Flirting With Fire--3 Book Box Set

by Lori Foster

  Those thoughts had him shaking.

  “Amanda…” he started, but she looked at him and there were tears in her big brown eyes that stopped his heart. She glanced away at the paper, opened to an article about the fire. Accompanying the text was a large color picture of him, carrying that ungrateful cat. He was backlit by the fire, and the photo looked more staged than anything.

  Josh released her to pinch the bridge of his nose. His head pounded. “Sweetheart…”

  With shaking fingers, Amanda touched his mouth. “I have to tell you something.”

  He felt sick. “Me first.” He drew a bracing breath. “I love you.”

  Her eyes opened wide in shock. Her mouth moved, but nothing came out.

  “I love you, damn it!”

  She blinked at his raised voice and stepped away from him. Even rumpled from a night of debauchery, wearing only a robe, Amanda managed to look elegant. Her hair had been brushed and her nails were pink and he wanted her again. Right now. He eyed the cluttered kitchen table. Probably not sturdy enough, he decided. He shook his head.

  “Amanda,” he warned, about ready to lose his cool, “you better say something and fast.”

  She nodded, and gestured at the paper without looking at it. “I saw that and realized I should use it to help promote the calendar. You’re a remarkable hero and the whole town knows it by now. It’s…great publicity.”

  Josh locked his thighs. The hell she would. The hell he’d let her! Last night had been—

  “But I knew I couldn’t.”

  His anger died a rapid death.

  She turned her face up to him, appearing dazed again. “I don’t want to share you anymore. That damn reception was hard enough, having all those women fawn over you and knowing what they were thinking because I was thinking it, too.”

  His tension eased. Cautiously he asked, “What were you thinking?”

  “How much I wanted you. How sexy you are, how heroic and wonderful and—”

  “I’m just me, babe.” And he reiterated, “And I love you.”

  She swallowed. “I need to start getting things set up for the next calendar.”

  “The next calendar.” Her verbal leaps made his head spin. Two more seconds and he was carrying her back to bed for more of that primal mating that made him feel a whole hell of a lot better.

  “I’d like to make it a yearly event. All kinds of possibilities occurred to me, only…” Amanda bit her lip, then forged on. “Only I can’t stand the thought of sharing you.”

  Josh smiled and explained, “You don’t have to share me.”

  She put a hand to her forehead and looked away. “I don’t own you.”

  “Marry me.” He made the offer with a racing heart and a lot of uncertainty. “That’s close enough isn’t it?”

  Amanda whipped around to face him, dropped into her seat, and watched him with the same fascination she might have given a snake. “You want to marry me?”

  Josh went to his knees in front of her. He really had to make her understand. “I’ve known a lot of women—”

  She put her hands over her ears, and he pulled them away. Amanda was such a jealous little thing—and he loved it.

  “I’ve had a lot of fun, Amanda,” he explained. “But no one has ever made me feel like you do.” He carried her hand to his chest, held it there over his heart. “I love you. I want to make babies with you and plant gardens and go on family vacations and all that.” Josh frowned with sincerity. “I want us to grow old together. And I damn well want you to tell me you love me, too.”

  She started to speak, but he wasn’t ready for her to yet. He had a few more points to make. “Amanda, you do love me, you know. Last night you were incredible. I’m sorry I lost my head there, but you’re just too much—”

  “I’m just me!”

  “—and once you touched me, well, baby I went a little nuts.” Josh shrugged. “There’s nothing wrong with us having great sex. I’d meant to be really gentle and romantic, but it didn’t work out that way. I’d been thinking about you all night and I guess I was half-cocked before I got here.”

  Amanda choked at his wording, and then sputtered, “I told you, you shouldn’t think about me when you’re working!”

  “You,” Josh told her, “are never far from my mind.” He pulled her from the chair and into his lap on the floor. Any space between them was too damn much. “Besides, thinking about you is what saved the day.”

  Josh explained about the cat and how her experience made him stop and think. “If it hadn’t been for loving you, I’d have followed my gut instinct and gone back in that house last night, looking for an infant. Then who knows what might have happened to me.”

  “No!” Amanda curled around him, desperate and sweet, protective even though he outweighed her by over a hundred pounds.

  Cradling her head to his chest, Josh said, “What happened to you was awful, sweetheart, but it’s in the past and I’m here now. I love you.”

  “I love you, too.”

  Josh froze. He grabbed her shoulders and tried to lever her away so he could see her face, but she clung like a stubborn vine. “Amanda!”

  He felt her smile against his throat. “That’s what I was going to tell you. Last night, you needed me. Not just a body, not just any woman. You came to me and I knew you needed me.”

  “Hell, yes I need you! Isn’t that what I’ve been saying?”

  “You didn’t have to work at getting me into bed because I’d already decided I wanted you there. Everything was different because you’re different and how I feel about you is different.”

  His chest expanded, with love and a dozen other elusive emotions. “You love me?”

  “Yes. So how can making love with you be anything but wonderful?”

  Josh squeezed her until she squeaked. “You little sneak! I’ve been in agony here, trying to figure you out, trying to decide how to get you to say ‘I do,’ and all along you knew you loved me.”

