Flames of Passion

The problem was, Nya didn’t really know any other way to go about dating than to jump headfirst into a relationship. So she’d sworn off dating and was now trying to get to a place where she could accept being happy on her own.

Nya had analyzed why every relationship she’d had since Russell—and including her relationship with Russell, for that matter—had ended badly. And the glaring reason why things didn’t work out was because Nya went for looks first, character later. If a man looked good and sounded smooth, Nya fell for him like a fool.

And Tyler had the kind of looks that could have her brain cells going on strike. So Nya didn’t even want to put herself in the path of temptation.

She tried another tactic. “Obviously, you’re a very attractive man. And you were gracious enough to...to kiss me back...and go along with my ruse. But a man as attractive as you must have several women vying for your attention. I don’t expect you to give up a Friday night for me when you can spend it with someone you want to. I’ll come up with a reason why we can’t go to the film. You know what, it doesn’t even matter if I have a reason or not. It’s not like I have to answer to Russell.”

“Then it’s going to look like you’re chickening out,” Tyler said matter-of-factly. “Russell’s going to know you made up an excuse not to see him again, and he’ll see right through it. He’ll think you’re still hung up on him.”

Nya felt a spasm of fear. She wished Tyler would stop saying that, because it was the one thing that was weakening her resolve.

“I can see that the truth is getting to you,” Tyler went on. “And trust me, that’s how guys think. You went to the trouble of kissing me to make a point to him. Seems as though it would be rather foolish to abandon the plan now when we can drive the point home on Friday night.”

Nya bit her inner cheek as she thought. She hated to admit it, but Tyler had a point. Russell was that kind of guy. Even when he’d dumped her, he’d rubbed salt in her wound by saying that she would never find another decent guy because she was too clingy.

He had been right about her not being able to find another man, but the part about her being clingy? Nya wasn’t clingy, and he had hurt her deeply when he’d said that.

And still, she had foolishly reached out to him during a time when she had been weak and needed a sexual fix. She had remembered only the good times between them and forgotten the hurt. It was her selective memory that had led her to call Russell nine months earlier when she had been lonely. She’d invited him over, telling him that there would be no strings attached, that she just wanted him for one night. He’d come over, and they’d made love. But in the morning, Russell had humiliated her by telling her that the sex hadn’t meant anything. And that he knew in his heart she wasn’t the woman for him.

The memory left a bitter taste in her mouth, even now. She knew that it shouldn’t matter to her what Russell did or what he thought, not after the callous way he had treated her. The week before he’d dumped her, he’d played things up with her, being even more romantic, not arguing with her over the little things, and telling her he wanted to surprise her.

She had been surprised, all right. And then she had run out of the restaurant in tears.

There were far better ways to break up with someone. Heck, she would have appreciated a text more. But after dating for two years and talking about moving in together, talking about his plans as a director, and her being there to support his every dream, it had stung for him to—without warning—shatter her world.

Russell was clearly a pig. Even when he had slept with her that one night, he had obviously been involved with Topaz. Which meant he had been cheating on Topaz, as well. The arrogant jerk believed he was God’s gift to women.

Nya looked up at Tyler. Gorgeous, tall, sexy as hell... She knew that her kiss with Tyler had gotten to Russell. She’d seen the surprise in his eyes. Russell was the kind of guy who wanted to feel that he had one-upped you and left you devastated.

“It’s no doubt he was flaunting Topaz to get to me,” Nya muttered, glancing away.

“What was that?”

Nya faced Tyler. “Topaz. I always suspected that she was sleeping with Russell while we were together. And just now she pretty much admitted it.”

A look of utter confusion came over Tyler’s face, and he shook his head. “Clearly, Russell’s missing a few screws.” His eyes roamed over Nya from head to toe, leaving her feeling flushed. “For him to dump someone like you...” He made a face.

Nya swallowed. “Thank you,” she said. “You’re very kind. Why do you even want to do this?”

“I have a sense of adventure,” Tyler said. “And I happen to be free on Friday night. Movie premiere, a swanky after party. At least we should be able to have a good time.”

Nya regarded Tyler with more than a modicum of suspicion. Did he really want to go to the premiere for the adventure?

