When Sparks Collide Read online

  When Sparks Collide

  Copyright © 2018 Kaylee Ryan

  All Rights Reserved.

  This book may not be reproduced in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Kaylee Ryan, except for the use of brief quotations in articles and or reviews.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, events, locations, businesses and plot are products of the author’s imagination and meant to be used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events throughout the story are purely coincidental. The author acknowledges trademark owners and trademarked status of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication and use of these trademarks is not authorized, sponsored or associated by or with the trademark owners.

  The following story contains sexual situations and strong language. It is intended for adult readers.

  Cover Design: MG Book Covers & Design

  Cover Photography: Adobe Stock

  Editing: Hot Tree Editing

  Formatting: Integrity Formatting

  Previously published as part of the Burn Me Anthology

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Contact Kaylee Ryan

  Other Works by Kaylee Ryan

  When Captain Spears told me we had to do rounds at The Country Manor today, it took everything I had not to grin. It’s routine for our department to go to local business and check their fire systems, sprinklers, fire extinguishers, and the emergency box. It’s a little waterproof locked box on the side of the building. Inside, there are contact numbers for the owners and management staff. Should there be a fire emergency, the thought is that we get to the box and contact the necessary personnel. The Country Manor, well, that’s my favorite. That’s where Kinsley works; she’s been the manager there for about a year now. Kinsley Spears has been playing in my nightly dreams ever since she returned home from college. She’s a fucking wet dream. Oh, and did I mention she’s the captain’s daughter? Just my luck, she wants nothing to do with me. Not me specifically, at least I don’t think so. Her excuse for refusing me is that she vowed to never date a firefighter.

  I’m still trying to change her mind.

  Pulling the fire truck into the parking lot, I drive around to the back of the building. This thing is huge, and the front lot is too small. I can just see Kinsley, with her hand on her hip, and those big brown eyes full of fury giving me hell because I’m blocking the lot for her guests. Better yet, the guests freaking out thinking there’s a true emergency. As much as the fire in her eyes hardens my cock, I’m trying to stay on her good side. I’m not giving up. Normally, I’m a patient man, keeping my head straight, staying calm in emergency situations, but with Kinsley, my patience is wearing thin.

  I want her.

  “What’s your big hurry?” Derek Dotson, my best friend and fellow crew member at the fire department, asks.

  He knows. He just wants to make me say it. “The sooner we get through this, the sooner we can get back to the station.”

  “Uh-huh,” he says.

  Ignoring him, I walk toward the front of the building and enter through the double glass doors. My plan is to ask for her, but she’s already there waiting.

  “Brantley. Derek.” She greets us with pure professionalism. Not that I expect anything less from her.

  “Hey, Kinsley,” Derek says. “You know the drill.”

  “That I do. Dad told me you were on your way.” She steps out and around the counter. “I guess we’ll start with the extinguisher, and emergency lights. This way,” she says, turning to lead us down a long hallway.

  “Son of a bitch,” Derek comments.

  I smack the back of his head. “Mine,” I growl, low enough that he can hear me, but Kinsley doesn’t. No need to give her another reason to push me away.

  “Since when?” he goads.

  “Fuck off.” I walk ahead of him. My eyes immediately follow the sway of her hips as she walks. She’s in a tight black skirt and red high heels. Her long blonde hair is flowing down her back. She’s a fucking knockout.

  I’m too busy staring at her ass to realize she’s stopped walking. I catch myself, my hands on her hips just before I plow into her. “Sorry, babe. Your ass distracted me,” I whisper in her ear.

  I can see the effect I have on her by the sudden rapid rise and fall of her chest. Her red silk shirt is unbuttoned, just to show a hint of cleavage, and from my height, she’s giving me a show. “Brantley, we’ve talked about this.” She sighs.

  “You’ve talked, but I haven’t. Go out with me.”

  She places her soft hand on mine; it’s still resting on her hip. “I can’t.” Gripping my hand, she removes it from her waist and steps away. “The alarm system panel is in here.” She opens the door at the end of the hall we’ve been standing in front of.

  “Struck out again, Price,” Derek says with a laugh, his hand on my shoulder.

  “Fuck off,” I grumble, and step into the room. Derek and I go through the routine of testing the alarms in each part of the building. Kinsley disappears, I assume to remind her staff that we’re just testing the system and that there’s not a fire or any other type of emergency.

  “Extinguishers next. Let’s split up. I’ll take the top three floors. You take the bottom three?” Derek asks.

  I fight my smile. I assume Kinsley’s office is on the first floor. “Damn good plan, my man.” I clap him on the shoulder just as he did to me earlier, and head off down the hall. I decide to go ahead and get the top two floors crossed off the list. I can’t guarantee that when I find her, especially if she’s alone in her office, that I’ll be able to leave her to do the rest of my job. Fuck me, but she could easily be my addiction.

  Finishing on the second floor, I’m not surprised that everything’s in order. Kinsley’s not going to let something slip through the cracks, not on her watch. When the elevator slides open, she’s standing there. I need to finish the first floor, but the pull to ride to whatever floor she’s going to is too strong. “Kins,” I say, leaning against the wall of the elevator.

