The Fiery Promise Bonus Scene
Raven
“You’re cheating.”
I don’t even look up from the tomatoes I’m sorting. “Good morning to you, too, Blaze.”
“You’ve got peppers hidden back there.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
His boots crunch across the gravel path between the garden beds.
I continue sorting tomatoes. Very professionally. Very innocently.
A shadow falls across my worktable, and I finally glance up, tugging the brim of my straw cowboy hat lower to keep the sun out of my eyes.
Blaze stands there in a faded gray T-shirt and jeans, arms folded across his chest, green eyes narrow and shadowed beneath his Stetson. Definitely suspicious. “Show me.”
“No.”
His jaw drops. “That sounds like guilt.”
“That sounds like paranoia.”
He points toward the far corner of the garden. “And the fence? Seriously?”
“What about it?”
“You put up extra fencing.”
“To keep out rabbits.”
“To keep out competitors.”
I smile sweetly. “You’re not a competitor.”
His hand lands dramatically over his heart.
Across the yard, Max immediately looks up from where he’s helping Mei collect eggs.
“She got you again?”
“She did.”
Max shakes his head. “Tough break.”
Traitor.
Blaze points at him. “I thought we were Team Blaze.”
“We are.”
“Then help me.”
Max considers the offer. Then he shrugs. “Raven feeds me.”
The little turncoat.
Blaze looks personally wounded. Again.
I try not to laugh but fail completely. The sound escapes before I can stop it.
His expression softens immediately. That still surprises me. How quickly his face changes when he’s looking at me. Like some part of him is always happy just because I’m standing there.
Dangerous man. Very dangerous.
Before either of us can continue our argument, Cynthia appears on the porch, hands on her hips. “There’s a problem.” The statement gets everyone’s attention.
Amira looks up from the orchard. Mei abandons the chicken coop. Even Blaze straightens.
“What’s wrong?” I ask.
Cynthia points toward the driveway. A pickup truck sits near the entrance. The bed is full of folding tables. And coolers, which I can only imagine are filled with too much food.
Blaze groans.
I already know why.
A second truck appears. Then a third.
“Oh no.”
“Yep,” Cynthia says.
“The sanctuary heard about the tie. They came to celebrate the winners.”
I close my eyes.
Blaze mutters beneath his breath. “A tie for chili? Who does that?”
“Sierra Rose,” I say unblinking. He leans in, kissing my temple anyway.
Max brightens immediately. “Are we having a party?”
Apparently. Because within twenty minutes the property is overrun.
Earl arrives carrying brisket. Sadie brings peach cobbler. Rosie has enough cookies to feed a small nation. Someone drags out speakers. Max starts a wiffle ball game. Children appear from nowhere. The entire afternoon dissolves into laughter and chaos.
Just like always.
At some point I find myself standing beneath the shade of the orchard watching it all unfold. People talking. Kids playing. Women laughing without looking over their shoulders.
It feels safe and secure. Like home.
A warm hand settles against the small of my back. Blaze. My shoulders relax a little.
“You’re doing it again,” he says.
I glance up. “Doing what?”
“Thinking.”
I lean into his side. “All good thoughts.”
His thumb traces a slow circle against my waist. “Must admit, those thoughts look pretty good from here.”
I follow his gaze. Max and Rosie are arguing over a foul ball. Mei is teaching two children how to braid rope. Amira is somehow directing traffic without anybody officially putting her in charge. The garden glows gold beneath the afternoon sun. The homestead feels alive. Not because of me. Because of everyone.
Finally, I understand the difference.
“You were right.”
Blaze freezes.
I immediately regret saying it.
His grin appears, slow and insufferable. “I like the sound of that. Say that again.”
“No way.”
“Please.”
“Absolutely not.”
His laughter rumbles through his chest. I feel it where we’re touching. “Come on, Blackbird.”
“Nope.”
“Just once.”
I roll my eyes. Then kiss his cheek.
His grin somehow gets wider. “That’s basically the same thing.”
“It absolutely isn’t.”
“Pretty sure it is.”
Across the yard, Cynthia cups her hands around her mouth. “Get married already!”
The entire homestead erupts in cheers. Blaze laughs as I bury my face against his shoulder. And for the first time in my life, I don’t mind being part of the crowd.
Because some victories are sweeter when they’re shared. Especially the ones that turn into family.
A Hollywood hunk turned hometown hero. A curvy bookworm who’s sworn off love. One small-town bachelor auction about to spark an inferno…
I used to play a firefighter on TV. The money was good… enough to put myself through school and earn the badge for real. But to the guys on my crew, I’ll always be “Hollywood.” Just a pretty face, not a real firefighter. And every woman in this town seems eager to test that theory.
Except Catalina Dupont.
The nerdy, curvy beauty who wins me at the Rough & Ready charity auction barely looks at me twice. She sees through the smiles and headlines, and the fact she isn’t impressed sets off more alarms than any fire ever has.
She doesn’t want a fling. I’m not sure I know how to offer more. But one night with her might just rewrite the script and prove that the hottest fire I’ve ever faced is the one she lights in me.