Lift Me To The Sky

By Lanna Farrell

Lift Me to the Sky is the Third Book in the Steel Toes to Stilettos Series
“Sexy, well written with many twists and turns...With strong women and the men who pursue them.”
Jules Davis is comfortable with her life as a dockworker at the USPS. A no drama woman, she goes to work and does her job well. Hooking up with Derk Perez at a wedding wasn’t in her life plans, and she considers it a big mistake as soon as the deed is done.
Derk Perez, a long-haul truck driver, has wanted Jules for a long time. When she finally shows him more than a passing glance, he falls for her in a big way. But how can he convince her they belong together?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lanna Farrell
• Release date: Jun 17, 2016
• ISBN: 9781311857422

Lanna Farrell

A little about me, I have two beautiful daughters and a son-in-law who I adore. A amazingly handsome grandson and the new addition to my family, a beautiful baby granddaughter. I enjoy spending time with my family, love curling up with a good book, riding on the back of my boyfriend’s motorcycle, saving every animal I can, and being with my German Shepard, Verdae, who is my constant companion and is unmercifully spoiled.Born and raised in Minnesota I will continue my life here but it does have its ups and downs. This great state is known for its ten thousand lakes, along with green grass and big trees. I find the constant changes in seasons a bit wearing on a person’s soul. A Minnesotan will tell you there’s two seasons, road construction and winter.Drawing near retirement, I find myself wanting to leave this wonderful State and move somewhere warmer like New Mexico or Florida, but I will always find my way back home to Minnesota where my children have chosen to live their lives away from their mom.My friends and family will contest, I’m never far from a pen and paper. I can find so many things in the world that peaks my interest and can create an entire story just for you.

Book preview

LIFT ME TO THE SKY

Steel Toes to Stilettos

Book Three

Lanna Farrell

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, or other status is entirely coincidental.

Copyright 2016, Lanna Farrell

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever known, not known or hereafter invented, or stored in any storage or retrieval system is forbidden without written permission of the author.

SMASHWORDS EDITION

ISBN: 9781311857422

2016 ©LIFT ME TO THE SKY

Steel Toes to Stilettos

Book Three

Editor: Leanore Elliott

Cover Artist: Willsin Rowe

Formatting & Book Design

By

Wicked Muse Productions LLC

Cover Photo

By

Royal Touch Photography

DEDICATION

I dedicate this story to my dear friend, Julie, without you, this story couldn’t have been more perfect. You spent hours with me explaining everything a woman, who is a US Mail Handler for the United States Postal Service, does. I waited on the dock watching as you pushed, pulled and lifted heavy mail volume and loaded endless trucks. I could see how tired and exhausting your job was for you and the men who worked beside you.

Seeing, first hand, the injuries and accidents that can easily put someone out of a job, and how hard the other people are on you, personally. I know you don’t get the recognition you so deserve as a woman working in a man’s world. I hope with this story of Jules and Derk, you will get that validation, at least, from me.

To all the women out there that does a job only men think they’re capable of doing. I drove a straight truck commercially for almost 20 years and I know, first hand, how bad it is out there. Thank you again for all the years you helped me load and unload my truck and make my time there entertaining and enjoyable.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I want to thank all the people in my life, today, who have helped me build my self-esteem and to continue on with my storytelling and imagination and know there are people out there who enjoy my writing.

To my sister, Denise, you’re the best and kindest person who read, proofed, edited those few books and told me I was a really great author and you hate to read. It means so much that you’re even willing to read my stories and there are multiple stories you’ve been through.

Mom, I can’t tell you how much I love you and all the work you’ve done with each and every one of my stories. I won’t send a story to an editor, publisher or even proofer without your beta reading, editing and proofing each story. I know by the time you’ve read the story five to ten times it is perfect to send to my publisher. Thank you again for everything. I wouldn’t be here without you.

Michel Prince, for dragging me along and helping me get out there in the public to hand out business cards and sell a few print books. You’re the best woman, my little angel on my shoulder. Thank you.

Leanore Elliott, my editor. You, my lady, will never know how much you’ve helped me in the past few months. I can never repay you for the kindness, generosity and your extreme talent to make a story shine for me and my readers. I hope someday to meet you in person to give you a big hug and show you how much I adore you. Thank you again for everything. This story is as good as it is because of you!

Chapter One

Jules Davis opened her eyes, then shut them, immediately. Her head pounded as if drumsticks were hitting her temples. What the hell did I do?

Insanity for sure, but what happened? Wait—a loud knock on a door? Jules didn’t want to move; she was afraid the pain would intensify in her head. Although, if she laid here any longer, the crazy person beating on the door would continue or worse…come storming in.

