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enough, thank you very much. And she was pretty sure if she told the chief about how the flame had responded to her, they would lock her back up faster than she could say “Bob’s your uncle.”
    But there was something else holding her back from coming forward with her story. It was some strange sense of self-preservation. It was almost like a fight or flight response. Maybe it was the fact that there seemed to be an awful lot of strangers hanging around her these days. Strangers who stared at her shrewdly. People who liked to pat down their waistband when they noticed her watching, like they were reassuring themselves their protection was still in place.
    Maybe she should check herself into the psych unit after all.
    Of course, things always had a way of going from bad to worse. Strangely, the pressure which had been building in her had disappeared after the fire and had stayed dormant for a couple of days. But it didn’t stay that way. The restless sensation came significantly more often now. It was like something was building inside her, growing until it was too large to be contained by her body. Sometimes she felt like clawing at her skin in a desperate attempt to release some of the pressure.
    Add that to the fact that every time she experienced a strong emotion, fires broke out around her, and she seriously considered investing in a fire extinguisher manufacturer. She didn’t have to be angry to have a fire start. No, she could be sad, happy, whatever. Hell, even getting aroused was a no-no.
    At first, no one had made the connection between her and the fires. It wasn’t like anyone had witnessed her strolling over to a wastebasket and dropping in a flaming match. In fact, many times, other people would be talking with her and the fire would start on the other side of the room.
    But it wasn’t long before people started to notice she happened to be in the room each and every time a fire started.
    Now, she sat in her motel room after being fired. Her employer had no evidence to actually press charges against her, but the fact that the fires only happened when she was present was enough for them to release her from her contract. And all of her previously supportive co-workers, the same ones who had invited her out for drinks a few short weeks ago, avoided her like the plague.
    She was at a complete loss as to what to do. She had no job, no home and no possessions, save for her car. She’d like to think she’d been in worse positions in the past, but she really hadn’t. She’d always figured something out before, but she needed to wallow in self-pity a little, even if it was only for a few minutes.
    Grabbing the chocolate bar she’d purchased on the way here, she unwrapped it and took a huge bite. Chocolate always made things better. Well, bearable, anyway.
    Lying back on the lumpy mattress, she closed her eyes and munched, wishing someone would knock on her door with the answer to all her problems.
    Suddenly, there was a hard thumping against her door, like someone was pummeling it with a fist.
    Her eyes flew open and she sat up so fast, her head spun.
    Somehow, she doubted it was her fairy godmother knocking.

Chapter 4
    Sunny tried looking through the peephole, but for some reason, it had completely clouded over. She made a mental note to speak to the motel management about fixing it as she slid the chain lock into place and opened the door wide enough to look outside.
    Two men stood there, staring back at her. They were both blond, but that’s where the resemblance ended. The guy on the right was of average height but had an absolutely fabulous body. His white dress shirt clung to him like a second skin and his gray slacks molded to his thighs perfectly. He had a friendly smile and pretty blue eyes.
    The man next to him scared the bejeezus out of her. He was huge. Mountain like, even. His white blond hair was tied back in a ponytail that hung nearly to his waist and his shoulders were nearly as wide as the