THE FIRES OF BABYLON

THE FIRES OF BABYLON                     MIKE GUARDIA

As a new generation of main battle tanks came on line during the 1980s, neither the US nor USSR had the chance to pit them in combat. But once the Cold War between the superpowers waned, Iraq’s Saddam Hussein provided that chance with his invasion of Kuwait. Finally the new US M1A1 tank would see how it fared against the vaunted Soviet-built T-72.

On the morning of August 2, 1990, Iraqi armored divisions invaded the tiny emirate of Kuwait. The Iraqi Army, after its long war with Iran, had more combat experience than the U.S. Army. Who knew if America’s untested forces could be shipped across the world and thence contest the battle-hardened Iraqis on their home ground? The Kuwaitis had collapsed easily enough, but the invasion drew fierce condemnation from the UN, which demanded Saddam’s withdrawal. Undeterred by the rhetoric, the Iraqi dictator massed his forces along the Saudi Arabian border and dared the world to stop him. In response, the U.S. led the world community in a coalition of 34 nations in what became known as Operation Desert Storm – a violent air and ground campaign to eject the Iraqis from Kuwait. Leading this charge into Iraq were the men of Eagle Troop in the US Army’s 2d Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Commanded by then-Captain HR McMaster, Eagle Troop was the lead element of the US VII Corps’ advance into Iraq. On February 26, 1991, Eagle Troop encountered the Tawakalna Brigade of Iraq’s elite Republican Guard. By any calculation, the 12 American tanks didn’t stand a chance. Yet within a mere 23 minutes, the M1A1 tanks of Eagle Troop destroyed more than 50 enemy vehicles and plowed a hole through the Iraqi front. History would call it the Battle of 73 Easting.

Based on hours of interviews and archival research by renowned author Mike Guardia, this minute-by-minute account of the U.S. breakthrough reveals an intimate, no-holds-barred account of modern warfare.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

This is a story about the first Iraqi war and how 12 American tanks Eagle Troop lead by Captain HR McMaster, took out or I should say destroyed 50 Russian made tanks in 23 minutes. The book begins though with the begging’s of the cold war and the lack of equipment after the Vietnam war. Then goes into how advancement came into tank warfare and what it was like on the line in Germany during the cold war. He also explains the training that goes into being assigned to an Armored Division and how even in that unit you’re shooting had to excellent and it was most if not all gunners had scores or high 90% or 100% on range firing from a tank that is amazing and that includes moving targets. I have seen some of these exercises for I grew up I Barstow and would go to FT. Irwin training center when I was younger this of course was with the older tanks but still was impressive then and would be more now. Each chapter goes into a story about one of the men in the unit how and why they joined and how they got selected to be part of that unit. When you get to the end of the book the author goes into what happened to each man that had fought. A very good book. I got this book from netgalley.  I give this 5 stars.

FIRST TO FLY

FIRST TO FLY                                          CHARLES BRACELEN FLOOD

If the Wright brothers’ 1903 flights in Kitty Hawk marked the birth of aviation, World War I can be called its violent adolescence—a brief but bloody era that completely changed the way planes were designed, fabricated, and flown. The war forged an industry that would redefine transportation and warfare for future generations. In First to Fly, lauded historian Charles Bracelen Flood tells the story of the men who were at the forefront of that revolution: the daredevil Americans of the Lafayette Escadrille, who flew in French planes, wore French uniforms, and showed the world an American brand of heroism before the United States entered the Great War.

As citizens of a neutral nation from 1914 to early 1917, Americans were prohibited from serving in a foreign army, but many brave young souls soon made their way into European battle zones: as ambulance drivers, nurses, and more dangerously, as soldiers in the French Foreign Legion. It was partly from the ranks of the latter group, and with the sponsorship of an expat American surgeon and a Vanderbilt, that the Lafayette Escadrille was formed in 1916 as the first and only all-American squadron in the French Air Service. Flying rudimentary planes, against one-in-three odds of being killed, these fearless young men gathered reconnaissance and shot down enemy aircraft, participated in the Battle of Verdun and faced off with the Red Baron, dueling across the war-torn skies like modern knights on horseback.

Drawing on rarely seen primary sources, Flood chronicles the startling success of that intrepid band, and gives a compelling look at the rise of aviation and a new era of warfare. 