Whatever his reasons, it was clear that Tyler was going to insist that they go. And how could Nya insist that they not? After all, she’d brought this situation on herself.

“Okay,” Nya said. “We’ll do this.” And she would play it up for Russell’s benefit, because she wanted him to know that he hadn’t crushed her forever. Russell would be jealous just thinking about how hot things were with her and Tyler between the sheets.

Oh, he would regret how he had treated her.

“I can pick you up at five, if that works for you,” Tyler said. “Take you to dinner first.”

Dinner first? The mere suggestion caused Nya’s stomach to flutter. Sheesh, this wasn’t a real date.

“Why don’t you call me at the studio on Thursday?” Nya suggested. But she knew that she would not be going to dinner with him. She didn’t want to give him the wrong impression. “On Thursday, I’ll be able to have a look at my schedule and make plans then. Sometimes I have to stay late if Sabrina’s got a booking.”

Tyler nodded. “Sounds like a plan.”

“All right.” Nya placed her hands on her hips, not sure what to say. “Talk to you later, then.” She lifted her drink from the bar, downed the rest of it and walked off in search of Sabrina. She had a headache and wanted to leave.

Chapter 3

The next morning, besides waking up with a headache, Nya was overcome with a profound sense of embarrassment. Had she really kissed a virtual stranger in public last night?

She sat up in bed, and reality settled over her like a wet blanket. No, she hadn’t had a nightmare. And she couldn’t even claim to have been influenced by alcohol. She had kissed Tyler McKenzie, all right.

“What was I thinking?” she asked herself. It was completely unlike her to have done something so spontaneous and reckless. How foolish of her to try to prove anything to Russell.

“You utter idiot,” she mumbled. No wonder Tyler had baited her with the comment that she had been looking for an excuse to kiss him. What girl past high school would do something so juvenile to get back at a boy who’d dumped her?

Despite the throbbing pain in her skull and the desire to lie in bed for another couple of hours, Nya threw off the covers and stood. The tile floor was cold beneath her feet, jolting her awake.

She had a mission today. And that mission was to apologize to Tyler and cancel their fake date for Friday night. For some reason, Tyler had pressed the idea of going out with her, perhaps just for the entertainment value of seeing what would happen next. But Nya would not be attending the screening with Tyler or anyone else.

A night of sleep had driven home the point that proving something to Russell simply didn’t matter. She was over him, and she had been petty and immature to even try to make a point to him. It was just that she’d been alarmed to see him at the event and had had a knee-jerk reaction. But she was over it now.

Nya showered, which made her feel better. Then she got dressed. Along with her resolve to stop dating and become comfortable being on her own had come a change in attire. Her sexy outfits were in the back of her closet, and she’d opted for jeans and sensible skirts coupled with conservative blouses. Her dresses now went well past the knee and weren’t too low at her cleavage.

No point in attracting the wrong kind of attention.

And the flats she wore these days were far more comfortable for her ten-minute walk to the studio than the heels she used to wear. Not to mention the fact that wearing flats had allowed her to walk to work much more, which had contributed to her twelve-pound weight loss over the past few months.

Nya didn’t know if Tyler was working at the firehouse today, but luckily Sabrina, who had met sexy firefighter Mason Foley months ago and was still dating him, could relay a message to Tyler. It was Wednesday. There was still time to cancel their date for Friday night.

Nya stopped at a local coffee shop a block over from the studio, where she worked as Sabrina’s receptionist and secretary. She got a large cappuccino for herself and a large caramel latte for Sabrina. The single-serve coffee brewer in the studio’s kitchen was nice, but there were days when a girl needed something stronger, and this was one of them.

Minutes later, Nya was at the studio. It amazed her that the place looked almost exactly as it had before the fire, only better. Five months ago, fire had raged through the lower half of the studio when Sabrina’s father’s wife, Marilyn, had thrown a Molotov cocktail through the front window. Consumed with jealousy and anger toward Sabrina, who had been the product of an affair, Marilyn hadn’t wanted Sabrina reaching out to her children—Sabrina’s half siblings—and had tried to get rid of her. Just last month, Marilyn had pleaded guilty to attempted murder and had been sentenced to fifteen years in prison. She’d been given a lighter sentence for admitting her guilt.

