Cha-Cha in the Hood

By Mindy Ross

The road to hell is paved with wild desire...

Mariah Sandoval is flattered when the neighborhood bad boy kisses her passionately in front of everyone at a party. He is the sexiest, hunkiest guy around and two years older. Until that night, Mariah was nothing more than Nikki Sandoval's kid sister, but now she is a stunning beauty who can't resist Leopard Herrera's devastating charm and audacious sex appeal.

Leopard isn't in the market for a girlfriend, let alone a wife. He's got more women than he can handle at his beck and call, day and night. But Mariah Sandoval is the one woman that dominates his every waking thought. And any girl on her way to college deserves better than a street hustler for a mate, so it becomes his deepest desire to prove to her that he can be everything an alpha male should be whether in the bedroom or not.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mindy Ross
• Release date: Jul 17, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476202587

Mindy Ross

I'm a novelist who writes sexy, edgy fiction. I also write erotica under the name Kevyn Sexton. My personal experience essays and news stories have appeared in numerous publications including Good Housekeeping, True Confessions, True Story, and San Diego Reader. I have also won writing contests sponsored by San Diego Reader and North County Times. In 2010, I decided to write novels with a "now or never" attitude while my dad was dying from prostate cancer that metestacized to his brain. His last words to me were "If you want to make me happy, keep writing." My first novel, "Glamour Ghost" is dedicated to him. My goal in life is to eventually write the Great American novel that he always thought I could write. He believed in me.

Book preview

Hot-Salsa Romance

Cha-Cha in the Hood

By Mindy Ross

Smashwords Edition

Copyright Mindy Ross 2012

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Chapter 1

She first kissed Leopard Herrera at the party Gilbert threw after his parents went out of town. She’d seen the stray cat around the hood for years, but didn’t have the guts to talk to him. He was the sexy bad boy—tall, handsome and reckless. He’d been to Juvy twice before the age of sixteen—once for possession of a deadly weapon and once for car theft.

On the night of the fiesta, Leopard slid his eyes over her body as if he were already touching her. She was two years younger and at nineteen, a virtual baby. He was a man. That word alone caused her private parts to stir.

A song by Mr. Criminal boomed from Gilbert’s sound system. Bright neon lights flashed overhead. She had started shaking her butt in time to the music but she wouldn’t have danced with Leopard even if he’d asked. Her older sister, Nikki, had met a guy who was suave and had given birth to twin daughters nine months later. She didn’t want to follow in her footsteps. She planned to go to college to have a career, a dream her parents had for her from the time she was born.

After picking up two bottles of cola, Lupe, her best friend, beckoned for her to follow her to a table in the middle of the room. She had her eyes on Leopard too. He’s gorgeous, isn’t he? she asked with a heavy sigh.

Yeah.

His narrow waist and bulging pectorals were holding them both spellbound.

She’d give anything to feel his naked body against hers for just one night. He was about six-feet tall and slender, wearing baggy jeans and a tight, wife-beater’s T-shirt. His complexion was light—almost reddish—and his eyes, nose and mouth were spaced evenly apart. When he caught Mariah staring, she looked away. She wanted him to know that she wasn’t open to his advances. When he didn’t approach their table, she figured he’d lost interest. She had a lot to learn…

Want to dance? She heard someone ask.

Her heart leapt skyward when she looked up and saw Leopard standing in front of her. She hadn’t even seen him cross the room.

I’m not so bad, am I? Can’t you smile for me?

She wasn’t much for kissing ass. Instead of smiling at him, she simply stood, took his hand in her own, and headed for the smoky dance floor. One dance wouldn’t hurt. She couldn’t get pregnant as long as she kept both feet on the floor. If only she had been savvy enough to realize that the road to hell is paved with devastating charm.

That morning, Lupe told Grasca that they didn’t fool around. They didn’t drink or smoke either. But their friend insisted that they come to the party anyway.

The guys will be hot and the drinks will be cold, she said, grinning.

And she wasn’t kidding! The hottest guys Mariah had ever seen were right at their fingertips. But Leopard was the one she liked best. As the synthesizer began to pulsate a heartbeat, she wrapped one hand around his neck and high-stepped her black suede boots, circling him in time to the music.

A crowd of pot smokers and beer guzzlers gathered to watch. The heat passing between the two of them caused Leopard to start sweating. Droplets slid down his temple and caused his neck to shine. When he reached out to whip her into his arms, she trembled. She hoped he didn’t see that the sexy-mama routine was fake. Inside, she was a nervous wreck. The first boy she’d ever danced with was by far the sexiest one in town.

