Deirdre O’Dare

Former military pilot Blaine Darby carries a load of guilt and pain from the harm he may have caused in wartime. Now he seeks to earn some good karma by fighting wild land fires while holding on to his great love of flying. But reporters like young Daz Contreras scare him -- one of the few things that do -- because he shuns the public eye.<br><br>Freelance investigative journalist Daz Contreras is convinced terrorists are behind at least some of the wild land fires plaguing New Mexico. All he needs is enough proof to break the story. As he pursues leads, he begins to shadow pilot Blaine Darby and, in the process, develops a gigantic case of hero worship.<br><br>When Daz is allowed to ride with Blaine one time, he hopes the adventure will help him to uncover the proof he seeks. Yet when a near tragedy unexpectedly develops and Blaine puts his life on the line to save a trapped hotshot firefighting crew, Daz realizes he’s an eyewitness to what may be a bigger story than the one he planned. But will the reclusive Blaine actually allow Daz to report the news as he sees fit, even as they grow closer?

Red Tails in the Sunset

Blaine halted and turned back to look at Daz. “I’ll tell you up front that counting the men who’ve been invited here won’t take half a hand’s worth of fingers. Just so you know I don’t do this every free evening. No ladies, either.”


Daz nodded, as somber now as Blaine seemed to be. “I didn’t think you did. If you were any kind of a party guy, word would leak out. Most people label you a recluse, and I never even heard for sure that you were gay.”


“Well, I am. Gay and a recluse both, just for the record. But enough of that. Come here.” As he spoke, Blaine tossed the unfastened shirt aside.


Again Daz found himself locked in a pair of strong arms, held hard against a lean, muscled body. He could feel the rhythm of Blaine’s heart and the heat radiating from his bare chest. And if Daz got much hotter, his clothes would probably catch fire.


It seemed like Blaine noticed. “You’re over-dressed,” he observed. “Shuck the shirt, and you can get rid of the jeans, too.”


Chapter 19