Anything Your Heart Desires Read online

  Other Books by AJ Adaire

  Friend Series

  Sunset Island - Book 1

  The Interim (a novelette)

  Awaiting My Assignment - Book 2

  Anything Your Heart Desires

  by

  AJ Adaire

  Anything Your Heart Desires

  Friends Series Book 3

  Copyright © 2014 by AJ Adaire

  This is a work of fiction - names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual person living or dead, business, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  For permission requests, write to the publisher, addressed “Attention: Permissions Coordinator,” at the address below.

  Desert Palm Press

  1961 Main Street, Suite 220

  Watsonville, California 95076

  www.desertpalmpress.com

  Editor: Sue Hilliker

  Editor: R. Lee Fitzsimmons

  Cover Design: ©AJ Adaire

  Cover Art: Absentanna Dreamstime.com

  Acknowledgements

  As always, thank you to my early readers who point out things I’ve missed. Thanks to Beth, a retired HS English teacher, who settled the infamous comma discussions.

  Special appreciation is extended to ICL and PAS who read and then read again each version of the story. I am very grateful.

  Last, but never least, thanks to my readers. I especially appreciate those readers who take time to leave reviews or send me notes. Leaving reviews helps others decide which books to read and tells authors what you liked about their story and what you didn’t. I love to hear from those of you who write notes to me to say how much you’ve enjoyed my stories. Knowing you’ve gotten pleasure from my tales makes it all worthwhile. Thank you.

  Dedication

  I tend to disappear into my books. When I’m writing, I hear—but don’t always listen. I observe—and don’t always see. Couple this absorption with time spent thinking about new stories, editing already written stories, responding to mail from readers, publicizing the books, remaining visible on Facebook, Twitter, and other venues. I give interviews as well as doing interviews of other authors, and it all adds up to too much time absent from the most important relationship in my life. For this reason I dedicate this book to my partner of thirty years. I’m still glad it’s you.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Epilogue

  About AJ Adaire

  Sneak Peak - One Day Longer Than Forever

  Other books published by Desert Palm Press

  Chapter 1

  MEG SLID AN ARM across Jo Martin’s stomach and snuggled closer. Jo could tell by the woman’s regular breathing that she was, thankfully, still asleep. Oh God, what have I done now? Shit, shit, shit! I should have stopped this before we had sex. Why didn’t I? Jo groaned inwardly and exhaled a long sigh. I could have just pushed her away, or simply said ‘no.’ What the hell have I done? How could I be so stupid? The events of the afternoon raced through her mind. She wanted to put her fingers to her forehead and massage away the headache that was forming between her eyebrows but refrained, fearful of waking the sleeping woman next to her.

  Earlier in the day, after returning from Christmas vacation with her family at their cabin in the mountains near Edinborough, New York, Jo had not even unpacked her suitcase when Meg stopped by unannounced. Jo had opened the door for her friend, expecting their usual brief greeting. A split second later, their normally casual hug and kiss hello took on a totally new dimension. Meg, definitely the aggressor, wouldn’t release Jo after their brief hug. Instead, she pulled Jo firmly against her, pinned her against the wall, and kissed her thoroughly.

  “I missed you more than you’ll ever know.” Meg pulled Jo against her to kiss her again.

  As Jo’s mind wandered through the earlier events, she realized that she’d responded more out of loneliness and surprise than out of desire for her friend. With the deed done, it was too late now to undo her error. Guilt and regret gnawed at her for what she'd allowed to happen. In her heart, she knew she didn't want a relationship with Meg. Until the kiss in the hall earlier, she hadn't even really thought of Meg as a potential sexual partner. They were friends, never more than that.

  Jo was normally attracted to women who were smaller in stature and shorter than her own height of five-eight. Meg was an imposing figure of a woman, standing just a bit less than six feet tall with ice blue eyes and nearly white short-cropped hair. Her muscular, almost masculine build attested to her avid interest in weight lifting.

  Meg had told Jo how much she’d missed her before kissing her. Unfortunately, Jo hadn't thought of Meg once during the time she vacationed with her family. She groaned mentally.

  Why did I kiss her back? Hell, more to the point, why did I have sex with her? Well, the answer is obvious, really. When was the last time I had a date or sex with anyone other than my vibrator? Jo calculated the answer to the question. Can it be true that I really haven't dated anyone in over two years? The last person I’ve even been attracted to was the Director of Nursing at the hospital, Mallory Barnes. Jo and Mallory both worked shift work. Between their two crazy work schedules, they had rarely been able to get together with each other outside the hospital. Jo often brought prisoners in for medical treatment, and they had become friendly during a two-week period when Jo was guarding one of the prisoners. As time passed, their initial attraction turned into friendship, and Mallory and her new partner Amanda had both become Jo’s friends. Mallory Barnes was much more her type than Meg. Short and petite, easy-going, dazzling smile, great giggle. Yes, definitely her type. Jo quickly shook away her regret because she would never interfere in an established relationship. Someone paired was definitely off limits. Besides, Jo liked Mallory's partner, too. Once Mallory and Amanda had established their relationship, Jo had quickly contented herself with a friendship with the couple. Jo had two rules she never broke—never get involved with anyone already in a relationship, and never, ever date a straight woman.

