Hope Flames: Hope Book 1
Read Hope Flames: Hope Book 1 Online
Authors: Jaci Burton
Copyright © 2014 Jaci Burton
Excerpt from
Hope Ignites
copyright © 2014 by Jaci Burton
The right of Jaci Burton to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
First published in this Ebook edition in 2014
by HEADLINE ETERNAL
An imprint of HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP
Published by arrangement with Berkley,
a member of Penguin Group (USA) LLC.
A Penguin Random House Company.
Apart from any use permitted under UK copyright law, this publication may only be reproduced, stored, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means, with prior permission in writing of the publishers or, in the case of reprographic production, in accordance with the terms of licences issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency.
All characters in this publication are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Cataloguing in Publication Data is available from the British Library
eISBN 978 1 4722 1536 9
HEADLINE PUBLISHING GROUP
An Hachette UK Company
338 Euston Road
London NW1 3BH
Cover photograph © Claudio Marinesco
Table of Contents
Have you followed Jaci Burton’s Play-by-Play?
Find out more about Headline Eternal
Jaci Burton is a
USA Today and New York Times
bestselling author who lives in Oklahoma with her husband and dogs. She has three grown children, who are all scattered around the country having lives of their own. A lover of sports, Jaci can often tell what season it is by what sport is being played. She watches entirely too much television, including an unhealthy amount of reality TV. When she isn’t on deadline, Jaci can be found at her local casino, trying to become a millionaire (so far, no luck). She’s a total romantic and loves a story with a happily ever after, which you’ll find in all her books.
‘It’s the perfect combination of heat and romance that makes this series a must-read’
Heroes and Heartbreakers
‘Plenty of emotion and conflict in a memorable relationship-driven story’
USA Today
‘Strong characters, an exhilarating plot, and scorching sex . . . You’ll be drawn so fully into her characters’ world that you won’t want to return to your own’
Romantic Times
‘A beautiful romance that is smooth as silk . . . leaves us begging for more’
Joyfully Reviewed
‘A strong plot, complex characters, sexy athletes, and nonstop passion make this book a must read’
Fresh Fiction
‘Hot, hot, hot! . . . Romance at its best! Highly recommended!’
Coffee Table Reviews
‘[She] has a way of writing intense scenes that are both sensual and raw . . . Plenty of romance, sexy men, hot steamy loving, and humor’
Smexy Books Romance Reviews
‘A wonderful contemporary erotic romance that I recommend!’
The Romance Dish
‘Spy the name Jaci Burton on the spine of a novel, and you’re guaranteed not just a sexy, get-the-body-humming read, but also one that melds the sensual with the all-important building of intimacy and relational dynamics between partners’
Romance: B(u)y the Book
‘A compulsively readable sexy story’
Book Lovers Inc
.
Hope Series
Hope Flames
Hope Smoulders (e-novella)
Hope Ignites
Play-by-Play Series
The Perfect Play
Changing the Game
Taking a Shot
Playing to Win
Thrown by a Curve
One Sweet Ride
Holiday Games (e-novella)
Melting the Ice
When it comes to love, they already know the rules . . . by heart
.
Thirty-two and finally setting up her veterinary practice in the town she once called home, Emma Burnett is on her own and loving it. Independent and driven, she’s not letting any man get in the way of her dreams. Not again.
That’s fine with Luke McCormack. Divorced and hardly lacking in female company when he needs it, he’s devoted to the only faithful companion in his life – his police dog. Still, there’s something about Emma he can’t shake.
When a series of local break-ins leaves Emma vulnerable, she seeks help from the first man to spark her desire in years. And now they’re giving each other something they thought they’d lost forever . . . hope.
For Ashley. I’ve seen you grow into a beautiful young woman of fierce dedication and determination. No matter what roads you’ve chosen to travel, I’m so very proud of where you’ve ended up. Love you!
To Maya Banks and Shannon Stacey, who held my hand and acted as cheerleaders when I needed it most. You’re the best friends I could have ever asked for.
EMMA BURNETT COULD have never imagined that going hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt would be so exhilarating.
She could barely contain her excitement as she looked over every aspect of her just-about-to-open new veterinary practice with a heavy dose of pride and more than a little trepidation.
It was six-fifteen in the morning. Her staff would be arriving soon. She grinned at the thought. She had a staff now.
“We’re here, Daisy. We made it.”
Daisy, her yellow Labrador retriever, thumped her tail and looked up at her, dark eyes filled with adoration. You had to love a dog because no matter what happened, they’d always love you back. You could have an awful day, be grouchy and in the worst mood, and your dog would still sit at your feet and be there for you.
Emma rubbed Daisy’s head and locked up her bag in her office, then closed the door, moving into the lobby. Daisy followed along, sniffing every square inch of gleaming tile Emma had spent the weekend polishing to perfection.
Sure, she could have had a cleaning service do that, but this place was hers and she wanted to do it herself. Then, after she’d cleaned, she’d inventoried, going over every scalpel, pair of forceps, IV pole, and thermometer. She’d inventoried all the drugs—twice—from antibiotics to pain medications, making sure everything was in order.
This place was hers. She still couldn’t quite believe it.
She swept her hand over the pristine reception desk, tapped her finger on the desktop computer she hoped was filled with appointments for the day, then moved on through the double doors leading to the back room where the sparkling instruments awaited her first touch.
Cages were ready, and so were the exam rooms. The OR was prepped. Everything was spotless and sterilized.
She was in debt up to her eyeballs, but, come hell or rising water from the creek down the road, this place was all hers now. It had taken years and more than a few major detours, but Hope Small Animal Hospital was now owned and operated by Dr. Emma Burnett, DVM.
She inhaled and exhaled, letting the dual feelings of satisfaction and utter terror wash over her. At least this time it was a healthy dose of terror. Not like before.
It would never be like
before
again. She’d lost five years of her life on that mistake, and now, at thirty-two, she was making a late start. But after going back to school and working with a veterinary group in South Carolina, she was finally home and on her own with a practice that was all hers.
A knock on the front door made her startle. She curled her fingers into her palms.
“Calm, Emma. This is your big day.” She hurried to the door, grabbing her keys out of her lab-coat pocket.
It was Rachel, her receptionist, along with Leanne, her tech. Her two assistants were the gas in the engine that drove this clinic. She smiled and unlocked the door. “Good morning.”