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

This is a book about the men or at some of the men that flew with the Lafayette Escadrille. Some of the stories are men who went and joined the French foreign legion others moved to France, and still some were rich and payed the way to fly and to fight years before the U.S. entered the First World War. Some men already knew how to fly but all did not know how to fight in the air. Plus the German planes were much more advanced than either the French or the British at the beginning. Even their guns on their planes were better. The stories of how these men ended up over in Europe and the ones that made it through the entire war were amazing. Some stories were funny and of course there were sad stories as well. Pilots that would make it through the battle in the air but not make the landing. Overall this was a good book with a lot of research. I got this book from netgalley.   I give this 4 stars.

IRRESISTIBLE FORCE #1

IRRESISTIBLE FORCE                              D.D. AYRES

When adrenaline runs high, so does the force of desire…

For Shay Appleton, it’s love at first sight when a gorgeous stray dog is brought into the animal shelter where she works. She just knows he’ll make a terrific watch dog—and with an abusive ex who won’t let go, she needs all the protection she can get. But Shay never suspected that her new pet is actually a trained police K-9 named Bogart—until Bogart’s even more gorgeous, human partner shows up on her doorstep.

Officer James Cannon is one tall, strong alpha male who’s convinced that Shay stole his dog. But once he gets closer to the suspect, he realizes that this stubborn, independent woman not only needs a guard dog, she needs James as well. It seems that someone from her past is stalking her, and threatening her life. When danger meets desire, will James risk his career and his best friend…to protect the woman who’s stolen his heart?

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

James Cannon is a K-9 officer and is looking for his partner who is lost. On a tip he is following up on he is outside of a cabin when he spots a women being confronted by a man and then a dog comes out and protects her and he realizes that is his lost dog. After the man leaves he goes and confronts the woman Shay Appleton and accuses her of stealing a police dog and she calls the police which sets into motion how the dog became into her possession. He realizes that she saved his partner and that his dog has grown attracted to her. They have a rough night and she asks him to leave which he does but he knows that there is more to her story and the man in truck from earlier. When he gets back to his station he has to go through training again and he asks one of his friends to run a background check on Shay. He also finds out that his ex was the one who took his dog to a shelter to have him put down and was going to after her. When he finds somethings about Shay he wants to get to know her better but she has trust issues with men from the past and from a current situation. She finds out though that James is not like other people she has told her story to and that starts to give her confidence to face the situation she is in head on. With his support they tackle things together which she never had before and her boss also gives his support. This is more than a love story it is about a women Shay who never had anyone in her corner to fight for her including her mother and she finally finds someone who hears her voice. A very good book. I got this book from net galley.  I give this 5 stars.

TALKIN' SPORTS WITH PAT AT: 7:30 - 8 PM PST TONIGHT LIVE CHAT

Talkin’ Sports

With Pat

Frank

Gifford

NY Giants

I know everyone heard about Frank Gifford who passed away Sunday.  He really was the first big star for the NY Giants and was part of their championship team in 1956.  Of course he also played in what is called the greatest game when the Giants lost to the Colts and really made football a household sport.  In 1956 he was the MVP.  He also at one time was selected as all-Pro as defensive back, running back and wide receiver.  He threw 14 TD’s which still stands as a record for most TD’s thrown by a non-quarterback in the NFL history.  There is more of course Broadcasting-Monday Night Football etc… All of this is great for a guy from our present hometown that we adopted over 30 years ago, Bakersfield, California and the son of an oil field worker.  He was a star player for our hometowns Bakersfield Drillers and for USC.    

Bakersfield, Ca.  Driller

USC

THE HELL BENT KID

THE HELL BENT KID                           CHARLES O. LOCKE

Hailed by the Western Writers of America as one of the top twenty-five Westerns ever written: The harrowing story of an innocent young man pursued across west Texas by a relentless posse 

A crack shot more skilled with a rifle than are men twice his age, eighteen-year-old Tot Lohman has no intention of using his genius for evil. But when a fight erupts at a schoolhouse dance, Lohman is forced to defend himself, and a young rancher named Shorty Boyd winds up dead. The Boyds are numerous, powerful, and vicious, and they want revenge. With no one else to turn to, Lohman sets out across canyon country to reunite with his ailing father in New Mexico Territory. The journey will be long, hot, and perilous, and to survive it, this mild-mannered boy must become the cold-blooded killer he never wanted to be. 

