Ignite: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)

by Kim Loraine

  “Don’t you say another word, Ryker. She loves you. You love her. You’re both adults. I can’t stop this from happening, but I’ll have you know, you break her heart again, I will make your life absolute hell.”

  His tone is ice cold, the words washing over me and sending a chill across my skin. “Yes, sir. I can promise you here and now, I’ll never hurt her again. I want to marry her if she’ll have me.”

  He sucks in a sharp breath before grumbling, “Then get your shit handled and get back here. Before she’s too far in her heartbreak to let you back in.”

  The line goes dead, leaving me dazed as it all sinks in. He knows. The chief knows and I can make Lark mine. All I have to do is get back to her.

  19

  Lark

  My dress is heavy, the bodice covered in beadwork that glitters in the light as I examine myself in the mirror. It’s the deep purple of a sunset, fitted and hugging every curve I have. I skim my fingers over the fabric, stopping at the slight swell of my lower belly. It’s not noticeable yet. But it will be soon.

  How could I have been so stupid? I’m repeating my mom’s life, twenty-one and knocked up by a firefighter I love but can’t be with.

  No one else knows, except for Daisy. She was with me when I took the test. She held my hand as I cried. She talked through my options with me, helped me come to the decision I settled on. I’m going to have a baby. My baby. Travis’ baby. And soon, I’ll tell him. It’s not something I’d ever be able to keep from him. He deserves better.

  A soft knock on my door has me turning to see my dad in his dress uniform, smiling gently.

  “You look gorgeous, Birdie. You look the most like your mom when you wear that color.”

  I smile. She was the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. “Thanks.”

  “I’m real proud of you. I know I say it a lot, but it’s the truth. You feeling all right about this thing tonight? There’s a lot of people coming.”

  I nod. “I’ve worked hard to be able to do this. And I couldn’t have a better date.”

  He grins and holds out a hand. “Well, come on, then. Better get going.”

  I fight the wave of nausea that rolls through me during the car ride to the banquet hall. My morning sickness is almost a thing of the past, but I can’t tell if this is nerves or a side effect of pregnancy. Breathing slowly through my nose, I get a hold of the sick feeling and manage to will it away. My dad takes my hand and squeezes. “You sure this is okay?” he asks, clearly worried about my anxiety.

  “Yeah. They’re honoring you. I wouldn’t miss this.”

  He parks, and the two of us walk into the already bustling hall. Firefighters from every station in the area are all here, dressed in their Class A uniforms. Their dates are all in black tie or gowns. Hartigan greets us with his boyfriend Carter at his side. The two of them are so handsome they could model for some of the book covers I’m working on.

  “Birdie, you look gorgeous,” Hartigan says, pulling me in for a hug. Carter does the same, giving me a soft kiss on the cheek.

  “Thanks. You two clean up nice as well.”

  Hartigan wraps an arm around his man and grins. “I think so.” He winks at me. “Save me a dance?”

  “Of course.” I’m hopeful they’ll all keep me busy tonight. Dancing means I have to focus on not falling which means I can’t pay attention to the constant hum of anxiety that I’m always at war with.

  The air in the space is warm, and there’s a low buzz of conversation mixed in with the music playing. On instinct, I check all my exits, worried there might be a moment where I need a quick escape, a place to breathe, some quiet.

  Declan spots me from across the room, his smile wide as he comes toward me. “You look lovely tonight, Birdie.”

  “Thank you. I could say the same for you.”

  “Your dad’s been telling us how much progress you’ve made. I have to admit, I’m surprised to see you here, though.”

  I shrug. “Have a little faith, Dec.”

  He laughs, a deep warm rumble. “Too right. Can I get you a drink? There’s a load of booze at these things. Gotta get them pissed so they bid on the expensive items.”

  Shaking my head, I look past him at the long row of tables covered in baskets for the silent auction. “I’m fine. You here solo tonight?”

  “Yeah, I uh, had a date but we ended things a bit ago.”

  “Daisy.”

  Eyes wide, he takes a step back. “She told you?”

  “Easy, there. I’m not gonna slap you or anything. She said you two weren’t right for each other. As long as you didn’t hurt her, we’re good.”

  “No, it wasn’t anything like that. I swear it.” The music changes to a ballad, the romantic song making my chest ache a little. “Care to dance?” he asks, holding out a hand. I take him up on his offer and let him lead me out to the middle of the dance floor, his palm warm and dry in mine. “Ryker is an idiot,” he grumbles.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “He left you.”

  I grit my teeth. Damn Daisy and her big mouth. “There’s more to it.”

  “You mean, that he knocked up another woman and left you to be with her?”

  I feel sick. “You don’t understand.”

  “You deserve better, Lark. I hope you know that.” He glances down at our feet, then back to me. “We’ll all take care of you. You won’t be alone in this.”

  Oh. My. God. I’m going to kill Daisy. “She told you?”

  “It’s not her fault. I found the test in the bin in her loo. Nearly gave me a heart attack.”

