Heat stroke, p.1
Heat Stroke, page 1
By:
Heat Stroke
By: Skye Turner
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Kindle Edition
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Skye Turner ©2019
All rights reserved.
This e-book is the sole property of the author and may not be reproduced or transmitted without the permission of the author. Please help prevent the piracy of e-books. If you are reading this book and you did NOT PURCHASE IT, you have an illegal copy! I like to eat and I like to feed my children, so please support myself and other authors by acquiring our work the LEGAL way. Don’t be a douche and steal our hard work.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, places, events, or occurrences is purely coincidental unless otherwise noted below.
The author acknowledges the real people or places and copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Angry Orchard, Baton Rouge, Buckle, Clorox, Community Coffee, Disney, Elsa, Excel, Gatehouse, Gatorade, Gaylord’s, Grapevine, Gryffindor, Harry Potter, Jeff Goldblum, Jell-O, Jurassic Park, Lafayette, Louisiana, Men’s Health, Mississippi River, Natural Light, Olympic, Playboy, Powerade, Quidditch, Rhett Butler, River Road, Rotolo’s, Siren, Slytherin, Texas, Texas A & M, and Toledo Bend.
Cover Design: Megan J. Parker – Squiers/ EmCat Designs
Betas: Heather Carrier D’Agostino, Kelly Saizon, Kristin Blay, Lindsey Lawson, Louise Rogers-Thomas, Noelle Kinberger, and Paula Flemming.
Editing by: Indie Edits by Skye
Formatting: Paul Salvette/ BB eBooks
Author Bio Photography: James Turner
*Due to graphic sex scenes and strong language, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.
Books by Skye Turner
**All books by Skye Turner are/ can be Standalones with the exception of the Bayou Stix Novella.
BAYOU STIX SERIES (Rocker Romance)
Alluring Turmoil, Book 1 Bayou Stix
Alluring Seduction, Book 2 Bayou Stix
Alluring Ties, A Bayou Stix Novella, Book 2.5 Bayou Stix
Alluring Temptation, Book 3 Bayou Stix
Alluring Infatuation, Book 4 Bayou Stix
Alluring Surrender, Book 5 Bayou Stix
JAMES BLACK SERIES (Romantic Suspense)
James Black, Book 1 James Black
Becoming James Black, Book 2 James Black
DEAR DIARY SHORT STORIES (Erotic Romance)
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
DEAR DIARY COMPLETE SERIES Box Set
SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY
Unwanted Desire (Contemporary Romance)
With Gratitude and Love (Military/ Holiday*ish Romance)
A Joe of my Own (Military/ Holiday*ish Romance)
His Only Salvation (Dark Romance)
A LIL BIT COUNTRY A LIL BIT ROCK & ROLL (Adult Romance)
Riff, Book 1 A Lil Bit Country A Lil Bit Rock & Roll
Harmony, Book 2 A Lil Bit Country A Lil Bit Rock & Roll
Interlude, Book 3 A Lil Bit Country A Lil Bit Rock & Roll (COMING SOON)
Crescendo, Book 4 A Lil Bit Country A Lil Bit Rock & Roll (COMING SOON)
Rookie Love (Baseball Romance)
Behind My Charade, A Legacy Falls Romance (Military Romance)
GEMSTONE BURLESQUE (Erotic Romance)
Amethyst
Ruby
Jade
Onyx
Tungsten
Topaz
Sapphire
Emerald
Smoke
Coral
Amber
Pearl
Opal
Diamond
GEMSTONE BURLESQUE COMPLETE SERIES Box Set
THE POTHOS CHRONICLES (Erotic Romance Serial)
Volume 1: The Limo Driver
Volume 2: The Masquerade
Volume 3: The Night Shift
Volume 4: The Bartender
Volume 5: The Wrong Number
Volume 6: The Lifeguard
Nutt Cracker, A Hilariously Crude Love Story (Rom Com. Male POV)
Love Bites Co-Authored with Amanda Lanclos (Romantic Comedy) *Currently Unpublished*
Mission: Christmas (Christmas Romance)
THE FITZGERALD TRIPLETS
Battle Ground (Military Romance)
COCKY BITCH
Forever Cocky (Romantic Comedy)
Heat Stroke (Adult Contemporary Romance)
One Breath at a Time (Second Chance/ Love After Loss Romance) COMING SOON
Un-Christmas (Holiday Romance) COMING THIS WINTER
Snow Falling on Cypress (Winter Romance) COMING THIS WINTER
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Books by Skye Turner writing as Sloane Nicole
Bewitching Bayou Adult Paranormal Romance
Antoinette’s Fall: Book 1 L’Amour Bayou
Book 2 L’Amour Bayou (COMING SOON)
Dedication
To everyone who’s stuck with me through my unforeseen hiatus.
YOU are the true rock stars!
Thank you!
Table of Contents
Title Page
Copyright Page
Books by Skye Turner
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Epilogue
Playlist
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Chapter One
Wren
As the phone rings for the tenth time, I sigh and grab it before it can ring again. “LeSalle Lumber. Good afternoon. Wren speaking. How can I help you?” I automatically say into the receiver as I use my face and shoulder to hold the phone while continuing to look through the pile of paperwork on my desk.
