Play With Fire: Into The Fire Series

by J. H. Croix

  I hated them. Well, hate wasn’t the word. They just felt so impersonal. Much of my childhood had been spent in hotels. My mother died when I was young, and work was all that mattered to my father. He traveled a lot and carted me around with him, rotating through babysitters as needed.

  I glanced to her as she took her drink from Gage. “Really? That makes the idea more tempting.”

  “Of course. We’ll be gone for two weeks. The house is all yours. You can stay there when we get back too.”

  I cast a smile her way and shook my head. “I might take you up on saying while y’all are gone, but I’m not crowding your house right after your honeymoon.”

  Ivy shrugged. “We’ve been living together for years. My God, it’s almost embarrassing it took us this long to get around to the wedding. We’ve been engaged for three years. Why don’t you just move up here anyway? You’re always saying you want a change of pace.”

  Home, as it was at the moment, was coastal North Carolina, where my mother was originally from and where my father’s company had its base. Lately, I had found it smothering because all my father wanted was for me to join his company, and I refused. In fact, I’d gone behind his back and done the craziest thing ever. Or not, depending on how you looked at it.

  It was quite tempting to pull up stakes and move to Alaska. I would have a built-in best friend and settle into a life far from my father. Even though Ivy and I had only met over the past year, we’d bonded quickly. That was saying something for me because, with all the travel when I was little, I hadn’t had many opportunities to make friends. Ivy and I met at a function for the company she shared with Owen and connected instantly.

  Catching her eyes, I shrugged. “We’ll see. Meanwhile, tell me about Max.”

  Max, the driver who’d picked me up at the hotel, sent heat sliding through my veins and my belly spinning in flips. Max was way too handsome for his own good, and I was way too curious for mine.

  Even if it didn’t make a lick of sense because nothing would, or could, happen with Max, I was still curious. I’d sworn off men. For a perfectly good reason. I had an unerring accuracy for being attracted to men who were assholes. One after another stomped on my heart. The most recent had been the most devastating. I’d gotten pregnant and had a miscarriage, and it had torn me to shreds.

  Ivy looked at me, her eyes taking on a gleam with her slight grin. “Max is a hot one, isn’t he? He’s known Owen forever, since MIT. And…”

  She was cut off when Owen approached, sliding his arm around her waist and dipping his head to drop a kiss on her neck.

  My heart pinged. I was so happy for her. Owen loved Ivy to pieces.

  “We’re supposed to cut the cake,” he said with a sigh.

  Ivy pushed off the bar. “Now? Why are there so many rules about weddings?” she asked, looking to me as if I could answer.

  I shrugged. “Don’t ask me.”

  Owen chuckled. “I’m told if we don’t do it soon, they’ll need to move it back into the kitchen.”

  I followed them, meandering over to the back of the guests surrounding the table where the cake was displayed. I caught myself searching for Max. I wanted to know more about him, and that was bad. Because when I got curious about a man, that was when I did stupid things. Just as I was telling myself it was a good thing he wasn’t around, I sensed his presence.

  He strolled to my side. I couldn’t keep from peeking looks at him. He was obscenely handsome with his midnight black hair and ice blue eyes. I wanted to dive in and take a swim. He held a glass of scotch in his hand. Even his hands were sexy, strong and slightly rugged as if he’d worked with them. My mind flashed to a vision of his hands on my body, heat blooming through me in response.

  Restless, I took a gulp of my martini. Mistake. It burned my throat, and I started coughing.

  “You okay?” Max asked.

  His voice was low and sent a shiver over my skin. I tried to say I was fine, but I just kept coughing. His hand slid down my spine. With my dress open at the top, his touch sent fire shimmering under the surface of my skin.

  He turned, guiding me away from the small crowd gathered around Ivy and Owen. My coughing outburst was drawing attention. Max walked me back to the bar where Garrett was now serving drinks. Max paused by the corner of the bar near the windows. His hand rested on my back, the heat of his touch filtering through the silk of my dress. I slowly managed to stop coughing.

  Glancing up, I found his blue gaze watching me. “Went down the wrong pipe?” he asked.

  With a sigh and another breath, I nodded. My eyes watering, I reached over to snag a bar napkin. Dabbing at them, I set my martini down. “I’m not fit for company at things like this,” I said with a little laugh.

