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Up In Flames
Kira Sinclair
Once burned, twice shyLola Whittaker can't remember a time when she didn't want smokejumper Erik McKnight—those stormy grey eyes, that rock-hard bod. But once burned, twice shy, and Lola swore she would never make the same mistake again. But that won’t stop her from making a new one. Like getting into the wrong bunk and having the hottest night of her life–with Erik.Erik knows Lola will never forgive him for what happened that disastrous night six years ago – he sure as hell hasn’t forgiven himself. But when the woman he’s dreamed about every night since climbs into his bed, it’s impossible to turn her away.It’s just one night, right? Except now, Lola’s pregnant...
Once burned, twice shy
Lola Whittaker can’t remember a time when she didn’t want smoke jumper Erik McKnight—those stormy gray eyes, that rock-hard bod... But once burned, twice shy, and Lola swore she would never make the same mistake again. But that won’t stop her from making a new one. Like getting into the wrong bunk and having the hottest night of her life—with Erik.
Erik knows Lola will never forgive him for what happened that disastrous night six years ago—he sure as hell hasn’t forgiven himself. But when the woman he’s dreamed about every night since climbs into his bed, it’s impossible to turn her away.
It’s just one night, right? Except now Lola’s pregnant...
Were they ever going to be able to be in the same room together without striking sparks off each other?
Maybe Lola just needed to let go, give in and let fate take control.
“What exactly do you think is the right thing, Erik? Because I don’t know anymore. What I do know is that being this close to you and not having the right to touch you makes me ache.”
He closed his eyes briefly, then opened them. The heat that engulfed her left her skin feeling too tight to hold her in. “You always have the right to touch me, Lo. Any time. Any way.”
Reaching out, Lola pressed her hand against the hard planes of his chest. The heat of his skin burned straight through her. Cool droplets clung to him, sparkling in the sunlight. And she was done denying what she wanted.
Leaning forward, Lola ran her tongue across his skin, collecting the droplets and savoring the taste of him.
“Lola,” he groaned deep in his throat. The rumble of her name rolling off his tongue pulled any last resistance out from under her.
This was what she wanted. Erik was what she wanted.
And she was strong enough to take what was in front of her.
She’d worry about the aftermath later...
Dear Reader (#uf6b80eb7-f6f3-58fb-ba12-7c6477a93032),
I’m so lucky to count several firefighters among my personal friends. They’re the most honorable, dedicated and brave men and women I’ve ever met. As you can imagine, it was easy to envision a hero that possessed these same qualities. A man no one—including my heroine—could help but fall for...twice.
Erik McKnight definitely fits that bill, risking his own life over and over to save others. So what if he’s got a reckless streak and a guilty conscience no sacrifice can seem to assuage? That is, until he returns home and finally confronts the chain of events that cost him everything—including the only woman he’s ever loved.
In the course of writing Up in Flames I had the honor of accompanying several local firefighters on a ride-along. The guys were more than willing to share all the aspects of their job, giving me an amazing glimpse into the reality of their lives. We won’t talk about how the jacket absolutely swallowed me whole! Or how inadequate I felt watching them move like a well-oiled machine to help someone with a serious medical issue. But we can talk about how that experience solidified for me just how much we all owe these men and women who sacrifice time from their families in order to protect others.
I’ve been privileged over the past few years to support a charity that provides financial support to local firefighters who are sick or injured. If you’d like to donate, please feel free to visit www.imathlete.com/donate/brothersforlifebenefitfund (http://www.imathlete.com/donate/brothersforlifebenefitfund).
I hope you enjoy reading Erik and Lola’s story! I’d love to hear from you at kirasinclair.com (http://www.kirasinclair.com), or come chat with me on Twitter, @KiraSinclair (https://twitter.com/KiraSinclair).
Best wishes,
Kira
Up in Flames
Kira Sinclair
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
KIRA SINCLAIR writes emotional, passionate contemporary romances. A double winner of the National Readers’ Choice Award, her first foray into writing fiction was for a high school English assignment. Nothing could dampen her enthusiasm...not even being forced to read the love story aloud to the class. Writing about sexy heroes and strong women has always excited her. She lives with her two beautiful daughters in North Alabama. Kira loves to hear from readers at kirasinclair.com (http://www.kirasinclair.com).
