by Aliyah Burke
“This better be fucking important,” Carter barked.
“Climb out of bed and meet me at the diner.” He hung up the phone, swiped his shirt, and headed out to meet his brother.
Within thirty minutes, he toasted his brother with a cup of coffee when he saw him.
Carter slid into the booth across from him. “Why the hell did I leave a warm bed with my woman in it to meet you here in the early morning?”
“She’s moving,” he blurted out, stirring his drink then taking another sip.
“What?” Carter waved over a waitress. “Coffee hon, please. And a breakfast special, eggs over easy and bacon with wheat toast.”
She nodded and walked away.
“Explain that to me,” Carter urged.
“I just found out tonight after she pepper sprayed me.”
His brother snorted and waved a hand at him. “Wait, she what? God, I love that woman.”
“She said I scared her.”
He dumped a bunch of sugar into his coffee. “And did you?”
Cameron shrugged. “I suppose, I was waiting for her by her door.”
“Lurking in the dark, no doubt.”
Well, when it was put that way. He shrugged. “She should have fixed her outside light, then she would have seen me.”
“You’re the one to blame for that. You got what you deserved, be glad she doesn’t carry a weapon.”
“I’m glad but damn it all, did you hear me? She’s leaving. Moving to the other side of the state. Mastonville.”
Carter’s thick brows drew together. “Why and when?”
While they ate, he filled his brother in on what was going on. As he finished telling, he shook his head. “What am I going to do?”
“So, the whole blurting out that she may be pregnant didn’t fix all your issues?”
“Explain to me why I come to you for suggestions and help?”
“Because I’m the smarter, better looking brother.”
Cameron rolled his eyes. “I’m serious, Carter. I don’t want to lose her.”
“Have you thought of going to where she is going to be?”
“Move? I have a career here.”
Carter poured himself another cup of java. “And she’s about to begin one there. The choice is yours, Cameron. If you want her so much, then go where she is. It’s not like the family is going to disown you for moving. Yes, they’ll be upset but they’ll understand.”
“Am I foolish for following after a woman who’s repeatedly told me that she doesn’t see a future for us and can’t believe I want anything to do with her?”
“Love makes us foolish. If that is where your heart is then no, it’s not foolish. Go after her, prove to her you’re not the arrogant womanizer the entire city views you as.”
“Kind of harsh, don’t you think?”
Carter gestured around the place. “Look at the women in here and you tell me. You may have stopped looking at them but they’ve definitely not stopped staring at you.”
“It could be you they’re looking at. After all, you’re the better looking one. According to you anyway.”
“I’m taken.”
“So am I.” Cameron hated how he was viewed, it used to not bother him at all but now, it was nothing but more heartache. “But she doesn’t believe it.”
“She’s heard of your exploits, many have. You have to earn her trust, like I did with Gina. We broke it off and have to work hard to get it back.”
He grunted and shifted on the seat. “How the fuck am I supposed to do that, with her all the way across the goddamn state?”
Carter dug into his wallet and dropped some bills on the table. “Figure it out. You know I’ve got your back no matter what you decide to do. And when you leave, our parents will back as well, especially if it means they get another daughter and you stop whoring around. Night, little brother.” He walked away leaving Cameron all by himself with the rest of his food.
Remaining until his plate had been cleaned, Cameron thought about what Carter had said and what he knew deep down he had to do, if he wanted to keep this woman in his life.
αβ
Six months later
Riya made her way down the steps from the building and across the front walk toward her waiting car. The sun was brilliant without a single cloud in the sky. The slight breeze ruffled her hair as it spilled down from the banana clip confining it the best it could.
The tap, tap, tap of her heels as she moved over the bricks were nearly muffled out by the traffic going by, but for some reason it wasn’t as busy as it typically was. “I can’t wait to get home and get out of this suit.”
Her one downfall she’d discovered with the job, she had to put on business attire to do this job. Didn’t make sense, she worked in a small cubicle and didn’t see people much other than those around her and she was fairly confident they wouldn’t give a damn if she wore fuzzy bunny slippers or not.
But she wore the suits and heels because the money was amazing and she actually enjoyed her job. A lot. She’d made some friends and had gone out on a date or two. Nothing serious, just to go out and see how badly Cameron had ruined her for others.
He’d done a number on her because she would become bored with them within a few minutes. They just didn’t have what it took to keep her attention.
She rounded the corner and halted suddenly, as if she’d slammed into a cement wall.
Am I seeing things?
There, leaning against the side of her Honda was none other than Cameron Liaci. He wore a suit and damn—was he wearing the hell out of it.
Women walking by slowed and stared, nothing new there.
Riya shifted her bag to her other hand as she closed the rest of the distance to him. “Hello, Cameron. What are you doing here?”