This better be a fucking emergency. She threw the covers off and sat up, waiting for the nausea to subside. Lying back down quickly, she waited…nothing. When the insistent pounding began again, she opened her eyes to slits and tried to look around, nobody in her line of vision. Closing them, she tried to focus. There was nobody hitting the door, it was her heartbeat pounding in her own ears.

What happened last night? Jules tried again, to get it sorted out, but it was nearly impossible because of the beating of the band in her head. She moaned and rolled over covering her head with her hands. Oh, God…

A few moments later some of the hurt subsided then her bladder was yelling at her to get out of bed and relieve it. She groaned. "Dammit…"

The heavy comforter she was lying under didn’t want to move. In her own bed, she knew the strength it took to get up. This wasn’t her bed at all. She tried to figure out where she was. The fog in her brain wouldn’t go away, she decided she had to use her eyes. Slowly, without her stomach roiling or the head doing the banging thing, she draped her leg over the edge of what appeared to be, a bed. That was good, she’d been known to fall asleep at work on benches, car seats or anywhere else she decided to take a ten-minute nap. It appeared to still be dark outside—or was it?

She pressed her hand to her forehead, Jules tried to focus on the room she was in. Memories of last night’s affairs tried to reiterate in her brain before the crashing of symbols sounded again. Aubrea’s bachelorette party! She held the sides of her head and leaned down. Oh, no.

She refused to moan or groan again, but she had to admit she liked to complain, especially while feeling this miserable. She couldn’t keep drinking like this anymore.

They all had met up with Chase and his friends who’d taken the groom out for his bachelor party. Apparently, they had way too much fun and Jules had matched them drink for drink—not a good idea.

Today was another busy wedding day, with rehearsal, a groom’s dinner then she was staying with Aubrea…Brie her best friend, to get her through the night before the wedding.

Jules remembered she’d drank more last night than she had in the entire year. Shot after shot of Jack, tequila, vodka, or whatever else she’d poisoned her body with, she could only guess at this point.

Something or someone moved beside her, the comforter pulled away slightly from her naked body, letting the cold air from the room cover her. Startled, further awake, Jules tried to grab onto something to cover up her body. Nothing but a sweatshirt—which wasn’t hers.

Hell with it. She pulled the larger garment over her head. The heavy material settled around her body and hung past her ass to her thighs. More memories of the night before came crashing back. She had to get the hell out of this room before—

Hey, good morning, beautiful lady. A deep male voice with a southern drawl sounded from right behind her.

Um—well, yeah. Jules didn’t want to know who or what she’d done last night. She’d been a total whore, apparently. Swearing to never drink again, especially with Brie. She really didn’t have it in her to be rude, though. Morning. She stood up and made her way across the room to the bathroom.

After washing her face, she eventually found her thong, bra and socks in the bathroom. She swiftly put those back on under the sweatshirt. Making her way into the room, she now knew she shared with the most delicious but devilishly handsome man. Derk Perez. Dammit. Why him of all guys?

She prayed it wasn’t true. Maybe she just passed out with him? But more came back and she knew. Her number rule broken—you don’t fuck friends at work. Her blouse and jeans were thrown across a chair near a corner. She tried to focus her still blurred mind on her goal. She heard a ruffle and a swish of material behind her, trying to focus her eyes on her things and not on the man behind her. Still having difficulty with her brain, she concentrated on her blouse and jeans. After carelessly throwing the sweatshirt on the bed, she spotted her stilettos next to the door. Gulping with nerves, she swiveled slowly, only to find him sitting on a chair, dressed and pulling on his boots.

Jules, come on. The cowboy who sat in front of her was just about the yummiest man she knew.

What the fuck have you done Jules Davis? You are a whore! Aloud she said, Oh hey, how are you? Lowering her eyes, she couldn’t look at him. She’d met him many years ago. They’d spent hundreds of hours together and he’d become one of her best friends. Pissed at herself, how could she have crossed the line like she’d done last night?

I’m fine. Jules, come on. He touched her chin. Look at me?

Her eyes were still trying to adjust to the darkness in the room, so she kept them closed.

Open those beautiful green eyes of yours.

She found him, right in front of her.

His deep brown eyes stared at her.

Those eyes had truly gotten her into trouble. She’d followed him back to this room, because of them. Look I’m sorry. I have no excuse for what happened and I definitely don’t want to talk about it. Let’s just chalk it up to a large drunken mistake? Jules wasn’t sure what the hell even happened…not entirely.