  A loud pop echoes through the room, making me jump. My heart is racing as instantly, all the work I’ve done seems to disappear. I flinch away from him and walk as fast as I can for the door, fighting the wave of nausea clutching at my throat. Shoving the door open, I blink through tears and am met with a wall of a man in his Class A uniform.

  “Slow down, darlin’. Where’s the fire?” Travis Ryker’s voice is everything I need right now. He cradles me in his arms, waits for me to reciprocate, and I cling to him like he’s my lifeline. Because, he is.

  “I…it was just a damn balloon, but I lost it.”

  “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

  I look up at him, at those shining blue eyes that I love so much. “You’re back.”

  He nods. “You never answered my calls.”

  “What was there to say?”

  “That I love you.”

  Everything in me melts. “I love you too. It’s why I had to let you go.”

  A tear trails down my cheek and he reaches up to wipe it away. “I can’t go where you aren’t.”

  “Really?”

  “Really, sweetness. I talked to your dad. He knows everything…well, not everything, but he knows we’re together. I can’t spend my life wondering what would have happened if I’d chosen us. I’m choosing now. I want you forever. I want to take you home to Montana so you can meet my family. I want to show you the land I grew up on and make love to you under the stars.”

  “I want all of that too. I know I’m young, but I want to be part of your kid’s life if you’re okay with that. I can do school and my job from anywhere. Tell me when, and I’ll pack up and move to Montana with you.”

  He grins. “Move?”

  “I want to be where you are. That means with your family, your child.”

  “You’d really do that?”

  “Of course.”

  His lips claim mine in a bruising kiss. It’s so full of passion and need, I have to bite back a groan. This is not the place, but God, I want him.

  “I’m not moving back to Sunrise, sweetness, but I do want you to move in with me.” His words are a rumble over my lips. “I want you to marry me.”

  My heart lurches. Marry him? “Are you serious?”

  “Yes. Let me be your husband. Let me love you for the rest of our lives. I know it’s right.”

  “What about Gina?”

  Backing
away a few inches, he frowns at me. “What about her? She’s my ex. She’s not in my life anymore.”

  “The baby?”

  He shakes his head. “A healthy boy. Not mine. She used him to try and get more out of me, and I was trusting enough to fall for it.”

  “Are you okay?” I know how much he wanted to be there for his child—how willing he was to drop everything and make sure his kid had a dad.

  “It hurt, but I think it was part of a bigger plan. It took all of that for me to see how happy I am here in Silver Lake. I sold the house, let it all go. All I need is you by my side. We have time to have a family. It doesn’t have to happen right away. As long as we’re together, the rest will fall into place.”

  I’m full on crying now because he’s saying everything right. He doesn’t know it, but he is. “Travis, I have to tell you something.”

  “Are you okay?” He looks me over, concern in his eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “While you were gone…” I run my fingers over my dress and then take his hand in mine. Biting my lower lip, I press his palm to my belly.

  “You’re…” he trails off with wonder in his voice. “Really?”

  “I’m sorry. It was a complete surprise. Daisy made me take a test a few weeks ago after I started getting sick at weird times. I promise I was going to tell you. I just needed to work up the courage. I knew you were—"

  He silences me with a kiss that takes my breath away. Then he looks at me with pure adoration in his eyes. “I guess we’re starting our family sooner than we thought.”

  “I guess so.”

  “But you still haven’t answered my question.”

  “Oh, the marriage one?”

  He chuckles. “Yeah. That one.”

  “Can I still call you daddy after you’re my husband?”

  Desire flares in his eyes. “You can call me whatever the hell you want.”

  “Then, yes. Yes, Travis Ryker, I’ll marry you.”

  The door behind me opens and I turn to see my dad and Declan standing behind us, eyes wide.

  “You arsehole, can’t you just leave her alone?” Declan rushes Travis, but my dad stops him.

  “Byrne, rein it in. I think they’ve got it handled.”

  Travis smiles. “We’ve got it more than handled, sir.”

  My dad stands there, a wistful grin on his lips. “Birdie, this is really who you want?”

  “More than anything.”

  “Then I’d say it’s handled, Byrne.”

  Declan looks from me to Travis. “Congratulations, you two. I’ll make an excellent godfather. Keep that in mind.” He winks before leaving us with my dad.

  “Godfather?”

  I take Travis’ hand and squeeze. “About that…”

  Epilogue

  Two years later

  “That’s it, darlin’. Ride like you mean it.” My wife is taking her sweet time as she rolls her hips over and over, bringing me close to release and then slowing down until I can barely stand it.

  “I love you,” she moans when my hands slide up her torso to cup her perfect, heavy tits. I love her body, but her pregnant body is something I’ll never forget. She’s soft and full and growing a child we made together.

  She shudders above me, her orgasm taking her by surprise and dragging mine out of me right along with it. I buck my hips and drive deeper into her as she cries out. Then the two of us roll to our sides, me cradling her small belly.

