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Passion Ignited
Kayla Perrin
They're turning up the heat…on love Haunted by a life he couldn't save, Omar Ewing walked away from his successful family business to become a firefighter–risking his own life every day. Now he's sworn to track down an arsonist who's already struck twice. Working with beautiful local journalist Gabrielle Leonard definitely has its perks…until the man who finds it safer to play the field is in danger of losing his heart.Gabrielle has her own reasons for teaming up with Omar to investigate the suspicious blazes. But the seductive San Francisco firefighter is bringing her dangerously close to a flame that has burned her before. With each scorching kiss, Omar is branding her his woman. But when Gabrielle becomes a target, will she be able to trust her future to the man who has vowed to protect her at all costs?
They’re turning up the heat...on love
Haunted by a life he couldn’t save, Omar Ewing walked away from his successful family business to become a firefighter—risking his own life every day. Now he’s sworn to track down an arsonist who’s already struck twice. Working with beautiful local journalist Gabrielle Leonard definitely has its perks...until the man who finds it safer to play the field is in danger of losing his heart.
Gabrielle has her own reasons for teaming up with Omar to investigate the suspicious blazes. But the seductive San Francisco firefighter is bringing her dangerously close to a flame that has burned her before. With each scorching kiss, Omar is branding her his woman. But when Gabrielle becomes a target, will she be able to trust her future to the man who has vowed to protect her at all costs?
And then he did it. He pulled her into his arms, and she gasped slightly just before his lips came down on hers. Even as he started to kiss her, he wasn’t sure what he was doing. There was just so much fire between them and this was the only thing that would quench it.
Gabrielle stiffened in his arms, a moan of protest escaping her lips. But as he slipped his arms around her slim waist and pulled her against his body, he felt the moment when she surrendered to the kiss.
She softened against him, and Lord, all of the tension ebbed out of Omar’s body. This was how he wanted her. Her lips and body pressed against his. As she kissed him back, the woman who seemed only able to fight with him morphed into someone else. She was blossoming into—
Gabrielle violently pushed herself out of his arms. As she looked up at him, her eyes shot fire. “What the heck are you doing?” she demanded.
“Kissing you.”
“I know that. But, my God, why?”
“Seemed like the most effective way to quiet you,” Omar muttered. He wasn’t surprised when her eyes widened with fury.
Dear Reader (#u575eb40b-bf8b-5d05-9b75-4c74d42140e1),
Sometimes it’s tough being a romance writer. Imagining all those hot heroes and sexy scenes? Delving into a world where that sexy hero becomes putty in the right woman’s hands? It’s hard work!
Of course, I’m kidding. Not about writing being hard work, but it’s certainly the best work for the very reasons I mentioned above. What’s better than writing about a hot hero and a feisty heroine who meet and there’s instant fire?
That’s exactly what happens in Passion Ignited. Literally, sparks fly between Omar and Gabrielle because they’re at a fire scene. And also figuratively, because the heat between them is immediate.
I know how much you love continuing stories—and a playboy hero who doesn’t want to settle down. That’s why this book is about Omar, who you may recognize from the first two books in my Love on Fire series. Little does Omar know, his playboy days are numbered! This was a fun story to write, and I hope you all love it!
Kayla
Passion Ignited
Kayla Perrin
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
KAYLA PERRIN is a multi-award winning, multi-published USA TODAY and Essence bestselling author. She’s been writing since she could hold a pencil and sent her first book to a publisher when she was just thirteen years old. Since 1998, she’s had over fifty novels and novellas published. She’s been featured in Ebony, RT Book Reviews, South Florida Business Journal, the Toronto Star and other Canadian and US publications. Her works have been translated into Italian, German, Spanish and Portuguese. In 2011, Kayla received the prestigious Harry Jerome Award for excellence in the arts in Canada. She lives in the Toronto area with her daughter.
You can find Kayla on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Please visit her website at kaylaperrin.com (http://kaylaperrin.com).
For Chloe,
my beautiful and talented daughter.
Your drive and artistic ability
inspire me everyday.
Never give up on your dreams!
I can’t wait to see how high your star rises.
Contents
Cover (#ub9c9b084-ff44-544e-b16d-90f00e6f4d38)
Back Cover Text (#u52228803-d6aa-5efa-b78d-ca8709e7b590)
Introduction (#u45b13f3c-a898-5b40-8cd4-08d79fa04830)
Dear Reader
Title Page (#u88830a4f-0835-5e66-bbef-4f103b702dd2)
About the Author (#uf9ad3939-8259-597f-8d0a-b1420cfd2406)
Dedication (#ua5486fa1-82a2-55c2-bce8-4280c5b65b47)
Chapter 1 (#ulink_ef64a130-068b-5141-bf8a-e91adf7c782d)
Chapter 2 (#ulink_507797bd-04a6-5945-b0a4-5245df293f32)
Chapter 3 (#ulink_9e48bdc8-8d11-56c7-9f00-ee03e3e0fd22)
Chapter 4 (#ulink_0b1fd56c-61d4-517c-865c-52d8d093ac55)
Chapter 5 (#ulink_f74b828c-f850-561e-a6d7-3a2d28665170)
Chapter 6 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 7 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 8 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 9 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 10 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 11 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 12 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 13 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 14 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 15 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 16 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 17 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 18 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 19 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 20 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 21 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 22 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 23 (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 24 (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
Chapter 1 (#ulink_8aa50f27-d69b-5b6f-b791-67eb63a9156e)
The somber rendition of “Going Home” filled the air, played as it always was, by the bagpipe and drum band. The rhythmic sound of dress boots hitting the asphalt in unison accompanied the sound of the music. Firefighters from all of Ocean City’s fire departments marched in formation, following the ladder truck that carried Dean Dunbar’s flag-draped coffin.
