by Kiki Howell
His words doused the kernel of hope before the emotion had taken root. “Forget it,” she stated flatly. “Cruz!”
“Sorry, but my brother is outside in the ambulance bay with a truck that rolled in hot, red lights and all, along with the rest of the available staff. Code three, I think. I’m all you’ve got. But hey!” He shrugged and turned to leave. “I know when I’m not wanted. Not a completely heartless bastard, I’ll let someone know about your trouble with old Ralph. They’ll get in here...eventually.”
Another squeeze to her backside from Ralph’s wandering hand changed her mind. “Wait! Don’t go!” Panic heightened her anxiety. Her heart thumped against her ribcage, and her breath came in short pants. She continued to struggle against Ralph’s ardent advances. “I’ll have dinner with you. Just get his hands off me.”
Jett turned and advanced on the gurney. Roxanne held her breath expectantly.
“Listen, man. You’ve got a hold of my woman. My baby only kisses me. Right honey?” With a wink, Jett easily disengaged her from Ralph’s passionate embrace and draped a possessive arm around her waist. Heat from his palm seeped into her scrubs and singed her skin.
My woman? My baby?
She wiped at the drool stuck to the side of her face and neck, shuddering. Sidestepping out of Jett’s enthusiastic embrace, she whirled on Ralph to make sure he was still safe on the gurney.
Seemingly exhausted from his zealous effort, he held his arms toward her. “Come here, darlin’,” he slurred. “I need you.”
“What you need, buddy, is to dry out. Now lie back and behave,” she said sternly, placing a palm on his chest and shoved with only enough force to ease him back into a prone position.
He slumped against the pillow and sighed. A half smile curved his lips. She shed her gloves, straightened her scrubs, and rushed to the sink to wash away Ralph’s enthusiastic affection. A masculine chuckle reminded her of her “savior’s” presence. She met his gaze in the mirror. Grey eyes twinkled with amusement, triggering her anger.
“Is that the fastest you move? It’s a good thing I wasn’t in a raging inferno, or I’d be dead!” she whirled around and plunked her hands on her hips.
His charming mask slipped for a fraction of a second. He recovered, casting her a cool smile complete with eyebrow wiggle. “All I need to know is what time to pick you up tonight, sweetheart?”
She leaned her hip on the sink, questioning his overuse of endearments. “You can’t be serious? You’re not going to hold me to your ridiculous blackmail?”
He advanced, brow arched, pausing only after he towered above her five-foot, three-inch frame. “I wouldn’t have taken you for a woman who’d break her word.”
Smoke, soot, and ash filled her nostrils. A few scattered welts bubbled along the side of his neck. He’d been burned. “Let me look at your neck.” Compassion swelled beneath her breast and she speculated about his recent experience fighting a fire.
“Not necessary,” he said, voice gruff.
Was he in danger all the time?
Was he the type of man who thrived on adrenaline?
Was his choice of profession an indicator of how he dated women?
The questions swirled, pointing him in the direction of a perfect subject for The Manifesto. Didn’t hurt that he was drop dead sexy, either. Roxanne tilted her head. The black smudges smearing his face did nothing to diminish his strong allure. Stubble shaded an angular jaw. Her gaze locked onto his full lower lip. Her knees weakened. She was glad the sink behind supported her. She raised her gaze from his tempting mouth and met his amused stare. Challenge blazed in his eyes. He knew exactly how hot he was. Damned if she was going to make this easy for him.
Jett’s lips curved into a mocking smile, dousing the seed of concern before the feeling morphed. He was simply an unknowing participant for her study. That was all. Emotions would only conflict with the entire purpose of The Manifesto. Her study wasn’t about one-night stands. The aim to find suitable, adventurous companions for women’s enjoyment couldn’t be jeopardized. Her gaze clashed with his. The need registered within nearly scorched her. Heat flamed her face.
