Hope Flames: Hope Book 1

by Jaci Burton

  When she gave him a look, he said, “Come on. Tell me you don’t pick on your little sister?”

  She unbuckled her seat belt. “I see her so rarely that when I do, I’m so thrilled that I spend all my time worshipping her.”

  He arched a brow. “I find that hard to believe. It’s the nature of siblings to argue. When was the last time you saw your little sister?”

  She had to think about it for a minute as she climbed out of the truck and met Luke around the front of it. “Probably a year and a half ago. I was still living in South Carolina and she came to visit me. Molly is . . . interesting.”

  “Now there’s a word.”

  She shoved at him. “Hey, it’s a compliment. It means she’s quirky.”

  “Sure it does. Is that like fixing a guy up on a date with your best friend and telling him she has a great personality, when in reality it means she’s a real dog?”

  “No,” she said with emphasis. “That’s not at all what it means. Molly’s gorgeous, smart, and fun.”

  He took a seat on the porch steps. “But?”

  Emma sighed. “She has secrets.”

  “Who doesn’t?”

  “She left town after high school, and won’t come back home. And no one really knows why.”

  They started walking down the dirt road. “Not even you?”

  “Not me. Not my parents. No one.”

  “Do you think something bad happened in Hope to make her leave?”

  She tilted her gaze up at him. “Maybe. I don’t know. I’ve asked her time and time again why she won’t come home, but she says she craves adventure and new places, and she’s afraid if she comes back home she’ll never leave again.”

  “But you don’t believe her.”

  “Not really. Though she does move a lot. Every three to six months it’s a new job in a new city.”

  “It might just be that simple, Emma. Some people are born wanderers, never setting down roots. They enjoy the thrill and adventure of new places and new experiences.”

  “Maybe you’re right. I just worry about her.”

  He put an arm around her. “We always worry the most about the people we care about. Does she seem happy?”

  Emma had to admit she liked Luke’s arm around her shoulders. “She does.”

  “Then I wouldn’t worry so much.”

  She stopped. “You make it seem so simple. In my head, Molly is so complex and mysterious.”

  He laughed. “Well, I remember her and Carter together. And that was a long time ago. And that ended kind of abruptly.”

  “It did. Which was also mysterious. Has he ever said anything to you about her, or about why the two of them broke up?”

  Luke recalled the conversation he had had with Carter last week. “No. Carter hasn’t said anything about Molly. I guess it was just a high school romance that ran its course.”

  “That’s what Molly said, too.”

  “So maybe you’re looking for some wild mystery that isn’t there, and your sister just likes to travel.”

  “I guess you’re right.”

  “And how are your parents?” he asked.

  “They’re great, as you know. My mom’s a business-and-marketing genius.”

  “Yeah, she did a really nice job on your adoption day at the clinic.”

  Emma sighed and stared off into the distance. “Yes. She’s just full of wonderful ideas like that.”

  “You sound like you’re not happy with her.”

  “Actually, she’s an amazing woman. Two degrees, owns a company, and still manages to have date nights with my father.”

  “She sounds like she juggles a lot.”

  “She does. But she handles it all well. She always has.”

  “And you feel like you don’t measure up.”

  She tilted her head back to look up at him. “I didn’t say that.”

  His lips curved. “You didn’t have to. I always thought my dad was the most incredible human being on the planet. I felt he could run this ranch single-handedly and live on no sleep. It wasn’t true, of course, but it had always seemed that way to me. I’m sure your mother is human, even though to you she seems like she has superpowers.”

  “She’s just so energetic and full of amazing ideas. And she always has time for me, will sit down and talk to me about whatever’s on my mind.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?”

  “I guess not. Sometimes I just don’t think I’ll ever have it together like she does.”

  He laid his hand on her shoulder. “Just be thankful you have a mother who loves you, cares about you, and is there for you when you need her.”