  Max was quiet for a beat and then his mouth hitched at the corner. Oh sweet hell. He should not smile. My belly felt funny and slivers of heat spun through my veins. He looked away, glancing over his shoulder towards the cake cutting. “I think we missed the fun.”

  I chuckled. “The most important part already happened.”

  “How long are you staying?” he asked, his gaze swinging back to me.

  His question took me off guard. “I’m at the hotel until tomorrow. You?”

  He shrugged. “Don’t know. It’s beautiful here.”

  As I looked up at him, my body—my traitorous body—sent naughty thoughts through my mind. The view of Max was quite beautiful. He was ridiculously handsome. Yet, I knew that wasn’t what he was talking about. I managed to keep those thoughts in my head and nodded politely. “It is.”

  Garrett came to the corner of the bar. I’d been here two days now and met most everyone in Ivy and Owen’s circle. I’d quickly come to learn that the Hamilton family was comprised of beautiful people. Garrett was no exception with his glossy dark hair and blue eyes. His gaze was sharp and assessing as he looked between us.

  “Another drink?” he asked, his eyes flicking to my almost empty martini glass.

  “Yes, please,” I said quickly. I needed something to take the edge off. Having Max nearby made me restless and prickly all over.

  “You?” Garrett asked, his eyes shifting to Max.

  Max shook his head. “All set, but thanks. I’m the shuttle, so no drinks for me.”

  Garrett chuckled as he prepped another pomegranate martini for me.

  The rest of the evening was a blur. I drank too many martinis, danced, and felt the burn of Max’s gaze on me every time our eyes collided. I wanted him. Badly.

  Even in my tipsy state, I kept reminding myself that whenever I wanted someone, it was usually a bad decision on my part. I didn’t do casual well. I never had.

  I tended to fall hard and fast, confusing attraction for something else. My therapist, the one I saw after my last relationship blew up in my face, had gently pointed out that perhaps I was looking for the love I’d never gotten from my father.

  I’d been looking high and low for love most of my life. With my mother gone and a father who approached parenting as something to pencil in on his calendar and hand off to others, I’d craved love for too long. As such, I misinterpreted cues and read far too much into small gestures.

  Max was particularly tempting with his dark hair, the strong lines of his face, and his eyes. One look from those cool blue eyes, and it felt as if he was undressing me, his gaze lighting little fires on my skin everywhere they landed.

  Somewhere along the way, I ended up in his arms out on the deck. Seeing as he was one of the groomsmen, and I was a bridesmaid, it only made sense we would dance at some point. Not many men enjoyed dancing, and I loved it. Max surprised me. While he gave off a somber, controlled air, he danced like a dream, twirling me easily around the deck. When the music shifted into a slower song, he pulled me close, just when I was thinking I needed to make my escape.

  With the heat of desire sliding through my veins and the feel of his strong embrace, my body reassured my mind that it wouldn’t hurt to enjoy it for a few minutes. He smel
led good, crisp and musky at once. My head barely reached his shoulder. With one of his hands gripping mine and the other splayed on my lower back with his fingers teasing over my bottom, I could feel the moisture building between my thighs, the silk of my panties wet.

  “So, Harlow, tell me what you do?” he murmured.

  A rather common question and perfectly expected. Yet, these questions were loaded for me because they reminded me of how I let my father down over and over again.

  I shoved those thoughts aside and answered. “I just finished my training to be a hotshot firefighter.”

  Max’s steps stuttered slightly, and I couldn’t help but laugh, glancing up at him. “Did I surprise you?”

  His eyes canted down to mine, and my breath caught in my throat as butterflies spun in my belly. This man was too much.

  He was quiet for a beat, his gaze searching mine as a slow grin stretched across face. “Yes, you surprised me.”

  Between his grin and the slightly rough edge of his voice, a shiver ran through me. I ordered my mind to ignore the crazy signals of my body. Manners, I had manners.

  “And what you do?” I managed to ask.

  I felt the shrug of his shoulders, the motion making me aware of his muscled chest pressing against my breasts. My nipples tightened, giving me away. He appeared to be considering his words.

  “Business,” was all he finally said.

  I was just tipsy enough to be less than polite. “Vague much?”

