Igniting the Flame (Firebrand Series) Read Online Free PDF

summer tourists, and he drove for several minutes before he finally found a parking place in a public lot at the edge of the business district. With nothing better to do, he joined the wandering crowd.
    After a few blocks he sat down on one of the benches lining the sidewalks and leaned back as he studied everyone who passed by. After about an hour, he got to his feet and had started back to his car when he heard music in the distance. He recognized the sound right away. It was his favorite bluegrass band. Like they did every summer during the peak tourist season, they were playing in the park next to where he’d left his car.
    He wandered over to the park and stood at the back of the crowd for several minutes, listening to the music. He turned to leave, and his stomach clenched at the sight before him. He stood face to face with Lainey, but she wasn’t alone. His friend Sam Black stood beside her.
    Ash’s hands dangled at his sides, and he curled them into fists. His heart was pounding so hard, he thought she must be able to hear it. Her face had drained of color, and she stood unblinking with her mouth slightly open.
    Sam smiled and broke the strained silence. “Ash, you didn’t tell me you were coming down here tonight.”
    Ash heard Sam’s voice, but he couldn’t break his gaze with Lainey. He swallowed hard. “L-Lainey, how are you?”
    “I’m fine,” she whispered.
    Sam looked from one to the other. “Do you two know each other?”
    Still in a daze, Ash nodded. “Yeah, and it looks like you know each other, too.” He took a step back, and his lips pulled into a wobbly smile. “You look beautiful tonight.”
    She blinked, and he thought he saw tears in her eyes. “Thank you.”
    He took a deep breath and turned his attention back to Sam. “So this is your college girlfriend. Lainey is a special person, Sam, but I’m sure you know that. You’re a lucky guy.”
    Then he clamped his lips together and strode out of the park. When he reached his car, he slumped against the door and breathed in deeply to try and still his racing heart.
    He’d been right when he told Richard that Lainey had given up on him. She’d done it without ever giving him a chance to change her mind about him. It pained him to realize he’d been holding out hope all this time that she would call. With an anguished cry, he raised his fists and banged them against the roof of his car.
    “No! No! No!” he cried out, his voice echoing across the parking lot. But there was no answer. He was alone, just like always.
    He didn’t know how long he stood there slumped against his car. It was probably only minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. He’d grieved when he’d lost friends in battle, but this was much different. He felt as if he’d been ripped open, his heart cut out of his body. This was grief for the loss of something that lay within his grasp. How had he let it slip through his fingers? It left him shattered and broken.
    Movement behind him caused him to still, and then his body stiffened in disbelief at the soft touch on his shoulder. His skin prickled at the delicate caress of fingers grazing his arm. With his heart in his throat he whirled, and his eyes widened.
    Lainey stood just inches away, her head tilted to one side, tears in her eyes. He took a deep breath and clenched his fists at his side. “What do you want?”
    “I want to talk to you, if you’ll let me.” She inched closer. “I think there are things we both need to say, and I’m willing to take the first step. All I ask is that you listen and be honest with me. Will you do that?”
    He couldn’t speak because his heart was hammering so hard. All he could do was nod.
     

Chapter 5
    Lainey had never acted impulsively in her life. Since she was a child, she’d carefully considered every decision before making her choice. Until tonight. When she’d come face–to-face with Ash, she’d almost sunk to her knees.
    Since their argument, she hadn’t been