Roxanne straightened and squared her shoulders, her brain worked furiously for an excuse not to have dinner with him tonight. Any other time to connect would’ve been perfect, but she’d made plans, damn it! She squeezed through the small space he afforded and slipped around Jett. She moved toward the gurney, her back to him. What was one more subject when doing rounds of speed dating? Not the amount of one on one time she’d need for a man like him, but she’d take anything she could get. “I’ll meet you at Nozzleheads Bar and Grill at eight o’clock,” she said.
“I’m looking forward to it,” his voice rumbled close to her ear.
A frisson of awareness quaked through her.
God, help her, she looked forward to their next encounter, too.
AN HOUR LATER, JETT left exam room six, where his roommate suffered an examination for injuries. He was relieved Seth would be released and not admitted to the hospital. Legs unsteady, Jett leaned heavily against the wall in the empty corridor. The black-faced clock above an elevator clicked off the seconds, while his mind replayed the incident that landed his friend in the ER. His chest heaved, throat constricting. An image of Roxanne’s sultry beauty and piercing blue eyes exploded into his consciousness—dispelling his panic, and grounding him in the present.
He glanced toward the closed exam room door where Roxanne and the drunk had been. Imagine his surprise when he’d encountered his guardian angel in a struggle of her own. The dark navy scrubs she wore brought forth the deep blue of her eyes. Her long dark curls, secured into a single ponytail, accentuated her high cheekbones and sensuous mouth.
A smile curved his lips. He would’ve saved her from the clutches of the drunk no matter what her answer had been to his dinner invitation. Good thing she hadn’t noticed his clenched fists. He’d wanted to pound the guy’s face, but what she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.
Feet securely under him, he pushed away from the wall and continued down the hall. Roxanne’s laugh reached him from the adjoining corridor. His steps slowed and he peeked around the corner. He spied her with Cruz by the central nurse’s station just as she shoved a cookie in his brother’s mouth. His twin chewed slowly and easy, an expression of ecstasy etched into his features.
Jealousy twisted Jett’s gut. His hands fisted at his sides.
That cookie belongs to me!
Shit! Jealousy? He shook off the possessive notion. He and Cruz had always competed against one another growing up, but they’d never been in competition for the same woman. Even the reasons they wanted her were different. Jett needed to be rocked into forgetful oblivion, while Cruz was on an elusive quest for...for whatever the hell he wanted. Too bad he hadn’t interrogated his brother last night, but he’d been so pissed off—. Wait. Hadn’t Cruz warned him away from Roxanne? That she was a “nice” girl?
Shit! Shit! Shit!
As he continued to spy, Cruz reached over and placed a hand on her arm. Leaning on the tips of her toes, she kissed Cruz on the cheek, murmuring something Jett couldn’t hear. Tension knotted the muscles between his shoulder blades. She grabbed a couple of charts from the counter and walked down the opposite hall. His brother’s gaze never left her retreating figure, a thoughtful expression on his face.
A little healthy competition never hurt anyone. Nevertheless, the question remained. How could he win Roxanne for a few nights of blissful therapy without alienating his brother in the process? The challenge would be to make Roxanne and Cruz think that she’d purposely chosen Jett over him. How hard could that be? The reality was, women loved to date firemen. How dumb was that? Firemen weren’t a sure bet. Walking dead men with no assured future. Every time he entered a burning building, there was no guarantee he’d come out again, alive. Oh, but the adrenaline rush of helping people and extinguishing the flames...
Jett heaved a sigh. What a load of crap! He could
lie to others, but not himself. Truth was he needed Roxanne for his own sanity. Cruz may have good intentions, but he’d just have to get over it. His brother was just as much a player as Jett. Since Cruz worked with Roxanne, he’d had plenty of time to get with her. He intended to show Roxanne that a few nights with him would be much more exciting than whatever Cruz had to offer. No one would get hurt. No commitments. No strings. His gaze strayed back to his brother, who still stood staring toward the direction Roxanne had gone.