The community had rallied around Sabrina, perhaps in part because of the media attention but also because of Mason’s status as a well-respected firefighter. People donated their time and their products and got the studio reconstructed and renovated in four months. The interior now looked better than before, with a more modern feel, new marble flooring and an exit door in the back that would allow for easy escape if there was another fire. Mason had seen to it that the building would never be a possible death trap again.

Sabrina was a workaholic, and Nya was certain that she would find her already in the office. Sabrina lived in an apartment right above the studio, which had largely been untouched by the fire. She was at work earlier and earlier these days, because business had tripled after the firefighter calendar project.

But as busy as Sabrina was, she was definitely making time for love with Mason.

The front door chimes sang as Nya unlocked and opened the door. It was just before nine-thirty, and the office opened at ten, so Nya left the Closed sign in the window.

“Hey,” she called out.

When Sabrina didn’t reply, Nya made her way down the hallway that led to the studio in the back. Opening the door, she found Sabrina at her desk in front of her giant Mac computer screen—exactly where Nya expected to see her. Her hair was piled in a loose bun, and she was still wearing her pajamas.

“Morning,” Nya said.

Sabrina turned, her eyes registering surprise. Then she pulled the earbuds out of her ears.

“Morning,” Sabrina said with a warm smile.

“How long have you been up?”

“I came down just after seven.”

“Ouch.” Nya winced.

“I’ve got to get those pictures together from the Miller wedding before they come in later this week.”

“You’ve got time,” Nya said.

“Not when more work keeps piling up,” Sabrina countered. “If I don’t keep on top of it, I’ll be buried fast.”

Nya walked toward her, extending the cup tray as she did. “Yours is on the right. A large caramel latte with soy milk.”

Sighing happily, Sabrina lifted the coffee from the tray. “Thank you. I need this today.”

“You’re welcome.”

Suddenly, Sabrina eyed Nya suspiciously. “Everything okay?”

“Sure. Why wouldn’t it be?”

“Well, for one thing, you’re bringing me a large latte. You always do that when you want something.”

“I’m offended,” Nya huffed. And to prove that she didn’t want anything, she changed the subject. “Did you spend the night with Mason at least? Or did you send him home because you had to get up early to get to work?”

“Oh, he was here,” Sabrina said, and a smile danced on her lips. “But he had to work at seven. So he was up early. Which worked out, because I needed to be up early, too.”

“Good. I’m glad you’re not putting work before your man.”

“Definitely not. Now that I’ve found Mason, I’m not about to take him for granted. But it does mean a lot less sleep.” Sabrina sipped her latte. “So I definitely appreciate this.”

“Nothing like a strong jolt of java to get you started for your day.” Nya sipped her own coffee and drew in a deep, satisfied breath. Wow, did she ever need this. Between thinking about the encounter with Russell and the kiss she had planted on Tyler, she hadn’t gotten nearly enough sleep.

Wandering around to stand behind Sabrina, Nya looked at the photos on the screen. Once again, Sabrina had captured some elegant photos that this couple would cherish.

“Those are beautiful,” Nya said. “Oooh, the ones at the pier... I love them. Especially that one.” Nya pointed at the screen. In this particular photo, the bride’s veil was flowing in the wind, and the camera had captured it beautifully.

“Thank you.”

“You just keep getting better and better,” Nya said.

Nya had begun toying with photography in her spare time. But she hadn’t dared to tell Sabrina about her newly piqued interest.

“Everyone loved the calendar,” Nya went on. “That picture of Mason, with his chest glistening, was particularly sexy.”

Sabrina grinned. “It’s possible I put a little more effort into his photos.”

“Speaking of Mason,” Nya began cautiously, “I do have a favor to ask.”

Sabrina flashed her a knowing look. “I knew it! You always bring me my favorite latte when you want something.”

“Am I that transparent?”

“Only to me. What do you want? And what could it possibly have to do with Mason?”

Sighing, Nya sank into one of the two chairs opposite Sabrina’s desk. “Remember I told you that Russell showed up at the gala last night?”

“How could I forget? He’s the reason you left early.”

