Afterburn (Island Fire #5)

Scott Pataki became an EMT to save lives, but ten years later, the stress of his job is slowly killing him. He's counting the days till he can escape San Amaro Island to be a scuba instructor on a cruise ship. With a decade-old estrangement from his family and no ties outside the fire station, there's nothing holding him back. But when his big move is only a month away, the half sister he never wanted to meet, and her bulldog advocate, Mercedes, crash into his life.

Mercedes Stone is a sucker for underdogs and lost souls. Though she's drowning in responsibilities as her grandma's caretaker, a social media expert, and a women's shelter volunteer, she can't help being pulled into the plight of a homeless pregnant teenager. She'll do anything to help her, including lock horns with Scott, the troubled but tempting half brother the girl's determined to bond with. It doesn't take Mercedes long to see he's not the heartless jerk he wants everyone to believe he is.

Scott feels his hardened heart softening bit by bit, but he fights it every step of the way, knowing he's the dark cloud to Mercedes' bright sunshine. Will he chase the calmness he craves or will he figure out the best way to weather any storm is together?

Afterburn is a stand-alone novel in the Island Fire series.