Let me show you how, Leopard said.

Her breath caught in her throat and then she realized he was talking about dancing.

Lean on me. I’m supposed to do the leading. He slid his warm palms along her upper arms as if calming a skittish horse.

Mariah was so embarrassed, she thought she’d die. She forced her mistake from her mind, closed her eyes, and let the handsome hombre sweep her away.

Chilosa.

Goose bumps shot up her arms, raising the fine hairs. Although she didn’t speak much Spanish, Leopard crooned the word in a smooth voice that was thrilling. She tossed her head back, thinking that later she’d have to ask Mama what it meant—casually, so that if it was dirty, she wouldn’t get on Mariah’s case because a guy had said it to her.

She was so protective Mariah wouldn’t put it passed her to later hunt him down to kick his sorry ass.

A little drunk and extremely intoxicated by Leopard’s sexy eyes, she softly kissed his tender lips, right in front of everybody. An act like that was risky. If she wasn’t careful, everyone would think she was his girl.

When Lupe, Grasca and Mariah had been eating breakfast in the cafeteria, Grasca mentioned that Gilbert’s parents had gone to Mexico and he’d be hosting a party.

Some muy delicioso guys are going to be there, she groaned.

She then assured them that plenty of sodas and even bottled water would be on hand. She was shocked to later find tequila and cerveza flowing throughout the place. Not a single drop of soda or water was anywhere. And after eating chicken enchiladas and refried beans, she was desperate for something to wash it all down. Reluctantly, she picked up a bottle of Corona.

She wondered who had paid for all of this. Who in her barrio had that kind of money?

This is wonderful, she thought. Good food and a man’s strong arms. She’d often fantasized about what her first kiss would be like. It was even better than she had hoped it would be. She felt it all the way to the tips of her high-heel boots. She then flashed a glittering smile, but Leopard glowered at her, stone-faced. She supposed he had to remain macho, but his cold expression revealed nothing about his thoughts.

When the song ended, Leopard walked her back to the table where she retrieved her purse. Thank you, she said demurely.

De nada. He then lifted a glass of vino from a silver tray and set it down before her.

Drink up, he said. Go ahead.

She’d admit she was helpless to deny him anything. His upturned lips and shining eyes were almost breaking out in a grin. The way he looked at her was mesmerizing. You’d think she was made out of sugar and cream cheese.

He was gorgeous and she wanted him desperately.

I-I don’t think I should have anymore, she stuttered.

She doesn’t want it, said Lupe.

But Leopard insisted that Mariah take a sip. So to make him happy, she raised the glass to her lips and drank. Satisfied, he strutted away, back to his homies by the wet bar.

As she watched him go, she realized that his gang name suited him perfectly. His movements were slow and predatory. And like a big cat, this man had tender moments. Just thinking about how gentle he could be, caused her heart to start beating wildly.

He had asked her to dance, not Lupe or any other girl. She hoped that was a good sign because she wanted to dance with him again. Who was she kidding? She wanted to do much more than that!

Lupe suddenly broke Mariah’s train of thought. It’s for you.

She took Lupe’s cell phone, wondering who’d be calling her. Then she realized no one had; Lupe just wanted her to take a picture of her with Leopard. She didn’t dare say it outright. Instead, she went over to the group, wrapped one arm around his neck and said, How about we all have our picture taken?

Then she leaned in close to him and grinned. Leopard lifted his hands to form an M by putting his thumbs together. Mariah imagined that it was some kind of gang symbol, but she didn’t know which one. A girl in short shorts on the other side of him hung onto his shoulder, making Mariah fume. It was ridiculous, really. She had no right to him after only one dance.

After she snapped the photo, Leopard shot her a sly glance. Now you’ll remember me forever.

She pressed her lips together and gave him her best come hither expression, hoping he’d be prompted to ask her to dance again.

I’ll treasure it, she replied. The other girls made cooing noises. They weren’t her close friends and she had no idea whether they were for her or against her.

Print a copy for me.

I would if I knew where to send it," she blurted.

Dang, he didn’t take the bait!

Without offering his phone number or email address, she had no way of knowing if he really liked her or if it was all a game. Tomorrow, would he even remember her? With women constantly falling all over him, she truly doubted it.