The gloves are off, little brother, may the best man win.
About The Author
USA TODAY BESTSELLING Author Kathleen Grieve is a full time nurse, amateur cake baker, writer, and zombie obsessed. Kathleen draws a lot from the real-life medical drama she experiences as a RN for her novels. Writing romance is a creative outlet where she can effectively deal with the daily stress and sorrow, adding levity and humor to situations that provide a happily ever after when there isn't one. She has recently discovered the fantastic world of air ambulance after 20+ years of working critical care in the hospital and relishes her role as a flight nurse!
Find More by Kathleen Grieve
Dating 911
Dating Impossible
The Doctor's Deception
Sex is the Best Medicine
AfterDark Online Free Read Available Now ~Decadent Medicine
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Torch Song
Lashell Collins
An Inferno Novella
Copyright © Lashell Collins 2017
Cover by ChloeBelle Arts
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or people, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and not intended by the author. This book contains content that may not be suitable for young readers (under age 18).
Torch Song By Lashell Collins
Dominic Draco has no illusions about who he is. As alpha of the dragon clan, he is also the leader of the shifter Alliance, and that sometimes requires him to be ruthless. He’s a dangerous man to know. In fact, he’s a heartless bastard. That’s the real reason he’s kept the beautiful Lucinda Lindley at bay for so many years, despite the longing he feels for the sexy human singer. But in granting an old friend’s dying request, watching over Lucinda is now his responsibility. Can he keep her safe from the perils of his cut-throat world when the Alliance’s enemies begin to circle? Or will Lucinda become a casualty of the shifter faction war?
Chapter One
AS THE MID-TEMPO music began, Dominic rounded the bar of the empty nightclub and headed for the stage, but he stopped dead in his tracks as a young woman began to sing with the loveliest of voices. He was winded at the sight of her. Happened every time. Knowing he had to see her in the near future was one thing, but being caught off guard by her sudden unexpected appearance with no time to center himself nearly knocked him on his ass.
Her innocent beauty never failed to take him captive – creamy, almost porcelain skin, and hair that fell in soft raven waves down past her shoulders. Big soulful brown eyes that seemed as though they had the power to hold forever in their gaze. Dominic was always convinced he could drown inside those deep espresso-colored pools if he stared too long.
What was she doing here? Suddenly flooded with the strong and abiding sense of longing that always came when he was in her presence, he wanted to rush forward and take her into his arms, but he knew that was impossible. His gaze dropped to the floor and he took deep breaths as he fought to collect himself. It wasn’t working. Somehow all the longing he felt was only replaced by anger. What the hell was she doing here?
“What did I tell you, Boss? Isn’t she something?” Thomas, his clansmen, looked at him with a huge smile of excitement over the new musical find. But Dominic couldn’t share in the enthusiasm.
“This is who you hired?” His tone did little to hide his displeasure with the situation as he glared at the nightclub’s booking manager.
“Well, yes. She’s got the voice of an angel, and that stage presence! I think she’s fabulous, don’t you?” The man looked utterly confused.
“Yeah, she’s amazing. Now get her off the stage and out of my club!” He looked at the girl again, briefly making eye contact with her before he turned around and started for his office.
“No. Wait!”
The girl’s plea rang out through the deserted club’s sound system, loud and clear, but Dominic kept walking. He knew there was no way he could avoid the looming confrontation, but he sure as hell wasn’t in any mood for it. He heard, rather than saw her fumbling to return the microphone to its stand. Then she quickly left the stage to run after him as the music abruptly stopped.
“Dom, wait! Please?”
She tugged on his arm, and Dominic finally stopped. He turned to glare at her and was struck once again by her beauty. He shook his head as he looked down into her eyes.
“No. Lucinda, absolutely not!”
The flash of fire in her big brown eyes was almost dragon-like, and it only served to spur on the wickedly carnal thoughts he could never control around her. What was it about this simple human girl that set his dragon heart aflame?