Based on real events, The Hell Bent Kid is a tale of pursuit as stark and mesmerizing as the Southwestern landscape in which it is set. Unrelenting from first page to last, it ranks alongside The Ox-Bow Incident, True Grit, and The Searchers as one of the most unique and artful stories of the West ever told. In 1958 it was adapted into the film From Hell to Texas, directed by the famed Henry Hathaway and starring Don Murray, Diane Varsi, Chill Wills, and Dennis Hopper.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:

This book is a reissue and I must say I had never read this author before, but I really liked this book. If you like westerns I think you would like it as well. The main part of the story without giving away to many details. Is a young man being chased across Texas, and into the dessert by gun hands working for a ranch owner who believes that he killed one of his sons. The Rancher though goes after his family besides the young man. He knows so many people that there are only a few that want to help the boy and they do so without any trouble from the rancher. This all sets up for a show down and when you come to the end you wonder who if anyone really is a winner. A well written story and done so in a way that the story just continues from page to page and the characters are well thought out as well. A really good book. i got this book from net galley.  I give this 5 stars.

TEAM LUCAS (THE SAINTS TEAM #1)

TEAM LUCAS (THE SAINTS TEAM #1)

"Lucas Ainswright won’t even remember my name in a month’s time—but one occasional smile or a look from those searching eyes made me want to dissect him and put him together again."

Mia Carter never thought getting suspended from her part-time job for having attitude could be the best thing to ever happen ... maybe. 

When Lucas Ainswright—one of the world’s biggest sporting stars—needs a minder, it just so happens that attitude is what is needed to keep Lucas in line.

Now Mia’s job is to manage the sporting world’s bad boy and keep him at the top of his game for the season. Game on!
MY REVIEW:

     When a tragedy at a young age mars your youth it alters it for life unless you have good people around you to change it.  When that tragedy is a loss of a sibling that’s even worse, when it’s your identical twin you are left with a big hole too big to fill, and a life that feel forever broken.  Now add to that a mother who basically shuts down so at age 12 when it all goes to dung, she cannot handle you.   So your father steps in and ships you off to boarding school.

     Year after year Lucas (Luke) Ainswright, 26, would cry and plead with his parents to be allowed to come home to be with them when he was right there in there in the UK.   On holidays and vacations the same answers, NO!  So when high school came he was excited because he was going to the states with his father.  That didn’t work out either for his father arranged for a boarding school for him in the states too.  He at least thought his father would spend time with him.  But no he had found another out that his father had that he could use his business kept him busy and couldn’t see him.  All the time in high school he never once went to see him.

     In no time at all though Luke excelled in soccer which made him grow up some he changed and made due where he was.  The saddest part was that Luke had to be farmed out every holiday because he had no family to go home to.

     Cam and Jase he knew since he was 12.  Cam, Jase, Sarah, and Luke all went to college after their senior year at high school together.  Cam: Doctor, Jase: Lawyer, Sarah: Psychology, and Luke: Sports scholarship.  During all that time Sarah and Jase are engaged.  Last year Cam and Jessica got married (Jessica a teacher) and it was on that day the might Lucas took his fatal step.  Luke hooked up with two of Jesse’s party hard cousins who turned him on to drugs.  It got so bad he almost lost everything that’s important to him.

His sport but most of all the only family he ever has had Cam, and Jase with Sarah and Jessica too.

     It hit the worst of the worst nights and now he has to have what is called a “Minder.”  Which is a person who checks your saliva, urine, or blood at random for drugs.  His father assigned her to him which is what pisses him off the most.  If it had been anyone else it would have been embarrassing but he would have done it because he did the crime but that it is his father…

     So far there have been 5 other minders making Mia Catherine Carter, 21, number 6 on Luke’s hit list.  Only one more semester then she will be a sports physiotherapist.  The minute he meets her he insults, badgers, and is just plain rude to Mia. 

     Never fear Mia gives it right back though.  Never really giving him the upper hand in their banter until he can find a weak point and then he goes for the jugular.  He will pour in the salt by the buckets.  His best friends give Mia the inside scoop to keep her as Luke’s minder for they notice the very small changes, for the good, in him with her around.  Not to mention the way he watches her when he thinks that no one can see him doing it.  Long before they can even speak to each other like civil human beings people start asking if they are a couple.  Which makes him totally edgy.  But tickles her.

