Igniting the Flame (Firebrand Series) Read Online Free Page A

someone else. In her case it had been something else, Firebrand. He’d planned to leave town all along, and she’d been nothing more than a diversion while he was still here.
    She pulled free of him and sank back in her seat. “I’m sorry you’ve been going through such a hard time, but I’m sure you’ll be okay once you start training.”
    “I don’t want to leave you.”
    Her heart lurched, and she clasped her hands in her lap. “It’s okay, Ash. I never expected anything from you, and you don’t have to stroke my ego by spouting off some line you’ve probably used a hundred times before.”
    His mouth dropped open. “Are you accusing me of lying?”
    “Of course not. You’re so skilled at wrapping women around your finger, you probably don’t even realize what you say to them.”
    He carved his hand into his hair, held it for a moment, and then released it. “So you do think I’m lying to you.” He gritted his teeth and leaned closer. “What do you think? I have women all over the place? I feed them lines to get what I want?”
    He looked at her as if he didn’t know her at all. Her heart pounded at the hurt expression in his eyes. “Ash. . .”
    “That wasn’t some line,” he hissed. “I meant it. I’ve enjoyed the time we’ve spent together, and I thought you had, too.”
    She swallowed hard. “I have, but I know where this is going, Ash, and I’m just trying to be realistic.”
    He leaned back in his seat, stretched his arms out on the steering wheel again, and flexed his fingers. “And where is it going?”
    She shrugged. “Nowhere. You’re leaving for Firebrand, and I’m staying here. Once you’re back with your friends, you’ll forget me in no time. You never stayed interested in one girl for very long, anyway.”
    His mouth opened, but he didn’t say anything as he gave her a look that sent chills down her spine. She wondered if that was what his enemies on the battlefield had seen right before they’d died. After a moment he took a breath and shook his head. “You have it all figured out, don’t you? You formed an opinion of me years ago, and you can’t let it go. If that’s the case, then a relationship with you is already dead in the water, no matter what I say.”
    “I’m just saying—”
    “From the minute I met you, I liked you, really liked you. I knew your memories of me weren’t good, so I’ve purposely taken this relationship slowly. I wanted you to see what kind of man I really am, but I guess it was a waste of time. You’re never going to give me a chance, are you?”
    Tears were about to spill down her cheeks. She had to get away. She reached over to open the door, but he was out of the car first. He came around to the passenger side and jerked the door open. “I’ll walk you to the door.”
    She stepped out and took a deep breath. She didn’t want their time together to end this way. There had to be something she could say, but when she stared up at him, she decided perhaps she’d already said enough. The muscle in his jaw flexed as he ground his teeth together. She squared her shoulders and returned his glare.
    “You don’t have to do that. I can find my way alone.”
    He clenched his teeth, and she flinched at the angry look he directed at her. “Contrary to what you may think, I still try to conduct myself like a gentleman. And I always walk a woman to her door.”
          When they stepped up on the porch, he turned to leave. She grasped his arm. “Ash, I’m sorry. I’ve enjoyed our time together, and I wish you well in Firebrand.”      
    He stared at her for a moment and then shook his head. “You really don’t get it, do you?”
    She frowned. “Get what?”
    His gaze raked her. “Firebrand was the most important thing in my life until I met you. You’re the most gorgeous and the smartest woman I’ve ever met, and as much as I don’t want to, I can’t help thinking about you. All the time.” He waved a hand back and