427 First Ave. (A Cherry Falls Romance Book 17) Read online

  427 First Ave.

  A Cherry Falls Romance

  Hope Ford

  Contents

  1. Ozzie

  2. Ginger

  3. Ozzie

  4. Ginger

  5. Ginger

  6. Ozzie

  7. Ginger

  8. Ginger

  9. Ozzie

  Epilogue

  Cherry Falls Romance

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  About the Author

  427 First Ave. © 2021 by Hope Ford

  Editor: Kasi Alexander

  Cover Design: Cormar Covers

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  1

  Ozzie

  “Hey, Mom,” I call from the front of Pearl’s Pawn Shop and Liquor Store. My mom is Pearl. I’m thirty-two years old, and I’m not even embarrassed to admit that I’m a momma’s boy. No one would ever guess it by looking at me, but it’s the truth. We’ve been through a lot of shit together, so it is what it is.

  She’s handing over a brown paper bag to a customer as she looks my way. “Hey, Ozz!”

  Walking toward the counter, I see she’s helping old man Tate. He’s been coming in as long as I can remember, and I’m sure he’s drinking the same Jack Daniels that he always gets. “How you doing, Mr. Tate?”

  He holds up the bottle. “Good. Good, son. How you doing?”

  I laugh as he opens the bottle before he even gets out of the store. “I’m good. See ya later, Mr. Tate.”

  I’m smiling as I get to the counter, and it doesn’t go unnoticed by my mother. “Well, there’s that smile that I like to see. I don’t get to see it a lot, so let me get my camera.”

  “Har, har, Mom. You’re funny.”

  “Well, it’s the truth.” She’s shaking her head like I’m still a little boy instead of a grown man that towers over her. “So what’s the smile about?”

  I hold out the envelope to her. “This. Paid in full.”

  She doesn’t hold her hand out, which she never does. I always have to force her to take the money. Money that is rightfully hers.

  “Let’s not do this again. Just take the money. I don’t want to argue with you about it.”

  “Ozz, I don’t want your money. Can’t your old mom just do something nice for you?”

  But I’m already shaking my head. If it was anyone else, I’d be pissed off, but I know with my mom, I have to take it easy on her. She’s dealing with a lot of misplaced guilt. Guilt for something she didn’t do and wasn’t her fault.

  “Mom, you do stuff for me all the time, but this is different, and you know it. You loaned me the money so I could go into business with Duke. It’s been three years, and here...”—I force the envelope in her hand—“is the final payment.”

  She puts her hand down on the counter, and the anguish on her face is enough to gut me. She’s been through so much from me and my brother. I can’t make up for the past, but I can sure as hell make it a good future for her. “You don’t have to do this,” she huffs.

  “I want to. Now I’m going to start looking for houses. I can’t live over the shop for the rest of my life.”

  She raises the envelope. “See? You need the money. Take it.”

  Holding my hand up, I laugh and shake my head. “I’m not taking the money. Plus, I’ve got enough for a down payment. I’ve been doing really good at saving, and the shop is doing way better than I ever dreamed.”

  She tries to hand me the envelope. “That’s good, honey. This can be your housewarming gift.”

  Instead of taking it, I wrap my arms around her. “Thanks, Mom, but I want to do this on my own.”

  She’s shaking her head as she pulls away and starts straightening the already straight bottles on the shelf behind her. I know what she’s thinking, and she’s wrong.

  “Mom, we’ve gone over this. Me going to prison was not your fault.”

  She turns with the dusting towel in her hand and waves it around. “Well, it sure wasn’t your fault. I’m the one that kicked your no-good dad out the door when you and your brother were young. You didn’t have a father figure, and I’m the one that always told you that since you’re older, you should take care of your brother. I put that on you. And look what it got you. You’re a convicted felon.”

  All I can do is listen. This isn’t a new argument for us. We have it at least once a month. She acts as what happened was her fault, and that can’t be further from the truth. Whether she wanted me to or not, I would have done anything to protect my little brother. He was nineteen and got mixed with the wrong crowd. When I told the cops the drugs were mine, I had no idea I would face a felony charge and three years in prison. My brother was in a lot deeper than I thought. There are so many things I’d do differently now. But who would have thought that while I was in prison, my brother would get so hopped up on drugs he’d get arrested for armed robbery? He’s serving time over at the Syn City Penitentiary, and I haven’t gone to see him since I got out three years ago.

  I snap out of my daydream with my mom staring at me. “Go see him,” she says.

  “I know. I need to. I will, I just...”

  She interrupts, looking at me with way more understanding than anything. “I know. It’s hard to see him like that. But I’m glad he’s in there. The drugs were going to kill him, Ozzie. Right now, it’s the best place for him.”

  “I know, Mom. I just feel like I’ve let him down some way, that’s all.”

  She’s nodding her head, not even going to waste her time arguing with me. “He doesn’t think that. And you shouldn’t either. Your brother is his own man. I hate to say it, but he did this to himself.”