  Come on. Stop digressing and get back to the issue at hand. How do I handle this? It’s not that Meg is unattractive. She's certainly comely enough, even if she's not my type. Jo continued to mentally list Meg's good points. She's intelligent, kind, interesting, and unattached. Unfortunately, there’s just something missing in my feelings for this woman sleeping next to me, and I don’t see the potential for my feelings to change. Their lovemaking had been sweet, although Meg was definitely more into it than she was
. Why on earth didn’t I stop Meg after the first kiss? I didn't want to hurt her feelings. Plain and simple, I’m an idiot. Now it'll be worse. She's going to wake up all huggy and kissy, and I’m going to want to do a disappearing act. Only I blew it this time. This is my house. She's here. That means I have to ask her to leave. No…too cold. I can spend the rest of the day with her and beg off early saying I’m too tired. She'll want to go back to bed with me and spend the night. Well, I can't treat her like she's some meaningless one-night stand. Surely I remember those days. Let me see, when was the last time? Oh yeah, three, no more like four years ago? Oh no, she's waking up.

  The tall woman stirred and turned toward Jo. “Hi,” Meg said with a sleepy grin. “Are you okay?”

  Jo smiled. “Yes, fine. You?”

  “I'm good.” Meg smiled weakly. Before Jo could extricate herself from the uncomfortable situation, Meg solved her dilemma. “Look, Jo, I think I'm more into you than you are into me.”

  Honesty is the best policy, but be kind. Jo nodded. “I'm sorry.”

  Meg shook her head. “No. I'm sorry if I made it hard for you to say no. It's okay, really. It's just that I've had the hots for you since we met, and I knew if I didn't make a move, you never would. I thought if we well, you know, did this, maybe you'd start to feel something for me.”

  “I do feel something for you, Meg. You are a lovely, kind, and loyal friend. I care for you very much, and I treasure your friendship. However, I think this may have been a mistake. I'm sorry.”

  Meg exhaled a long sigh. “Please don't think it was a mistake. I enjoyed myself, and I hope you did, too. I know you feel differently about it than I do. I'm glad we made love. Maybe it'll help me get you out of my system.”

  Concerned about the ramifications of what they’d done, Jo put her hand on Meg’s arm. “I hope this won’t ruin our friendship?”

  “Why should it?”

  “I don't know. Will you feel awkward?”

  Meg shook her head. “Look, we're both single adults. We like each other. I'd hoped for more. Unfortunately, it's not going to happen. I'm still not sorry we did it, and I hope you won't be either. Now, before you give me the 'it's not you, it's me' speech, let's get up and go get something to eat.”

  Wow! She's a mind reader. I'm famished. Phew! Maybe this'll be okay after all. “Sounds good to me. I’m hungry. Are you on call tonight?”

  Meg was a physician’s assistant by day. She volunteered much of her spare time on the EMS squad. She rode in the ambulance with another paramedic when she was on call three nights a week and every other weekend. She truly was a good soul to donate so much of her time.

  “No, I’m not on call. I left my glasses in the ambulance and I'd like to stop by and pick them up if I can. Want to go with me? We can stop by and get some pizza on the way home. I can drop you back here on my way to my house. I have an early shift tomorrow at the office.”

  “Yes, sounds good.”

  They rolled out of bed, turning their backs to each other as they quickly dressed.

  Meg checked with Jo. “You want to eat first, or find out where the ambulance is?”

  “Let's get your glasses first, before we eat. Even though I'm hungry, it's still a little early for dinner.”

  “I'll call and find out if they're at the EMS squad room or out on a call.” Meg flipped open her phone and punched in the number of the regular driver. “They're at the hospital. They just picked up a gunshot victim and are taking him to the ER. We can catch up with them there.”

  Jo tucked in her T-shirt as she walked to the breadbox where she kept her off duty pistol and holster. She picked up her weapon, reached behind her back, and clipped the holster and Glock into the waistband of her jeans. Then she put on a shirt, which she left unbuttoned. It was her standard attire when not in uniform.

  Meg and she made small talk on the way to the hospital. Maybe making love with Meg hadn't been such a terrible mistake after all. Meg actually did seem okay that sex would not be a regular component of their friendship. She’d also seemed to accept the fact that this experience definitely would not result in any kind of ongoing or committed relationship between them.

  The two women entered the emergency room and spotted the EMS team across the room. The team members who had just delivered the patient were talking to one of the doctors on duty, explaining the emergency treatment they had provided to the patient on route. Meg gestured with her head to Jo that she would be heading in that direction to talk with her friends as soon as they were free. Jo looked around and saw Mallory standing behind the main desk.

