Page 2 of Burning Desire

“Shit,” I curse before looking around to see who heard me but find us alone in the aisle. “I am so sorry—” I start to apologize.

“Harmony?”

The man’s voice flows over me, coating me from the inside out. I would know that deep baritone anywhere. My gaze clashes with his as I try to form words, but my brain is fried. The man is gorgeous, no lie. Then again, he always has been.

He has dark hair that’s not too long with dark grey eyes that bore into my soul, stealing all my darkest, innermost hiddensecrets. And he is fit with a capitalF. As a fireman, he takes excellent care of his body, but I swear he is bigger than he was the last time I saw him, five years ago.

“I don’t know if you remember me?” He looks a little sheepish.

“Really?” I laugh. “Of course, I remember my sister’s ex-husband. I was just shocked to see you. I thought you had moved to San Francisco.”

I’m rambling. I know it and he knows it. But it has always been this way. Draven makes me nervous and verbal diarrhea just spills out of me. I thought it would change when I was older or maybe even when he married my sister, Aurora. But it never did. Seems this crush is never going to fade away.

“Right.” His features harden, and he goes stoic.

“Shit. Sorry!” I slap my hand over my mouth, and he chuckles. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know.” Draven nods. “I think I forgot that everyone here would remember that. I also forgot that you can be brutally honest.”

“What are you doing back in town?” I try to change the subject and hopefully wipe the frown from his face.

His chest puffs out slightly with pride before he answers. “I’m the new fire chief.”

“Congratulations! That’s amazing. You always said you wanted to be Chief,” I hug him, but he goes rigid. “Sorry. Seems all I can do is put my foot in my mouth or make you uncomfortable.”

“I just wasn’t expecting…” he trails off.

“I know, right? I’m not supposed to be nice to you. I mean, with Aurora being my sister and all. But you didn’t do anything wrong, even if she wants everyone to think that. And I’ve known you for years.” I’m rambling again.

Why won’t the earth just crack open and swallow me, forcrying out loud?

He tilts his head to the side, studying me, like I’m some damn insect. “Thanks for that, Harmony. It’s good to know not everyone thinks I’m the bad guy.”

“Well, it’s true.” I nod as if trying to reinforce my words. “Anyway, I will let you get on with your shopping. It was good seeing you.”

“You too,” Draven murmurs. I turn my cart around and haul ass as far away from him as fast as I can before I say or do anything else to embarrass myself.

The damn man turns me inside out every single time. I feel like I am eighteen years old all over again. Sister’s ex-husband or not, I still want to know what it feels like when he turns his full, undivided attention on you.

Shaking my head, I let my feet carry me back to my bakery. No sense in dreaming about something that’ll never happen.

Chapter Two

Not So Little Anymore

Draven

Running into Harmony was a little weird, but I can easily remember why I was so fond of her when she was younger. The girl has no filter whatsoever and simply says what is on her mind. It’s refreshing, to say the least. You always know exactly where you stand with Harmony, whether you like it or not.

I wasn’t expecting to find a gorgeous woman in the place of the awkward young woman I remember. Harmony has grown into herself and if she wasn’t my ex-sister-in-law, I would have asked her out. I make pro and con lists in my mind while I shop but I know I won’t track her down to ask. I wouldn’t want anyone in town to think any less of her.

But that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the woman she has become. She is a curvy little thing with thick thighs and large breasts. Her skin is tanned, and her hazel eyes are bright. Long dark hair with sun streaks flows down her back to the curve of her ass. Yeah, not a teenager anymore.

It was nice to talk with her for a bit, though. Knowing she doesn’t hold the utter destruction of my marriage to her sister against me is a relief. You can always count on Harmony to mean what she says. She doesn’t have a single deceptive bone in her body. I hope I get to see her again, perhaps we can have dinner and be friends. I sure as shit need one.

My mind is filled with thoughts of Harmony—I know they shouldn’t be—as I grab the last of my groceries and wait in line at the checkout. I’m so lost in thought, it takes me a moment to realize someone is actually talking to me when they say my name.

“Draven?”

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