“Why the hell not, Dominic? Give me one good reason!” She placed her fists on her hips as she glared up at him.
“Because your father would not approve!”
Lucinda rolled her eyes at him. “I said a good reason. And how do you know Daddy wouldn’t approve? You know, he loved my singing voice. He told me to pursue my passions. In fact, those were the last words he ever said to me, and that is exactly what I’m doing now!”
No one had expected the man to kill himself. Yeah, his legal troubles looked insurmountable, and his financial future certainly appeared bleak, but suicide? Hell of a thing to do to his daughter, leaving her alone to deal with the fallout. It hadn’t been Jonathan Lindley’s finest moment, to be sure.
“Fine!” Dominic yelled back as he stared at her. Why was she always so damn infuriating? “But you won’t be doing it here.” He side-stepped her and marched back to his office and slammed the door shut with a great huff. Not five seconds later, Lucinda barged in after him.
“Well that’s just fine because I don’t need you or your stupid nightclub!” she yelled as he whirled around to face her. “You know, contrary to what some people think around here, Inferno is not the only game in town. I’ll go to the Lion’s Den.”
She folded her arms in front of her and gave him a haughty pout, and Dominic smirked at her. “The Lion’s Den may hire you as a stripper, sweetheart, but they have no interest in a chanteuse.”
Lucinda’s face turned a deep shade of red. Her shoulders slumped in defeat, and he could actually see all the fight leave her. “Well, then maybe I’ll just strip for a living. I hear the pay is actually pretty great.”
Dominic closed his eyes and cringed at the thought of her taking her clothes off for money. As much as he hated to admit it, she really was in a desperate situation, through no fault of her own. All of Jonathan Lindley’s assets had either been frozen or seized due to his criminal activities, and Lucinda suddenly found herself in the precarious position of having to search for a job for the first time in her life. A process she neither knew anything about, nor had ever been prepared for. Dominic watched as she turned for the door.
“Wait.”
She stopped and glanced back at him. Those big brown eyes he loved so much were full of so much sorrow, and it troubled him. She shouldn’t have to worry about such things. Someone as beautiful and sweet as Lucinda Lindley should never be touched by the cruel, ugly realities of the world. It had only been just over a month now since her father’s suicide, but Dominic still felt blindsided by the loss. He could still hear Jonathan’
s voice in his head. The thought of the man’s rolling laughter actually made Dominic smile.
Almost.
His gaze flitted to the small fire pit on the far side of his office, and he took a deep breath, allowing the warmth to envelop him as the flames rose a little higher in response. No matter the problem, whether stress or sorrow or illness, fire was a constant source of comfort to a dragon shifter. Familiar and inviting, like mother’s milk, and it was exactly what he needed in that moment.
The depth of his own grief surprised him. It was something he hadn’t expected, but the more he thought about it the better he began to understand. Jonathan had been more than just a friend to him. The human had taken him under his wing and taught him everything he knew. In many respects, Jonathan had been like a second father to him. So if he was feeling this way now, he could only imagine the turmoil Lucinda must be going through.
He took a seat on the edge of his desk and clasped his hands together as he looked at her. “Lucinda, I know Jonathan was truly proud of you, and with good reason. You are a very talented girl with a beautiful singing voice.”
“Thank you,” she said, sounding somewhat guarded.
“Jonathan had so many dreams for you, his only child. He talked about it all the time.”
“Then why won’t you help me, Dom?”
He sighed. “Because that man was my closet friend, Lucinda. My mentor. The last time I saw your father, the only thing he asked of me was to keep an eye on you. I thought he was just talking about in case he went to prison.” He smirked and shook his head. “If I had known what he was planning, I would have given him a much harder time about it. But I promised him I would do as he asked and look after you. And I have got to believe that his dreams for you did not include you hanging out in some seedy shifter nightclub ...”