     Mia jokes it off saying things like, “Miranda, Chloe, or Cassie may not like to hear that.” Or say, “I am no supermodel so could never be in the running.”  One night at a get to know you dinner for the house guest that live in his mansion.  Luke went after Mia viciously and continuously until Jase got tired of correcting and defending Luke to protect Mia.  Luke’s childish behavior had Jase telling Luke to come with him into the spare bedroom and told him he could not come back to the dinner unless he apologized to Mia for his bad behavior.  He and Jase had it out verbally in that room on the third floor.  Then Jase locked Luke in the room where he just started tearing up the room and then it got quiet.  Mia wanted to go downstairs to level one to her wing but they asked her to stay that he needed to learn better behavior.  Superstar or not he could not act out any longer.

     Jase went back to look Luke was sound asleep just like a small child.  They all chose to leave him.  During that time waiting for Luke, Sarah did tell Mia that Luke had all the characteristics of PTSD for abandonment.  Not to mention that if he was feeling like he was starting to trust Mia, it would make him fearful and therefore, be forced to push her away, or act out.

     This book engulfed me so much I stayed up reading it until 5:45 a.m. and still had half a chapter to read but couldn’t keep my eyes open.  I give this 5 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com

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STEPBROTHER, MINE #1

STEPBROTHER, MINE #1                          OPAL CAREW

Dana's always had a clear vision of what she wanted out of life. But when her father dies during her final year of college, Dana's whole world threatens to topple down. In desperate need of money, she comes up with an idea. It's scandalous. It's HOT. And it's got everybody talking. . .Is Dana really going to auction off her own virginity? And at what cost?


MY REVIEW:

     The title alone makes the idea of the story more salacious than it actually is at least in this portion of the book as a whole since it is three parts.  Not saying it doesn’t have the potential considering under the circumstances the two main characters meet.  Their parents are both winners as parents, NOT!

     It opens with Dana finding out that her mother will no longer be funding her college education.  She feels she doesn’t need a master’s degree.  Being she can no longer cry on her father’s shoulder since he has passed away she uses her roommate, Elli’s.  Elli comes up with a quick fix of using her “V-card.”

     You see there is this agency that has a website where women can sell their virginity (V-card) for $50,000.00.  It’s all done with lawyers and the whole thing.  Well, she goes along with it and knows she can back out at any time.  When she gets an emails within days she can’t believe it and panics.  Elli says where else is she going to get that kind of money?  Elli said not to mention that when she had given her V-card up it was to some guy who didn’t even matter and was a jerk.

     Dana had hoped her first time would have been special and with someone she loved.  Yet, she knew that was taboo a long time ago not to mention he had abandoned her a long time ago without even a goodbye.  Mason had been her much older (his 26 to her 16) stepbrother for all of two years.  Before her mother moved on again and again… He had been so kind, loving, funny, and caring to her.  That she had mistaken it for more.  She had idolized him.  He was handsome sensitive by paying attention to her and he actually cared about her.

     So, imagine her surprise when the limo driver escorts her to an elevator gives her a private passkey to the penthouse, and she walks in to an empty place.  Only to be surprised moments later by a voice of a ghost of the past.  When she turns there stands Mason.  Then it becomes all too clear that he was the one that bought her virginity.  She thinks it won’t be that bad…

     Only to find out he’s not going to act on it he plans on just out and out give her the money.  Talk about a slap in the face.  She says NO! 

     Watch as these two maneuver a new relationship as adults.  One is holding back a secret that can blow it out of the water.  But what disappoints me is it leaves you not in a clean end but it feels undone.  Because I know there are parts 2 & 3 I give this 4 stars because I know about the other books.  3 ½ because I hate midstream cliffhangers.  Provided by Netgalley.com.  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com 

MY STEPBROTHER THE GROOM

MY STEPBROTHER THE GROOM             LEXI MAXXWELL


He'd be perfect if he wasn't getting married … and if he wasn't about to become her stepbrother. Romantic humor has never been so deliciously tempting. It's been a rough day for Ella Roberts. 

First, her social-climbing mother Valerie dragged her to yet another wedding -- something that always reminds Ella that real life offers few happily-ever-afters. 

Second, Valerie's goal isn't to have fun at the event, but to schmooze clients for the family wedding business that Ella’s hated forever. 

And third (after too much wine, and being mocked by her black sheep sister for "letting Mom bind you with her bitch chains"), Ella gets a text from her latest disposable boyfriend, Chase: NOT WORKING OUT. SORRY. I HAVE YOUR GYM SHOES. 

But things are finally looking up. The handsome, charming, successful man Ella meets at the bar fills her with flutters and makes everything better. Gazing into Nathan Hayes's kind blue eyes, Ella can almost believe that love at first sight is true after all. 