“Well, I need you to talk to Mason. Tell him to tell Tyler McKenzie that the date for Friday night is off.”

Sabrina blinked a couple of times as she stared at her with a quizzical expression. “Okay, maybe I need to drink this coffee first, because I’m not making sense of what you’re telling me.”

Nya sipped her coffee before continuing. “Something happened last night. Something I didn’t get a chance to tell you. It’s no big deal, and clearly it was just a reaction to seeing Russell.”

“Still confused,” Sabrina said.

“When I saw Russell last night, he was heading toward me with Topaz. You remember Topaz?”

“The woman he cast in his film. The one you suspected he was sleeping with.”

“Yes,” Nya said. “Well, seeing Topaz on his arm...I kind of freaked out.”

“What does any of this have to do with Tyler?” Sabrina asked.

“Because I did something really stupid. When Russell was walking toward me, with Topaz practically all over him, I panicked. I didn’t know what to do, and all I could think about was the last time I’d spoken to Russell and how he’d humiliated me and acted as though I’d never get over him...” Nya knew she was rambling, and Sabrina’s look of confusion grew more intense. “I was at the bar to get a drink, and when I saw Russell, I—I just turned to the guy next to me and started kissing him.”

“What?” Sabrina’s eyes were bulging.

“I know, it was completely crazy.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa,” Sabrina said, holding up a hand. “Are you telling me you kissed someone randomly? Literally just laid one on some guy at the bar? To what? Make a point to Russell?”

“Saying it like that makes me sound incredibly stupid. I wasn’t thinking. I just acted. Worst of all, it turns out that the man I kissed was that sexy firefighter, Tyler. He played along with the kiss...perhaps a little too well. Now Tyler and I are supposed to go to the film premiere on Friday night, but I don’t want to go. I can’t. And that’s why I need Mason.”

Sabrina drank more coffee. “There are a lot of blanks you’re not filling in for me, but that’s okay. Let’s start from the beginning. What film premiere?” But before Nya could answer, Sabrina continued, “Ohhhh. You mean Russell’s film? He finally finished it? And the premiere is on Friday night?”

“Yes. The world premiere is on Friday night, followed by an after party, and he said he wants me there. Probably just to rub his success in my face.”

“Why did you say yes if you don’t want to?”

“Russell produced two tickets and gave them to Tyler. I tried to decline, but for some reason Tyler told him we’d be there. Probably as a bit of payback for me kissing him the way I did. I didn’t want to force the issue and keep refusing when Tyler was pretending to be my boyfriend.”

“So you didn’t just kiss him. You guys pretended to be a couple.”

“There was no plan. As I said, it just happened. But the last thing I want to do is go to Russell’s movie premiere, and God only knows why Tyler wants to go. Maybe he actually wants to see the film, or just wants to go for the experience—”

“Or he wants to spend more time with you.”

The words caused Nya to swallow her breath and hold it. Did he? He had certainly kissed her back as though he’d been interested, but she had specifically told him to play along. Still, there had been undeniable heat between them as they’d shared that kiss.

Which was exactly why she didn’t want to go out with him on Friday night. Not now that she’d sworn off dating.

“I don’t want to spend more time with him,” Nya said, trying to push the memory of Tyler’s mouth out of her mind as she met Sabrina’s eyes again. “You know that I’ve sworn off dating for a year. It’s been four months, and I’ve been going strong with my commitment. I’m not going to waver. So can you please have Mason tell Tyler that I won’t be going on Friday night? Considering they work together, it shouldn’t be any trouble for him to pass the message along.”

“You sure you don’t want to go?” Sabrina asked. “Aren’t you curious about the film?”

“I can watch it whenever it’s released on DVD,” Nya said. “I just can’t stomach the idea of spending a night watching a project that Russell and I started working on when we were dating. It’s not about being hung up on him. It’s about not wanting my past to keep invading my personal space.”

Sabrina shrugged. “Sure. I’ll ask Mason to tell him.”

Nya’s shoulders drooped with relief. “Thank you.”

Sabrina’s eyes suddenly bulged. “Oh, heck. I’ve got to get some clothes on.” She jumped to her feet. “And take a quick shower before my ten o’clock appointment.

