Deborah Mello - Hearts Afire

He’s raising the stakes—one kiss at a time…

After a nasty divorce, Maitlyn Boudreaux is ready to reclaim her sensuality and rediscover her inner wild child. A luxury cruise to exotic ports of call is just what the New Orleans negotiator needs…and meeting Zak Sayed on board could be an added bonus. The high-stakes poker player wants the same thing she does: a sizzling hot fling with no strings attached.

A brilliant entrepreneur and professional gambler, Zak is one of the world’s most sought-after bachelors. But beneath the playboy facade is a guy who’s playing for keeps. The passionate eldest daughter of the Boudreaux clan is the soul mate he’s been searching for…. Even as a ruthless business adversary threatens to destroy everything Zak cherishes most, can he convince Maitlyn to take the biggest gamble of all?

Maitlyn suddenly clutched the front of her shirt with both hands, as she shifted her weight from one leg to the other. “I shouldn’t have come downstairs,” she abruptly rambled, her voice barely a whisper. “I don’t know what I was thinking. This isn’t like me.”

“No, it’s not, but you’re doing fine.” Zak’s tone was intense. He tried to catch her eye, but she looked away, her nerves beginning to get the best of her. He flashed a bright smile, but she still felt apprehensive. He stepped in closer to her, and Maitlyn dropped her arms against her sides and clenched her hands into a fist. They were clasped together so tightly that she could feel the blood pulsing through her fingertips.

She’d been committed when she’d come down the stairs, but her self-assurance was melting. She was like a blushing bride, virginal and timid. She’d descended the steps with a purpose, and now she seemed unwilling or simply unable to initiate the first touch.

So, he did.

DEBORAH FLETCHER MELLO

Writing since forever, Deborah Fletcher Mello can’t imagine herself doing anything else. Her first romance novel, Take Me To Heart, earned her a 2004 Romance Slam Jam nomination for Best New Author. In 2005 she received Book of the Year and Favorite Heroine nominations for her novel The Right Side of Love, and in 2009 won an RT Reviewers’ Choice Award for her ninth novel, Tame A Wild Stallion. With fifteen romances under her belt, Deborah continues to create unique storylines and memorable characters.

For Deborah, writing is as necessary as breathing, and she firmly believes that if she could not write she would cease to exist. For Deborah, the ultimate thrill is to weave a story that leaves her audience feeling full, and satisfied, as if they’ve just enjoyed an incredible meal. Born and raised in Connecticut, Deborah now considers home to be wherever the moment moves her.

Hearts

Afire

Deborah

Fletcher Mello

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Dear Reader,

Thank you! I am so humbled by your continued support. Thank you for sharing my stories, and enabling my fan base to grow. Please know that your reviews, critiques and comments on social media sites have helped me get better with each new story.

I am loving the Boudreaux family. I love that I am able to breathe life into each of the siblings’ unique personalities. I had thought I knew Maitlyn, but then both she and Zak Sayed took me by surprise. This couple came with some unique and conflicting personality traits. Staying true to that and making their story believable was not without challenges, but I hope you’ll agree it was well worth the effort.

Until the next time, please take care and may God’s many blessings continue to be with you.

With much love,

Deborah Fletcher Mello

DeborahMello@aol.com

www.DeborahMello.blogspot.com www.Twitter.com/DebbMelloWrites www.Facebook.com/DeborahFletcherMello

To my pretty, pretty princess,

JoAnna Alaina Woody

Your beautiful smile just warms MeeMi’s heart!

Contents

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 1

Maitlyn let out a deep sigh, and her brow furrowed as she read through the legal documents that dissolved her marriage and gave her back her family name.

The day she’d married Donald Parks all Maitlyn had dreamed of was the two of them having two kids, a dog and the house with the white picket fence. And now, here she was, grateful that they had never had children together. She would not have wanted to subject any child to the catastrophe that had been their marriage. She sighed once more before lifting her dark eyes to meet her sister’s intense gaze.

District court judge Katrina Stallion was eyeing her critically; her expression voiced her concerns even before she spoke. “You will keep your home here, your brownstone in Harlem and your Los Angeles properties. Donald will keep the town house in Atlanta. Any ties he had with the Maitlyn Agency have now been completely severed. You’ve agreed to reimburse the ten thousand he initially invested in your company, and he’s agreed that he will have no claims on any future royalties or benefits from the business. But you are still legally entitled to half his pension and retirement benefits from his employment with IBM. The state considers it all community property and therefore subject to division. Once you give me the word, I’ll draw up the paperwork and file for a court order adjunct to the divorce decree.”

Maitlyn shook her head. “I don’t want it. I don’t want anything from Donald.”

Their mother’s voice interjected from across the room. Katherine Boudreaux stood in front of her kitchen sink, her forearms lost in a bath of soapy water as she washed the dishes left from breakfast. “Maitlyn, before you make a final decision you need to take some time to think about it. You were a good wife. Every tear that man made you cry earned you that money. There is no reason you shouldn’t claim it.”

Katherine turned to stare at her fourth child. “She doesn’t have to make a decision right now, does she, Katrina?” she asked.

“No, ma’am. We can make note that we’ll be filing for an amendment to the settlement agreement later. It’s just important that Maitlyn knows what her rights are and what she’s legally entitled to.”

Katherine nodded as she reached for a dish towel to dry her hands. “Good, then she can decide when she comes back.”

Both women turned to eye the older woman curiously.

“Back from where, Mom?” Katrina asked.

“Where am I going?” Maitlyn questioned.

Katherine smiled brightly as she tossed the dishrag back on the counter. “It’s a surprise from your father. Let me go find Senior so he can tell you himself,” she said as she disappeared out the back door of the kitchen.

Maitlyn rolled her eyes.

Katrina chuckled softly. “Those are your parents,” she said teasingly.

Maitlyn smiled ever so slightly, feigning interest in the conversation as she pondered what their parents might have in store for her. Truth be told, Maitlyn didn’t like surprises, and she really didn’t care to discover what this one might be. She was still completely distraught over finding herself single and alone after twelve years of marriage to the only man she had ever loved.

When Maitlyn had made the decision to finally dissolve her marriage, Katrina, still legally able to practice law in the state of Louisiana, had flown in from her Dallas home to represent her. Providing a wealth of emotional support, Katrina had helped to ease the hurt that came when the life Maitlyn had once envisioned for herself had fallen completely apart. “What were you saying about John and Marah?” she asked as Katrina continued to update her on the latest family news.