I don’t remember how old I was when I fell in love with my first Fireman. Maybe it was when I was five and my mom’s car was sideswiped by a semi sending us careening down an embankment. My mom had a broken arm, my older brother had a broken collar bone.

What really made me fall in love with them was Quick Response. You see I have a racy heart, otherwise known as SVT. Two years ago I was home alone doing and I shudder ***revisions*** you thought I’d have said something sexy, but no, I was editing and fixing. My heart rate went up to 198 and I almost passed out. I dialed 9-1-1 because I had no idea what had just happened.

In less than five minutes flat two ladder trucks, a Battalion SUV and police cruiser were at my door. They knocked and entered ten men deep all decked out in gear and if I hadn’t have been feeling like I was going to die; I’d have swooned over all the authoritative and commanding power they all exuded.  They may have killed my arm trying to take a blood pressure but that was okay.  I simply said. “It’s too high to count.” So they slapped the O2mask on my face, hooked me up to the portable heart monitor with leads and came to the same conclusion I did. “It’s too fast to count.”

This happened to me six times before anyone could figure out what was wrong with me and each time, the same guys came with the same drill. Not only did they take care of me, they checked up on me to see how I was doing.

Fast Forward three months later. At work I had a bad SVT attack. We called 9-1-1 and they gave me an extra dose of beta blocker in an IV. Every now and then when my female coworkers want some eye candy, they ask me to have an attack because, ten firemen came into our building and up the stairs to work me over.

Firemen don’t only respond to fires, they respond period when someone is in need, on and off shift. They help deescalate fear from making a situation worse. I don’t know where I’d have been if they hadn’t helped get me fixed.  So when I decided to do a new series. I wanted my own Firemen and Firewomen who would have their happy ending.

Buy Links: Amazon | ARe | Secret Cravings Publishing | Nook

Rated Adult Excerpt

Darkness fell early in the evening. Mia sipped a cup of hot cocoa while waiting. Time had never moved slower than waiting for Dire to show. Maybe she needed a psychologist or some heavier meds of a different type. Who worried about a man they recently met, and without an exact definition of the relationship they were heading in. She grasped his shirt in one hand, wanting to bury her face in his scent. Madness. She’d fallen head over heels into insanity. Tired of pacing and watching out the blinds for a glimpse of his truck, she sat down and flipped the television on. True to her word, she kept away from the news channels. Comedic family shows played on every channel. Not in the mood for comedy, she turned the television off and picked up a historical romance she’d found at a swap and shop months ago, but hadn’t had the time to read. She slipped the robe off and donned his shirt, wanting to feel closer to him in his absence. Using the discarded robe as blanket, she curled up on the couch and disappeared into the pages of her new book.

Lost in the world of thievery, abduction and handsome as sin highlanders, she’d toned out the world until a loud banging on the door scared her out of her wits. She dog-eared the page and tossed off the robe. The incessant pounding grew louder. “What.” She swung the door open ready to rip the balls out of the person who’d made her put down the fantastic book and probably dented her door. “Dire.”

“I rang the bell seven times.” Did he growl at her? And why did she find the sound arousing. Wait…I’m mad at him. She crossed her arms over her breasts and glared at him.

“I’m sorry for scaring you.”

Mia saw red. She clocked him with her open palm across his face, spun on her heel and stormed back into her house.

“Mia. Stop.”

“Go to hell.” She launched her body forward into a sprint up the stairs away from him. Pounding footsteps fell behind her as she heard him chase. Halfway up the stairs, a band of steel wound across her middle, halting her momentum. She kicked back and found her legs trapped by muscles as hard as tree trunks.

“Why are you mad?”

God he smelled good. Even angry with him, his energy singed her. Struggling to break his hold got her nowhere. His breath tickled her neck. His rock hard chest cradled her back.

“You didn’t text or call.”

Dire cussed under his breath. “Because I thought you’d be asleep like we discussed,” he snapped at her and spun her to face him.

She saw the angry welt on his face and dropped her gaze. Dire didn’t deserve her abuse. Ashamed of her actions, she couldn’t look him in the face.

“You should’ve anyhow.”

“I’m okay.” She frowned refusing to give into the two words she’d wanted to hear for hours.

“The team is okay too. Mia. I like to look who I’m talking to in the face.”

“Why are you doing this to me?” She pushed against him to get away and stumbled on the stairs when he let go of her. “Take this back and get out. I can’t do this.” Tears threatened to spill as she tore off his shirt and threw it at him. The T-shirt hit him in the face and fell to the floor. “I wanted to tell you that we should be friends but I can’t now because I’m in too deep.” His stunned expression, the way he held his body rigid while raking a gaze over her body caused her to shiver in reaction and start for her bedroom. “I said to leave,” she repeated when he made no move to.

“Calm down.” Instead of leaving, he followed her.

“Fuck you.”

“That’s mature.” He caught up to her, spun her around, and fisted a hand in her hair keeping her from running further. “Look at me Mia.” Her choice was to squeeze her eyes shut or to do as he bid.

“You had better be glad I’m not tender headed.” She glared at him, uncomfortable with the close proximity of his body so close to hers and her runaway emotions.

“I’m not hurt and you’re okay. Nothing bad happened.” He pressed her against the edge of her bed and dropped an arm to her lower back. Mia almost died when his lips feathered over her skin of her throat. Soft at first, until he worked a path up her neck, swept a finger along her jaw line and nipped to her lips.

Dormant need blazed to life. Mia turned aggressor, wrapping her legs around his waist and planting her lips over his mouth. Tongues tangled. Moaning into his mouth, she found the hem of his shirt and thrust her hands up his chest. Dire helped her take the T-shirt off. God, he is so sexy. To think she’d been totally naked in front of him this whole time left her feeling inhibited.

“Don’t get shy on me now. You looked damn sexy wearing my name.” He bit into the curve of her neck while palming the globes of her ass. His sparse chest hair abraded her sensitive nipples. Wetness drenched her thighs as he laid her down. Dire paused assaulting her mouth to grab a condom out of his pocket. She watched enthralled as he unbuttoned his jeans and shrugged out of them to cover his heavy cock.

Coming This Fall

Forbidden Deception: Rescue Team One Book2

No one knows how a solitary lie has the power to rip a heart to pieces. For twelve years she’s had the constant reminder of heartbreak that left her devastated and pregnant. While nothing gives her more pleasure than being a mother, the lie she lives weighs her down like a ball and chain. Even if she knew where to look, …her deceit could cost her everything she holds dear.

Responsibility for others has always rested on Seth Mahone. Every day he gears up to protect and serve, leads his men and finds fulfillment in doing his best. With one friend settled down, he reevaluates his life and the cost he paid when the one woman he loved left leaving an in fillable void. Regretting what caused their split, he hasn’t fully let go or found another to take her place.

When the past collides with the present both must confront the deception that split them apart.

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