  “Hey, Mallory! Busy tonight?”

  “No, it's been strangely quiet. That's our first serious case, a shooting. Some kind of domestic dispute between two friends over some woman, I think. Apparently she slept with both of them, and one took particular offense.”

  “I hate those domestic dispute calls. You never know what you'll run into. One time…”

  Before Jo could finish her story, there was a crash at the door and in an instant, a flash of motion. A crazed man rushed in past the shocked EMTs. He grabbed the closest person, Meg, and held a gun to her head.

  “Where is he? I want to know where that bastard Smitty is.”

  Jo could hear Meg's reply. “I'm a visitor here, I swear I don't know.”

  While his attention was focused elsewhere, sticking to the perimeter of the room, Jo started to slowly make her way across the ER, moving nearer to the upset man. As she edged closer, his attention started to shift in her direction. He stopped to focus on Mallory when she dropped the chart she was holding in an effort to distract his attention from Jo.

  Worried for Mallory's safety, Jo quickly moved closer to the gunman. Jo's hand flashed behind her back and emerged from under the shirt with her pistol in hand. She shouted, “Police! I'm a police officer. Drop your weapon.”

  The scene unfolded in what seemed like frame-by-frame action. The gunman pushed Meg viciously aside. As she fell, she smacked her head on the edge of the stretcher. She dropped, unconscious before she hit the floor.

  As Meg lay unmoving, the gunman’s focus shifted to Mallory. The man raised his weapon to fire, apparently not sure who had called out, or where she was standing. Jo tried to distract the gunman and yelled at the top of her lungs. “Hey you! Over here! Drop your gun.” As if in slow motion, he fired once wildly before he zeroed in on Jo, turned toward her and pulled the trigger at the exact same time she did. They both fell to the floor. He was dead. She was seriously injured and bleeding heavily.

  The EMS team and the hospital staff sprang into action. The wild shot he’d squeezed off had hit Mallory. Fortunately it only skimmed her arm causing a slight flesh wound. The hospital staff and EMS team lifted both Meg and Jo onto stretchers and began a quick but thorough assessment of their condition.

  The action was over in an instant. Thank God Jo was here, Mallory thought as she watched them wheel everyone away. Meg, who was still unconscious, was admitted for observation. Jo was rushed into surgery to repair the serious wound to her thigh. Mallory’s arm treated and dressed.

  Mallory normally would not be working this shift if she weren’t trying to catch up. She’d soon be leaving her position as Director of Nursing. She and her partner, Amanda, and their two closest friends, Nic and Dana, would soon be starting their own business. Thanks to a large inheritance Amanda recently received when a former lover passed away unexpectedly, she was investing in a business for the four of them so they could be in charge of their own professional lives.

  Amanda. I'd better give her a call before she hears this on the radio and worries. Mallory reached for the phone.

  Eager awaiting Mallory’s return home, Amanda answered her phone on the first ring. “Hi, Honey, coming home soon?”

  “Hey, Babe. No, but I didn't want you to be concerned. There's been a shooting at the hospital. Don’t worry. I'm okay, I only got a flesh wound.”

  “Flesh wound! What do you mean? You've been shot?�
��

  “Yes, but I'm okay,” Mallory emphasized. “Honest. I'm not sure about Meg and Jo, though. They were both injured. Jo killed the gunman. She was very brave and really impressive. If not for her, I might have been more seriously injured and no doubt more lives would have been lost. If she hadn't called out to him to get his attention, I might not be making this call to you.”

  “My God! Are you coming home now? Should I come get you?”

  “No, the police are on their way here, and I'm sure I'll need to answer some questions. Also, I want to check on Meg and Jo's condition.”

  “Then I'll come there to you. I'm leaving right now.”

  “There's no need for you to come. Really, I'm okay.”

  When Amanda strongly protested, Mallory recognized a losing battle and quickly gave in. “All right. I'll be in the surgery waiting room, waiting to see how Jo’s surgery went.

  Chapter 2

  AMANDA RUSHED IN AND checked Mallory out thoroughly before wrapping her in her arms. She whispered into her lover's neck as she held her tightly, “Are you really okay?”

  “Yes,” Mallory assured her, “I'm really fine. I will say that, if Jo hadn't distracted him by yelling at him, I'm sure it could have definitely been much worse. It could have been me on that operating table. This was close, Honey, and I'm still shaking.”

  Amanda grabbed Mallory's hands. “I'll be forever grateful to Jo for saving your life. We owe her. How are Meg and Jo doing?”

  “Meg took a terrible hit to her head. She's still unconscious, last I heard.”

  “And Jo?” Amanda asked. “Have you heard anything about her condition?”

  “Yes, she's still in surgery. She was shot in the thigh.” Mallory arched her brow and shrugged. “If you have to be shot, the hospital is the best place for it to happen. If she'd been shot anywhere else, she might not have lived. I know she lost a lot of blood. Fortunately, because it happened here, she was in the operating room in a matter of minutes.”