Omar Ewing hated the sound of the pipe and drum band. Hated it with a passion. Besides the rare happy occasions—like Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations—this type of music always signified a funeral.
Firefighters from well beyond Ocean City’s borders in California—even from outside the country—lined the streets for the procession. Police officers and paramedics were among the crowd, too. The case of the Ocean City arsonist had garnered international attention and the turnout to pay final respects to Lt. Dean Dunbar was impressive.
It was exactly as Lt. Omar Ewing knew it would be. Firefighters and other first responders always supported each other when someone was killed in the line of duty. If it was feasible, they traveled as far as they could to attend the funeral of a fallen brother or sister.
This was no exception.
The procession approached the spot where two fire trucks were on opposite sides of the street, their ladders extended on an angle toward each other. Held up by the ladders was a giant American flag. This was a day to remember Dean’s sacrifice. People were proud of his sacrifice. But all Omar could think about was that it shouldn’t have happened.
He and the rest of his brothers knew the risks of the job they did, of course. But that didn’t make it any easier.
Cameras flashed, video cameras rolled. This story would be on every news station and in newspapers across the country.
A huge number of civilians had come out. They stood on both sides of the road, many waving American flags. A good firefighter had fallen. Dean Dunbar had just been doing his job, protecting the citizens of Ocean City by battling a blaze that had threatened an entire neighborhood. The fire at a meat packaging company had been a monster. Several other firefighters had sustained injuries. All because some sicko was out there taking pleasure in wreaking havoc on the city.
Omar glanced up at the sky. It was bright and sunny, without even a cloud. It seemed illogical that it was such a beautiful day when he and his colleagues were mourning the loss of a fallen brother.
Dean Dunbar had been a firefighter for twenty-two years. His wife and two teenage boys were absolutely devastated. It was hard to see them so grief stricken. His wife in particular was barely able to contain herself. Her two sons were helping hold her upright.
He should have been able to retire and enjoy his family after putting in so many years with the fire department.
But nothing was guaranteed. Not in life, and especially when your job involved putting your life on the line.
Omar knew the risks, but he would have it no other way. For him, saving a life was the ultimate reward. There was no better feeling than knowing he could save someone. It was the reason that he and his fellow firefighters did this dangerous job.
The procession arrived at the church. Dunbar’s widow began to sob as the pallbearers took the coffin from the top of the fire truck. The bagpipe and drums continued to play.
Omar scanned the faces in the crowd. Was the arsonist there? Was he watching with a sense of smug satisfaction?
Omar could only look around briefly before continuing into the church, where he and all the mourners would pay their final respects to Lt. Dean Dunbar.
* * *
Hours later, many of the Ocean City firefighters were packed into a bar. They had come to raise a glass for Dean Dunbar, something they did after every funeral. Omar knew that Dean would want it no other way.
Omar, Mason and a few more of the men from Fire Station Two were sitting at the far end of the bar. There was faint laughter as people remembered Dean fondly. But there was also a lot of sadness and anger.
“We have to catch this guy,” Omar said.
“Absolutely,” Mason agreed. “This has gone on long enough. Now we’ve lost one of our own.”
Omar took a pull of his beer. “Somebody, somewhere knows who this guy is. A girlfriend, a sibling.”
“We’ll get him,” Mason said. “We have to.”
“I have a bad feeling that the arsonist is going to ramp up his game,” Omar commented. “I’ll bet he was in the crowd, watching the procession. Probably got a kick out of seeing the family grieving.”
“There are a lot of deranged people out there,” Paul, another firefighter from their station, said. “Now that someone has died, hopefully everyone will be vigilant. Anything suspicious, people need to report. Whether that’s on the street, or at home. I don’t want to lose another firefighter. And definitely not a civilian.”
Omar raised his beer. “For Dean Dunbar.”
Mason, Paul and the firefighters within earshot raised their glasses. “For Dean Dunbar,” they said in unison.
As Omar drank, he knew there was one other thing they could do to honor Dean’s memory. And that was to find the arsonist.
Hopefully before he struck again.
* * *
Surprisingly—and thankfully—there were no fires over the Christmas holiday. People had gone from being fearful and waiting for the other shoe to drop, to feeling hopeful again. Maybe the arsonist had suddenly gotten a conscience. Maybe he’d gotten bored with setting fires. Or maybe he had moved away.
Whatever the reason, the air seemed clearer in Ocean City, and the sun brighter. People were living their lives again. Until the first week of January when the arsonist struck again. A Chinese restaurant was set ablaze just after midnight.
Tom Sully, the fire chief at Station Two, was on the scene, giving orders. “Ewing, Williams. Get that ladder to the roof so we attack the fire from there. Roman, DeNiro—get a hose to the back of the building. Duff, Riley—you two attack it from the front. The restaurant closed at ten, thank God, so there’s no one inside. Let’s kill this thing—fast!”
A small crowd had gathered on the sidewalk. People stared from the high-rise across the street, looking down undoubtedly with horror at the chaos. But had anyone seen the arsonist?
“When are you going to catch the jerk?” someone yelled.
“How long do we have to live in fear?”