  “You wouldn’t let me tell you.”

  “You only wanted to talk about another damn calendar.”

  Now she pushed back to see him, and she grinned. “I will.”

  He frowned suspiciously. “You will what?”

  “I will marry you.”

  “Oh.” Josh wanted to shout, to jump up on the table and dance, to drag Amanda to the bedroom and strip her naked. He just nodded. “Good. What a relief.”

  “And I will do another calendar—”

  He groaned and started to topple to the floor.

  Amanda laughed and pulled him upright “—but you won’t be in it.”

  “Thank God.”

  “I want new blood,” she said, making him scowl with his own share of budding jealousy. “This is turning out even bigger than I’d first planned. The amount of money we made last night was astronomical. I have all kinds of ideas for letting women in on choosing the models for next year. This time we’ll include the paramedics, and maybe we’ll even be able to talk Mick into…”

  Josh pulled Amanda down to the floor as he reclined, arranging her on top of him.

  “Josh! What are you doing.”

  “I want you to make love to me again.”

  “Oh.” She relaxed.

  “And I want you to quit talking about other men. I don’t like it.”

  “I am doing the calendar.” She levered herself up, digging her pointy elbows into his chest to scowl at him, just in case he didn’t hear the seriousness in her tone. “I’m good at it and I enjoy doing my share to help.”

  Josh slanted her a look. “You aren’t doing it for retribution? This isn’t your idea of donning a hair shirt?”

  “I’ll always feel horrible over what happened that night, Josh. There’s no way that’ll ever change.”

  “I’ll always love you,” Josh whispered. “There’s no way that will ever change.”

  Amanda smiled, bent and kissed him sweetly. “No,” she said, “I’m not mentally flogging myself. Not anymore.
I just want to help a worthy cause. I’ve seen now how much the money helps.”

  “Okay. I’ll help too—just not by posing ever again.” Josh caressed her behind. “Can we live here?”

  Amanda had just started to stretch out over him again, but drew herself back up. “What?”

  “After we’re married,” he explained. “I’m thinking we could do a large addition, something that would work well with the existing structure and the grounds. We’ll need room for babies and all my stuff, a bigger kitchen and another bathroom.”

  Amanda laid down on him and hugged him tight. “Yes, I’d love that. Living here with you would be perfect.”

  He held her hips against his growing erection. “You wanna have a baby right away?”

  She laughed, leaned up to look at him, then laughed some more. Her body shook atop his and Josh had to smile. Her laughter was such a turn-on, he started inching up the hem of her robe to get to her luscious behind.

  “My parents won’t believe this.”

  “Hmmm?”

  “That after everything, I’ve fallen crazy nuts in love…with a firefighter.”

  Epilogue

  “MICK, YOU HAVE TO move your hand so I know which guy to vote for.”

  “I’ll cast the vote for you. Hand me your card.”

  Amanda laughed as she watched Mick and Zack doing their best to keep their wives from viewing the strutting men on stage. They’d paid big money in the name of charity to get front row tables for the event, but now they were turning into prudes. Amanda had every faith that Del and Wynn could hold their own.

  Josh was backstage with the men, directing them on when to showcase their assets, while constantly heckling and provoking the young men. He enjoyed his role as assistant and supervisor much more than being a model.

  Amanda couldn’t imagine being happier. She was now the president of the Firefighter’s Calendar yearly production, and as he’d promised, Josh freely gave his help. He was, as she’d accepted from the first, a most remarkable man. And he was all hers.

  They’d married two months ago. Their wedding was a huge elaborate celebration and Wynn and Del had teased her mercilessly about her fancy lace and pearl dress, her long train, her veil. But when they’d appeared in their own lacy, feminine gowns, as part of the procession, Mick and Zack had nearly fallen over. Their eyes had glazed and their shoulders tensed and Josh laughed out loud at them.

  Amanda learned that the men didn’t see their wives dressed up very often, and apparently, seeing them thus was a huge turn-on. She’d heard Wynn whisper to Del that dressing up more often might not be such a bad idea. They’d both turned to Amanda, and said she’d have to give them some tips. Amanda really liked them both and valued their friendship.

  Her parents had attended the wedding, along with her sister, and of course, they all loved Josh. He charmed them easily, all the while holding Amanda close.

  To Amanda’s surprise her father had gotten teary eyed when he hugged her. They’d had regular, friendlier contact since.

  Josh stepped up behind Amanda and put his large hot hands on her belly. “You feeling okay?”

  She leaned her head back on his shoulder. “I feel fabulous.”

  “No sickness?”

  Amanda laughed. “Josh, I just found out I’m pregnant two days ago!”

  He kissed her temple. “I’m going to take such good care of you.”

  “Mmmm.”

  “Mick tells me pregnant ladies are always horny.”

  Amanda sputtered a laugh. Del was in the family way too, but then, Amanda doubted that had anything to do with her heightened sexuality. As far as she’d been able to tell, both Wynn and Del were always willing to indulge in a little physical love-play with their husbands.

  Now that she’d been with Josh, Amanda totally understood that sentiment. All he had to do was look at her and her knees went weak. She felt weak now, and they were in the middle of a special program!

