Up in Flames [The Heroes of Silver Springs 10] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic)

The Heroes of Silver Springs 10

Up in Flames

Hazmat Engineer-Lieutenant Max Jasper is an explosively orgasmic recipe for disaster. Fire Investigator Regina Zimmer knows if she lets him get too close, she’ll go up in flames. She’s worked hard to prove herself a highly competent professional in the fire service. But when tragedy strikes, the career she loves is threatened, and surrendering to her desires for Max could change everything.

Max asked one question when he first met the fiery redheaded Regina, and she immediately dubbed him as Lieutenant Ass. Since then, anytime their paths have crossed, they’ve ended up snipping at each another. Still, when Regina’s personal life starts to take her down emotionally, Max is there for her. When the Flame Jumper begins torching businesses in Silver Springs and targeting Regina, Max is determined to help her catch the arsonist. But doing so will put his needs for her on the line and create a backdraft neither of them can escape.

Genre:
Contemporary, Romantic Suspense

Length:
80,218 words
 

The Heroes of Silver Springs 10

Tonya Ramagos

EVERLASTING CLASSIC

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

IMPRINT: Everlasting Classic

UP IN FLAMES

E-book ISBN:
978-1-62740-359-7

First E-book Publication: July 2013

Cover design by Harris Channing

All art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED:
This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers

Dear Readers,

If you have purchased this copy of
Up in Flames
by Tonya Ramagos from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy

This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

This is Tonya Ramagos’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Ramagos’s right to earn a living from her work.

Amanda Hilton, Publisher

www.SirenPublishing.com

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Silver Springs, MS, is a fictional city existing only in my imagination. Any liberties I have taken or mistakes I have made in regards to fire department, police, FBI, DEA, and military procedures are my own for the sake of the story.

UP IN FLAMES

The Heroes of Silver Springs 10

TONYA RAMAGOS

Copyright © 2013

Max Jasper’s vision quickly adjusted to the smoky haze inside the Paradise Lounge, and he immediately wished it hadn’t. Of the sixty or more patrons drinking, dancing, and seeming to have a merry ole time, his attention had to land on her, Fire Investigator Regina Zimmer.

His cock stirred as his gaze moved over her flaming red hair, cut boyishly short, leaving the slender column of her mouthwatering nape exposed. His tongue tingled to glide over her sensitive skin, his teeth aching to nip the curve of flesh where her neck and shoulders met.

Nip and she’s liable to bite back, taking a good chunk of your skin with her.

She sat at the bar, her head down and shoulders slouched, the posture pulling the material of her dark-colored blouse tightly around her body. Even from the back, it was obvious the woman had curves, truly delectable ones his hands burned to touch.

Touch and it’s a damn good chance she’ll break your fingers, too.

He’d managed to do it once and come out of it with his fingers intact. He’d curled them around her shapely hips and drew her body close to his. In a moment of what he’d only been able to determine as a drunken disregard of her sanity, she’d danced with him at the firehouse New Year’s Eve party two months ago. At first, it had been like dancing with a two-by-four at a middle-school function. Her hands on his shoulders had been the only part of her that had invaded his personal space. Then, she’d started to relax, allowed him to pull her closer, and every ounce of his sanity had gone up in flames as her amazing body had melted against his.

Max tore his gaze from her back and glanced at the dance floor. He hadn’t come in tonight to party, but to merely have a couple of beers before heading home. But, what if he could somehow lure her to that dance floor?

She’ll dance, then thank you politely, and walk away just like last time.

And he’d be back to staring at her tantalizing nape just like he was doing now. Nah, more than likely, if he had to watch her walk away, he’d be staring at her well-rounded ass. The woman truly had an amazing ass.

One that a particular Lieutenant Ass isn’t likely to get his hands on.

Max frowned, raked a hand over his spiky hair, and sighed. Yeah, he’d heard around the firehouse she’d taken to calling him that, though she’d never said it to his face. But, what the hell? He’d come in for a beer, the barstool next to her was empty, and he damn sure wasn’t going to get that beer or come close to getting his hands on her spectacular ass standing in the entryway of the lounge ogling her. He weaved his way to the bar, slid onto the empty stool, and flagged down the bartender.

“I’ll have a bottle of Michelob Ultra and”—he glanced at Regina’s glass, noted it was nearly empty, and tipped his chin toward it—“whatever she’s having.”

Regina’s head came up, her gaze slamming into his. Recognition swept through her light-blue eyes first, followed immediately by darts of irritation, intense dislike, and, finally, resignation. “I can buy my own—” She heaved a sigh and shook her head hard enough to make her red locks bounce. “Fuck it. I’ll get the next round.”

Max angled his head toward her and lifted a brow. “Rough day?” The woman was definitely off her game. That had been too easy. The pit bull hadn’t bared her teeth, barked his head off, or anything else that would have made him run away with his tail tucked between his legs.

She lifted a shoulder and held his gaze. “Just not in the mood to argue tonight.”

“Good. Neither am I.” He hated arguing, especially with her. Damned if he’d yet to figure out why every time their paths crossed they ended up spitting at one another anyway. He rested his forearms on the bar as she looked away. “Want to talk about it?”

Her head snapped back toward him, her ivory face contorted in an expression of disbelief. “To you?”

Well, now, there was a glimmer of the Regina he was used to. He nearly grinned before he caught himself. “Unless you’d rather pour out your heart to that stranger across the bar.” He gestured with his head to no one in particular, his attention snagged by the freckles that marched across both her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Geezus, he loved a woman with freckles.

The bartender returned with their drinks, and Regina pushed her empty glass aside in favor of lifting the new one to her lips. “I’ll pass on both, thanks.”

Max thought he detected a slight slur in her words and wondered how many drinks she’d had. “Have you been here long?”

“Long enough.” Her gaze swept the area behind the bar before returning to him. “What time is it, anyway?”

Yeah, her words were definitely starting to slur. He didn’t wear a watch, but he’d glanced at the clock in the dashboard of his truck when he’d pulled into the parking lot. “A little after ten.”

“You’re getting a late start, or are you barhopping?”

“Late start. I spent the day with a few of the guys from B-shift working at Kyle Shannon’s new house. He bought this place that needs some serious remodeling, and we’ve been chipping in time on our off days to help out.”

Regina’s brows inched together. “A bunch of guys working on a house and you didn’t go through several kegs?”

Max chuckled. “Yeah, probably an unheard-of event. Except that Kyle doesn’t drink. He wouldn’t have cared if we did, but, you know, it’s the guy’s house and all.”

“Is this Saturday or Sunday for you?”

The Silver Springs Fire Department operated on a twenty-four on, forty-eight off schedule. For the normal working population, it was the middle of the week. For him, it was weekend wrap-up. “Sunday. I’ll be back on shift at seven.”

“Me, too.” She lifted her glass, toasted the air, then took a long swig.

Max knew her workday didn’t start until eight, but he doubted that extra hour would make much difference when she woke with the mother of all hangovers in the morning.

“I should probably go home,” she said, unknowingly putting voice to Max’s thoughts. “I’m just not ready to be alone yet, you know?”

Max bit his tongue on the instant responses that sprang to his mind. Things like
I’ll go with you
or
you’re welcome to come to my place instead
were not appropriate suggestions to make right now. What if it worked? What if he said one of those things and she actually took him up on the offer?

You’d get your hands on her.