She made her way to the door. Her discarded black and white four inch stilettos were right there, all she had to do was bend over, grab and escape. Instead, her stomach decided to rid itself of the abuse she’d done last night. Racing to the bathroom, she barely made it. Kneeling in front of the toilet, she spilled out what she could, her throat burning from the acid. Then she found herself with Derk holding her hair up as he rubbed her back.

After no more would come up, Jules leaned back onto her feet and waited a moment to make sure she finished embarrassing herself. The man in the bathroom with her was a definite keeper, just not for her. He’d been married, for God’s sake. Derk, I’m so sorry. What have we done?

Wait a minute, Jules. His hand rubbed her neck, then moved its way down her back.

Her stomach kept rumbling and making loud, strange noises announcing her hunger. If she could get something to eat, maybe the insistent knocking on her temples would stop. She needed Pho, an Asian soup, she always favored for a pick me up. Please, not now. I have a pounding headache and I’m not in the mood to… She held up her hand and tried to stand up. Come on Derk, I need food. Let’s forget this happened and get through the next two days for our friends, okay?

We didn’t do anything two adults shouldn’t be doing, Jules. Admit you might have had fun?

His disappointed voice sounded too loud next to her ears. He tried to pull her body into his, she denied him by lunging backwards as she shot herself through the bathroom door and back into the room.

Getting her already sluggish body over to the door leading out, Jules focused on one thing—escape.

Sometimes, she wondered what was wrong with her. She’d been in the Navy for twelve years, worked in a difficult world as a heavy equipment operator and mail handler at the US Postal Service and suffered the abuse of men all around her, every day of her life. I’m not admitting anything until I figure out what the hell happened, she mumbled.

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and left him standing by the bathroom door.

She fumbled with the lock and got the damn thing unlocked then sprinted out into the hotel’s hallway. She quietly shut the door behind her. She leaned up against it and prayed Derk would leave it be. Somehow, the peace and quiet soothed her shattered nerves. Why and how did she end up in Derk’s hotel room? Where was her room and things?

She felt in her pocket of her jeans and pulled out her ID and hotel room key. Room 204 was on the card. She turned and looked. Room 345 was behind her in large black lettering. She only had to go down the staircase at the end of the hall and she would find her sanctuary.

After finding and admitting herself to her own room. She grabbed clean clothes and headed to the bathroom.

There was no way she could admit to him or herself she actually enjoyed every minute of last night. Jules had been in love with the man for as long as she could remember but he’d given his heart, a long time ago, to his wife. Even though she knew they were divorced now, his ex was still his best friend.

Hangover headache was forgotten as the hot water sprayed down her back and over her firm ass. She washed away her sins from last night and actually cleansed her soul enough for her to walk back out into the world and show her face. Embarrassment wasn’t allowed in her life. She’d always taken what she wanted and never seemed to get attached to anything. Why was she having a difficult time handling her sexual lust for the cowboy upstairs? Derk was dangerous to her sanity.

It was Brie and Chase Morgan’s wedding weekend. Last night they had the parties, tonight rehearsal and tomorrow, the big day. Hundreds of people had RSVP’d and Brie needed her every step of the way as she’d promised her best friend.

Her soon-to-be husband, Chase Morgan was a huge catch for the young woman, she’d friended over ten years ago. Brie didn’t have a lot of family, but Jules promised to help her get there. Now, pushing through her own disgrace and suffering, she bucked up and knew she needed be there for her friend, who deserved all of her wits included.

She knew there was no way she could spend the next few days pining over Derk Perez. That wasn’t allowed in her life at this precise moment. With everything already planned and mapped out in her head, it didn’t allow for an all-out affair with an over-the-road truck driver, and crazy wasn’t in her plans…Hell, no.

After her shower, Jules felt a little more alive. She would go and find something to put in her stomach, drink some coffee, and definitely survive the day.

Stepping out of the bathroom, in just a towel, she screamed, Oh, my God! Woman, you fuckin’ scared me.

Brie stood up and walked over, hugged her and handed her a favorite…coffee.

Dark roast?

Of course, sorry I scared you. You know, I knocked but you didn’t answer. I heard the shower, so I let myself in with the spare you gave me yesterday. Okay, hurry, get dressed. Let’s go get food, I’m starving and we have a long day ahead of us."

I’m not very hungry but I could really use Pho right now?

Then, Pho is it. There’s a restaurant over in Eden Prairie that has the best. Brie knew her really well.

I’m game, let’s take my car? Jules smiled. She felt relieved Brie hadn’t mentioned Derk, she’d been preparing herself with how to answer. But her friend surprised her and said nothing. She threw her suitcase on the bed, unzipped it, then grabbed out new jeans and a t-shirt. Dressing swiftly, she was ready to leave in less than five minutes.

"How is your