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Chapter 27
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Incendiary Chapter 1
Book One: Incendiary Kristi Gregory pushed open the door of McNally's Pub and was immediately hit by the sound waves of conversation and the clinking of glasses. The familiarity of it wrapped itself around her like a comfortable quilt. No matter what else happened, she could always feel at home at McNally's. It was her anchor when her life took a crazy dip and swirl, which it had done not so long ago. This was her family. She could let it all hang out with them.The fact this was a weeknight didn't make any difference. The pub was nearly full, not unusual, even for a weeknight. A longtime hangout for firefighters and cops, it catered to people who worked crazy hour-long shifts and took their relaxation when they could get it. The crowd was usually a mixture of people ending their shift and people starting their days off, like her.Tonight, she really needed the warm atmosphere of the place. Her last shift had been brutal-three multiple car wrecks and a fire in an overcrowded olde
Incendiary Chapter 2
Kristi turned in her seat, ready to ream someone out, and looked into the smiling face of Keith McCormick, a radio patrol cop from the local precinct. They'd handled a number of situations together."I thought I'd introduce you to the latest addition to our fine precinct."She looked over his shoulder into the face of the cop she'd worked today's disaster with and thought, holy crap! He'd looked very professional in his uniform, earlier, with his visored cap shading much of his face as he'd done what was necessary in a disastrous situation. And he never lost his cool.But looking at him now, with hair black as ebony that showed a slight wave, those navy blue eyes beneath sinful lashes, and a crew neck sweater that showed off his flat abs and broad shoulders, she thought there should be a sin against being so good looking. Especially when he grinned at her, flashing, of all things, a dimple at the left corner of his mouth.Knock it off, she told herself in a stern voice. This guy mi
Incendiary Chapter 3
"Did he tell you he was a hero at his last station?" Keith plunked three open bottles on the table.Kristi was startled to see Patrick's face turn red. She didn't remember the last time she'd seen a grown man blush."Knock it off," he told Keith. "I was just doing my job." He lifted one of the fresh bottles and took a long sip."Hey, I was there today and saw what you did," Kristi told him. "You were incredible. I can vouch for that.""Okay, okay. Next subject, please."It was obvious praise made him uncomfortable. Kristi tucked that fact away in her memory banks. The guys at the station and the cops she hung out with didn't take much to that stuff, either. They, too, were "just doing the job.""So, you're new to the precinct." She cocked her head. "I thought I hadn't seen you around."He laughed, the tension easing from his body. "Should I get a sign that says New Guy?""No, that's okay. I'll remember you from now on." She was sure they'd be working scenes together again. Befo
Incendiary Chapter 4
It was nice sitting here talking to Patrick. Learning about him. Kristi was enjoying playing the game so much she was three-quarters of the way through her second beer before she realized it. Keith had half turned his chair to talk to the people at the table next to them, so she and Patrick might as well have been alone."Hey." He pointed to her bottle. "Let me get you another one.""No, thanks, I'm good. Two is usually my limit."At that moment, a huge roar came up from the large bunch of people watching the television over the bar. Keith, who had glanced over at it now and then, suddenly pounded his fist on the table. "Those good-for-nothings! I'll kill them."Patrick leaned closer to Kristi. "Who does he want to kill? Sorry, but I've only been working with Keith for a couple of weeks. Not long enough to know which football team he bleeds for.""Are you kidding? He bleeds Dallas Cowboys blue."Patrick looked around the room. "Did I miss something? What's everyone all riled up f
Incendiary Chapter 5
They could see the smoke even before they turned the corner, hard on the heels of Station 58's big engine and the ladder truck. It billowed up in big black clouds that spread over the rooftops of the buildings lining the street. This was the third major fire in a week, an unusual number, and they had all been on her shifts. If she didn't know better, she'd think someone had a crush on one of the firefighters and wanted to see him at work.Kristi knew it was a biggie when the callout had been for both the engine and ladder truck. She and Jared were right behind the mammoth machines, looking for the best place to position their ambulance where supplies would be easy to get but they wouldn't be in the way of any apparatus.The police were already here, directing traffic and keeping onlookers from getting in the way. And lordy, there was a huge mob of them. Kristi often wondered what it was that drew people to watch fires as if it was some kind of entertainment. Didn't they know people d
Incendiary Chapter 6
Kristi glanced up at the sound of the deep, sexy voice to see Patrick Hayes standing there. He was looking a little bedraggled himself, no doubt from the hassle of corralling bystanders and directing traffic around the scene. Still, the sound of his voice warmed her.She gave a slightly hysterical laugh. "No kidding.""Damn good job today. As usual.""Thanks." She gave him a tired smile. "For a while there, I thought the line would never stop. I'm just glad things weren't a lot worse.""Someone was saying the building was a total loss.""True that." She sighed. "This is the third one in two weeks. I hate to think we've got an arsonist at work.""Me, too." Captain Stewart had walked up just then. He was always on-site for major incidents and this certainly fit that category, especially if it was more than an isolated occurrence. "I've already called headquarters and requested Dan Varney. He's working the other two sites so he's got continuity."Kristi had met Dan, one of the arso