  I grab the broom and start sweeping behind the counter. I’ve helped out here for years, and it’s second nature to just pitch in when it’s needed. But today, it’s more to change the subject. I hate thinking about my little brother in jail. And yeah, he deserved it, and he may be better off there, but it’s still a hard pill to swallow.

  Mom must know I’m done talking about it because she changes the subject. “So what do you have going on tonight? You have a date?”

  I shake my head and laugh. She may have changed the subject, but she’s just jumping to the other topic that I don’t like to think about. I haven’t dated since I got out of prison. It’s a tough thing to deal with, knowing that you’re a convicted felon. How do you even bring that up in conversation when you meet someone? “No, Mom. I have to work tonight.”

  She throws her hands up. “Work? That’s all you do is work. You need some free time. You need to find a good girl and give me grandbabies.”

  “You’re too young to be a grandma,” I tease her.

  She puts her hand on her hip. “Too young! I’m fifty years old. I need them now when I can still keep up with them.”

  I finish sweeping the floor and walk back to her with broom and dustpan in hand. “I’ll work on it, okay? I’ll keep my eyes open for a good woman.” I tell her what she wants to hear, but even I can hear the lie in my voice. Since I got out of prison, I’ve been on the straight and narrow. I work, pay my bills, and save money. I just want a house and somewhere I can call home. A place that isn’t over top of the Cherry Bomb Tattoo Parlor. And yeah, there’s nights I want to have a woman by my side, but just the thought of having to explain that I’m a convicted felon... well, it’s just not going to happen.

  Mom walks toward me to hug me b
ye. My mom is quite frankly a bit of a badass. She has to be to own a liquor store and a pawn shop, but with me and my brother, she’s always been as sweet as pie. “You’re just saying that. I’m not stupid. You’re so stuck in your ways.” She starts to ramble, stops, and takes a deep breath. “I just want you happy. That’s all.”

  I give her my biggest smile and wrap an arm around her. “I am happy, Mom.”

  She nods and gets up on her tiptoes. “Fine. Have a good night at work.”

  I give her a tight squeeze, let her go, and give her one last wave as I get to the door. “I love you!” I holler to her.

  “Love you too.”

  I walk out whistling. Even with everything else going on, it feels good to be on track and have one last bill to pay off. I’m now free and clear with paying Mom back for the down payment of the shop. Next step, a place to live.

  I go and get into my car and rush back to the shop. I have a few appointments lined up tonight, and I like to have everything cleaned and ready to go before my first appointment gets there. The Cherry Bomb Tattoo Parlor has been a dream come true for me, and I’m determined to put my all into making and keeping it a success.

  2

  Ginger

  “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” my sister, Honey, says for the tenth time. I’ve talked her into coming out with me tonight. I was so upset she got a tattoo without me and so I guilted her into coming into town with me. Plus the fact that I haven’t seen much of her lately. I see her at the farmstand that we own together, but we’re usually busy. And now instead of hanging out together in the evenings and the weekends, she’s usually with her boyfriend, David.

  “You owe me,” I tell her. “Do you know how long it’s been since we’ve hung out?”

  I can see the frown on her face and as soon as I said it, I knew I shouldn’t have. Don’t get me wrong. I love seeing my sister happy, but I do miss seeing her. She and David are all about each other, and I wouldn’t be surprised at all if I have to buy a bridesmaid dress sooner rather than later.

  “I’m sorry, Ginger. You’re right. I know I’ve been busy.” And she gets that sweet look on her face that she gets when she’s thinking of David.

  I barely resist rolling my eyes at her. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so happy for Honey. If anyone deserves happiness, it’s her. She is absolutely the sweetest person I know, and I love seeing her and David together. And I do miss seeing her, but if I’m being completely honest, I’m a little jealous too. I want what she and David have.

  I start to backtrack a little, realizing that I’m putting the guilt trip on a little deep. “Well, I’m not wanting you to feel guilty. I just didn’t want to do this by myself, that’s all.”

  We’re standing outside the Cherry Bomb Tattoo Parlor, and Honey asks me, “And you made your appointment with Ozzie, right? David’s good friends with him, and he trusts him.”

  “Yes, sis. I have an appointment with Ozzie,” I tell her for what seems like the hundredth time. I don’t see what the big deal is, though. I’m sure anyone in there with a license is capable of doing the little tattoo that I have picked out.

  But if it means my sister coming with me, I can do what she asks and have her and David’s friend do it.

  Honey opens the door and waves me in as she follows in behind me. We look around, and Honey opens some books, flipping through all the artwork. I walk over to the corner, looking at all the different designs on the wall when a man comes into the lobby from the back.

  His gaze instantly lands on my sister, and he smiles. “Hey, Honey.”

  Honey looks up at him. “Hey, Ozzie. This is my sister, Ginger.”

  Honey points over to me, and I don’t have any time to shut my mouth, which has dropped open. Ozzie is all man. His arms are covered in tattoos. He has hair that is a little longer and hangs over his brow. His dark eyes seem almost black as he looks back at me. Stunned, I can barely get a word out, so it’s more of a grunt.