He raked his gray gaze up and down her form and whistled. “Damn Riya, you’re looking fucking hot.”
She flushed and shook her head. “So you came all this way to pay me a compliment? Long drive for that.”
One side of his mouth curved up in that signature sexy smile he owned. “That’s not why I’m here. I came for you.”
Riya shook her head. “I told you I was moving here and I’m settled. I’m not going back.”
He pushed away from the door and neared. “I know that. I heard you loud and clear on that. So, I came to you.”
Her heart fluttered at his words seconds before her brain chimed in with: Are you sure that’s what he meant? This is what gets you into your situations because you think with your heart and not your brain.
Not what she wanted to hear but necessary.
“Well, I’ve had a long day and want to get home. Want to meet for coffee?”
That sexy grin morphed into the one that made her ready to hand over her panties. “Your place.”
To buy herself some time, she gazed around. “I don’t see your truck.”
“It’s not here. I had someone drop me off.”
“Who is here with you? Carter? Some woman?”
He drew her close and put them nose to nose. “No woman, no Carter. One of the guys from the station. Give me your keys. I’ll drive as you look dead on your feet.”
She did feel exhausted and so she handed them over without argument. He held the door for her and she slid over the cloth seat with a sigh. He folded his body behind the wheel and following her directions, took them to her place.
“Come on in,” she said, leading the way inside. “Help yourself to whatever’s in the fridge, I’m going to change.” Without a look at him, she headed for her bedroom and pulled out a comfortable set to wear.
She’d untucked her shirt and was reaching for the zipper on her skirt when his large hands covered hers.
“Allow me.”
Her head tipped to the side and gave him access to her skin as she breathed heavily. “Cameron.”
“Let me make this clear for you, Riya. I moved here. I want you, however you’ll take me. If that means I have to prove mysel
f to you for years, I will.” He lowered her zipper in one steady pull. “ I. Only. Want. You.”
“You followed me here?”
“You didn’t come back home, so I applied to this department. They gave me a station to work at and my downtime belongs to you.”
Her skirt dropped down her legs to pool at her feet.
“Trust me, sweetness. There’s no one for me but you. Please give me a chance.”
The smooth material of his slacks brushed against the backs of her calves and his cock pressed against her ass.
“We’re not done talking about this,” she whispered as she unbuttoned her shirt then turned, so they were face to face.
“Of course not. Your clothes are over there.” He pointed but never took his eyes from her face.
“Okay, so it’s pointless to put them on if you’re just going to take them off. I’ll put them on after.”
“You know I love you, right, Riya?”
“I’m starting to get that picture, Cameron.” She pushed up to kiss him as she undid his shirt.
He dipped his head, brushing his scruff along her skin as his left hand sank into her hair near the nape of her neck.
She allowed her eyes to close. Truly, what else did he have to prove? He moved across the state for her.
That had to count for something. A lot…Everything?
She’d focus on it later, right now, she had something more important to do. She wrapped her arms around him and parted her lips as Cameron backed them toward her bed.
I did say much later, right?
Riya had a strong feeling her evening would be filled. And she didn’t want it any other way.
Other Books in the Dallas Fire & Rescue Series
All the books in this series can be located here for your reading pleasure:
http://paigetylertheauthor.com/BooksDallasFireAndRescueKindleWorld.html
Thank you for being part of our releases and we hope you enjoy the other books in the series.
***
You may have noticed that Cameron is a twin. His brother Carter’s story, Fire Devil, is already out if you haven’t read about him reuniting with his ex-wife. I hope you enjoy both stories!
***
Enjoy this quick sneak peek from Fire Devil.
Her doorbell chimed followed by a pounding, seconds later on the wood. “Christ, Carter. One day and you feel like you have the right to show up at my place whenever you like.” Gina rose from her chair and padded to the door. Unhooking the safety chain, she yanked the door open. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
Carter stared back at her, his gray eyes creating heat in places it didn’t need to be.
“Do you ever check to see who is on the other side? Or ask who it is?”
“No need. Only one ass would come to my place at this hour in the morning.”
His gaze narrowed on her face and he stepped toward her.
She held her ground, refusing to give an inch. “Can I help you with something?”
“We need to talk.”
“No, we don’t.”
“I told you we did, right before you raced away.”
Suddenly, the mug she had wasn’t nearly enough. Stepping back, she waved him in, then slammed the door behind him.
Carter strode in, took three steps then pivoted back to face her. He took a leisurely perusal of her attire.
Beneath his intense stare, her nipples pebbled, drawing tight. Her core clenched and she struggled not to give into the lust slamming into her. “Yes?”
“How long have you been back in town?” His nostrils flared as his gaze deepened.