  “Are you not getting off?” she asks.

  My cock throbs. “I don’t know, am I?”

  Her cheeks color the slightest shade of pink. “Brantley,” she says with a sigh, as the elevator doors close.

  Immediately, I reach over and hit the Stop button. “Kinsley,” I say her name just as she did mine.

  “W-what are you doing?”

  “Testing the elevator.” I step toward her. She’s standing in the opposite corner, her back against the wall. I place my hands on the elevator wall above her head. “You’re beautiful,” I say softly.

  She places her hands on my chest, and I’m sure she’s going to push me away, but she doesn’t. “I can’t do this with you,” she says, defeated.

  “You can,” I assure her. Leaving one hand braced above her, the other rests under her chin. Gently, I lift so she’s looking at me. “There’s a spark between us, Kins. I know you feel it. Why are you fighting this?”

  “You don’t understand.” She closes her eyes.

  “Don’t hide those big brown eyes from me,” I tell her. I wait for her to open them. “Tell me, what don’t I understand?” Leaning in, I kiss the corner of her mouth. It takes willpower—I didn’t know I had—not to kis s the hell out of her.

  “I’m working, Brantley. I’m sure maintenance is already trying to figure out what’s going on.” Removing her hands from my chest, she tugs my hand from her face and dips under my arm. I don’t stop her. Resting my forehead against the elevator wall, I try to get myself under control. When we stop moving, I lift my gaze just in time to watch as she steps out. Not once does she glance at me. What’s it going to take to convince her?

  How I’m able to walk out of the elevator on my shaking legs, I have no idea. Not falling on my ass is an even bigger accomplishment. Brantley Price is lethal. Tall, muscular, dark brown hair… he’s every woman’s fantasy, including mine. I just can’t let myself go there, no matter how badly I want to.

  “Miss Spears, the elevator—” Joe, my maintenance man, begins.

  I hold up my hand to stop him. “It’s all under control. The elevator is fine. The Stop button was pushed, but it’s been resolved.”

  His shoulders visibly relax. “Okay, good. The fire department’s here, making their rounds.”

  “I’m aware, thank you, Joe,” I say, dismissing him. I’m still trembling from my run in with Brantley. Turning, I hurry down the hall to my office and quietly close the door, resting my back against it. How much longer can I fight this? Why can’t he be like the others and just give up? I’ve had a few offers since I’ve been back to town, and I’ve turned them all down. They all took my no for what it was and haven’t bothered again. Brantley, he just keeps asking, keeps pushing. He doesn’t hold back, nor does he hide who he is from me, dirty talking and all. That makes him even harder to resist.

  My cell phone vibrates across my desk. I rush to grab it and see my best friend, Anna’s name flash across the screen. “Hey,” I greet her.

  “What’s up?” she asks.

  “Nothing, you know, just another day of telling the sex god Brantley Price that I want nothing to do with him.”

  She laughs. “He’s determined, that’s for sure.”

  “Yeah. I just don’t understand why he won’t give up. Can’t he see he’s not going to win this game?”

  “Who says it’s a game?” Anna counters.

  “Come on, Anna. This is Brantley Price. The same gorgeous guy who roamed the halls of our high school, the same guy who has women falling at his feet. The same guy who could have anyone he wanted.”

  “All true, but, Kins, he wants you.”

  “I’m a challenge.”

  “Maybe.” She chuckles. “However, he’s been relentless since you came back to town.”

  “That’s easy. He doesn’t like to be told no.”

  “At first, I would have agreed with you, but now… there’s something there.”

  “Right,” I scoff. “Anyway, what’s up with you?”

  “Mara called and wants us to meet up with her and Lacey at the Tavern tonight. You interested?”

  “After the week I’ve had, you know it. I could use a drink or ten.”

  She laughs. “I’ll drive so you can indulge.”

  “You’re too good to me, roomie.”

  “You’ve done the same for me. Many times,” she adds. “I think we’re even.”

  “I’ll see you at home tonight.”

  “See ya,” she chirps, and ends the call.

  Dropping my phone back on my desk, I mentally thank my best friend and roommate for the distraction. That is until I hear him.

  “Excuse me, ma’am, are there any fires that need to be put out in here?” I can hear the laughter in his voice.

  Turning toward the door, I see him, Brantley, standing in my doorway. He’s wearing a grin that I fight hard not to return. “I’m all set, thanks though,” I tell him.

  “How about dinner, tonight?” he asks.

  “Sorry, just made plans with the girls.”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “Nope. Are we done here, Mr. Price?” I ask, trying to maintain some semblance of control.

  He steps into my office, and in a few long strides, we’re standing toe to toe. Reaching up, his hand tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “We’re not done, Kins. Not even close.” With those parting words, he turns and walks out of my office.

  Luckily, my chair is right behind me. I drop into it, my shaking legs no longer able to hold me up. I don’t know how much longer I can keep refusing him. He’s determined, and with each interaction, my resolve slips away. If he had a different profession, I would have already let myself get lost in him. Now, it’s a struggle. A daily battle of wills and my fight is fading.

