Up in Flames

by Kira Sinclair

The man Lola had seen in him, the man she and their child deserved.

  And that started with making a leap of faith and hoping hard work and genuine honesty would be enough to win her back. Because despite all of the mistakes, they both deserved to be happy. And he now believed he could give that to her.

  At a knock on his door, Erik turned away from the view for the last time.

  Opening the door, he let Wes, his closest friend here, inside. “Hey, man. Thanks for your help.”

  “Anytime, although on the drive over here I did have an argument with myself about whether I was going to try to talk you out of this.”

  “You can try, but it won’t work.”

  Wes sighed. “I always knew you were temporary, anyway.”

  It was really starting to bother Erik that everyone in his life seemed to think that.

  “Even if your reputation hadn’t preceded you, the first time all the guys went out for beers after work solidified it. I knew there was someone who had a hold on you and figured eventually she’d come back around. Just tell me one thing. Are you happy?”

  Erik fought back a rusty laugh. “Not yet, but I think maybe I could be. She’s pregnant.”

  Wes whistled. “Well, don’t you move fast.”

  Not nearly fast enough. It had taken him six long years to get up the courage to make amends. He wasn’t willing to wait even six days this time.

  “The movers will be here tomorrow to pack everything. Just...” Erik let his gaze rake across his apartment. “Honestly, the only thing I really care about is that photograph on the wall. Don’t let them screw it up.”

  Wes gave him a crooked smile. “You bet. But I’ll make sure they don’t scratch the furniture, either. They know where to deliver everything?”

  This was where he’d taken that huge leap of faith, because as far as he was concerned, failure wasn’t an option.

  “Yep.” He’d given the movers Lola’s address. He figured it would take them about a week to drive his stuff across the country. By then he’d have convinced her that he was serious, or she’d see the moving van with all his stuff pull into her driveway, and that would do the convincing for him.

  Worst case scenario, she’d burn everything. But, like he’d said, the only thing he really cared about was that photograph.

  Erik slapped the key to his place into Wes’s hand.

  Aside from Colt, Wes was his closest friend. It was difficult to say goodbye knowing he was leaving for the other side of the country.

  Erik reached for the other man, slapping his back and pulling him in for a quick hug. “Going to miss you, man.”

  Wes just laughed. “You think you’re getting rid of me that easy? You know I wanna meet your girl. Maddie, the triplets and I expect an invitation to visit soon.”

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, Colt’s words were still ringing through Lola’s head. Not just their conversation yesterday, but the one before when he’d explained just how they’d failed Erik. She’d tossed and turned all night, and somewhere around 2:00 a.m. had come to a decision.

  She was a coward.

  That was the long and short of it. And considering how much she’d prided herself on being just as strong as the men around her, able to handle any crisis with calm and conviction...the realization was a slap to the face.

  Yes, she’d been pissed at Erik because he’d also taken the cowardly approach to dealing with what had happened to Colt. He’d run away from his own guilt, using the excuse that other people would believe the worst in him. When really, he’d done what he’d thought was kindest to the people who mattered most.

  He’d wanted to save her father and Colt the pain of telling him he wasn’t good enough. By avoiding them, he’d live with his own worst fears—that he didn’t deserve to be happy and loved, something he’d been afraid of since his father left.

  But here she was, doing the same damn thing and blaming him for that, too.

  She loved Erik, but she’d abandoned him to his own vulnerability and reinforced the lies that his father’s actions had taught him. She needed to convince him that he was worthy of being loved and wanted.

  So at 4:00 a.m. she’d started packing her bags, gone online and bought a plane ticket to California. She didn’t have his address, but she was pretty certain she could get it. And that was a bridge she’d cross when she needed to.

  In the meantime, she had several hours to kill before she had to be at the airport in Charleston. She’d already called Colt and asked him to handle the logistics at the studio. She’d told her dad where she was going and why.

  With two hours left before she needed to leave for the airport, Lola heard a car pull into her driveway.

  She half expected to see Colt’s truck as she glanced out the window, but instead found a silver SUV she didn’t recognize.

  She was even more puzzled when the driver’s door opened and Erik got out.

  Without thinking, Lola yanked open her front door. “Erik?”

  His gaze jerked up, hope and light singeing her. “Lola.”

  The way he breathed her name, like saying it was the only thing keeping him alive, suddenly smoothed the tangle of emotions she’d been fighting for days, melting the pain away.

  He was here and that was all that mattered.

  “What are you doing? I thought you were in California.”

