Kelley St. John - Fire In The Blood (Harlequin Blaze)

Introduction

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

WINDING ALONG the Mississippi River and joining New Orleans to Baton Rouge, Louisianas notable River Road showcases more than seventy miles of pillared plantations, sugarcane fields and lush bayou scenery. Naturally, each River Road estate has a story to tell; however, one plantations story surpasses all others, because many of the individuals who visit the Vicknair plantation are no longer breathing.

Since they first moved to St. Charles parish nearly two hundred years ago, each generation of the Vicknair family has aided those of the dead who have had difficulties crossing over, helping them deal with whats holding them to the world of the living, so they can find their way through to the other side.

The newest generation understands their duty to continue the family tradition and protect the family secret. The youngest Vicknairs, now predominantly in their twenties, are helping spirits on a regular basis and perfecting their talent with every crossing.

Nanette, Tristan, Gage, Monique, Dax and Jenee, the six cousins currently performing Vicknair medium duty, realize that when a lavender-tinted envelope materializes on the infamous tea service in the plantations sitting room, theyre expected to drop everything to help a spirit. Their grandmother, Adeline Vicknair, may be on the other side, but she wants her assignments handled in a timely manner.

Thankfully, her grandchildren know to heed her call. They understand the simple rules associated with helping spirits, rules that have been handed down from generation to generation.

A medium must heed a spirits call and handle a spirits needs in a timely manner. Failure to do so will result in unfavorableif not painfulrepercussions.

Once a spirit is assigned to a medium, the two are emotionally bonded until the spirits requirement for crossing over has been fulfilled. This bond should never be abused nor taken for granted in any way, shape or form.

Spirits are physically incapable of lying to mediums; likewise, a medium should never lie to a spirit.

A medium may not touch a spirit. Period.

Firefighter Tristan Vicknair, at twenty-nine the oldest male of the lot, has had no trouble helping his assigned specters find their way to the light. However, ever since one ghost arrived at the plantation with her stunning sistera woman whose strong will and stubborn streak rivals his own, and whose sensuality is hotter than any fire hes ever encountered on the jobTristan has had a monumental problem of the living persuasion.

Chantelle Bedeau.

TRISTAN VICKNAIR LIFTED his glass of champagne to toast the bride and groom, along with all the other guests assembled beneath the vast white tent on the Vicknair plantation.

Whod have thought that the youngest male of the bunch would tie the knot first? But Tristan couldnt deny that Dax Vicknair was besotted with his new bride, and Celeste Beauchamp Vicknair appeared equally mesmerized with her new husband. And there was no doubt the powers that be agreed with the match, since Celeste had been on her way to permanent residency on the other side when Dax halted her progress.

Doing his part as groomsman, Tristan then visited with the majority of the wedding guests during the reception; however, the one he wanted to talk to more than any other stayed conspicuously away from him. As a matter of fact, Chantelle Bedeau hadnt so much as glanced at him throughout the entire event.

The sister of a ghost that Tristans cousin Gage had helped a couple of months ago, Chantelle had haunted Tristans nights more than any of his assigned specters; he simply couldnt get her off his mind. Since Lillian Bedeaus killer also had a vendetta against Chantelle, Gage had moved her into the plantation house until theyd stopped the madman. Tristan had felt an immediate attraction to the blue-eyed strong-willed blonde, but hed never acted on it. It wasnt the time. Shed just lost her sister and was being stalked by her murderer. But during that period, hed grown closer to the intriguing, yet stubborn female.

And if they were still on speaking terms now, Tristan would see if she was ready to move beyond talking. But her stay at the Vicknair plantation hadnt exactly ended under the best of circumstances. Chantelle had been so determined to help catch Lillians killer that shed actually planned to use herself as bait in order to trap him. Tristan had let her know in no uncertain terms that there was no way in hell hed let her put her life in danger.

She hadnt appreciated his order, but Tristan hadnt budged. He wasnt about to let her get hurt.

That was the last time shed spoken to him.

Obviously the woman carried a grudge, but if he had it to do over again, hed do the same thing. He was glad hed kept her from joining her sister in the land of the non-breathing, and the police had caught the killer, A. D. Romero, with Gages help, so everything had ended up the way she wanted, right?

Tristan took another sip of champagne and watched her chat with Gages fiance, Kayla. Determined that he wouldnt make a fool of himself by staring a hole through Chantelle all night, he looked away from them and focused on his new sister-in-law and her family, currently having a photo taken beside the plantation housebut he kept his hearing tuned in to Chantelles voice and was rewarded when he heard her throaty laugh. Hed never heard her laugh beforethere hadnt been much occasion for laughter during her brief stay at the plantationand he found the sound exhilarating. Like the woman.

Hed been drawn to her for many reasonsher determination to make Lillians murderer pay, her protectiveness toward Kayla when Romero nearly took her life, as well, and her astounding ability to overcome her past. Shed been raised in the same orphanage as his cousins fiance and, like Kayla, had been a victim of sexual abuse from both A. D. Romero and his father during her teen years. Nevertheless, she was headstrong and resolute, and apparently afraid of nothing, not even a killer.

Perhaps it was that determination that had caused her to constantly remain in the back of Tristans mind, or perhaps it was the way she stood her ground with him on nearly every occasion theyd had a differing opinion during her stay at the plantation. But for whatever reason, hed been looking forward to the day when hed see her and talk to her again, and now that it was here

He wasnt doing either.

Hell, what was he waiting for? She was here, and he wanted to be with her. And staying away from her wasnt going to make it happen.

Tristan turned to walk toward the spot where she was talking to Kaylaand saw that they were no longer there. Then he scanned the area beneath the tent, but didnt see even a hint of her.

A tap on his shoulder took his attention away from his examination of the reception area. He turned, and saw that he had no need to continue his search; Chantelle was standing beside him.

Tristan.

When she was at the plantation, shed kept her long blond waves hanging well past her shoulders, but now her hair was piled on top of her head in golden curls, with two long tendrils grazing sexy shoulders. If possible, her eyes were even bluer than he remembered, an icy shade that matched her shimmering gown. Her mouth also shimmered with some kind of pale-pink gloss. Tristan focused on the eyes, the mouth, the hair; the exceptional woman before him.