Free Flame (Fire on the Mountain #2) by Erin Noelle Page A

me.
    “Oh!” She sticks her finger in the air as she remembers something else. “And we’ll make you an appointment for a bikini wax when you return as well. I didn’t get a chance to schedule one for you, since this happened so quickly, but he’ll be hungry for more of that too!”
    Wow. Just when I think she can’t shock me anymore, she pulls out cleanly shaved cunny .
    A long, deep horn sound from outside saves me from any further mortification, and I whisper a quick thank you prayer to the heavens. Pulling Grams into a tight goodbye hug, I plant another smack on her cheek with my lips. “Thanks for everything, Grams. I love you. And even though I don’t need any stinky ol’ boy’s heart, there’s no need to worry. I keep her majesty, Elizabeth, bald and smooth all the time.”
    Amusement dances in her violet eyes as she shakes her finger and tsk-tsks me through the foyer and out the front door. “Go! Shoo! Take your queen and go get her crowned!” she shouts at me as I cross the yard to where Emilia, Gunner, and Levi are waiting for me in the front drive.
    In addition to the obnoxiously gigantic tour bus that’s solid black except for the bright red logo of some energy drink on the side of it, there is also a black Suburban pulling a trailer that matches the bus. It all looks pretty ritzy, and my fears of having to possibly camp in the desert of New Mexico are alleviated. I’m not really a high-maintenance girl, but no mattress and no running water are hard limits in my traveling contract.
    “Hey, guys, welcome to Rocky Mountain marijuana paradise. These bags are heavy as shit. Don’t worry; I packed us some free samples of the best stuff. Which bed is mine?”
    My arms tremble—whether from the heavy luggage, or the nervous anxiety tripping through my system, I’m not sure.
    “Mornin’, Sunshine.” He strides toward me, brushing his thick, dark locks out of his eyes as a lazy smirk flits across his scruffy face. Bending slightly at the knees, he transfers the luggage from my hands to his then leans into my neck and whispers, “Your bags go in my room, gorgeous girl, but I can’t promise you we’ll be doin’ much sleepin’.”
    My entire body trembles at his promising words, and without wasting another minute, I take off for the bus, calling out over my shoulder, “Last one in has to do a shot!”

MONDAY, JUNE 18
    SHE THINKS SHE’S SO FUCKING cute, bouncing around in the captain’s chair, holding a bottle of high-dollar tequila in her lap, and taunting me with her smug, triumphant grin. She thinks she’s won at some little game. Ha! Sunshine’s about to learn how things work on this bus.
    After taking my sweet-ass time putting her bags away in my room, I return to the common area, where all three of them are sitting . . . waiting . . . brimming with anticipation to see what I’m going to say or do. Shit, I’m excited to see how this is all going to play out. We haven’t been on the bus five minutes and, already, we’re going to have a battle of wills. I hope she’s up for the challenge.
    Reaching up into the cabinet over the fridge, I pull out a shot glass and the tequila salt, setting them both on the countertop. I turn to face Dakota and flash her my most charming, boy-next-door smile, the one that gets me most anything I want, before tapping my fingers on top of the dinette table.
    “Gonna need you up here, Sunshine,” I drawl, silently relishing her expression as it shifts from victorious to confused.
    “You need what?” she balks, narrowing her eyes at me. “Why do you need me up there?”
    “You mean you didn’t hear me?” I glance over at Emmy Sue and Gunner, doing my best to keep a straight face. “You guys heard me, right?”
    Gunner nods, his forehead creased with feigned seriousness while Emmy Sue erupts in a fit of giggles on the couch. Rolling my eyes, I refocus my gaze on Dakota.
    “Well, gorgeous, if you want me to drink any of that tequila you’re holdin’