  Honey’s head flips toward me, and I know she’s surprised. I’m usually the one that is flirty and comfortable in any situation. I’ve never been stunned silent. Not until now.

  Ozzie is staring back at me, but it’s hard to tell what he’s thinking. There’s no smile, no frown, nothing. He’s just looking at me, and for a second, I think he’s looking at me in interest. But maybe that’s just me hoping. His eyes travel down my body, and I swear his gaze burns into me as it goes back up to my face. My whole body feels like it’s twenty degrees hotter. If him looking at me does this, I can just imagine what it would be like if he touched me. I rub my thighs together at the thought of it.

  Finally, I snap out of it. “I’m still deciding what I want.”

  “But—” Honey interrupts.

  I give her a look, hoping she can tell that I want her to be quiet, and thankfully she shrugs her shoulders and closes her mouth. Her eyes are as big as saucers, so I know she’s trying to figure out what the heck is going on with me. This is definitely not like me. Not at all. I’m the flirt. I’m the one that is nice and over friendly with everyone, so for me to be stunned quiet, I know she doesn’t know what to think.

  Ozzie nods his head, his eyes looking at me curiously. “Okay, if you want to look at the books and try to get an idea, I just finished my last tattoo so I’m going to clean up the room before I take you back.”

  I nod my head, not trusting my voice.

  When he walks back out the door he just came in, I run over to Honey. “You have to go.”

  “What?” she asks loudly, confusion etched on her face.

  I put my hands on her shoulders and turn her toward the door. This is completely out of character for me. I don’t even know what I’m doing at this point, but I know I want to be alone with Ozzie. “I want to do this by myself. I got it.”

  She’s walking toward the door, but she’s shaking her head at the same time. “Ginger, I don’t know about this.”

  “What? You said he’s friends with David, and he trusts him. It will be fine.”

  She stops and turns to face me. “What is going on, sis? I’m not leaving until you tell me what’s up.”

  I roll my eyes. Honey always was the one that was more levelheaded. She’s kept me out of more trouble than I want to admit. “Nothing.” And then I shake my head, not wanting to lie to my sister. “I want to be alone with Ozzie.”

  “You just met him,” she says, her eyes wide.

  “Yeah, well, I know what I want. So will you please go?”

  She grabs my arm. “Ginger, what are you doing? This isn’t like you.”

  “It’s not like I’m going to ask him to have sex with me on the table or anything.” I roll my eyes, acting as if I’m offended ,but in reality, if given the opportunity, I can’t deny that the thought of doing just that isn’t tempting.

  Honey, always one to look at all angles of a situation, persists. “You rode here with me. How will you get home?”

  “I will call you if I need a ride.”

  Finally, Honey turns. “I don’t like this, but I’ll go.”

  I squeal a little. “I love you, sis. I’ll call you later.”

  Honey walks out the door, and I turn back toward the counter. I fluff my hair and straighten my shirt that’s hanging off my shoulder and then take a few deep breaths.

  “Hey, I’m done,” Ozzie says as he walks into the lobby.

  He’s looking around the room, and I feel I have to explain. “Honey had to go.”

  He doesn’t question why, only asks me, “Do you want to reschedule?”

  “No, I’m good. I mean I’m ready,” I stutter, shaking my head.

  He smiles then. His sleeves are rolled up to his elbows, showing off all the tattoos on his arms. He crosses them on his chest, and even though he’s smiling at me, his face is still guarded. “Great. So did you figure out what you want?”

  “You,” I say loud and clear. Even from where I’m standing I can see his eyes darken. My panties are soaked, knowing exactly what I w
ant from Ozzie. And it’s when the silence continues that I realize how hard I’m staring at him almost as if I’m daring him to come and take me right now that it hits me. Oh heck, did I just say that out loud?

  He walks toward me, slow and steady, his eyes never leaving mine. His nostrils are flared, there is heat in his eyes, and I swallow hard. Yep, I definitely said it out loud.

  3

  Ozzie

  I’ve never been more turned on in my life. When I first saw the curvy woman with Honey, my cock came to life in my jeans. I stare back at her, and it’s obvious she’s attracted to me, but I keep my face expressionless. She’s beautiful, and as I move closer to her, she doesn’t back down or act embarrassed. She juts her chin out me as if daring me to claim her. Her dark brown eyes are intense staring back at me, and when I get so close I inhale and almost taste her sweet cherry scent, I hold back a groan that is dying to come out.

  “What did you say?” I ask her, wanting her to repeat herself and hear it again that it’s me that she wants. I know this is a fantasy and it’s one I can’t get carried away with, but I can’t stop myself from wanting it to last a little longer.

  She pulls her shoulders back and stands up straighter. Her large breasts are pressed tightly against her shirt, and the little bumps of her hard, pebbled nipples are almost begging to be claimed. I fist my hands at my sides, waiting to see what her next move is.

  “You heard me.” She smiles. “I want you.”

  I revel in it. Her husky voice sounding off the art-covered walls causes me to tremble in ways I haven’t in a long time. But instead of taking her word for it, I still have to point out the obvious. “You don’t even know me.”