  Erik’s mouth twisted. “I was, but only to pack up my things. Lola, my life isn’t there anymore. I’m not sure it ever was.”

  She drew in a halting breath, a hiccup following. Hearing those words...they meant everything to her.

  Lola crossed the porch and stopped at the top of the steps. “Erik, I’m so sorry.”

  “What do you have to apologize for? I’m the one who broke your heart. I’m the one who betrayed your trust in me.”

  “Maybe, but I’m the one who’s been making you pay for something that wasn’t your fault. I told you it was fine, that I didn’t blame you. But deep down, I still did.”

  Pain crossed Erik’s face. He strode across her front lawn, stopping at the bottom of her stairs and looking up. “Do you now?”

  Did she? Lola stared at him. Really looked deep. Because before she answered, she needed to be absolutely certain she was telling him the truth. Erik deserved no less.

  At her hesitation, he said, “Whatever your answer is, we’ll deal with it together.”

  And that certainty more than anything else destroyed any vestiges of blame and grief she might have been hanging on to.

  “No, Erik. I don’t blame you for Colt’s accident. I forgive you for leaving when things got rough. Can you forgive me for not going after you? I let my own fears and emotions get in the way of proving to you that my love was strong enough for both of us when you needed it.”

  Lola held her breath, hoping and waiting. There was no doubt in her mind that Erik loved her as much as she loved him. What she needed to know this time around was that they were both in it for the long haul.

  They’d fight and have disagreements. There’d definitely come a day when they’d both have to beat back their own demons. But they each needed to trust that the other would stand and fight instead of giving in.

  A crooked smile curled Erik’s lips right before he bounded onto her front porch and pulled her tight against him.

  It would have been so easy just to melt into his embrace. To let herself take the strength and safety he was offering.

  But first she needed to be completely honest with him.

  “The fire wasn’t the only thing that scared me, Erik. That afternoon I started bleeding.”

  Pushing her back, Erik’s hands had a death grip on her arms. “You didn’t tell me.” His words were accusing, and she deserved every ounce of it.

  “No, and I’m sorry. I
was scared and angry because you weren’t there.” She pressed her palms to his chest, hating herself a little for the speed of his heart. “Yes, I know that wasn’t fair. The baby is fine. I would have told you immediately if it wasn’t, no matter what else had happened. But I needed to tell you now.”

  For several seconds, Erik stared down at her, clearly unhappy. Lola held her breath, expecting a lecture she absolutely deserved. She’d made him a promise that she wouldn’t shut him out of anything that happened with the baby and then, at the first sign of trouble, had done just that.

  “From now on, you’ll be the first to know everything. I promise.”

  Closing his eyes, Erik pulled in a deep breath and then let it go again. “God, we’re a pair, aren’t we?”

  Relief swept through her. Her voice a little shaky, Lola admitted, “Yeah, but eventually we’re going to get it right. I love you, Erik, and have since long before you gave me that beautiful new camera.”

  Leaning in, Erik found her mouth. The kiss was all heat and power, a reminder of just what they’d always shared. And within minutes, Lola was breathless and wanting more.

  But Erik didn’t give it to her. Instead he pulled back and swiped a soft hand across her forehead. “I’ve loved you for years, Lola, and I’ll love you until my last day.”

  Epilogue

  THE CHAOS AROUND them should have left Lola exhausted, but instead she was energized. Which, considering she had a six-week-old baby and sleep was at a premium, was a miracle.

  They’d gathered together for a belated baby shower, since Miss Lily Grace had decided to arrive four weeks early. Those first few weeks had been difficult, since the little one had spent nineteen days in the NICU. But everything about their baby girl was perfect.

  Erik still struggled now and again with worrying he might break her. She’d been so tiny when she’d arrived, her skin so thin they could practically see the blood pumping through the blue veins underneath.

  Lola didn’t like to remember those days—or nights—but the one bright spot in the whole experience had been Erik by her side. He’d been her rock, promising her that everything would be fine no matter what.

  And he’d been right.

  At the moment, he was standing on the other side of the room, cradling his daughter and talking with his friends who’d come to visit from California. Their triplets, who were adorable, were toddling around with Hope’s twins. The rest of her friends and family were clustered together in the house she now shared with Erik.

  They’d decided to wait to get married until after Lily Grace was born. Or, rather, she’d refused until then. She’d dreamed of her wedding day for most of her life, and wanted to wait until she could focus on creating the perfect day for her and Erik.

