Check out descriptions and excerpts from two of the stories featured in the anthology!
Inflamed – Jade Kerrion
Debra Martinez doesnβt believe in happyΒ endings, until Sean Orr, Havre de Graceβs newest firefighter, shows her and herΒ son, Aidan, a new and beautiful kind of βnormal.β But the happiness canβt lastβnotΒ for Sean who is on the run from his own past.
Excerpt
Tension stiffened Debraβs back, but she smiled at the men, two ofΒ whom she recognized.
βWhat can I get for you?βΒ
βFive medium coffees for the boys down at the house.β Jack LandonΒ leaned against the counter, flexing an impressive bicep. He was obviously onΒ duty even though he wore street clothes; firefighting in a small town likeΒ Havre de Grace was a casual sort of thing.Β
βDidnβt know it took three grown men to buy five coffees,β sheΒ teased as she filled the order.Β
βWanted to show the new guy the town.β Jack jabbed his finger overΒ his shoulder at the tall young man standing behind him. βSean Orr. Heβs takingΒ Larryβs place.βΒ
βHey.β Debra flashed him a dimpled smile. She estimated his age asΒ mid-twenties, a good eight years younger than she was. βWelcome to Havre deΒ Grace.β She set four cups in a cup holder made of recycled paper and thenΒ placed the fifth cup in the middle. βWill that be all, or would you likeΒ anything else?βΒ
Ray Peterson, the third firefighter, pushed past Sean and Jack andΒ rested both elbows on the table. He leaned forward, and Debra retreated fromΒ his leer even though her cleavage was concealed behind her turtleneck sweater. Β Ray chuckled as if he sensed her unease and pressed out his cheek with hisΒ tongue. βDo you want to come over this weekend? Itβs cold out; great night forΒ keeping warm together.βΒ
βArenβt you and Andrea still together?βΒ
βSheβs out of town this weekend. Perfect, you know, for you.β RayΒ snorted, the sound derisive.Β
Jack laughed and elbowed Ray. βLetβs get out of here, man, beforeΒ the coffees get cold.β
He led the way out of the store, but amid the quiet chatter ofΒ surrounding conversations, Debra heard Sean ask quietly, βWhatβs her name?βΒ
Rayβs answer slapped her moments before the door slammed shut onΒ their voices. βSheβs the other woman.βΒ
Remember When – Hope Welsh
Laura and Brent really tried to make theirΒ marriage work, but in the end, it just wasn’t meant to be. Or was it? When theyΒ meet to discuss joint custody of their Akita, they discover they have much moreΒ to talk about other than the dog.Β
Excerpt
Β
The ringing of her phone pulled Laura out of her writing βzoneβ. SheΒ sighed and answered it without even checking the caller ID. βHello?βΒ
There was no one speaking on the other end, but she could hear theΒ breathing.Β
βHello? Is this some sort of a prank?β Laura had had these kinds of callΒ before, and had them do silly things like this.Β
The phone disconnected and she tossed it back on the table. A check ofΒ the phone logs showed it was a blocked number. Likely some silly kid.Β
Laura sighed when the phone rang again less than five minutes later.Β This time, she did check the caller ID and realized it was Callie.Β
She signed againβinwardlyβas she listened to the phone call. The lastΒ thing she wanted to do was go on a search and rescue tonight. Valentineβs DayΒ was two days away, and sheβd been looking forward to sitting home and moping.Β It was their anniversary.Β
She rolled her eyes at her own musings. Going out on a search might beΒ just the thing. She looked down at Angel, the Akita that was her partner inΒ SAR. βWhat do you say, girl? Got a search in you?βΒ
βWhat?β she said, her mind once again on the phone call.Β
βYouβll be working with Brent,β Callie said patiently. βHeβs the onlyΒ medic we have in the area right now.βΒ
Laura didnβt groan, but she wanted to. The last person she wanted toΒ spend possibly the next few days with was her soon-to-be ex, Brent Anders. βUm,Β Callie, I donβt really need a partner.βΒ
βYou know the rules, Laura. We send out teams of two for a reason. OneΒ with the dog and one with the medical training. You two are good together.βΒ
We had been good together, Laura thought bitterly. But, that was before. βI donβt Β suppose I canΒ talk you out of using him?βΒ