Incendiary Chapter 7
"To what?" Kristi frowned."I know your schedule. You're off twenty-four starting tomorrow. Dinner. Tomorrow night.""Dinner?" She stared at him. In the middle of a fire scene, he was asking her to dinner?She studied his face, the navy-blue eyes with the indecently thick lashes, the late day scruff just sprouting on his jaw, the lock of midnight-black hair that had escaped his patrol hat. He was most definitely good looking, but there was also something else there, a heat and an intensity that woke up parts of her body she'd been keeping in cold storage."Great!" He grinned, as if she'd said yes. "Pick you up at seven." He waved as he ran back to help one of the other cops with a traffic problem.Kristi stared after him. Now what was she supposed to do? She didn't even have his cell phone number to tell him it was all a big mistake.Go ahead! The little devil in her brain whispered to her. It's about time.She might have been on a dating diet but she had to admit, every time sh
Incendiary Chapter 8
It was stupid to be so nervous. Kristi had repeated that to herself a hundred times already. It was just a date. Maybe not even a real date. Maybe just dinner with a friend. Oh, who the hell was she kidding? The heat in Patrick's eyes when he looked at her was a clear indication this was a lot more than that.They'd danced around this for weeks now. The casual touches, the intense looks they'd exchanged, despite her best intentions. The sexual awareness that seemed to wrap around them like a thick cloud whenever they were together. She hadn't felt this way for four years and hadn't ever expected to feel it again. Remembered pain had been her strongest sensation.This all seemed to just creep up on her, and now, without any conscious decision on her part, they were taking things to the next level. Tonight was just dinner, but what would happen afterwards? For four years, she hadn't let a man get any closer than a platonic relationship. Friendship. And here she was, stepping into treac
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Incendiary Chapter 27
Sam swallowed a smile. If she knew everything he was thinking she might just get up and run like hell. Then again, maybe not. He sure hoped not because he'd been waiting a long time for just what was happening now and he intended to make the most of it. "I've already had one shower," he said, "but I sure could use another. How about you?""I believe so." She grinned, still a little breathless.He winked. "Shower with a friend and save water."Misa was stunned when he led her into the bathroom. She'd expected something similar to hers, but Sam had ripped his apart and made it into something spectacular. The vanity was a solid piece of marble with the sink carved into it. Elegant brushed steel faucets rose from the back. At one end of the rectangle sat a tub with jets that identified it as a Jacuzzi. At the other was a shower that had Misa's jaw dropping when Sam slid open the door. The small tiles had the look of granite and showerheads had been built into the walls and the ceili
Incendiary Chapter 26
Misa lifted her arms so Sam could pull her thin sweater over her head. His gaze fastened on her bra and the hard nipples poking against the satin fabric. Without a word he lowered his head and closed his mouth around one of them, biting gently before tugging it into his mouth. She moaned as heat streaked through her right to her cunt. Her panties were so wet she could feel the moisture on the inside of her thighs. The more he sucked on her nipple the wetter she got. When he turned his attention to her other nipple she slid her hands between them and squeezed his cock convulsively. A harsh animalistic sound burst from his throat.His nimble fingers unfastened her bra and he peeled it from her body before turning his attention to her slacks. Even as he unfastened the button and lowered the zipper he returned his mouth to her nipples, licking them and tracing the edges of her aureoles. Reluctantly she released his shaft and clutched the hard muscles of his arms for support. Toeing off
Incendiary Chapter 25
The hysterical woman turned to look at the fireman and ran toward the ladder. It seemed to Misa it took forever for him to reach the bottom. She snapped shot after shot of him with the baby, handing the baby to the mother, the mother reaching up to hug him, the other men congratulating him. The crowd cheered wildly as he handed the baby to the hysterical mother. When he took off his helmet to swipe at his smoke-blackened face she realized it was Sam, that he'd made it out safely, and something inside her exploded. Talk about a hero! Misa thought about adding her voice to the others but then his captain pulled him away. Besides, she needed to get back to the newspaper and upload the shots onto her computer. Finishing up took her longer than she expected. Her editor loved the pictures, especially the one of Sam bringing the little boy out of the fire so he had bumped it to the front page of the local news section. He called her into his office, the photos she'd taken up on his comp
Incendiary Chapter 24