Nya also stood. “You’ve got twenty minutes.”

As Sabrina hurried out of the studio, Nya inhaled a deep, calming breath. She could finally de-stress. Mason was going to talk to Tyler and cancel the date.

And Nya could get back to enjoying her intentionally single life.

Chapter 4

“So?” Mason began, his eyebrows raised. “What’s going on with you and Nya?”

Tyler, Mason and the other firefighters had just returned to the firehouse from a vehicle fire on the Pacific Highway. An SUV had collided with a minivan, and the SUV had caught fire. Thankfully, they’d been able to get the woman and her son out of the car alive, but badly burned. It had been a scene of chaos and fear, after which the mood among the firefighters at Station Two had been dour. So it was an odd time for Mason to be bringing up the subject of Nya.

“Why are you asking me about Nya?” Tyler asked as he began to remove his turnout jacket.

“Sabrina,” Mason said. “I just checked my phone, and I missed a call and a text from her. She said she needed to convey an urgent message about your date with Nya on Friday night. Nya wants you to know that she’s canceling.” Mason flashed him a confused look. “I didn’t even know you knew Nya.”

Tyler hung his jacket on its hook, then began to take off his boots. So Nya was trying to cancel on him. After all the great points he had made about why they should go to the screening?

Tyler wasn’t about to let her off that easily. In fact, all last night he had remembered the shock—then excitement—when she’d kissed him.

“I met her last night,” Tyler said. “Well, I met her again I should say. Obviously, I met her when I went to the studio for my shoot.”

Tyler felt two strong hands press into his shoulders from behind then heard Omar ask, “Are you talking about that beautiful woman you were kissing last night?”

Mason’s eyes widened with surprise. Tyler tried not to show any reaction, though he hated that Omar had blurted that out. But what did Tyler expect? Firefighters were family, and families always teased each other about personal matters.

And when it came to women and dating, Omar was the biggest devil’s advocate. He seemed determined to keep some kind of score and to prove to everyone else that he could get any woman he wanted.

Omar had probably been waiting for the right moment to bring up last night’s incident, but the morning had been unusually busy with the carbon monoxide call, and now this vehicle fire on the freeway. But Omar had been standing next to him at the bar when Nya had suddenly kissed him. One minute, Omar was pointing out to Tyler a woman that he hoped to go home with. The next, Tyler was making out with Nya in the middle of the bar.

“What about you?” Tyler asked Omar. “Did you hook up with that woman you were checking out?”

“Forget about Omar,” Mason said. “He’s always getting action. You, on the other hand...you were kissing Nya?”

“Hell must have frozen over,” one of the other guys said, and a few of them started laughing.

“Very funny, guys,” Tyler said, and told himself not to be annoyed. The subject of his love life—or lack thereof—always brought about jokes. Yes, he had stayed with Carol months after their relationship had all but died—and the guys had known it—which was why they acted as though he was completely hung up on his ex. Was it really wrong to have tried to work things out with Carol after investing years with her?

Omar would definitely say yes. Had it been his relationship, he would have left a long time ago and found a new woman to keep him warm.

“You think every time I get some action I come here and gossip about it like a schoolgirl?” Tyler asked. “A real man knows how to keep certain things to himself.”

There were some “Ooohs,” and another firefighter elbowed Omar in the ribs playfully.

“Hey,” Omar began, “I know how much you all enjoy the details. That’s why I share.”

Tyler turned away from Omar and met Mason’s curious gaze. “Did you actually take Nya home for a one-night stand?” he asked, giving Tyler a look that said he would be less surprised if he had been abducted by aliens last night.

“What—you think it couldn’t happen?” Tyler countered.

“Hey, if you’ve finally put Carol in the rearview mirror...” Mason patted him on the shoulder.

“Oh, come on,” Tyler protested. “Not the Carol lecture again.”

“We wouldn’t give you a hard time about Carol if you’d actually date other women,” Omar said. “You broke up how long ago?”

Tyler cut his eyes at Omar, who seemed to believe that if he wasn’t chasing tail every day, then he was abnormal. Guys like that couldn’t understand that it made sense to take some time for yourself after breaking up with a fiancée.