Modern Life of a Vintage Brat

By Indie Sparks

This brat likes her fashion and her men a little older and bolder.

 

Neely Hart is an old soul. Not like Victorian old, more like heart-shaped sunglasses, neon polos, and high-waisted, acid-washed denim. She has a good eye for it, which has made her funky vintage boutique a hit in a trendy shopping district.

 

Paul Ashton is a modern man. Not to be mistaken for traditional, more like a contemporary, hot cigar-bar-owning, brat-taming Daddy. His popular cigar lounge is located right next to Neely's boutique, which is convenient since Paul meets her tastes to a tee. But Neely isn't looking to be tamed. And Paul isn't looking for such an independent brat. You know what they say about what we find when we aren't looking though . . .

 

He pushes her buttons. She pushes right back. This is their game. They were made for it.

 

And they just might be made for each other.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Twice Shy Publishing
• Release date: Mar 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798215814819

Indie Sparks

Indie Sparks writes heroines with hutzpah and heroes with dirty mouths and the skills to walk the talk. She gives them all happy endings, whether HEA or HFN. 

Book preview

Modern Life of a Vintage Brat

Indie Sparks

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Twice Shy Publishing

Copyright © 2022 by Indie Sparks

All rights reserved.

No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher or author, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

For permissions regarding usage, contact [e-mail] or Indie Sparks at [e-mail].

Déjà Vu?

It's Not Just You!

This novella was originally published as part of a three-book series in a single market, but after much consideration, it is being rereleased as a separate title with a new cover and is now available from more sales outlets. I hope you love the makeover and the wider availability. If this is your first time to encounter Paul and Neely, I hope you enjoy their story!

PLEASE NOTE: This story is intended for mature readers only. It does contain explicit language and sexual scenes. All characters are consenting adults. Elements that may be problematic for some readers include: age gap, light bdsm, exploration of deriving pleasure from pain, voyeurism, and exhibitionism. Please take care of yourself when choosing to read.

This is entirely a work of fiction and all situations and scenes are presented for entertainment purposes only. No part of this work is intended to be instructional or educational. All characters and locations are products of the author's imagination. Any resemblence to actual persons, living or dead, or actual places of business, either currently active or defunct, is coincidental.

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Contents

1. Everything Old is not New Again

2. Spare the Rod, Spoil the Brat

3. Flit Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a B(rat)

4. A Proper Toasting is Essential

5. It’s a Matter of Etiquette

6. Treat Me Right

7. Sweet Dreams Are Made of This

8. Where There’s Smoke

9. Always Eat Dessert First

10. Going Platinum

11. New Sensation

12. EPILOGUE

Also By Indie Sparks

1

Everything Old is not New Again

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Neely chews her bottom lip while she waits for her video to upload. Business has been slow all week. She figures maybe a spinning rack of neon polos, circa mid-1980s, might catch a few eyes. More likely, the flashing word she typed over the screen will do the heavy lifting: Sale! She’s choosing the perfect audio when the bells on the door jangle.

Great! Not only is her promotion effort interrupted, but it’s not even a customer. Hey, Rick. You close up shop early today?

Nah, doll. Unlike you, I got employees so I can slip out from time to time, do a little socializing with my fellow merchants. He spins the rack of polos under the sale sign. Neely winces. That’s a second-hand rack. When she spins it, it’s her risk to take. When Rick does it, it makes her want to throw something heavy at his head. She inches her hand away from the stapler on the counter. Oh, man, he says, holding a lime green shirt up to his torso. I swear I had this same shirt my senior year.

Yep, it’s a classic.

You were born too late, girl. If you’d met me back in high school. . . He clicks his tongue.

Then we’d both be too old to shop here, she says, adding a quick grin at the end to soften the blow. She doesn’t despise the guy, but a little of Rick goes a long way. And even if he didn’t hit on her ad nauseum every time he came in, Neely would still rather he not shop in her boutique. When twenty-somethings wear her merchandise, it’s retro. Vintage. Cool. When Rick wears it, it’s. . .well, it’s just kind of sad. And the last thing she needs on a slow day is for a potential customer to come in and see some guy their dad’s age clutching a fluorescent polo and reliving his glory days.

From a personal standpoint, it’s not his age Neely has a problem with. It’s his everything else.

You ain’t too old for nothing. He winks at her, and then his eyes drop to the black lacy bustier she’s wearing. His gaze lingers for a few beats too long. Neely tugs the lapels of her boxy light pink blazer that matches her hair to narrow his view. Matter of fact, he says. You’re probably still a little young for most of what I’d have had in mind back then. I was a little ahead of my time, if you know what I mean.

Speaking of time, I’m about to close up. Did you come in here for a reason or just to harass me?

Okay, okay. I can take a hint. Brought you a little something, though. He pulls out a cassette tape. I know you like to play the music of my youth in here and thought you might like this one.

Neely turns it over in her hand and smiles. It’s the soundtrack from The Breakfast Club. Streaming music would be easier, but she prefers the authenticity of cassette tapes in a boombox. Her customers get a kick out of it. Thanks, Rick. What do I owe you?

You don’t owe me a thing. It’s a gift. I’ve been keeping an eye out ever since I saw you’d hung that poster in here. He points to the movie poster. You know what they called those kids?

The athlete, the jock, the criminal, the princess—

The Brat Pack. And that’s your eighties trivia for today. Another wink, dueling finger guns, and then he leaves, thankfully without buying the polo.

Neely rolls her eyes. She’s pretty sure Rick knows fuck all about brats. But he’s not a complete creep. He comes through with good music selections, even if she does have to endure his stories and trivia lessons. And today he had good timing. As soon as she saw the cover of the cassette, it came to her. She trims an audio clip of Don’t You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds until it’s a perfect fit for her video. Yes!

The bells jangle again, but this time her doorway fills with the owner of the cigar bar next door. Paul Ashton: six-foot-two, salt-and-pepper hair, but abs still made of steel and a voice that could melt chocolate. Neely shivers at the memory of the last time his mouth was on her, hot and oh, so very skilled. He knows all the same music and trivia as Rick. Hell, he lived it, too, though probably in elementary school instead of high school, but Paul’s not stuck in the eighties. No, he is very much a man of the times.

He bothering you again? Paul asks before his second foot even crosses