spunk – and not just when drunk, he thought.

He had volunteered to be the designated driver tonight. Especially since they were grilling and playing cards at Jacob’s house. He would rather have celebrated at a club or bar, but that was shot down by a few of the married guys in the group. He had stepped out to monitor the girls and make sure no one got it in her mind to take the party elsewhere. Poker wasn’t his thing and he had heard another guy say that a stripper was on the way. It was time for him to leave at that point.

The last party he was at, the stripper turned out to be an ex-girlfriend who recognized him and proceeded to disturb, rather than entertain, the party. He was “gun-shy” when it came to running in to ex-girlfriends. He wasn’t the relationship type, he was more of a “love them and leave them” guy and, in most cases, that worked pretty well for him. No teary goodbyes, no “meet my mom” setups, and no commitments. He enjoyed a challenge, not an attempt to manipulate or pin down a husband. He liked his freedom.

Richard sat back opposite of the restaurant and listened to the laughter and bawdy conversation between the women. He studied each one as he watched them interact with each other. His eyes were drawn to the pixie brunette seated next to Danielle.

She had the brightest blue eyes. He could see from across the room, dark brown hair and a gorgeous, upturned grin that was infectious. Her smile made him want to smile and he liked that. He would definitely get to know her name and see what she was all about on the return drive to the women’s homes. For now, he chose to study his prey.

For Richard, the night’s entertainment from the women continued with a game of “I have never, ever” and it started with Millicent. He had enjoyed watching them laugh and share stories, but now things were really going to get interesting. He was heartily glad he had left the guys to see this.

He watched as Millicent stood up, cleared her throat and blushed heartily. “I have never, ever had a one-night stand,” she said and plopped down into her chair, as if she was impressed to have shared her deepest, darkest secret. She even had put her face into her hands like she was ashamed.

Richard almost laughed aloud. She had never had a one-night stand? Big whoop. That was the best she could come up with? Maybe Jacob’s woman was a bit prudish?

He knew Jacob from the adult softball team through the community center. A lot of the other firefighters had joined and, surprisingly, so had a lot of officers. It almost became a joke in the town; that you couldn’t have an emergency on Saturday afternoon because no one was available to help. They all were playing softball. It was not true, just seemed that way.

Danielle stood for her turn at this point and looked around the table. She looked deep in thought for a few moments, as if she debated on which personal item to share. She decided to keep it clean since they all had an audience and some in the audience were parents.

Last thing she wanted to do was present to the world the image of her being a floozy. She’d fought that image for years until people finally forgot her history. “This is gonna be tough,” she said with a grin. “I have done a lot, but I have never, ever been proposed to. Millie has got me beat on that one!” she exclaimed and sat down as another drunken woman stood quickly.

They eventually circled the table, each telling stories. Some were very risqué and Richard watched the women carefully, surprised at who was blushing and who was not. A few “never, ever” stories were giving him mental pictures and he shuddered as the older woman at the table laughed and told racy jokes about what she had said.

He watched the woman with the pixie haircut as she took her turn eventually. She stood, hesitated and cleared her throat. She was very calm, hiding her alcohol well as she stood somewhat still. “I have spent several years creating my business, as you well know, from the ground up just like Millie, Danielle and Sarah. I have weird hours. I work as much or as little as I want and really don’t have any extraordinary tales to share like a few of you do, but I do have something personal…”