“Does it really matter, Carter? I mean in the grand scheme of things, does it? You divorced me. You didn’t want me as part of your life any longer. What the hell gives you the right to come to my place, especially at this time of night to demand how long I’ve been back? My life and what I do with it, isn’t any of your fucking concern.”
“You’re entitled to your opinion.”
“You think you have a right?” She glanced around, grateful nothing was within reach for her to chuck at his head.
“Do you know why I gave you the papers?”
I can’t believe he wants to talk about this. “I didn’t ask then, why do you think I give a damn why now?” So what, if I was curious as to why you didn’t think I was good enough to be Mrs. Liaci. “I figured it was something to do with you and your whore.”
A muscle flexed in his jaw. “Rochelle is just a friend.”
“So is Davidson.”
He raked a hand through his hair and the play of muscle in his biceps mesmerized her. Her heart thudded in her chest and she struggled to appear calm and in control. Therapy had helped. Learning martial arts had helped more.
“This isn’t about a man you know isn’t right for you, but about us.”
“I didn’t think it was possible but now I have to say, I’m floored. I honestly didn’t think you could be more arrogant than you used to be. Consider me schooled. Your arrogance is unending. Newsflash, Carter Liaci…The world doesn’t revolve around you. You’re not the center of the universe. People have lives. We actually manage to live and function without the great and powerful Liaci, ass that you are, in our daily business.”
“You’re being unreasonable.”
Gina bit the inside of her cheek hard enough she drew blood. “Last time you said that…you served me with divorce papers. Since no papers need to be delivered, how about you take your swelled belief of importance and get out of my puny life.”
He had her in his arms in the blink of an eye. Strong fingers gripped her upper arms as he lowered his face to hers. “I’ve never forgotten you, Gina,” he muttered, the breath from his words fanning over her lips.
The devil dangled temptation before her, that lure of unending pleasure, the touch that ran over her like chocolate silk along her skin. His rich taste she’d never been able to forget, no matter how many years passed her by. All she had to do was lean forward and touch her lips to his.
Then you go back into the same cycle you were in before? Where he doubts you, and thinks he is the ruler in the relationship?
Her thoughts while a splash of cold water, couldn’t quite pull her from the enticement this man still held over her. She swayed closer, her lips less than a hairsbreadth from his. “Get out.”
The heat in his eyes morphed to a challenge as he slowly backed away from her, never once releasing her gaze. “This is far from over.” Carter touched his lips before wheeling around and vanishing through her front door.
Her legs collapsed beneath her, taking her to the floor in an ungraceful flop. She shook as her emotions warred with one another. Some yelling for her to go after him, others for her to never see him again. Through it all, however, was the pulse he lit to her blood. During their marriage and prior, he had gotten so deep under her skin, she inhaled and swore it was his heartbeat, his lungs within her.
Seems things hadn’t changed.
Gina touched her face, frowning when her fingertips came away wet with tears. How the hell was she going to survive this?
Additional books by Aliyah Burke:
Sensual Romance Publishing
If You Dare
Holiday Surprise: Unwrapped
His Purrfect Mate
Raw Exposure
A Knight’s Vow
Lion of Midnight
Megalodon Team
Kincade’s Rose
Harrier’s Healer
Connelly’s Flame
Greeley’s Spyce
Vittano’s Willow
Dimitri’s Moon
O’Shea’s Love
Chayton’s Tempest
Haikon
A Love for Lera
Rakes & Rogues
What the Earl Desires
Her Reluctant Viscount
Her Pirate Rogue
Cottonwood Falls
Relentless
Fracture
Ravish
&nbs
p; Spark
Savor
Intensity
Inferno (coming soon)
Snake’s Salvation
Born to Fly
Landing in Love
You Save Me
Zulu Spectre
Hearth, Holly, & Honor (3 in 1)
It Could Happen Again
Tungsten Protective Services
Down Range
All In (Kindleworlds Hot SEALs/Tungsten Protective Services crossover novella)
Twisted E-Publishing
Graham Family
Justice Is Always Ready
And We’ve Come Full Circle
Denim & Spurs
With This Ring
Dream Lover
You Don’t Know Jack
Maddox Family
The Detective’s Lover
Totally Bound
Preconception
Seducing Damian
Through the Fire
Serial
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 1
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 2
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 3
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 4
Keeper of the Stars Pt. 5
Astral Guardians
Chasing the Storm
Highlands at Dawn
Fields of Thunder
Branded by Frost
Driven by Night
Moon of Fire
Interludes
Temporary Home
Alone with You
Till We Ain’t Strangers Anymore
In Aeternum
Casanova in Training
Harbour of Refuge
Protected by Shadows
Polar Opposites
Code of Honour
A Marriage of Convenience
The Lieutenant’s Ex-Wife
A Man Like No Other
When Stars Collide
Theta Corps (coming Late 2017)
Retaliation