I’d like to dedicate Up In Flames to all the men and women who serve the Decatur, Alabama, fire and rescue department, especially Brandon Strickland. Thank you all for your service and sacrifice.
Contents
Cover (#u6aa84245-3e11-5516-be8f-b23844bd5795)
Back Cover Text (#u5c4c28f3-0233-5988-a79e-41983e27c9df)
Introduction (#u44f0738c-91db-5f4c-a9a1-3592480e94fc)
Dear Reader (#uefc7e65f-fa5a-581b-a362-b31274ef226f)
Title Page (#u0da5da44-a249-5337-b68c-d6869c53bae2)
About the Author (#ub019cb6f-ee11-5379-9c1a-278bab9ba044)
Dedication (#ud6463027-a6dc-5a91-aae4-639105d51dea)
Chapter 1 (#u928439c1-175e-5a99-8a27-156325b829ac)
Chapter 2 (#u298681a6-4132-5c5e-9b9e-53cbf5cfe69d)
Chapter 3 (#u23483f31-ae52-5543-8ec9-8645eab917fd)
Chapter 4 (#udc0c0179-9e90-59e1-aee3-85552f91e706)
Chapter 5 (#litres_trial_promo)
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)
Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)
1 (#uf6b80eb7-f6f3-58fb-ba12-7c6477a93032)
“LOOKING GOOD, as always, babe,” Sean said. Lola Whittaker frowned as he slung his arm around her waist, pulling her into the warmth of his body even as his fingers dipped dangerously close to her butt.
It was a familiar gesture, one that said he was comfortable touching her. Lola wished she felt the same. With a shake of her head, she dropped one hand from the camera she’d been holding up to her eye and used the easy excuse to direct his hand higher. “I’m working.”
What was wrong with her? Sean Morris was a good guy. Easygoing, intelligent, honorable. Sexy as hell in a boy next door kinda way. He’d asked her out several times over the past few months, and while her head said she should give him a chance...she’d never found a reason to say yes.
Considering he worked as a firefighter for her dad, she had two good reasons to say no.
Lola twisted her fingers into her worn camera strap. The camera he’d given her so many years ago. The one she couldn’t get rid of, no matter that she’d upgraded to a newer model at the studio. Whenever she took photographs just for herself, this was the camera she pulled out.
A good reminder why getting involved with Sean—or any firefighter—was a bad idea. She’d already messed with one and had the battle scars to prove it. She wasn’t ready to jump into something with another guy who embraced danger for a living, even for a noble cause.
“Get your hand away from my sister’s ass, you moron,” Colton drawled, punctuating his order with a smack across Sean’s arm.
Sean laughed good-naturedly, holding his hands up and backing slowly away. “I’ll just go sweet-talk a slice of cake from Mrs. Monahan.”
“You do that,” Colt grumbled. Her brother steered his wheelchair beside her, looking out over the group of people scattered across the park. The Memorial Day family picnic was a tradition, one her grandfather started. He’d been fire chief in Sweetheart, South Carolina, before her own dad had taken over twelve years ago.
Both of her sisters had come into town for the long weekend. Over by the tables, her older sister, Suzi, bustled to organize the casseroles, congealed salads and fixings that appeared at every Southern potluck. Her younger sister, Kayla, type A extraordinaire, was busy grouping the desserts by type. Heaven forbid that pies, cakes, brownies and cookies comingled.
Memories of her mom filling that role, organizing things in her quiet, authoritative way, reared up. A stab of pain accompanied the memory. It had been fourteen years since they’d lost her to a drunk driver, but the pain never seemed to go away. Lola had simply gotten used to living with that hole in her heart.
Her father, along with half the Sweetheart fire brigade, stood around the exceedingly huge grill. She wouldn’t have been surprised if several of them were grunting like cavemen as they stared at the obscene amount of sizzling meat.
