This Ain't No Love Story

Author

Totally Bound Publishing books by Aliyah Burke

Single Books

Through The Fire

Seducing Damian

Code of Honour

A Marriage of Convenience

The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife

A Man Like No Other

When Stars Collide

In Aeternum

Casanova in Training

Harbour of Refuge

Protected by Shadows

Polar Opposites

Theta Corps

Restitution

Contrition

Vindication

Interludes

Temporary Home

Alone With You

Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore

The Edge

Called Home to The Edge

Straying to The Edge

Returning to The Edge

Cuffed at The Edge

The Monroe Sisters

Need You Now

Let Me Go

I Won’t Say Goodbye

Heart’s Compass

The Princess and the Marquess

Keeper of the Stars

Part One

Part Two

Part Three

Part Four

Part Five

Astral Guardians

Chasing the Storm

Highlands at Dawn

Fields of Thunder

Branded by Frost

Driven by Night

Moon of Fire

What’s her Secret?

Preconception

With Taige Crenshaw

Single Title

Unbreakable Bonds

Kemet Uncovered

Talios

Devi

Linc

Saffron

Taber

Ashia

A Little Bit Cupid

THIS AIN’T NO

LOVE STORY

ALIYAH BURKE

This Ain’t No Love Story

ISBN # 978-1-83943-358-0

©Copyright Aliyah Burke 2020

Cover Art by Claire Siemaszkiewicz ©Copyright February 2020

Interior text design by Claire Siemaszkiewicz

Totally Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

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Published in 2020 by Totally Bound Publishing, United Kingdom.

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An Interludes story

His reputation precedes him. Will she allow them a shot?

Josh Helter Skelter Jones loves being unattached and picking a woman he wants, when he wants. A trip home changes all of that when he meets Neyda Hughes. Again. Now she is all he can think about, but his reputation has preceded him and she’s skeptical of believing he means long term. Can he win her heart for his own by Valentine’s Day?

Dedication

To my amazing readers who asked me for Josh’s story. Enjoy! DH, thank you for your endless support. Love you! As always, to the men and women who give so much to serve their country—I will never forget your sacrifices. Thank you!

Trademark Acknowledgements

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Malibu: General Motors Corporation

Queen: Mercury, Freddie; May, Brian; Taylor, Roger; Deacon, John

Blue Swede: Skifs, Bjorn

Dodge RAM 2500: FCA US LLC

Maserati: Maserati North America, Inc.

Victoria’s Secret: Victoria’s Secret Stores Brand Management, Inc.

Chapter One

It’s so good to see you, Josh. How long are you here for?

Easy there, Auntie Bea, you’re too strong for me like this. Going to crack my ribs. Even as he teased, he hugged his only living relative. The woman who had raised him.

She tsked and stepped back to look at him. A bit thin, but some of my cooking will fix that right up. Now, how long are you staying? She propped her hands on her hips.

Josh Helter Skelter Jones thought about his answer before allowing it to leave his mouth. This was his hometown. Not that he knew everyone, but he was damn sure that his aunt did. Known on his team for being a man-whore, he had no intentions of dipping anything of his into a woman here because it would only lead to headache for him because of his Auntie Bea. So, giving some time for her here would work. That would leave time for him to be another anonymous face in a large city to get some pussy before he needed to go back. He had no problems splitting his time half and half, he’d not seen her in a while.

Two weeks, he said, wrapping an arm back around her and resting his cheek on the top of her head. Even now, she still smelled like fresh baked goods, as she’d done when he had been growing up.

Valentine’s Day? They don’t give you enough time off. That’s hardly any time for us to catch up. Or for you to meet this lovely little woman I think would be perfect for you, and why are you shaking your head at me?

Not here to find a woman, Auntie Bea. I’m here to visit you.

Once again, she stepped away from him and turned to look up in his direction. Are you into men? I mean, that’s fine, I still love you, but there are some nice ones of those around as well.

I’m not gay, but I am glad you would still love me. I just don’t have time for any relationship right now, not with work keeping me as busy as they do.

She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes but didn’t speak for a few moments. Need to get married and have some babies, if you want my opinion.

Can’t say that I do. I’ll think about it, but please, I’m here to see you, not have you play matchmaker.

She held up her hands and adopted a look he didn’t buy for a minute. Shaking his head, he reached for his bags and followed her into the two-story Colonial-style house. This was where he’d grown up, had his skinned knees, broken bones, had fights, hell, even stolen his first kiss.

I’ll be right back down, he tossed over his shoulder as he hurried up to his childhood room.

Staring out of the window that overlooked the backyard to the neighbors, he wondered who was there now. The Ackermen family had been there when he’d grown up. Their son and he had gotten into many scrapes together. David had died as he drove his truck across country and had fallen asleep at the wheel. That had been seven years ago.

A little girl with nut-brown skin and two black braids highlighted with green ribbons stepped out and climbed onto the swing. He smiled and stepped back. His aunt must be in hog heaven. She adored kids.

After heading downstairs and outside, he sat with her out on the back porch, he groaned at the first bite of the chocolate silk pie. No matter where I go in the world, Auntie Bea, nothing compares to what you bake.

Sweet-talker, you. If you’d turn that tongue toward a woman, you could have a wife by now.

He kept his comment to himself and instead just lifted a shoulder. It’s not easy being married to a Marine. I’m not home much, as you know.

Please, she scoffed. You like sleeping around and not having any responsibility when it comes to being a husband.

Auntie Bea.

"Boy, don’t take that tone with me. I raised you and I watched you chase all those skirts. I don’t think now that you’re in a uniform that’s changed. Quite