He wasn’t the kind of guy her parents wanted for her anyway. They had their hopes set on a big-time college guy. Her mom had immigrated to the United States from Mexico when she was only thirteen; and, her dad was Anglo. Even though he was American, he hadn’t gotten an education. All her parents really had to live for was her older sister, her babies, and Mariah. She owed it to them to marry somebody they could be proud of. That would happen, she hoped, after she got her veterinary degree.

It took all of her willpower to back away from Leopard. Mama had said that feelings of lust were only temporary, and that she’d learned from her mistakes. She’d gotten married too young and had babies before having a way to earn a decent living. Her life was a daily, uphill grind. I’ll have babies and a husband one day, Mariah told herself, but not soon.

Her poor mom worked her butt off in a supermarket deli. She was on her feet for eight hours and then came home to cook dinner and do housework while Mariah’s dad acted like a king. Hell would freeze over before that happened to Mariah.

Dad worked at the car wash on West Valley Parkway. He’d come home every day sunburned, exhausted and pissed at his boss for jerking him around. They lived in Grandma’s old house with peeling paint, torn screen doors and broken windows on the corner of a very busy street. Grandma had turned the house over to the kids when Grandpa died. Then she moved into a small apartment attached to the garage.

Mariah loved her family but wanted a better life.

Want to go outside? Leopard asked, jolting her from her thoughts. For once, his eyes were shining brightly.

What would he say if he knew she thought he wasn’t good enough for her and yet she wanted to make love to him anyway?

Maybe he wouldn’t care. Leopard thought he was God’s gift to women. If he did find out, he’d probably shrug it off and go looking for his next conquest. Even so, she simply said, I’ve got to go.

If you say so… In a flash, the shine was gone. She’d bet that no woman had ever turned him down before.

Had she hurt his feelings? Did he even have feelings? She went over to the buffet table to get a plate and then thinking he might be watching her eat, picked only a few olives and some mixed fruit to place on it. Before going outside, she took one more glance at Leopard. He was sitting on the couch, staring at the floor. A fat girl with stark-white skin and short hair dyed blue-black sat by his side.

Lupe whispered something to Gilbert that caused him to break out in laughter. He wrapped his scrawny arms around her small frame and gave her a squeeze. They were drunk and getting too chummy as far as Mariah was concerned. Gilbert had severe acne scars on his face and Mariah knew Lupe didn’t really like him—not well enough to endure his salsa breath.

The cloistering stink of body odor mixed with weed was suddenly overwhelming. Her face was hot and flushed as Leopard gazed at her with sad eyes. He seemed to be crushed.

She forced herself to ignore him. She’d been friendly enough for one night. Let’s go, she said to Lupe. She pulled away from Gilbert and followed Mariah out to the patio.

Mariah had to get away from Leopard before she fell in love. Thank God we got out of there.

Lupe sat down on the picnic bench looking disappointed. You made me leave just when things were getting cozy.

Tell me about it. I’m so crazy for Leopard, I was about to f*ck him on the dance floor.

She giggled and then fell silent as Mariah obsessed on that one dance. Leopard had made it magical. Of course, they were only in a three-bedroom stucco house with most of the rooms trashed, but it had turned into Buckingham Palace once Leopard had held Mariah in his arms.

"He’s so hot! Lupe exclaimed. And he asked you to dance!" From her high-pitched tone and forced smile, Mariah surmised that she was insanely jealous.

Mariah shrugged and stared at her plate. He’s not my type.

What? You’ve got to be kidding me! Even in the darkness, she could see that Lupe’s jaw had dropped.

Mariah dreaded having to explain. Lupe was one of those girls destined to marry young, have a houseful of babies and then settle down to a life of drudgery. Mariah hadn’t bothered to tell Lupe about her dreams. She’d think Mariah was trying to get ahead of her. So instead, Mariah said, I’m not ready to settle for just one guy.

But this is Leopard Herrera! He wants you. The whites of Lupe’s eyes were flashing at her. She picked an olive off Mariah’s plate and put it in her mouth. While chewing it, she said. No girl in her right mind would turn him down.

Mariah shrugged. Maybe I’m crazy.

She didn’t want to have to explain herself, even to her best friend. Lupe wasn’t one for thinking in the long term. She lived very much in the present and was only interested in instant gratification.

Mariah turned away and focused on her plate. Lupe and Mariah had been friends since the first grade and yet she wouldn’t have understood Mariah’s feelings. Leopard was what Mariah’s mother had crossed the border to avoid. Her dad was no high-powered executive, but he made an honest living