Theyâre turning up the heat...on love
Haunted by a life he couldnât save, Omar Ewing walked away from his successful family business to become a firefighterârisking his own life every day. Now heâs sworn to track down an arsonist whoâs already struck twice. Working with beautiful local journalist Gabrielle Leonard definitely has its perks...until the man who finds it safer to play the field is in danger of losing his heart.
Gabrielle has her own reasons for teaming up with Omar to investigate the suspicious blazes. But the seductive San Francisco firefighter is bringing her dangerously close to a flame that has burned her before. With each scorching kiss, Omar is branding her his woman. But when Gabrielle becomes a target, will she be able to trust her future to the man who has vowed to protect her at all costs?
And then he did it. He pulled her into his arms, and she gasped slightly just before his lips came down on hers. Even as he started to kiss her, he wasnât sure what he was doing. There was just so much fire between them and this was the only thing that would quench it.
Gabrielle stiffened in his arms, a moan of protest escaping her lips. But as he slipped his arms around her slim waist and pulled her against his body, he felt the moment when she surrendered to the kiss.
She softened against him, and Lord, all of the tension ebbed out of Omarâs body. This was how he wanted her. Her lips and body pressed against his. As she kissed him back, the woman who seemed only able to fight with him morphed into someone else. She was blossoming intoâ
Gabrielle violently pushed herself out of his arms. As she looked up at him, her eyes shot fire. âWhat the heck are you doing?â she demanded.
âKissing you.â
âI know that. But, my God, why?â
âSeemed like the most effective way to quiet you,â Omar muttered. He wasnât surprised when her eyes widened with fury.
Dear Reader,
Sometimes itâs tough being a romance writer. Imagining all those hot heroes and sexy scenes? Delving into a world where that sexy hero becomes putty in the right womanâs hands? Itâs hard work!
Of course, Iâm kidding. Not about writing being hard work, but itâs certainly the best work for the very reasons I mentioned above. Whatâs better than writing about a hot hero and a feisty heroine who meet and thereâs instant fire?
Thatâs exactly what happens in Passion Ignited. Literally, sparks fly between Omar and Gabrielle because theyâre at a fire scene. And also figuratively, because the heat between them is immediate.
I know how much you love continuing storiesâand a playboy hero who doesnât want to settle down. Thatâs why this book is about Omar, who you may recognize from the first two books in my Love on Fire series. Little does Omar know, his playboy days are numbered! This was a fun story to write, and I hope you all love it!
Kayla
KAYLA PERRIN is a multi-award winning, multi-published USA TODAY and Essence bestselling author. Sheâs been writing since she could hold a pencil and sent her first book to a publisher when she was just thirteen years old. Since 1998, sheâs had over fifty novels and novellas published. Sheâs been featured in Ebony, RT Book Reviews, South Florida Business Journal, the Toronto Star and other Canadian and US publications. Her works have been translated into Italian, German, Spanish and Portuguese. In 2011, Kayla received the prestigious Harry Jerome Award for excellence in the arts in Canada. She lives in the Toronto area with her daughter.
You can find Kayla on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Please visit her website at kaylaperrin.com.
For Chloe,
my beautiful and talented daughter. Your drive and artistic ability inspire me everyday. Never give up on your dreams! I canât wait to see how high your star rises.
Chapter 1
The somber rendition of âGoing Homeâ filled the air, played as it always was, by the bagpipe and drum band. The rhythmic sound of dress boots hitting the asphalt in unison accompanied the sound of the music. Firefighters from all of Ocean Cityâs fire departments marched in formation, following the ladder truck that carried Dean Dunbarâs flag-draped coffin.
Omar Ewing hated the sound of the pipe and drum band. Hated it with a passion. Besides the rare happy occasionsâlike Saint Patrickâs Day celebrationsâthis type of music always signified a funeral.
Firefighters from well beyond Ocean Cityâs borders in Californiaâeven from outside the countryâlined the streets for the procession. Police officers and paramedics were among the crowd, too. The case of the Ocean City arsonist had garnered international attention and the turnout to pay final respects to Lt. Dean Dunbar was impressive.