HEROES – UNIFORM OR NOTHING AT ALL?
Cassandre
Dayne
Any of you that know me realize that I
love bad boys. I have this thing about men on Harleys and tattoos and that
slice of danger you feel when you see a hunk on the other side of the room in
ripped jeans and two day stubble. Remember when you were in high school and the
bad boys were the ones that skipped class and hung with the smokin’ crowd? Ah,
those were the days. Wouldn’t it have frightened your mother to death if you
came home with one of those on a date? WHEW – oh I can hear the cuss words now!
Did I have a bad boy when I was younger?
Yes, I have to admit that I did and he was an American Indian with long shaggy
ebony hair and ripped muscles and stood six foot four and yes, he had a Harley.
I laugh now because I had no idea that I was developing a “type” at sixteen.
Who knew? He was also almost ten years older than me and while he came from a
very good family, my mother initially freaked out. Oddly enough, she loved him
later because he was only a bad boy on the exterior. He was sweet and luscious
and well…I won’t tell you any additional naughty details. What did he happen to
do for a living? He was a fireman and saved many a life. I’m not sure it
mattered to me then but when I was thinking about the heroes that I create now
in several of my pieces, they’re our hired heroes that keep use safe.
There doesn’t seem to be a manner in which
we love our heroes – they just matter to us in how they live their lives and
try every day to save us. Okay then again they are sexy as hell. Is it
something about their uniform or perhaps our wicked thoughts of stripping off
their uniforms?
I think we realize that they’re on the
line almost every day saving our cities, our property and sometimes our lives
with pay that isn’t the best and they step into the line of firepower or fire
without question. Heroes have always played a role in society and in romance
stories from the world wars to cowboys and Indians. The love is nothing new but
we don’t mind reading about the sexy fireman that saves lives during the day
and then perhaps strips in a club after work for the ladies? Do we? Be honest
ladies, don’t you want to perhaps go to see the Chippendale’s men and take in a
show where they’re dressed as cops? Hmmm… any of you ever see The
Full Monte? I think that movie truly shows that every day man can be
sexy as hell and our hero and in turn, they’re the new bad boy we crave taking
just a little taste of.
I’ve penned a collection called Hot Summer
Nights – and they originally were meant to be fun and playful in the
presentation. You know what I mean – hot and sexy and nothing else. But after
the first one something happened. They all have heroes nestled within the
pages, bringing you a level of life and love that I didn’t even
anticipate. It’s funny about heroes. We
don’t care what color, flavor or sexual orientation when they are saving us.
So
my latest Hot Summer Nights is all about a hero and one that’s our every day in
a baseball player. When he’s down on his luck, we all want to rally around him.
We all love sports and I think this one will resonate with the readers.
HOT
SUMMER NIGHTS – COZUMEL
“That
was a damn awesome game, Troy.” Patting him on the back, the older man grinned
and glanced around the perimeter of the ball field. “I could tell you were
struggling with the last few pitches, but I tell you what, you’re a damn
trooper. I know the arm has to hurt like a son of a bitch.”
Troy
Underwood sniffed and glanced up and down the almost sad look on Coach Taylor’s
face. “It’s not so bad.” Like fucking hell it wasn’t. He was on fire every time
he even tried to move his right arm because of the way his shoulder felt,
screaming bloody murder with every throw of the ball. There was no doubt he was
facing at minimum debilitating surgery and if his doctor’s summation was right,
the end of his pitching career. Cringing, he looked away.
“Hey
man! God that was awesome. You kicked ass and then some.”
“Hell,
I was just trying to make sure we made a good name for ourselves.” Troy wasn’t
the oh-shucks kind of guy, but if he had been on his game, they’d have made the
playoffs instead of ending the season a pitiful fifth. He smiled at his
teammate but suspected every member of the team was thinking the same damn
thing. How could they not be? There was no one else to blame but himself. Damn
it! Being on the Cincinnati Reds was the dream of a lifetime come true and he’d
been on his way to taking his beloved ball team back to the glory they once
held and then…
“I
know that look, my friend. Why don’t you come out for a beer later?”
Shrugging,
he glanced at his best buddy and debated the thought. Sky Wilkens was a true
ladies man and the only guy on the team who could make him laugh no matter what
mood he was in. “Yeah, all right.”
“You
make it sound like I’m going to be pulling your teeth or worse,” Sky said as he
gave Troy a harsh glare. “You ain’t gettin’ out of this one. The guys are going
to Spanky’s around eight. We’re going to watch a few games on the television,
snag a girl for a treat and you know what, buddy? You’re getting laid tonight
for the first time. Be there or I hunt your lily white ass down with tracking
dogs. You got it?” His eyes sparkling, he leaned over and gave Troy a subtle
finger before taking two giant strides backwards.
“You
better run or I’ll chase you down the street. I might have a bad right wing,
but I can still chase you into a corner!” Troy snared playfully and thought
about his less than lackluster love life. He hadn’t been laid in well over a year
and somehow he didn’t think tonight was going to change anything. His mood and
particular needs didn’t warrant what Spanky’s had to offer. Still, he’d go and
pretend, just like a good boy and the hottest bachelor on the circuit. At least
according to Sports Illustrated. An
honor he didn’t deserve. Inhaling deeply, he plastered on a fake smile and
flicked his fingers under his chin for effect. “Bite me.”
“Promises.
Promises. Later, dude.” Sky gave him a salute before heading off toward the
team room.
Coach
Taylor waited until Sky was out of hearing distance before moving in front of
Troy. “What have you decided to do, son?”
“Meaning?”
“Don’t
play coy with me. I can tell exactly what you’re going through. I can see the
excruciating pain you’re in. You need to have the surgery and you know I’m
right. If you don’t, your career could be in the toilet soon. The reporters are
already sensing something is going on with you.”
That
Troy realized intimately. He’d been getting phone calls from one too many who
wanted what they called the “real” story. He wasn’t even certain what that was
any longer. All for a hot and very exclusive story on one down trodden hero.
Rubbing his shoulder, he truly wanted to get away for a little while, take some
time to figure out the best course of action. “The injury isn’t that bad.”
“Forgive
me for saying this, son but bullshit! You and I know it. I’ve been around a
hell of a long time and I can see blind stinking drunk career ending when it’s
happening. You need to get your head out of your ass and take care of yourself
or there won’t be any minor league you can go to, even if you can still play.”
“Said
like my coach.”
Coach
Taylor moved within an inch of his face. “Said like a man who gives a damn
about you. Remember, I knew your father and he would want you happy and
healthy. If you can’t play baseball again, fine, but you have the rest of your
life ahead of you so don’t blow any future you might have on a reckless
decision. I’ve talked to your doctors and…”
“What
the hell?” Interrupting, Troy wanted to be incensed but the truth was he knew
Mike Taylor was a kind and caring man who did indeed have his best interests at
heart. He’d been the father figure in his life since he was a teenager.
I hope you enjoyed and of course you can
find me at all the usual places. Let me know what you think.
Kisses xxx
Cassandre
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