  She saw it from his perspective. He’d had a mother who was more concerned about her own needs, who didn’t care at all about her children. And here Emma was, complaining because she had an overcaring, overachieving mother. That when she came right down to admitting it, she was jealous of.

  “You’re absolutely right. My mother is amazing. And she also asked me to bring you over for dinner again sometime.”

  He laughed. “I’d love to come for dinner again.”

  “Sure. Until she comes up with a marketing or advertising plan for the Hope Police Department.”

  When he gave her a look, she said, “Oh, she’d do it, too. There isn’t anyplace in this town that my mom doesn’t think can’t be improved.”

  He laughed. “I consider myself warned. But I know I can always talk sports with your dad.”

  Emma laughed. “Yes. My father, my crazy, sports-loving father, yet also the very quiet, very stable CPA. The total opposite of my mother. He’s like the calming force to her tornadic personality.”

  “And you adore him.”

  She let out a soft laugh. “I do. And I don’t want you to get the wrong impression of my mother. She might be a little overzealous, but she’s a wonderful person.”

  “I never got a wrong impression. I’ve been to your house, remember? I think she’s fantastic.”

  She smiled at him. “Thanks. It was really wonderful to have you over for dinner with them. I’ll definitely ask you again.”

  “That would be fun.”

  She let that settle, wondered what it would be like to have Luke over to her parents’ house for dinner on a regular basis. What did it mean that she even considered how nice that would be? Did she want a relationship with Luke? Why was she so confused? And what was Luke thinking? He thought coming over to her parents’ house for dinner again would be fun? What did that mean?

  And why did she have to psychoanalyze everything? Why couldn’t she just leave it alone?

  After all, they’d had a nice day here on the ranch. Though he could have brought along a buddy of his with the same result. He’d shown her the house and the ranch, and they’d eaten. It hadn’t been exactly romantic, had it?

  “Thanks for showing me around.”

  “My pleasure, ma’am,” he said with a wink.

  She loved hearing him talk, the slight Southern twang in his voice reminding her how much she’d missed all those years living away from Hope. Though she had lived in the South while she’d been away, it just hadn’t been the same as being in her hometown.

  “I suppose we should head back, get out of Logan and everyone’s way.”

  He looked at her. “Does it look like we’re in anyone’s way?”

  She glanced around. No one was in the vicinity. She didn’t even know where the dogs were at the moment. “I guess not.”

  “Or maybe you just don’t want to be alone with me.”

  She tilted her head. “We’re not exactly alone, Luke. Martha and Ben are inside, I’m sure, and your brother is . . . somewhere nearby.”

  “Maybe. But you didn’t answer my question.”

  That familiar tingling returned, that feeling she got whenever Luke was near. “I don’t think you asked one.”

  “Sure I did. The part about you not wanting to be alone with me.”

  “That was a statement, not a question.”


  “Now you’re just arguing semantics. So, are you afraid to be alone with me?”

  “No.” Though that wasn’t exactly the truth. And they weren’t alone right now. That she knew of.

  “Good. Then you won’t mind if I kiss you.”

  Her eyes widened. “What? Here?”

  “Shhh. It won’t hurt. I promise.”

  He leaned toward her, and her heart started jamming what felt like a thousand beats a second. When he slipped his hand around the back of her neck to draw her close, she licked her lips, drawing his gaze to her mouth. She couldn’t catch a breath as his lips hovered just a fraction of an inch from hers. She didn’t know at that moment whether she was dying for Luke to kiss her, or whether she wanted to leap from the steps and get as far away from him as possible.

  And when their lips touched, she felt the crackle of chemistry, even stronger than the first time. The way he deliberately took his time coaxing her mouth open, not caring that they sat on the front porch where anyone could walk outside at any moment.

  Which she soon forgot when he slid his tongue in her mouth and pressed his lips harder against hers. She clutched his shirt and moaned against his mouth, wanting oh, so much more. Her nipples hardened and every female part of her body screamed Yes, yes, oh, hell yes.

