Heat Stroke, A Former Bully Enemies to Lovers Romance

By Skye Turner

heat·stroke
/ˈhētˌstrōk/
noun
a condition marked by fever and often by unconsciousness, caused by failure of the body's temperature-regulating mechanism when exposed to excessively high temperatures

For too many years Blaze Carrington riled me up. Just the sight of his smug, perfect face made my blood boil. And, he knew it. 
He'd goad me… taunt me… push my buttons. 
I knew that he knew and that only annoyed me further. As kids, and then teenagers, he'd torment me relentlessly. 
The angrier I'd get, the smugger he'd become. 
Everyone loved him, but not me. 
I just wanted to punch him in the face girls fawned over.
Then, he left for college. My life calmed. I was able to breathe and live my life without the chaos known as Blaze. 
I was happy… 
Only now, he's back. My blood is once again heating at the mere thought of Blaze Carrington. 
But this time, I feel feverish and it's not with anxiety or ire…

This time, it's desire…

***This book is intended for those 18 and older. It contains explicit sex, graphic language, and adult content. Those against those things should NOT read!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Skye Turner
• Release date: Jul 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781393709114

Skye Turner

Skye Turner is an avid reader and an editor turned International Bestselling Author of Sexy Adult Romance across the board! (See her book list for her abundance of titles!)She has recently expanded her writing capabilities and is writing Paranormal Adult Romance as Sloane Nicole. Her Bewitching Bayou PNR Series is called L’Amour Bayou with the first book being Antoinette’s Fall.She attended Southeastern Louisiana University and Louisiana State University where she majored in Mass Communications, centering her studies in Journalism. Unfortunately, life intervened and she never finished her studies.She lives in small town Louisiana with her husband, two children, and far too many rescued fur babies.When she's not chained to her laptop pounding out sexy stories she can usually be found playing ‘Supermom’, reading, gardening (playing in the dirt), listening to music and dancing like a fool, cooking, baking, crafting, or spending time with those most important to her.She loves to incorporate pieces of her home state of Louisiana into her writing.

Book preview

Chapter One

* * *

Wren

As the phone rings for the tenth time, I sigh and grab it before it can ring again. LeSalle Lumber. Good afternoon. Wren speaking. How can I help you? I automatically say into the receiver as I use my face and shoulder to hold the phone while continuing to look through the pile of paperwork on my desk.

I know that Purchase Order was here when I left last night.

Where did you go?

Did someone come into my office and grab it before I got here this morning?

I’ve told them 1000 times not to touch shit in my office.

I listen to the woman on the other end of the line and tell her to hold for just a second so I can transfer her back to the store front. Once I transfer the call and make certain it was picked up, I flip through the papers on my desk once more and glare at the spot I left the now missing-in-action Purchase Order.

Growling as I stand, I push my rolling chair back with my shins and swipe my empty coffee cup from the corner of my desk. Grumbling to myself, "How many times have I told them to leave my shit alone?! If it’s in my office, then, they need to ask me for it. Messing up my damn mojo…" I stalk to the door.

The smell of fresh coffee wafts down the hall from the kitchen and I inhale deeply before deciding to detour. After my coffee, I’ll track my dad down to ask if he stole my missing P.O. I need to create the invoice.

Grrrrrr. I hate when they touch my shit.

A laugh causes me to look up. Standing by the coffee pot is my little sister, Alena. She grins at me. Who’s messing up your mojo, Wren? Stepping aside, she gestures to the coffee pot. Get some happy juice. She’s holding two cups of coffee herself.

Stepping past her, I push the button to fill my cup with fresh, dark roast Community Coffee. Once the black liquid is near the top of my cup, I lift it to my lips and take a sip. It’s so hot. It burns my lips and I moan as they tingle before blowing into the cup. Turning, I face Alena and rest my hip on the counter. She’s cattycorner to me and sipping from her own mug while the second cup sits beside her on the counter. She asks again, Who’s pissed you off? What are you grumbling about?

Chuckling, I give her the stink eye. Has anyone been in my office today?

She laughs and nods, Yeah, Daddy was in there looking for a Purchase Order this morning. They called and wanted to know if they could pick up the lumber this week instead of next. The weather is cooperating and they can really start on the new community center if we can have the shipment ready.

I groan. Really? It shouldn’t be an issue. It’s already cut. They’ll just need to stack and wrap it.

Alena nods. Yeah, that’s what Daddy told him. He told the guy he could pick it up tomorrow.

My brow raises. Tomorrow? They’re going to have to work on it all day to have it ready for pickup. I sigh and take another sip of my delicious coffee. I guess once I get my purchase order back, I can head to the mill to help. Glancing down, I see my worn denim and flip flops. I’ll have to change into the steel toe boots I keep in my office.