I know that Purchase Order was here when I left last night.
Where did you go?
Did someone come into my office and grab it before I got here this morning?
I’ve told them 1000 times not to touch shit in my office.
I listen to the woman on the other end of the line and tell her to hold for just a second so I can transfer her back to the store front. Once I transfer the call and make certain it was picked up, I flip through the papers on my desk once more and glare at the spot I left the now missing-in-action Purchase Order.
Growling as I stand, I push my rolling chair back with my shins and swipe my empty coffee cup from the corner of my desk. Grumbling to myself, “How many times have I told them to leave my shit alone?! If it’s in my office, then, they need to ask me for it. Messing up my damn mojo…” I stalk to the door.
The smell of fresh coffee wafts down the hall from the kitchen and I inhale deeply before deciding to detour. After my coffee, I’ll track my dad down to ask if he stole my missing P.O. I need to create the invoice.
Grrrrrr. I hate when they touch my shit.
A laugh causes me to look up. Standing by the coffee pot is my little sister, Alena. She grins at me. “Who’s messing up your mojo, Wren?” Stepping aside, she gestures to the coffee pot. “Get some happy juice.” She’s holding two cups of coffee herself.
Stepping past her, I push the button to fill my cup with fresh, dark roast Community Coffee. Once the black liquid is near the top of my cup, I lift it to my lips and take a sip. It’s so hot. It burns my lips and I moan as they tingle before blowing into the cup. Turning, I face Alena and rest my hip on the counter. She’s cattycorner to me and sipping from her own mug while the second cup sits beside her on the counter. She asks again, “Who’s pissed you off? What are you grumbling about?”
Chuckling, I give her the stink eye. “Has anyone been in my office today?”
She laughs and nods, “Yeah, Daddy was in there looking for a Purchase Order this morning. They called and wanted to know if they could pick up the lumber this week instead of next. The weather is cooperating and they can really start on the new community center if we can have the shipment ready.”
I groan. “Really? It shouldn’t be an issue. It’s already cut. They’ll just need to stack and wrap it.”
Alena nods. “Yeah, that’s what Daddy told him. He told the guy he could pick it up tomorrow.”
My brow raises. “Tomorrow? They’re going to have to work on it all day to have it ready for pickup.” I sigh and take another sip of my delicious coffee. “I guess once I get my purchase order back, I can head to the mill to help.” Glancing down, I see my worn denim and flip flops. I’ll have to change into the steel toe boots I keep in my office.
Alena wrinkles her nose. “Why do you always do that? You’ll be completely covered with saw dust and dirt. You’re the office manager, Wren. I’m the store/warehouse manager. Daddy and the guys are supposed to handle the mill.” She shudders.
Laughing at her, I reach out to pull on one of the long brown wavy locks hanging loose from the braid that I’m sure is purposely supposed to look messy. “I do whatever needs to be done, Sis. Besides
After setting my coffee down, I release the elastic on my now loose ponytail and gather my thick tresses at the top of my head and re-secure it. My hair is so heavy… “So, where is Daddy with my Purchase Order anyway?”
Alena wrinkles her nose at me again before picking up the second cup of coffee from the counter top. “No way. I’m not getting covered head to toe in sawdust.” She shudders again and glares at me as I smirk. Tossing her chic braid over her shoulder, she grabs the other cup of coffee and jerks her chin at me. “Come on. I’m heading that way anyway. I came back to brew a fresh pot and bring one to Daddy. He’s up in the warehouse right now. The builder for that order is supposed to come by this afternoon to look at hardware and grab more supplies.”
Nodding, I follow behind her. We walk side by side for a bit before she casually says, “Hey, I think you actually know him. I’m pretty sure we went to school with him.”
What?
Alena is only two years younger than I am, so, she’d know if I know the builder? She’d know him, too.
Who is it?
It could be anyone. Everyone knows everyone here anyway. Welcome to Smalltown, Louisiana.
We’re ten minutes from Baton Rouge, but, we still have enough of that small town feel that I love it. The convenience of the big city while still enjoying grass and sugar cane fields. Though the community leaders are trying to take that away from us now, too. More rooftops and more taxes is all they care about!
I mean, who gives a shit that they’re destroying the very things that attract people over to us.
Traffic is total shit getting into Baton Rouge now.
Alena says, “Blaze Carrington…” She glances over at me and I can see she’s flicking her lip with her tongue. She’s always done that when she’s up to something or waiting for a reaction. “He was in school with us, right?”
My ears start to ring and my vision goes black for a split second. My step falters and coffee splashes from my cup onto my white t-shirt. It’s still hot, so I gasp at the contact.
Blaze Carrington?
Alena knows damn well that we went to school together.
No fucking way. He’s not the builder… he can’t be.
He left!
Well, he left to go to college and I heard he started some business when he graduated. But, why would he come back here?
Why now?
He’s the builder for the Community Center?! No way.
The universe is not that cruel.