  She rose against him, and he drew her tight against him, his hand inching ever closer to her butt. She felt him, hard, as he held her tight in his embrace.

  She’d missed this. She wanted him. Right here. Right now.

  “Hey, there you two are. Oh. Well, shit.”

  Logan’s appearance through the front door of the house jerked her out of the languorous stupor. She backed away from Luke in a hurry, brushing imaginary dust off her jeans. Luke, on the other hand, just gave her a regretful smile before turning to glare at his brother.

  “Hi,” she said, her face heating in embarrassment.

  “As usual, Logan, you have lousy timing,” Luke said.

  “So I noticed a second too late. Sorry.”

  “It’s no problem. We were just . . . uh . . . talking,” Emma said, mentally trying to cool down her flaming face.

  “Looked to me like there wasn’t any talking going on.”

  Just then Ben came out from the barn, all the dogs trailing after him. Grateful for the distraction, she pivoted and headed toward them. When Daisy saw her, the dog took off at a fast run, with Annie doing her best to keep up. Boomer sauntered over like he was in no hurry.

  “Hey, kids. Did you have fun today?” She busied herself petting all the dogs while Luke climbed the steps to have a word with his brother. She tried not to think about that kiss. And how much her body still throbbed as a result.

  “They had a good time in the barn,” Ben said to her. “They even chased a few chickens out back.”

  She laughed. “Good to know they weren’t napping the whole time.”

  “I don’t think much napping went on. They were all too busy playing. I know our dogs will likely pass out the rest of the day.”

  “I’m sure mine will, too. Thank you for keeping watch over them.”

  “It was no problem.”

  Luke came down the steps. “We should probably head out.”

  She stood, not yet able to meet his gaze. “Okay, sure.”

  They went inside, and she thanked Martha for lunch again. Then they said their good-byes.

  “I’ll see you again soon,” Logan said, shaking her hand.

  “You come around for Sunday dinner anytime,” Martha said, pulling her in for a hug.

  They wrangled the dogs into the truck, then climbed in, and she waved good-bye.

  Emma was silent the whole trip back to her place, not knowing how to work through the awkwardness that had settled in between them since that kiss. Luke must have been having the same problem because he was as mute as she was.

  He’d started it, and by the time he pulled into her drive-way, she had no idea how to get past it and back to the fun friendship they’d settled into.

  But was that what she wanted?

  Yes. Of course it was what she wanted. She hadn’t wanted him to kiss her.

  Had she?

  Lord, could she be more conflicted? As an adult, couldn’t she make up her damn mind about what she wanted in life? Or from a man?

  She had the life part down. She had her career trajectory in motion.

  The man part? Not so much.

  “Okay, here we are.”

  She lifted her head to see he’d opened her truck door. The dogs were eager to get out, so she supposed she should stop pondering and get away from temptation.

  She slid out of the truck and the dogs followed. She tracked her gaze back to Luke.

  “Thanks for today.”

  His attention stayed on her. “Anytime.”

  Even in the dark, she noticed the tilt of his head, the way he looked at her. The chemistry between them was unmistakable, and utterly dangerous.

  “I have to get to work early tomorrow, so I should go in.”

  His lips curved, as if he knew she was trying desperately for a polite way to disengage herself from his presence.

  “Sure.”

  She walked to the front door, unlocked it, and the dogs went in. She flipped on the light, then turned back to him.

  Before she could say good night, he’d pulled her against him, his mouth on hers in another of those mind-melting, blistering hot kisses that made her forget all her logical, reasonable convictions. She fell against him and kissed him back, her arms winding around him.

  But as soon as things got started, he pulled back.

  “I’ve got to get up early tomorrow, too.”

  She blinked, still trying to reassemble her brain cells. “Uh, okay.”

  “Emma?”

  “Yeah?”

  “This isn’t over between you and me. We need to talk . . . or something.”