  I spend the rest of the day trying to push thoughts of Brantley out of my mind. At five o’clock, I find myself rushing home. Anna and I are meeting up with Mara and Lacey for a girls’ night. I need a drink in the worst way.

  “Now, tonight we’re letting loose. No complaints,” Anna says, pulling into the Tavern’s parking lot.

  “You’re not going to get any from me. After today, I need a few or twenty.” I laugh.

  “Oh, poor Kinsley. You have one of the hottest guys in town chasing you, and he has been for months, such a hardship,” she sighs dramatically.

  “Ha ha, I get it. I know how it sounds, but I can’t date a firefighter. It’s not going to lead to anything because I won’t let it, so why bother? It’s time to start thinking about the future and finding forever,” I tell her.

  “You’re twenty-three, not thirty-three. There’s still time to find Mr. Right. In the meantime, you should enjoy a little Brantley. I mean it’s a small Price to pay.” She winks. “Or not from what I’ve heard.”

  “You did not just say that,” I say, opening my door and climbing out of the car.

  “You remember high school, right?” she asks, meeting me at the front of the car. “Sure, he was three years older than us, but the rumors, and well, his football uniform….” She waggles her eyebrows.

  “Enough about him. No more Brantley talk tonight. I’ve had enough of him for one day.” I’m hoping if I keep telling myself that, it will become true. Right now, with his persistence that I go out with him, he’s all I think about.

  “Fine, but the first round is on you.”

  “Deal,” I say, linking my arm through hers as we head inside.

  “There’s Mara and Lacey.” Anna points to the back corner.

  “It’s about damn time you got here,” Mara chirps. “You’re behind,” she says, pushing two shots across the booth toward Anna and me.

  “How many have you had?” I ask.

  “Just one, but it’s about to be two,” she says just as the bartender Thomas stops next to the booth. He sets another shot in front of each of us, as well as a bottle of beer.

  “Ladies,” he says with his boyish grin. Thomas is good-looking with dark hair, dark eyes, and tattoos. I’m sure he kills it with tips, using that smile of his. There are always more women than men here on the nights he’s working. Smart move on the owner’s part. He was probably hired on the spot, just by looking at him.

  “Thanks,” Lacey says, batting her eyelashes at him. She’s the biggest flirt out of the four of us.

  “Kins,” Anna says, raising her first shot. I grab mine, and we toss them back at the same time. “Raise ’em up, ladies.” She grabs number two and holds it in the air. We all follow suit, holding shot number two in the air. Our hands meet in the center of the table. “It’s not the length. It’s not the size. It’s how often he can make it rise,” Anna says with a wink.

  Mara, Lacey, and I laugh so hard we’re barely able to take the shot. “Where do you come up with this stuff?” I ask, placing my empty shot glass on the table.

  “What can I say? It’s a gift.” She shrugs.

  That’s how our night goes. We toss back shots accompanied by Anna’s crazy toasts. We’re all well on our way to wasted. Hell, it’s safe to say we’re already there. Girls’ night was exactly what I needed to forget about him.

  “Even drunk you talk about him,” Lacey says.

  “What?” I ask, confused.

  “Brantley, you just said tonight was what you needed to not think about him.”

  “Shit. I didn’t mean to say that out loud,” I admit.

  “I still can’t believe you’re turning his fine ass down,” Anna adds.

  “Just admit it, you want him,” Mara says.

  “Fine. I want him. How could I not? Have you seen him? Those broad shoulders? I want to run my hands through his hair and lick his tattoos, but you all know why I can’t do that.”

  “They might, but I don’t.” A deep voice comes from beside me.

  Fuck me. That deep voice belongs to one man, the one who’s starred in all my fantasies over the last several months. I glare across the table at Lacey and Mara, who are both grinning. They could have warned me.

  When Derek called and wanted to meet up at the Tavern, I agreed because really, there’s nothing else to do in this town. Now that I’m here, and I’ve heard her drunken confession, I’m fucking ecstatic that I agreed.

  “Hey, Brantley,” Lacey says, with the same flirty voice she always greets me with.

  “Ladies,” I say, not playing her game. I want Kinsley to know she’s the only one I’m interested in. I’m not into games. Besides, after her confession, it seems I may be closer to getting the girl than I originally thought.

  “Brant.” She breathes my name. She’s always formal with me, never using my nickname, always fighting the sparks that threaten to ignite anytime we get close. Not tonight. Tonight, my girl is relaxed and liquored up.

  Crouching down, I place one hand on the back of the booth and the other on her leg. “Hey, baby,” I say, low enough for only her to hear me.

  “What are you doing here?” she asks, blinking rapidly as if she can’t believe it’s really me.

  “Getting a drink with the guys.” I don’t take my eyes off her.

  “You should go do that,” she tells me. Her eyes are glassy.

  “Change of plans.”

  “W-what? You’re leaving?” she asks, shifting in her seat.

  “Not leaving you. You keep having fun with your girls, and then I’ll take you home.”