  With that thought, Amanda gave her attention back to the stage.

  “If I’d have put you up there,” Amanda said, eyeing the young firefighter now flexing his muscles and grinning at the feminine catcalls, “we’d have made a fortune.”

  “You’ll make a fortune anyway and you know it. Besides, my wife is territorial. She hates having me ogled by other women, and I love her too much to upset her.”

  Amanda turned into his arms and hugged him fiercely. The past, for her, was just that. In the past. All the hurt, all the guilt, were now faded memories, buried beneath the incredible love she shared with an incredible man.

  He was a hero. He was her hero. And working together on the calendar benefit, they’d make a big difference to a lot of people. She couldn’t ask for anything more.

  TRAPPED!

  Lori Foster

  www.millsandboon.com.au

  New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster turns up the heat with these two timeless tales

  Firefighter Ethan Winters may be his hometown's new hero, but he's played a starring role in Rosie Carrington's fantasies for years. And Rosie has had just about enough of waiting patiently for Ethan to get over the past and see what's right under his nose. She'll do whatever it takes to fan the flames between them…but will Ethan prove too hot to handle?

  Previously published.

  Dear Reader,

  I’m thrilled that Harlequin HQN is reissuing these two stories.

  The friends-to-lovers story Trapped! was so much fun to write that even now, years later, I still smile when thinking about it. Ethan has such a hard time coming to grips with his feelings, but Rosie is relentless, and I loved her for it. She deserved everything she wanted, especially since she wanted Ethan most of all.

  Riley features one of my most beloved animals, Brock. My little five-pound Chihuahua has since passed away, and I still miss him—his little kisses, the wonderful way he smelled (not at all like a dog!) and even the cute sounds he made that were so incredibly expressive. Like all our animals, Brock (aka Butch in the book) was a true member of our family. I’m so glad that he’ll be remembered in a fun story.

  I hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as I enjoyed writing them.

  And while you’re at it, be sure to read the excerpt from my newest book, Bare It All, coming soon. Check my website for more info, www.LoriFoster.com.

  All my best,

  Praise for New York Times bestselling author

  Lori Foster

  “A sexy, believable roller coaster of action and romance.”

  —Kirkus Reviews on Run the Risk

  “Bestseller Foster…has an amazing ability to capture a man’s emotions and lust with sizzling sex scenes and meld it with a strong woman’s point of view.”

  —Publishers Weekly on A Perfect Storm

  “Foster rounds out her searing trilogy with a story that tilts toward the sizzling and sexy side of the genre.”

  —RT Book Reviews on Savor the Danger

  “The fast-paced thriller keeps these well-developed characters moving.… Foster’s series will continue to garner fans with this exciting installment.”

  —Publishers Weekly on Trace of Fever

  “Steamy, edgy and taut.”

  —Library Journal on When You Dare

  “Intense, edgy and hot. Lori Foster delivers everything you’re looking for in a romance.”

  —New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz on Hard to Handle

  “Lori Foster delivers the goods.”

  —Publishers Weekly

  “Tension, temptation, hot action and hotter romance—Lori Foster has it all! Hard to Handle is a knockout!”

  —New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Lowell

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  C
hapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Epilogue

  CHAPTER ONE

  ETHAN WINTERS jerked awake with a start. His heart slammed into his ribs, his head ached, his eyeballs felt gritty and his mouth tasted like sawdust. Still, despite all that, he realized several things at once.

  Most noteworthy was the woman in his bed. Yep, that very shapely slim leg draped over his belly was definitely of the feminine variety, not to mention the small, delicate hand resting over his heart. Ethan looked at that hand, but with his eyes so fried, it didn’t look like any particular woman’s hand. Just a hand. A female hand.

  Yeah, okay, so he was in bed with a woman. No big deal. He’d figure that one out soon enough. Since he wore no shoes and no shirt, only slacks that were unsnapped and unzipped—he knew that because he could feel her warm thigh on his skin—it stood to reason that the female was only half-dressed, too. That could mean several things, but likely only meant one thing.

  So what? He was thirty years old, single, free to do as he damn well pleased, never mind that he didn’t remember what the hell had pleased him.

  With the sun so bright through the window, he realized it had to be midmorning. A quick glance at the clock showed it to be eight-forty. What time had he gotten into bed?

  The incessant pounding on his front door, now getting louder, had probably awakened him, not the soft woman clinging to him.

  Groaning with the effort, Ethan raised his head off the pillow to look at her. All he could see was a luxurious tangle of silvery-brown hair. She had her nose stuck close to his side, practically in his armpit, and she wore his uniform dress shirt—a shirt that didn’t quite cover the satiny peach panties stretched over a very fine ass.

  He didn’t remember giving her his shirt and he sure as hell didn’t remember either of them undressing. He reached for her hair, ready to brush aside the heavy mass so he could at least figure out her identity, when the pounding on his front door started again.

  The woman stirred, then stretched awake, arching her body into his, raising her hands high above her head. Ethan stirred, too, despite being horribly hungover and in pain. Whoever was at the door could just damn well wait. He smiled down at the woman, anxious to see her, to have the mystery solved.