  Yeah. Or something. “Okay.”

  “’Night.” He got in his truck and backed out of her driveway.

  Exhaling, she closed the front door and locked it, then leaned against it.

  Whoa. What had just happened? Her body knew what to do, what it wanted her to do. It acted on its own. It wanted to be kissed, to lean into him, breathe in that sexy male scent of him. There was a part of her that eagerly wanted to explore him, with her hands, and her mouth.

  And as soon as he’d pulled her against him and kissed her, her body went with its natural reaction to go for it. If Luke hadn’t stopped, he’d be in her bedroom right now and she’d be tearing his clothes off with her teeth so she could get at all the good parts of him.

  Which was pretty much all of him.

  She shuddered as the mental images bombarded her. He’d looked good today in his jeans, boots, and tight T-shirt.

  He’d look even better out of them.

  Yeah, she’d definitely like to run her hands over his tight, muscled body, to get him hot and bothered and make him sweat, and then he, in turn, could make her sweat.

  And thoughts like that didn’t fall in line with her “no men” plan.

  With a frustrated sigh, she pushed off the door to go see to the dogs. Dogs were a woman’s best friend. Dogs weren’t complicated. They would never hurt her, or break her heart.

  The trouble was, that whole “no men” plan?

  It was crumbling as fast as her resolve to stay away from Luke.

  Chapter 14

  OUT ON PATROL, Luke’s mind wandered, especially when he pulled up along a stretch of Highway 66 to lay a speed trap.

  It had been a slow day, and he and Boomer had been riding around for the majority of it. Except for the stop he had to make at the Davidson’s house—something he had to do at least once a week. Paul was ninety-two and convinced that his eighty-nine-year-old wife, Maureen, was trying to kill him. Since Maureen was confined to a wheelchair and on oxygen, it was highly unlikely she’d been coming after him with a butcher knife. Paul and Maureen’s daughter, Athena, who lived
with them, always apologized and said it was the medication, coupled with her father’s growing dementia. And it typically seemed to happen whenever Athena ran to the store or hopped into the shower. Paul would get hold of a phone and dial 9-1-1.

  By the time Luke arrived, Paul had no idea what Luke was doing there. But it was his job to check it out, and he figured Athena enjoyed the company. Sometimes, if Paul was lucid, Luke would stay and visit with him for a few minutes, and Paul would recount his experiences in the South Pacific during World War II.

  Other than that, nothing eventful happened that day, so he and Boomer sat back in the shade under an overpass and pulled over a few cars going well past the speeding limit. He wasn’t one of those asshole cops who was going to ding someone if they went five or six miles over. But if they hit more than ten miles over the limit, they were getting a ticket.

  In the hour he’d sat there, he’d only had to hand out two tickets. Not bad, though he’d registered some hotshot pulling twenty miles over the limit. That one was going to cost him. And the guy had been a belligerent dickhead on top of that, claiming he was late for a meeting.

  Too bad. Luke explained it didn’t much matter what he was late for, since twenty miles over the speed limit was still illegal. The guy said he was the son of a local congressman, which didn’t bother Luke any. He could be the son of the president. He was still getting a ticket. So when Luke handed him the form to sign, he smiled at him.

  Mr. Stanley A. Lexington III hadn’t appreciated that much. In fact, Luke was certain he’d heard a whispered fuck you as he’d walked away from Stanley’s Cadillac.

  Luke grinned.

  Sometimes it was good to be a cop.

  “How’s it going back there, Boom?” Luke asked.

  Boomer snored.

  “Some partner you are.”

  Boomer responded with a snort, then rolled over on his back, feet stuck up in the air.

  “Yeah, I’d like a nap, too. Or maybe a beer. Neither one is gonna happen right now.”

  He cracked a smile when Will Griffin pulled alongside him in his highway patrol cruiser. Luke rolled down the window.

  “Infringing on my territory?” Will asked, resting his forearm on the side of the car.