  “Pretty soon we won’t be able to get away with this, you know,” she whispers.

  I chuckle. She’s right. Our little Nolan isn’t quite two yet, but he’s already a handful. Once this new baby arrives, the time for slow and languid lovemaking won’t exist, at least for a while.

  “I think she’s a girl,” she says, linking our fingers. “I dreamed we had a girl.”

  “Yeah?” I love that idea. A little girl we can love on and protect, a daughter I can walk down the aisle when she gets married, but who I can teach to ranch just as hard as her brother. She’ll be strong and capable, just like her mama.

  “What should we name her?”

  I press a soft kiss to her shoulder. “Maggie. After your mom.”

  “I like that. Except she’ll have a better life. She’ll know she’s loved and that giving your heart to someone doesn’t make you weak.”

  “We’ll do everything we can to make sure she knows.”

  She snuggles closer to me, and I feel the gentle push of the baby’s movements against my hand. Every time that happens feels like a goddamned miracle. We lie there together, just…being. Until Nolan’s cries echo over the baby monitor. It’s two in the morning, we both need sleep, but there’s no way in hell I’m letting her go get him. Not when I don’t have duty in the morning.

  “I got him,” I say, kissing her temple before getting to my feet and tugging on a pair of sweatpants.

  Striding into Nolan’s room, I see him standing in his crib. He’s trying to climb out, so I scoop him up and smile. “No jailbreaks for you, cowboy.”

  He gives me a grin and smacks me in the face. But then he says, “Da, da,” and my heart melts.

  Two and a half years earlier, I thought I’d lost everything. But now, I couldn’t be happier.

  Want to keep up with all of the other books in K. Bromberg’s Everyday Heroes World? You can visit us anytime at http://www.kbworlds.com/ and the best way to stay up to date on all of our latest releases and sales, is to sign up for our official KB Worlds newsletter HERE.

  Are you interested in reading the bestselling books that inspired the Everyday Heroes World? You can find them HERE.

  If you liked Ignite…

  If you enjoyed Ignite, be sure to take a trip to Ryker Ranch to visit all the Ryker boys. And if you’re not already, make sure you get acquainted with Grady Malone, K. Bromberg’s sexy firefighter from Combust.

  Combust

  Ryker Ranch

  Saddle Up

  Bucked Off

  Ridden Hard

  Contemporary Romance

  Until the Stars Fade Get this FREE by joining my Facebook Group: Loraine Lovers

  Ryker Ranch

  Saddle Up

  Bucked Off

  Ridden Hard

  Roped Tight

  Break Me

  The Royal Virgins

  The Virgin’s Playboy Prince

  The Virgin’s Royal Guard

  The Virgin’s Forbidden Lord

  The Virgin’s Fake Fiancé

  The Cocktail Girls

  His Whiskey Sour (A Stand Alone Rock Star Romance)

  The Halloween Honeys

  His Wicked Witch

  The Resolution Pact

  Resolution: Baby Fever

  The Golden Beach Series

  Restoration

  Renovation

  Foundation

  Resonance

  Redemption

  Resolution

  Devotion

  Remnants

  About the Author

  Kim writes steamy contemporary and sexy paranormal romance. You’ll find her paranormal romances written under the name K. Loraine and her contemporaries as Kim Loraine. Don’t worry, you’ll get the same level of swoon-worthy heroes, sassy heroines, and an eventual HEA.

  When not writing, she’s busy herding cats (raising kids), trying to keep her house sort of clean, and dreaming up ways for fictional couples to meet.

  Sign up to get updates on all of Kim’s new releases

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  ALSO WRITTEN BY K. BROMBERG

  Driven

  Fueled

  Crashed

  Raced

  Aced

  Slow Burn

  Sweet Ache

  Hard Beat

  Down Shift

  UnRaveled

  Sweet Cheeks

  Sweet Rivalry

 
; The Player

  The Catch

  Cuffed

  Combust

  Cockpit

  Control

  Faking It

  Resist

  Reveal

  Then You Happened

  Hard to Handle

  Acknowledgments

  I wrote this book during the beginning of a time of drastic change around the world. When we all had to stay home, stay safe, and take care of each other by being conscious of those who are essential workers. This should have been an easy task, writing a book when I had nowhere to go. It wasn’t. So, that being said, I want to thank some people who held my hand (metaphorically) as I wrote during a crisis, a time when we were all in the middle of trauma.

  Lauren, thank you for being there when I wanted to throw it all away. For helping me see where it all should go, not the garbage, but in its right place.

  M, thank you for cheering me on every time I had a panicked moment about this book.

  Kristy, thank you for trusting that I could write a book for your beautiful world. I’ll forever be grateful.

  Mo, you’re my person. I love you.

  Kerrigan, thank you so much for talking me through numerous plot details and late night messages as it all started to come together.

  And of course, my family, my editor, my beta readers, and my coven!

  xoxo,

  Kim