Alena stops and glances at me with concern. There’s no hint of mischief on her face now. “Wren, are you ok? I know… I’m sorry I was teasing you.
“You look like you just saw a ghost.”
A ghost… no… Blaze is no ghost. He’s a damn demon.
Nodding, I smile at her, controlling my racing mind and trying to avoid her question. “You’re right. I’m ok. Sorry. I just tripped on my shoes. You know I can trip on air.”
Relief crosses her face as she looks down at my feet before laughing out loud. “This is true. You’re the only person I know who falls on flat ground and chokes on air. I seriously need to buy you as bubble!” She nods at my feet. “You know flip flops aren’t smart in here. Hello, splinters in your heel!”
I chuckle with her. It’s true. I’m the most accident prone person ever.
If there was an Olympic competition, I’d win the gold.
We reach the warehouse and I push the door open. Alena walks past me since both of her hands are full. I hear shuffling around and immediately head toward the sound. As I reach the corner, I raise my voice, “Daddy! How many times do I have to tell you not to touch shit in my office?! Your company… My office. Where’s my Purchase Order?”
I freeze. My jaw drops and my legs stop working. I just stare.
Daddy laughs, but, I’m too focused on the man beside him to pay him any attention.
Son of a bitch…
Noooooooo.
Daddy says with a smile, “Blaze, you remember my daughter, Wren…”
Blaze Carrington is here. In the warehouse. The boy who made my life an ever-living hell… the boy who tormented me unrelentlessly… the boy who made everyone think I was a leper, so I never got to attend any dances or games or even go on dates…
He stole my childhood.
He hurt me just to do it.
He humiliated me.
He made me a loner.
“Of course. Hello, Wren. It’s very nice to see you again.”
What? No, it’s not. Why would it be? Why does he sound like that?
He sounds almost sincere.
What the hell is his game?
Raising my brows, I stare at him. Taking in his appearance. My eyes trail over him disdainfully.
He seems to be doing the same to me, only he’s smiling warmly. My jaw tightens and my back straightens as I respond to him. “Mr. Carrington.” My voice is flat. Cold. That’s it. He gets nothing else. He deserves nothing else. My eyes leave him and return to my father, dismissing him. “Daddy, the P.O.?! I need to get back to my office if I’m going to head to the mill to get the order ready? Where is my P.O.?” My tone is harsher than I intended it to be.
Good job, Wren. You’re strong and professional. You can handle it.
You’ve got this shit!
Daddy nods as he looks at me, surprised at my tone. He removes a slip of yellow paper from his clipboard, handing it to me. “Sorry, baby. I know you don’t like anyone invading your space. I planned on returning it before you got here…” He shrugs sheepishly. “I just got busy. Here you are.”
Gripping the paper tightly, I nod briskly; I turn on my heel and start to head back to my office. My legs feel like Jell-O and my stomach is in knots. I just need a minute.
Just get back to your office, Wren.
My daddy’s voice stops me in my tracks. “Wren, just a minute.” I can hear it in his voice…
Nooooooo.
Stopping, I glance over my shoulder. “Yeah?!”
Daddy smiles at me and I can see it… “Actually, Blaze is going to be accompanying you to the mill. With him needing the order tomorrow and all, he’s generously offered to help get it pulled. Can you take him back?”
What the fuck?
What in the actual fuck?
Blaze Carrington is going to help get his order ready? And, I’m supposed to not only bring him to the mill, but, then I have to work beside him to pull it?!
This is a fucking joke.
It has to be.
The universe is not that cruel.
Blaze
Wren looks shell-shocked. I saw the anxiety and fear in her eyes when she saw me standing beside her dad and I hate that I’m the reason for it. I also saw the rage.
I need to explain everything to her. I shouldn’t have treated her the way I did… I know that. But, I was a young asshole.
I know what I did to her. I saw.
There’s so much I need to say. So much I need to make amends for.
I just hope I can get her to listen. Not that I deserve it…
Maybe saying I’d help with my order was underhanded, but, she can’t say no here.
Nodding at her, I smile slightly. She doesn’t smile back. She just stares at me. Her lips compress and I see her jaw clench. She’s not happy.
Reaching out, I shake Mr. Jimmy’s hand warmly. I always liked him. “Thanks, Mr. Jimmy. With the rush, it’s the least I can do.”
He smiles at me and nods. “No worries, Blaze.” He waves at Wren. “Wren will take good care of you. She runs a tight ship, but, the men love her. She’ll get you straight.”
I glance over her.
I bet they do.
She’s still naturally beautiful, but, the years have been very kind to her. Whereas before she has an innocent beauty, she was timid and reserved. She kind of hid within herself.
That was partly my fault…
But now, she’s absolutely breathtaking. Her brown hair is up in a high ponytail, but even up, it falls to the middle of her back. Her face is perfectly structured. I can’t tell if she’s even wearing makeup.
Her hazel eyes always did change with her moods. Right now, they’re stormy green…
Oh, she’s definitely pissed that I one-upped her this way.
She’s wearing a simple fitted white t-shirt and faded form-fitting jeans. They look as if they were made just for her. And, flip flops. She’s wearing yellow flip flops.