It's too bad that in just two months, Ella's mother will be marrying Nathan's father … in a double wedding with Nathan and his fiancee Natasha. 

She should run from her feelings for Nathan. She should back away and find a new mediocre man to amuse her. But Ella’s been unlucky in love too many times to ignore what she feels … and so for Ella, "taboo" turns to "game on" instead. 
MY REVIEW:

     Although there are funny dialog throughout the different chapters to this point I am at 55% and I have to say it is becoming extremely painful to read. All this girl Ella Roberts, 27, is having is more discussions in her head than with anyone else.  Most of which are very repetitious and plain crazy.

     The sister Carly is a hoot!  She keeps it real even if she is a professed slut.  They come by their crazy honestly by having a mother like Valerie.  She is totally hands on and controlling with Ella and the polar opposite with Carly, mainly because Carly just won’t listen or take it.

     Ella was at a wedding that Panache, which being the business of styling the wedding, Valerie owned and Ella worked as a personal stylist, she was already put out for having to be there.  As if that wasn’t enough she gets a break-up text from the guy that she had been defending most of the time she had already been there at the wedding with already.  What makes it worst is he is just and on again off again relationship that she had been thinking of dumping already.  So, when he did it first she was pissed sending him a text to which he was indifferent to.  Which pissed her off even more so then she called him back making a scene.

     After ending the call she decided to get a real drink not from a peeing ice sculpture fountain.  But the bar was not fully set up and a baby looking bartender was working it.  He says he can’t until after the ceremony but then she starts getting loud and looks over to this guy who is sitting over in this alcove who gives the okay.  She walks over and sits at his tucked away table and tells him thanks.  Now she feels drunk off the peeing ice sculpture even though she knows she can’t because it was only a small amount. She thinks it was from her anger.  But then the bartender brings over their drinks and she starts downing it big time.  They start talking about this and that and her business that she has started on the side.  Then he has to go he’s in the wedding as a groomsman.  She calls her sister Carly really quick and tells her that she just met the man she is going to marry.  She ask who she says Nathan Hayes.  But before Carly can tell her why sounds so familiar to her ear Ella hangs up.  Carly gets a call from her mom saying the weddings starting she gets there before it starts.  No sooner does she sit when her mom tells her…

     The man standing next to Nathan has asked her to marry him and she has accepted.  Also that the handsome young man next to him is going to be her new brother and Valerie’s new son, meaning Nathan.  All she could think is OMG!!!  I had just called Carly and told her I met a guy who she was going to marry.  Yet now all she felt was dread. 

     At 57% finally this book starts to take off.  The two sisters are too funny in their bantering and their shenanigans.  Which makes the whole book.  Nathan’s dad, Russell is a real special guy.  I really feel in his own way he puts his son on his true path to find his heart.  Up until that point everything had come too easy for him and well that was not the case with Ella.  Her dream world had to leave the drawing board.

    I give this 4 stars.  Provided by netgalley.com.

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Tomorrow Written Interview 7pm PST Mia Hopkins Author of: Cowboy Valentine See Excerpt

Tomorrow

Written Interview

7pm PST

Mia Hopkins

Author of:

Forget chocolate and flowers. This homegrown honey is all the sweetness he craves.

Small-town life is nothing but a waiting room for eighteen-year-old honor student Corazón Gomez. Work and school leave little time for love, but with a full-ride Ivy League scholarship and a one-way ticket out of the boondocks, who needs it?

The answer appears on Valentine’s Day when her old cowboy crush ambles into the ice cream parlor where she works, inviting her to go on a late-night ride in his truck. For the first time she wavers between staying on the straight and narrow, and going off-road with the handsome heartbreaker.

After four years working on ranches all over the country, Caleb MacKinnon is back on the family farm helping out his mom and brothers while his father fights cancer. The one bright spot: smart, funny, and wickedly sexy Cora.

From the start, they both know this blazing-hot love affair can’t last. But when autumn comes and Cora has to leave for the East Coast, Caleb must find a solution to keep himself—and his heart—from falling apart. 

*****************************************************************

Product Warnings

Contains hard, cherry-poppin’ sex in a pickup truck and a cowboy charmer who talks dirty in two languages.

This story is about a very smart American-Mexican, (18), young lady by the name of Corazon (Cora) Gomez.  She was smart enough to know that she wanted out of the boondock down so she studied and applied herself.  Enough to get her a full ride to Brown and Ivy League school.  Yet, she never learned how to kiss or date.