Raising her camera again, Lola snapped a quick picture, somehow managing to capture the pride and contentment on her dad’s face. There was nothing he loved better than having all of his team gathered around him.
Wives and girlfriends clustered together, chatting and intermittently hollering at kids as they tore through the town park.
This was home. Family.
Lola had worked hard to find her place in the sleepy little town she loved so much. She was proud of the successful business she owned. Between graduation pictures, spring family portraits and wedding season, she’d barely had a weekend off in months. She loved, absolutely loved, what she did and was so lucky to be able to make a living at it.
So why had she felt so restless lately?
It was hard to put her finger on it, but even now, during the weekend that she looked forward to every year, she couldn’t shake her sense of disquiet. Not even the weight of a camera in her hand calmed her—and it had always calmed her before.
Frustrated with herself, Lola tried to refocus on the view through her lens. She walked several paces closer to the playground, crouching down to capture action shots of the Mitchell twins. At four, both boys were holy terrors, but adorable ones.
Spinning in place, Lola tracked across the gathered group, looking for other moments to capture.
“Sis, why don’t you put the camera away and enjoy the party?”
She was so used to the quiet whoosh of Colton’s tires across grass and gravel that she hadn’t even heard him follow her. But she should have known he wouldn’t be far behind.
He’d been her right hand for the past six years...ever since the accident. They’d always been close, two years apart, sandwiched between Suzi and Kayla, but working together had only strengthened the bond between them.
That and almost losing him.
“Try interacting with folks for a change instead of just watching through that camera of yours. Remember? I purposely left this weekend open so you could take a few days off. But in order for that to happen, you actually need to put down the camera.”
Lola breathed deeply and tried not to let her bad mood spill out over her big brother. He was just trying to be helpful, although this conversation was becoming increasingly frequent—not to mention increasingly annoying.
“I enjoy having a camera in my hand, Colt. You know that.”
“Sure, but every now and again you need to engage with people. You know, create your own memories instead of preserving other people’s.”
With a sigh, Lola cradled the camera in her palm and let it drop to her side. “Fine.” If for no other reason than to get him off her back, she walked to the parking lot. Popping the hatch on her small SUV, she carefully packed her camera back into the worn padded bag.
The sound of crunching gravel whispered behind her, but Lola ignored it. No doubt a late arrival to the festivities. Stepping back, she slammed the door shut, whirled around and barreled straight into a solid wall of muscle.
Her body reacted, shock and awareness crashing through her. Heavy hands gripped her shoulders, steadying her. Electricity crackled across her skin.
A lump formed in her throat. She recognized him long before her gaze could travel up to take in his face. But she knew. Her body remembered. Reacted.
All too much.
Slowly Lola’s gaze tracked up from the center of a wide chest, over unbelievably rounded shoulders, up the long column of a thick throat to the eyes that still haunted her dreams—and her nightmares.
Those familiar smoky grays stared back at her, somber and searching. The impact of him was unexpected. Heat erupted across her skin, radiating out from where he held her like fire consuming paper. The few other times she’d seen him over the years, she’d been prepared. Knew Erik was in town.
Today she wasn’t ready. Her mouth was bone dry. So many emotions careened through her. She had about as much control as a runaway car in the middle of an action movie. Which pissed her off.
Correction—the man touching her like he still had the right to pissed her off.
Jerking away from him, Lola sucked in a harsh breath.
“Lola. It’s good to see you.”
“Erik. I can’t say the same.”
That wasn’t strictly true. Because even as anger—anger she’d been harboring for the last six years—burst through her, she couldn’t stop her gaze from ripping down his body. Cataloging the differences and ensuring herself he was whole and safe.
He was bigger—pure muscle. Considering the work he did now, that was no surprise. Smoke jumping wasn’t for weaklings. It was, however, for daredevils and adrenaline junkies. Erik McKnight was both.
Hurt flashed through his eyes but was gone before she could even blink. Rocking back on his heels, he stuffed both hands into his jeans pockets. “I’m sorry you still feel that way.”
Wow, so he’d finally issued her an apology. Hardly for the right reasons, though.
“What are you doing here?”
“Didn’t your dad or Colt tell you?”
