Ring of Fire: Big City Heat, #3

By Misha Carver

Santo Domingo, a Fireman's Ball, and a Raging Inferno…

My life is in a tailspin and it won't stop. Chance was supposed to be mine forever. I should've known he was still the same jerk from high school that made my life a living hell. I forgave his secret, so why can't he forgive mine?

Will Chance find it in his heart to forgive Alexandria? Or, will it take the impossible for true love to reign supreme once again? Secrets fuel the flames while passion ignites in this sizzling hot firefighter romance.

More from Misha:

BILLIONAIRE SEEKS AN HEIR
Unplanned Fairy Tale
Unraveled Lives
Unforgettable Melody

BIG CITY HEAT:
Light My Fire
I'm On Fire
Ring of Fire

PURRFECT MATES:
Purrfect Chaos
Purrfect Storm
Purrfect Harmony

About the Author:

Misha Carver loves writing sensual paranormal/shifter and new adult/contemporary romance stories for people who want to escape into another world. Whether you're looking for shifter tales or hot alpha males, Misha's your girl. Why not put her on your eReader today?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Misty Meadows Publishing
• Release date: Oct 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9781988343082

Misha Carver

Misha Carver has been writing since she was thirteen. Oh how she wishes she could find that handwritten manuscript. Even before that she had an incredible imagination that used to scare not only her friends, but also herself. Nowadays, she keeps the figments of her imagination hostage to the written word. There’s nothing she loves more that writing sexy romances for her readers to enjoy. Whether paranormal or contemporary, her stories will satisfy your craving for an escape from the everyday world. Take some time out to embark on a fantasy while the alpha male of your dreams sweeps you off your feet. Misha lives in Ontario, Canada with her children and two cats. Well, actually three, but one belongs to her mother…Misha’s just the caretaker. In her spare time, she loves reading, listening to music, and watching television. Her favorite television show is House MD – come on, who doesn’t love Doctor House? Other than that, she enjoys dreaming of the day an alpha billionaire or a handsome shifter will come and whisk her away into another world. Don’t worry. If that ever happens, she’ll make sure he’ll still let her write…

Book preview

Chapter 1 – Alexandria

L ast call for flight 234 to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, the announcements said again while I stood there panicking.

Ma’am, do you want to get on this plane or not? the ticket attendant asked.

I stood there staring at her while I tried to decide. I needed my divorce, but I didn’t want to leave without Allison. The attendant shook her head while she began clearing her station.

I knew it was now or never. I had to make a decision. Get on the plane or don’t get on the plane. I hesitantly grabbed my ticket out of my bag and stared at it while my hands shook.

Would you make up your mind? the attendant asked as the sound of footsteps in the distance distracted me.

I’m thinking, I said.

Think faster, or that plane is leaving without you.

The footsteps got louder until I realized they were heading straight for us. Thank God, I thought.

You made it, I said in an annoyed tone without turning around.

Better late than never, a deep voice said behind me before a strong hand touched my shoulder.

Chance, I said, turning around. What... How...?

I’ll explain it on the plane, he said with a grin.

But what about Emily?

Allison’s got that covered. Now give the nice lady your ticket so we don’t miss our flight.

But...

I thought you’d be happy to see me, he said, leaning down and giving me a kiss.

I am, I said, kissing him back. I just don’t understand.

Why don’t you two give me your tickets and settle this between yourselves later? the ticket attendant said as she rolled her eyes.

Chance took my ticket out of my hand and handed it to her before giving her his own.

HOLY HANNAH, I SAID as we stepped onto the plane. She wasn’t kidding when she said there were over one hundred other passengers. This place is packed.

You can say that again, he said, making his way through the rows of people with our carry-ons until he found our seats.

Do you want the window seat? he asked as he looked down at his ticket and the seat assignment.

No, go ahead. I’m okay with the middle.

If it’s all the same to you, I’d rather sit in the middle, he said.

The passenger with the aisle seat was a sweet-looking elderly woman with tightly curled powder-white hair. She reminded me of my grandmother, so tiny and frail. The kind of woman you just want to reach out to and help, or ask about the good old days.

Suit yourself, I said, asking the woman to excuse me so I could get to the window seat.

What is this? Chance asked, pulling a paper bag out of the mesh compartment attached to the seat in front of him.

Your barf bag, I told him.

Barf bag?

In case you throw up, dear, the elderly lady beside him interrupted.

Thank you, he said, turning to her and smiling. Chance Friedman, and you are?

Leona Cooney, she replied, appearing almost delighted that he’d paid attention to her.

It’s a pleasure to meet you, Leona. This is Alex, he said, gesturing to me. Have you been to Santo Domingo before?