  He smiled again, sending my belly into a series of flips. “I’d rather not think about work tonight.”

  The song ended and a more upbeat song began. When Max stepped back, I felt bereft, my body nearly following him like steel to a magnet. I managed to stop myself. Conveniently, Ginger Nash, Ivy’s sister-in-law, was approaching with two glasses in her hands.

  “Champagne?” she asked, pausing at my side.

  Ginger was funny and smart. Her brown hair was up in a twist, and her blue eyes were twinkling. She squeezed my arm as I accepted the proffered drink and took a gulp. “I’m so glad you’re here,” she said with a wide smile. Ginger seemed to have decided we were best buddies even though we’d only met days ago. She was easy to be around with her sly sense of humor and warmth.

  She glanced to Max, arching a brow. “Aren’t you handsome?”

  Max barely reacted, his lips quirking.

  “Oh, don’t worry. I wasn’t flirting. Just making an observation. I’m happily married,” Ginger said dismissively.

  Max merely arched a brow this time, his eyes glinting with mirth.

  “It’s a wedding though,” she continued. “Maybe you should find someone to sweep off her feet.”

  Max threw his head back with a laugh just as Cam Nash, Ivy’s brother and Ginger’s husband, approached. Cam was a totally nice guy and dreamy. He’d retired from being a world-class skier and was a ski instructor here at the lodge.

  Cam slipped his arm around Ginger’s shoulders, nodding in my direction and grinning at Max. “Ignore Ginger. She always wants to set everyone up.”

  Ginger nudged him with her elbow and took a sip of her champagne. “What’s wrong with being romantic?”

  Cam, who shared Ivy‘s coloring with amber hair and eyes, cast a smile her way. “Nothing at all, but not everyone wants to be set up.”

  Unabashed, Ginger shrugged, her eyes bouncing from Max to me. “You two match. Just saying,” she offered with a wink.

  * * *

  Copyright © 2018 J.H. Croix; All rights reserved.

  Coming November 2018!

  Melt With You

  * * *

  If you love steamy, small town romance, take a visit to Diamond Creek, Alaska in my Last Frontier Lodge Series. A sexy, alpha SEAL meets his match with a brainy heroine in Take Me Home. Don’t miss Gage & Marley’s story!

  * * *

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  Thank you for reading Play With Fire! I hope you enjoyed the story. If so, you can help other readers find my books in a variety of ways.

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  Into The Fire Series

  Burn For Me

  Slow Burn

  Burn So Bad

  Hot Mess

  Burn So Good

  Sweet Fire

  Play With Fire

  Brit Boys Sports Romance

  The Play

  Big Win

  Out Of Bounds

  Play Me

  Naughty Wish

  Diamond Creek Alaska Novels

  When Love Comes

  Follow Love

  Love Unbroken

  Love Untamed

  Tumble Into Love

  Christmas Nights

  Last Frontier Lodge Novels

  Take Me Home

  Love at Last

  Just This Once

  Falling Fast

  Stay With Me

  When We Fall

  Hold Me Close

  Crazy For You

  Catamount Lion Shifters

  Protected Mate

  Chosen Mate

  Fated Mate

  Destined Mate

  A Catamount Christmas

  Ghost Cat Shifters

  The Lion Within

  Lion Lost & Found

  Acknowledgments

  Huge shout out to my readers for cheering on my books, sending me funny notes & making every book I write a labor of love. This firefighter series has been an absolute joy to write, and y’all keep asking for more, which means so much!

  Many thanks to Jenn Wood for editing with a sharp eye and making sure I gave Jasmine & Donovan the story they deserved. Gracious thanks to Terri D. for her eagle eyes in proofing this story & not letting me miss anything.

  My proofreader angels are the last line of defense - Janine, Beth P., Terri E., Heather H., & Carolyne B. - thank you ladies! Yoly Cortez never fails to dazzle with her covers, and this one was no exception.

  My dogs are always there to get me out on morning runs every day, which is my best time for story forming. They’re also incredibly generous with wags and snuggles. Last and never least, DBC.

  * * *

  xoxo

  J.H. Croix

  About the Author

  USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with sassy independent women and rugged alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!

  Places you can find me:

  jhcroixauthor.com

  jhcroix@jhcroix.com