  Because she was sentimental, they’d decided to get married over Memorial Day weekend, one year from the day Erik had barreled back into her life. Plenty of time for her to fit into the amazing wedding dress Willow was designing for her.

  Happiness settled bone-deep as she surveyed the family around her.

  Colt rolled up next to her. “You look happy.”

  “I am,” she said, unable to suppress a wide grin.

  “You should be. She’s amazing, Lo. You did good.”

  Lola sighed. “Yeah.”

  Scooting a little closer, Colt bumped her gently with the edge of his wheel, trying to get her undivided attention. Looking down at him, she raised a single eyebrow.

  “I know this isn’t the best time to say this, but with everything happening the last few weeks, there just hasn’t been another opportunity.”

  “What’s up, Colt?”

  “I’m leaving Bliss Photography.”

  Lola laughed, bending a little closer so she could hear her brother better. “It sounded like you just said you’re leaving Bliss.”

  “I am. I’ve loved working for you over the last few years. You have no idea how much I needed the work or the outlet, especially in the beginning.”

  Oh, she did. That was why she’d given him the job in the first place. When Colt had first been released after his accident, adjustment had not come easy. He’d needed purpose and she’d been determined to give him one.

  But he’d quickly become damn good at his job. He handled the details that she was too distracted to pay attention to. There was no way Bliss would be as successful without him running the show behind the scenes.

  “You can’t leave. What am I going to do without you?”

  Colt smiled. “You’ll be fine. I’ve been interviewing replacements for the last two weeks.”

  “You’ve been what?” How the hell had she missed this?

  “You’ve been a little preoccupied. And I didn’t want to add anything else to your plate. But I don’t have another choice. I start my new position in a week. I’ve hired a wonderful woman who’s new to Sweetheart. She’d got experience and the backbone to put up with your mouth, and I’m pretty sure she needs this job more than I ever did.”

  Well, that sounded like a story she’d want to get later, but right now she was still stuck on new position.

  “I thought we agreed that you’d tell me when you started looking for a job in your field, Colt. I always knew you’d want to do something with your degree when you finished it.”

  Her brother would graduate just days before her wedding...

  “I know, and that’s what I’d planned to do. But an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up fell into my lap. I’m going to be working with a clinic in Charleston, helping others deal with the emotional trauma of accidents like mine. Police officers, firefighters, soldiers, children... Lo, I couldn’t say no.”

  “Of course not.” She wouldn’t want him to. This was exactly what he’d spent the last several years working toward.

  Colt snagged her arm and pulled her down until all of his strength was wrapped around her shoulders in a hug so fierce it could have righted the world. “I’m sorry for the timing, but you’re going to be fine. You don’t need me here anymore. You’ve got Erik.”

  Her brother let her go and immediately, Lola’s gaze found Erik across the room. A gentle smile tugged at her lips. “Yeah.”

  Erik looked up, catching her eye. The burst of joy she saw there had her own heart clenching in answer. They’d had their moments over the last few months, but they were learning to deal with issues together. She watched as he nuzzled their daughter’s head, filling his lungs with what he called the baby smell.

  Lola laughed, shaking her head.

  Her dad swooped in and coaxed Lily Grace out of Erik’s arms. For the first few days she’d been out of the hospital, Lola had refereed more than a few fights over who got to hold her daughter between those two. But they’d since come to an understanding.

  Weaving through their friends, Erik slipped up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close.

  “Did you know Colt took a job in Charleston and is leaving Bliss?” she asked, craning her neck around to spear him with a look.

  “Put the glare away, Lo. I just found out yesterday, but he asked me not to say anything until he had a chance to talk to you.”

  Lola harrumphed but leaned back against him anyway. “He’s even hired his replacement.”

  “Of course he has.”

  “Maybe I wanted some input.”

  “So let the woman go if you don’t mesh well.”

  Leaning down, Erik found the spot right beneath her ear that always had her entire body tingling, and sucked.

  “That kind of distracti
on isn’t going to work. I’m irritated.”

  “Yeah, but for once it’s not all at me. And don’t think I’ve forgotten the doctor cleared you for all activity today at your appointment. Six weeks is a damn long time, Lola.”

  His mouth roamed, suffusing her with light and heat, making her dizzy in the most delicious way. No matter what else was between them, Erik always knew exactly how to send her body up in flames.

  “I need to get my hands on you,” he growled.

  “We have a house full of people, Erik.” But God, she wanted the same thing.

  “Later,” she promised.

  “Later and for always.”

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from PLAYING DIRTY by Taryn Leigh Taylor.

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