Book Two: Fired UpMisa Romero pulled into her driveway and automatically let her gaze shift to the house next door. Six months ago, Sam Braddock had moved in, and between mentally drooling over him and climaxing in her erotic dreams about him, she could hardly get him out of her mind. Who wouldn't want to do everything with a six-foot-four blond hunk with sculpted muscles that didn't come from any gym, and a smile that made her panties wet? He was the stuff any woman's dreams were made of. The few times she'd spoken to him, at the mailbox or when they both happened to arrive home at the same time, she'd actually had trouble forming words. All she could think about was how big his cock might be and how it would feel inside her.Even more than that, he might as well have the words "cocky alpha" tattooed on his forehead. The aura of command and self-confidence surrounded him like a cloud. She shivered every time she thought of him giving her orders in bed in that low, sexy voice. O
Incendiary Chapter 23
"Pizza's here!" Kristi sang out as she shouldered her front door closed and headed for the kitchen."Do I get to kiss the delivery person?" Patrick hollered back."No pizza unless you do," she teased.By the time she reached the kitchen, Patrick had clumped in from the living room on his crutches. Since he lived in a duplex, with stairs, they'd decided the smartest thing was to move him into her house, which was all on one level. She'd gotten used to that very fast. And loved it.She had barely put the pizza down before he leaned the crutches against the counter and pulled her into his arms. The kiss he gave her sizzled her down to his toes."Now, that's the kind of homecoming I like." She ran her tongue over her lower lip. Tasting him."We could do that long term," he told her in a cautious voice. He'd brought it up before, but she'd wanted to get the monkey off her back, first."Let's negotiate over pizza," she joked. She wanted to make the atmosphere as relaxed as possible.
Incendiary Chapter 22
The doctor took her through the doors to the emergency treatment area and led her into one of the treatment rooms. She nearly passed out when she saw Patrick. He was lying on the bed, his left leg in a cast from his ankle to his thigh. He sported a soft cast on his left wrist, stitches on one cheek, and scrapes on his forehead. His eyes were closed, and his face was lined with pain. But he was the most beautiful sight she'd ever seen.She moved over to stand beside the bed. They had the sides up, since they'd given him narcotics and didn't want him falling out on the floor. She took his right hand, his uninjured one, and threaded her fingers through his, squeezing gently.His eyes opened slowly, and his lips curved in an attempt at a smile."I didn't think they'd ever let you see me." His voice was raw, his words slurred a little from the pain meds, but he gave her hand an answering squeeze."Oh, Patrick." She had to bite her lip to keep from crying. "I'm so sorry this happened to
Incendiary Chapter 21
The car kept coming. Kristi thought the driver looked slumped over the wheel, his head pressing on the horn. Patrick, who was closest, raced toward the car to try and stop it."Oh my god." Kristi thought her heart would stop. "He'll get himself killed."The rest of it happened in less than a split second. As Patrick raced for the car, it swerved to head directly for him. Now she could see the driver clearly, saw him sit up from his slump, grab the wheel, and aim for Patrick. At the last minute, he tried to jump out of the way, but the car caught him with its bumper and knocked him onto the roadway.While she stood rooted to the spot, Jared, Hank, and some of the other firefighters raced toward the car. It swerved again and ended up crashing into a truck parked at the curb. Keith, who had been working the fire scene, pulled open the door and yanked the driver out of the vehicle. Out of the corner of her eye, she recognized Toby, as he struggled against Keith's hold. But that was all
Incendiary Chapter 20
They had just settled around the big table with cups of coffee, discussing the menu for dinner, when the speaker blared again. This one called for every piece of equipment they had and on the double."I have a sick feeling about this," Stan said as he pulled on his turnout gear."Me, too." Kristi took one moment to make sure Jared had stocked the ambo with extra supplies before they rolled out right behind the ladder truck.Three blocks away, they could see it was indeed a bad one. It was another abandoned apartment building, scheduled for demolition, and the black clouds spread for several blocks. Two blocks away, they could see the flames shooting up in the air. That was a good indication the building was fully involved, and at its most dangerous for the men who had to clear it. Because, abandoned or not, there would still be squatters, just like at the others.The scene was utter chaos. The battalion chief, the incident commander, was already there, making sure all protocols wer
Incendiary Chapter 19
Four days off had given Kristi a chance to rest, although, when Patrick was around, she didn't do much resting. It seemed the more time they spent together, the more intense their physical attraction and the stronger whatever bond it was formed between them. For the next week, whenever she was off and he could make it, they were together. She discovered he liked to cook and, sometimes, enjoyed making something special for her. She was totally unused to being catered to by the man in her life. She had to stop herself from being suspicious and waiting for the other shoe to drop.Sometimes, when she was on shift but between calls, she found herself sitting in the lounge with her mind wandering, questioning everything about the relationship with him. She was always waiting for the unexpected to happen, and not in a good way. Why couldn't she just get past this?"He's different," she kept reminding herself. "Don't ruin it with what was. Think of what is and what can be."This morning, Da
