Check out descriptions and excerpts from two of the stories featured in the anthology!
Inflamed – Jade Kerrion
Debra Martinez doesnโt believe in happyย endings, until Sean Orr, Havre de Graceโs newest firefighter, shows her and herย son, Aidan, a new and beautiful kind of โnormal.โ But the happiness canโt lastโnotย for Sean who is on the run from his own past.
Excerpt
Tension stiffened Debraโs back, but she smiled at the men, two ofย whom she recognized.
โWhat can I get for you?โย
โFive medium coffees for the boys down at the house.โ Jack Landonย leaned against the counter, flexing an impressive bicep. He was obviously onย duty even though he wore street clothes; firefighting in a small town likeย Havre de Grace was a casual sort of thing.ย
โDidnโt know it took three grown men to buy five coffees,โ sheย teased as she filled the order.ย
โWanted to show the new guy the town.โ Jack jabbed his finger overย his shoulder at the tall young man standing behind him. โSean Orr. Heโs takingย Larryโs place.โย
โHey.โ Debra flashed him a dimpled smile. She estimated his age asย mid-twenties, a good eight years younger than she was. โWelcome to Havre deย Grace.โ She set four cups in a cup holder made of recycled paper and thenย placed the fifth cup in the middle. โWill that be all, or would you likeย anything else?โย
Ray Peterson, the third firefighter, pushed past Sean and Jack andย rested both elbows on the table. He leaned forward, and Debra retreated fromย his leer even though her cleavage was concealed behind her turtleneck sweater. ย Ray chuckled as if he sensed her unease and pressed out his cheek with hisย tongue. โDo you want to come over this weekend? Itโs cold out; great night forย keeping warm together.โย
โArenโt you and Andrea still together?โย
โSheโs out of town this weekend. Perfect, you know, for you.โ Rayย snorted, the sound derisive.ย
Jack laughed and elbowed Ray. โLetโs get out of here, man, beforeย the coffees get cold.โ
He led the way out of the store, but amid the quiet chatter ofย surrounding conversations, Debra heard Sean ask quietly, โWhatโs her name?โย
Rayโs answer slapped her moments before the door slammed shut onย their voices. โSheโs the other woman.โย
Remember When – Hope Welsh
Laura and Brent really tried to make theirย marriage work, but in the end, it just wasn’t meant to be. Or was it? When theyย meet to discuss joint custody of their Akita, they discover they have much moreย to talk about other than the dog.ย
Excerpt
ย
The ringing of her phone pulled Laura out of her writing โzoneโ. Sheย sighed and answered it without even checking the caller ID. โHello?โย
There was no one speaking on the other end, but she could hear theย breathing.ย
โHello? Is this some sort of a prank?โ Laura had had these kinds of callย before, and had them do silly things like this.ย
The phone disconnected and she tossed it back on the table. A check ofย the phone logs showed it was a blocked number. Likely some silly kid.ย
Laura sighed when the phone rang again less than five minutes later.ย This time, she did check the caller ID and realized it was Callie.ย
She signed againโinwardlyโas she listened to the phone call. The lastย thing she wanted to do was go on a search and rescue tonight. Valentineโs Dayย was two days away, and sheโd been looking forward to sitting home and moping.ย It was their anniversary.ย
She rolled her eyes at her own musings. Going out on a search might beย just the thing. She looked down at Angel, the Akita that was her partner inย SAR. โWhat do you say, girl? Got a search in you?โย
โWhat?โ she said, her mind once again on the phone call.ย
โYouโll be working with Brent,โ Callie said patiently. โHeโs the onlyย medic we have in the area right now.โย
Laura didnโt groan, but she wanted to. The last person she wanted toย spend possibly the next few days with was her soon-to-be ex, Brent Anders. โUm,ย Callie, I donโt really need a partner.โย
โYou know the rules, Laura. We send out teams of two for a reason. Oneย with the dog and one with the medical training. You two are good together.โย
We had been good together, Laura thought bitterly. But, that was before. โI donโt ย suppose I canย talk you out of using him?โย