Bama Boy (10 page)

“Jimbo Maxwell, you should be
ashamed
of yourself!”

“What for?” Jimbo asked, looking the very picture of wounded innocence. “Nobody forced ‘em to believe all that stuff, you know. Just because a guy’s got an accent doesn’t mean he’s stupid. You might say they were victims of their own prejudices,” he announced, as if he were proud of knowing such big words.

“I
might
, but I probably
won’t
,” I retorted, unimpressed.

“And what about you? It was easier for you to believe I cheated in physics than to think I might be smarter than you gave me credit for.”

Actually, I had never really believed he’d cheated, but that was entirely beside the point. “What was I supposed to think, with you acting like a reject from
The Beverly Hillbillies
, and Anthony putting ideas in my head? And anyway, that’s a pretty rotten way to get a girl—telling lies and making me feel sorry for you!”

Jimbo, unrepentant, merely grinned at me. “Hey, it worked, didn’t it?”

Before I could protest, he took me in his arms and kissed me thoroughly, and suddenly his deception didn’t seem quite so important anymore.

“So,” I said breathlessly, when we finally came up for air, “where are we going tomorrow night? Snipe hunting?”

“Shoot, no,” drawled Jimbo. “I’m gonna take you to the Sears store to watch TV!”

About the Author

Sheri Cobb South is the author of five young adult novels in Bantam’s long-running Sweet Dreams series, including the popular
Wrong-Way Romance
, which have been translated into Chinese, Dutch, Polish, and French. More recently, she has turned her attention to writing historical novels for adults, most set during the Regency period popularized by Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer. Her works in this genre include the critically acclaimed Regency romance
The Weaver Takes a Wife
as well as a series of Regency-set mysteries featuring Bow Street Runner John Pickett. A native and longtime resident of Alabama, Sheri now lives in Loveland, Colorado with her husband. She loves to hear from readers, and encourages them to email her at [email protected], “like” her author page on Facebook, or visit her website at www.shericobbsouth.com.

Author’s Note

I’m often asked why I don’t issue an e-book release of my first published novel, a young adult romance called
Wrong-Way Romance
which was published in 1991 by Bantam Books as part of its long-running Sweet Dreams series. While I’m flattered that
Wrong-Way Romance
is remembered so fondly, the terms of the contract I signed so many years ago still prohibit me from publishing a new edition of it today.

There was another of my young adult romances, however, my favorite of all my work in that genre, which was apparently lost while in the pipeline at Bantam, and never published. Since I moved to Colorado, where my pronounced Southern accent provokes much comment, I’ve found myself thinking of this book, and wondering how well it had stood the test of time. I decided not to attempt to update it, but to leave it in its original late 1980s setting. For the thirtysomethings who enjoyed
Wrong-Way Romance
as teenagers, or for today’s young adult readers who may be tired of the paranormals and/or dystopian societies so prevalent in the genre today, I hope you will enjoy
Bama Boy
, the Sweet Dreams title that never was.

Copyright © 2013 by Sheri Cobb South

Electronically published by Belgrave House and Sheri Cobb South

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

No portion of this book may be reprinted in whole or in part, by printing, faxing, E-mail, copying electronically or by any other means without permission of the publisher. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For more information, contact Belgrave House, 190 Belgrave Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94117-4228

http://www.RegencyReads.com

Electronic sales: [email protected]

This is a work of fiction. All names in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to any person living or dead is coincidental.

Cover photography (from top):

© kurhan/Shutterstock

© Brocreative/Shutterstock