Alena wrinkles her nose. Why do you always do that? You’ll be completely covered with saw dust and dirt. You’re the office manager, Wren. I’m the store/warehouse manager. Daddy and the guys are supposed to handle the mill. She shudders.

Laughing at her, I reach out to pull on one of the long brown wavy locks hanging loose from the braid that I’m sure is purposely supposed to look messy. I do whatever needs to be done, Sis. Besides, to have that order ready for tomorrow, I’ll need to help. You could help, too, you know… Alena shudders with real horror and I chuckle.

After setting my coffee down, I release the elastic on my now loose ponytail and gather my thick tresses at the top of my head and re-secure it. My hair is so heavy… So, where is Daddy with my Purchase Order anyway?

Alena wrinkles her nose at me again before picking up the second cup of coffee from the counter top. No way. I’m not getting covered head to toe in sawdust. She shudders again and glares at me as I smirk. Tossing her chic braid over her shoulder, she grabs the other cup of coffee and jerks her chin at me. Come on. I’m heading that way anyway. I came back to brew a fresh pot and bring one to Daddy. He’s up in the warehouse right now. The builder for that order is supposed to come by this afternoon to look at hardware and grab more supplies.

Nodding, I follow behind her. We walk side by side for a bit before she casually says, Hey, I think you actually know him. I’m pretty sure we went to school with him.

What?

Alena is only two years younger than I am, so, she’d know if I know the builder? She’d know him, too.

Who is it?

It could be anyone. Everyone knows everyone here anyway. Welcome to Smalltown, Louisiana.

We’re ten minutes from Baton Rouge, but, we still have enough of that small town feel that I love it. The convenience of the big city while still enjoying grass and sugar cane fields. Though the community leaders are trying to take that away from us now, too. More rooftops and more taxes is all they care about!

I mean, who gives a shit that they’re destroying the very things that attract people over to us.

Traffic is total shit getting into Baton Rouge now.

Alena says, Blaze Carrington… She glances over at me and I can see she’s flicking her lip with her tongue. She’s always done that when she’s up to something or waiting for a reaction. He was in school with us, right?

My ears start to ring and my vision goes black for a split second. My step falters and coffee splashes from my cup onto my white t-shirt. It’s still hot, so I gasp at the contact.

Blaze Carrington?

Alena knows damn well that we went to school together.

No fucking way. He’s not the builder… he can’t be.

He left!

Well, he left to go to college and I heard he started some business when he graduated. But, why would he come back here?

Why now?

He’s the builder for the Community Center?! No way.

The universe is not that cruel.

Alena stops and glances at me with concern. There’s no hint of mischief on her face now. "Wren, are you ok? I know… I’m sorry I was teasing you.

You look like you just saw a ghost.

A ghost… no… Blaze is no ghost. He’s a damn demon.

Nodding, I smile at her, controlling my racing mind and trying to avoid her question. You’re right. I’m ok. Sorry. I just tripped on my shoes. You know I can trip on air.

Relief crosses her face as she looks down at my feet before laughing out loud. This is true. You’re the only person I know who falls on flat ground and chokes on air. I seriously need to buy you as bubble! She nods at my feet. You know flip flops aren’t smart in here. Hello, splinters in your heel!

I chuckle with her. It’s true. I’m the most accident prone person ever.

If there was an Olympic competition, I’d win the gold.

We reach the warehouse and I push the door open. Alena walks past me since both of her hands are full. I hear shuffling around and immediately head toward the sound. As I reach the corner, I raise my voice, "Daddy! How many times do I have to tell you not to touch shit in my office?! Your company… My office. Where’s my Purchase Order?"

I freeze. My jaw drops and my legs stop working. I just stare.

Daddy laughs, but, I’m too focused on the man beside him to pay him any attention.

Son of a bitch…

Noooooooo.

Daddy says with a smile, Blaze, you remember my daughter, Wren…

Blaze Carrington is here. In the warehouse. The boy who made my life an ever-living hell… the boy who tormented me unrelentlessly… the boy who made everyone think I was a leper, so I never got to attend any dances or games or even go on dates…

He stole my childhood.

He hurt me just to do it.

He humiliated me.

He made me a loner.

Of course. Hello, Wren. It’s very nice to see you again.

What? No, it’s not. Why would it be? Why does he sound like that?

He sounds almost sincere.

What the hell is his game?

Raising my brows, I stare at him. Taking in his appearance. My eyes trail over him disdainfully.

He seems to be doing the same to me, only he’s smiling warmly. My jaw tightens and my back straightens as I respond to him. Mr. Carrington. My voice is flat. Cold. That’s it. He gets nothing else. He deserves nothing else. My eyes leave him and return to my father, dismissing him. Daddy, the P.O.?! I need to get back to my office if I’m going to head to the mill to get the order ready? Where is my P.O.? My tone is harsher than