     What she kept in focus was that her mother had her at 16, left her with her grandmother, and bailed out of town as fast as she could.  So she studied hard and worked hard to save.  She needed to get out and stay out of town.  Only to visit her grandmother on occasion. 

     On Valentine’s Day of all days a man she crushed on for years and moved 4 years ago.  Looks like he has now come home again.  Who you ask… Caleb MacKennon was in fact the man she dreamed about for years.  So when he asked if she wanted to go for a ride she said yes right after she closed the ice cream shop she was working at.  Before he left town he stopped at the liquor store to get alcohol and who knows what else.

     She told him once they got to the overlook of their town that she had never been on a date, had a kiss, or had sex.  Then she asked him to show her before she leaves off to college in 6 weeks.  He asks her during each step being loving caring. 

    Once he breaks through her virginity he is rough and hard.  It becomes all about him not one thing about her joy and comfort.  He becomes almost possessed.  When he goes to drop her off he ask when she leaves, she says Aug. He says wow Feb. to Aug.  She says we shouldn’t get involved I don’t need a boyfriend since I’m leaving.  He says well either do I.

     He asks her what time she gets off work.  She says we shouldn’t see each other again.  He repeats more forcefully, “What time?”  So she tells him.  When she sees on his arm, “Heartbreaker” at that moment in the daylight she saw the danger in his eyes.  She didn’t need to fall in love that’s for sure.  Really though he got that tattoo that matches his dad Dale’s.  He got it one night when he was drunk after he found out his dad’s cancer was back.  As much as he loved his family he was now drunk on Cora.

     That first night didn’t shake her.  If anything she became more outspoken and into her own.  Almost empowered.  Caleb may have been her teacher but Cora had control of his heart. And he was a goner but oh so willing.

     See how these two make this non-relationship work.  How they both have to learn how to give and take in and out of the truck???  Hahaha!  Cora’s time in Oleander is limited so Caleb feels as if the clock ticking.  This is an erotica with a love story.

The cigarette calmed her down some, so she turned back to the shop to finish closing. When she reached for the handle of the door, a pair of headlights lit up the storefront and a big engine shuddered into Park behind her.

She stubbed out her cigarette on the rim of a trash can and turned around. The driver’s side door squeaked open and shut.

“We’re closed,” she said to the figure who walked up to her, a tall man in jeans, a plaid shirt and a cowboy hat.

He looked up in the faint light coming from the store window. “That so?” he drawled. His voice was deep.

“Afraid so.” Cora squinted at him. “Do I know you?”

The man stepped farther into the light. “Maybe.”

He was about six feet or so, with high cheekbones and a clean-shaven chin. His skin was tanned and freckled, as though he spent long hours in the sun. He tipped his hat back, and at once Cora saw his eyes—green but with pupils rimmed in gold. He was handsome as hell.

“You’re a MacKinnon kid,” she said, although she knew full well which one he was, and that he was no kid.

“Caleb.”

“I remember you from school. You graduated like three, four years ago.”

He looked down at her. His scrutiny scorched her cheeks. “I want to say I remember

who you are, but I can’t,” he said at last. “What’s your name?”

“Cora. Corazón Gomez.”

Caleb put a boot on the parking block and hooked his thumbs onto his belt. “Wait. I think I remember you too. You were that really smart one. The freshman in my chemistry class who knew all the answers. I think I had you in Spanish too. The teacher always made a big deal about your name meaning… What was it?”

“Heart. Corazón means heart.”

His eyes locked on hers and he nodded slowly, in no hurry to respond. To keep from fidgeting, she put her hands in the pockets of her uniform, wondering if he was going to say anything more. In the quiet, the wind rustled through the ocean of sagebrush that grew across the road.

“Well, I have to finish closing up.” She tried to sound casual. “Nice seeing you again, I guess.”

He still hadn’t stopped staring at her, but when she broke eye contact with him and turned toward the door, he cleared his throat. “Um, any chance I could get a sundae? I’ve had a hell of a night. I’d appreciate it.”

“I don’t think I’m supposed to let you in after closing time.”

“I won’t tell anyone. I promise.”

Cora’s hand rested on the door handle for a moment. When she looked at him again, he smiled, and a deep dimple formed in his left cheek, temporarily distracting her enough to make her say, “Okay. But you have to make it fast.”