Many times, she said, many times. My husband Doug and I spent every winter there together until he passed away. After he passed, I didn’t know if I’d go back alone. For the first few years I didn’t. Then one night he came to me in a dream and told me not to miss out on the things I enjoyed anymore. He told me not to stop living just because he did. The very next winter, I went back. This is the sixth year I’ve made the trip by myself.

Wow, I said. If you don’t mind me asking, what happened to your husband?

One day he was fine, and the next day he wasn’t feeling well. I took him to the hospital and they did some tests. They told us he had terminal cancer on a Thursday. Two weeks later, I was holding his hand while he passed on.

That’s so sad, I said, reaching across Chance to hold her hand. I couldn’t imagine going through everything she had faced.

Are you two on your honeymoon? she asked.

No, Chance and I both answered simultaneously before we started laughing.

We’re just on holidays, Chance said.

I didn’t correct him. I understood why he lied to her about the reason for our trip. Given her age, she might have found it strange that we were traveling together for my divorce.

You’ll be married someday, she said. Trust me. I see the future.

Chance smiled at her, and then turned to me and rolled his eyes. I knew right then that he didn’t believe in fortune-tellers. That was one more thing we had in common.

Thanks, he said. I’ll keep that in mind.

Eventually, Leona fell asleep while she was talking to us about her family. I seized the opportunity to interrogate Chance about the sudden turn of events.

Okay. Fess up. Why are you here instead of Allison? I asked.

Allison called me a few days ago. She couldn’t get the time off work on such short notice, and she thought it would be a nice touch if I went with you.

Don’t the two of you think I should have had some say in this?

Did you want to go alone?

Well, no.

Then stop complaining and let me finish, he said. I understand why I’ve been so stressed out lately. Saving you from that fire, it brought all of the memories of the fire in the garage when I was a kid flooding back. I saved you, but I couldn’t save my sister. As soon as I realized what it was, I knew I never wanted to be without you again.

Aw, that’s so sweet. I don’t want to be without you, either. But your sister, you were just a little boy. There’s no way you could have saved her.

You don’t get it, Alex. At first, I think I was angry, then sad, and then it hit me. I earned my sister’s forgiveness when I saved you and Emily. After all these years, I finally feel like I’ve earned redemption.

It was never your fault, I said.

Tell that to my conscience, and let me feel the forgiveness in my heart, he said. Through feeling her forgiveness, a huge weight lifted off my shoulders that’s been there most of my life. I finally feel like I can breathe again.

I reached out to touch his hand. He had been so young when his sister passed away in that fire, and yet he’d carried around the guilt for so long. I knew letting it go was a huge relief for him, and I was glad he could finally do it.

So when Allison asked me, I knew I had to take her up on the offer. There was no way I could pass it up.

But you almost missed the flight, I said, curious.

That’s because Allison screwed up the plan. She was supposed to come to the hotel to get you and bring you to the airport. At the last minute we were going to switch out. That’s why I asked you where she was. When you said she was meeting you there, I panicked. That threw a monkey wrench into everything. I couldn’t call her because you were standing right there, so I hurried you along and sent you on your way. As soon as you left, I called her and found out she was stuck in traffic because of an accident on the freeway.

You almost didn’t make it, then?

Almost. She kept me posted the entire time until she finally made it to the hotel. As she ran in the door, I ran out and hurried to the airport. The entire time, I was convinced that you were already on your way to Santo Domingo and I’d have to get on the next flight. I couldn’t believe it when you were still standing there at the gate.

But what about Emily?

Allison’s looking after Emily.

I thought you said Allison couldn’t get time off work?

She couldn’t. But she made arrangements with the lawyers to take Emily into work with her. It’s not like she’s little. She’s quiet, and Allison said she can put her to work stapling and filing, and when there’s nothing else to do she can color.

Good old Allison. I could always count on her. She was always there when I needed her, whether I knew it or not.

Who’s manning the station? I asked.

Anderson, he said as a stewardess interrupted.

Can I get you anything to drink? she asked.

A rum and coke for me, I said.

I’ll have the same, Chance answered.

Where were we? I asked as I looked at him.

You asked me who was in charge of the firehouse while I’m away. I gave Anderson the honors of being acting chief until I get back.

Anderson? Are you joking? I asked. He doesn’t know his ass from his hard hat. That position should have been mine.

Hey, he helped me save you, Chance said as the stewardess came back with our drinks. Besides, if you were acting chief right now, you wouldn’t be on this flight.

Good point, I said, taking a sip of my drink.

What was that? Chance asked as the plane jolted, flinging us forward.

Just turbulence, I said calmly while I looked out the window.

Turbulence, he said while the plane kept jolting. It feels like the bumpiest highway I’ve ever been on. The sky is not bumpy, Alex.

It’s okay, I said when his hand started to sweat in mine.

I looked up to see