Read Online Connected Hearts - Four Lesbian Romance Stories by Jae, Joan Arling, Rj Nolan - Free Book Online Page A

make out the inscription in the dim light. When she did, her smile rivaled Kim’s. Amazing. Fated indeed. Jess locked gazes with Kim and repeated the inscription. “Forever.”
    “Forever.” Kim slipped the ring on Jess’s finger, sealing the vow.
    As Jess gazed down at her ring, the incredulousness of the whole thing struck her funny bone. She burst out laughing.
    “What’s so funny?”
    The tone of Kim’s voice drove the laughter from Jess. She flinched at the look on Kim’s face. Fix this fast, or you’re going to spend the most important night of your life on the couch—alone. Jess took both of Kim’s hands in hers, pleased when she wasn’t rebuffed. “You wouldn’t believe it if I told you.”
    “Try me.”
    Jess allowed her trademark smirk full rein.
    Kim arched an eyebrow, making Jess laugh.
    “I had one more surprise for you tonight.” Jess pulled the ring box from her pocket.
    Kim’s eyes went wide.
    Jess opened the box. She took great satisfaction in the gob-smacked look on Kim’s face. Now you know how I felt.
    “But ... that’s ...” Kim’s gaze darted between the ring in the box and the one on Jess’s finger.
    “Exactly,” Jess said, suppressed laughter in her voice. “They’re identical.” She lifted the ring from the box and held it out to Kim. “Read the inscription.”
    Kim’s hand shook as she reached for the ring. She tilted it and read the inscription. “Forever yours.” Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Put it on me. Please.”
    “Guess it’s kind of a moot point now. But since I’m only ever going to do this once, I want to do it right.” Jess rose up onto her knees. “Kim, will you marry me?”
    “Yes. Forever.” Kim said, echoing Jess’s earlier vow.
    Jess slipped the ring on her finger. She pulled Kim into her arms.
    The kiss they shared was one of love, devotion, passion, and hope of a bright future.
    ###
    Author’s note: My novel L.A. Metro will be republished by Ylva Publishing in the spring of 2013. This story takes place six months after the end of L.A. Metro .

On the Road
    Joan Arling
    I hated my job.
    Then again, it was more of a love-hate relationship.
    I was a truck driver. Nothing special about that, except that this was considered a man’s job. Ridiculous. There were plenty of cars that required more muscle than a truck. Virtually everything was accompanied by hisses: change gears, brake, step on the clutch―all supported by compressed air. It was fun seeing people step back from the kerb when they heard me accelerate uphill: Pfft, roar, pfft, clutch, pfft, next gear, pfft, release clutch, roar ... ten times repeated before I even reached the other side of the crossing. Okay, make that six times; it still impressed the audience.
    Even with Tiny’s five hundred horses I needed to use every gear to get forty tons up to speed. Oh, yes, of course my truck had a name. It was more of a home to me than any other place, and it just felt alive. Had a morning temper, too.
    Of course, most of the time it was simply droning along at fifty or sixty miles per hour on a motorway. Depending on what I pulled, adhering to rules meticulously was an absolute must. When I was transporting dangerous goods, like explosives, I was much more likely to get pulled off for an inspection. This could result in fines that would quickly eat up the overhead I charged my customers to be able to pay the rent for the apartment I rarely saw anyway.
    Which was one of many reasons I hated my job.
    Usually the machine ran like a miracle, as long as you didn’t save on the wrong items. The periodic check-ups were expensive, and parking Tiny in a garage for a day or two meant not earning money for that time. But then, a neglected bearing could seize up in the middle of nowhere, probably around midnight, in a thunderstorm right when the battery of my mobile had decided that it needed to be replaced. Rather than having that happen, I regarded the expense as an investment. And aside from a