Fix You - Coldplay
I Don’t Even Know Your Name - Shawn Mendes
Bite My Tongue - Relient K
Don’t Let Me Get Me (Radio Edit) - Pink
Sample Chapter from Rescue My Heart
by Christine Kersey
Chapter One
“Well, isn’t this just perfect?” Lacey Porter murmured as her car sputtered before the engine shut down. Coasting onto the shoulder of the road, she glanced at the gas gauge where the needle had settled below the E.
I guess that’s what happens when I get so focused on drawing.
Frowning, she shifted into Park, turned on the hazard lights, then pulled the key out of the ignition.
Now I might be late for work. Not good.
The thought of turning up late when she was such a new employee stressed her out. Trying to calm herself, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes, drawing in a deep breath and slowly exhaling as she thought about what was going right in her life.
At least I have a job, even if being a waitress isn’t my lifelong ambition. My bestie Amber is letting me room with her. And I’m loving it here in Park City. Even though moving here was hard, I know it was the right decision.
She thought about the life she’d left behind, and a tentative smile curved her mouth.
Most importantly, no one’s telling me what to do and how to live my life. My life belongs to me.
Then an image of Eric—her ex-boyfriend, the man to whom she’d given the last two years of her life—crashed into her mind, and she heard him saying that she needed to get her head out of the clouds, to pay attention to things and to stop wasting her time drawing.
Eyes flying open, she sat up straight. Shoving her long light brown hair behind her ears, Lacey tried not to grit her teeth as she recalled that last ugly confrontation with Eric. The one where she’d told him she was done with him, done with the way he always ran her down, and done with his controlling ways.
Shaking her head to dislodge the memory, she focused on her surroundings. It was mid-day in early June, and as she sat on the shoulder of the road, cars whizzed by every thirty seconds or so. To her right, thick bunches of dark green pine trees filled her view, while clusters of wildflowers in riots of color caught her eye. The scene reminded her that every year nature refreshed itself, which filled her with hope that she could make a fresh start too.
The image made her want to pull out her sketchpad and begin a fresh drawing. Reaching toward the passenger seat where she’d set her sketchpad, she paused before picking it up.
I don’t have time to draw right now. Especially with my car out of gas. I have to get that taken care of and get myself to work. She frowned. I can’t be late again.
Caty, her boss at Caty’s Cuisine, had been understanding the last time Lacey had been late, but she didn’t want to push her luck. Not with how desperately she needed this job. Not with being such a new employee.
Sighing, she took her cell phone out of her purse, but then she simply stared at it.
Amber’s at work for a few more hours so she can’t come get me, and I’m so new to Park City that I don’t know who else I can call.
A moment later she heard a tap, tap, tap on her window. Startled, she whipped her head to the left and saw the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen standing there. Perfectly shaped lips, strong jaw, and clear green eyes that reminded her of new shoots of grass. Not to mention the way his t-shirt emphasized his fit body and muscular biceps.
He motioned for her to roll her window down, and she lowered it a few inches.
“Do you need help?” he asked as he bent toward her window.
Feeling slightly stupid, she said, “I, uh, I ran out of gas.”
He smiled, displaying perfectly straight white teeth, and she was momentarily dazzled by his beauty. “I can give you a lift to a gas station,” he said. “If that would help.”
Yeah. It definitely would. But I don’t know you.
Staring at him a moment, she debated about what to do as she twisted her favorite ring—her late grandmother’s wedding ring—on her finger.
I don’t know who else I can call and I need to get this taken care of and get to work. I don’t have a lot of options. Or a lot of money.
Tossing him a quick smile, she said, “Yeah. That would be great.” Then she opened her door and got out of her car.
The man took a step back, giving her room, then he gestured to the area in front of her car where they’d be out of traffic. Lacey walked to where he pointed.
The man followed her and stopped a few feet away from her. “I have a gas can. I’ll run you up to the gas station and back.”
Trying not to get distracted by his amazing eyes and general hotness, Lacey said, “Are you sure that’s not too much trouble?”
Don’t discourage him. What will you do if he walks away? Who will you call then?
“No. It’s no trouble. I’m glad to help.” He paused a beat. “I’m Jake, by the way.”
Lacey studied his face. “I’m Lacey.”
Is this really a good idea? Getting a ride from a stranger?
Not sure at all, she didn’t know what else to do.
* * *
The caution in Lacey’s eyes was unmistakable, but that didn’t bother Jake. In fact, he fully approved when a woman was skeptical about a man. He had two younger sisters and he hoped they were just as careful about the men in their lives.
And I hope they won’t ever take a ride from a stranger.
The irony wasn’t lost on him and one side of his mouth tugged upward. Then it occurred to him that Lacey had no idea he was a good guy. That maybe she didn’t want to go anywhere with him but felt that she didn’t have any other option. “Or I could get the gas for you,” he said. “And bring it back?”
Relief lit her eyes and Jake knew that was the right suggestion.
“I don’t want to inconvenience you,” she said as she used one hand to push her hair behind her ear—hair that Jake had an inexplicable desire to run his fingers through.
“I don’t mind,” he said. And he didn’t. He was between shifts at the firehouse, and though he was on his way to buy materials for his home remodeling project, his helpful streak made this opportunity irresistible. Especially when such a beautiful woman was involved. And though he was fine with running the errand for her, he would have preferred that she go with him so he could talk to her.
A smile of obvious relief turned up the corners of her mouth, which emphasized the soft curves of her face and backlit her blue eyes—eyes which had a depth to them that fascinated him.
Yeah, I’d definitely like to get to know you.
“I really appreciate it,” she said. “I’ll just…” She gestured toward her car. “I’ll just wait in my car.” Then she walked past him, and after throwing a smile in his direction, she climbed into her car and closed the door.
I guess that’s my cue to leave.
Feeling dismissed, but with no reason to stick around, Jake nodded, then as he walked past her slightly open window, he said, “Back in a bit.”
Moments later he was in his truck and pulling onto the road.
All the way to the gas station he thought about Lacey—beautiful, petite, quiet.
Maybe I should ask her out. Why not? I’m not dating anyone right now. He held back a frown. Not now that Robyn’s gone.
Pushing aside thoughts of the last woman he’d dated, he pictured Lacey, and again, the depths of her eyes haunted him.
Just a simple date, a chance to get to know her.
He wasn’t looking for a romantic entanglement. Not with his crazy schedule—two days on at the station, then four days off. And not with all of the other things he had going on—remodeling his house and working part-time as a realtor between shifts. Not to mention helping Boston train for his boxing match.
It would just be for fun. Why not?
His smile grew as he decided he would do just that. And he was confident she would agree.
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Find Christine Kersey’s book on Amazon
Sample Chapter from Rescue Me
by Taylor Hart
Chapter 1
Damon Freestone stared down at the five-mile trail run he’d just done. It had been fun. As fun as Damon could deal with at the moment. Truthfully, he hadn’t even felt it. All he’d known when he’d gotten off his first full forty-eight-hour shift at Park City Fire Department was that he needed to do something to get his mind off everything.
Sucking in air, he pulled the water bottle off his hip and took a long drink. Honestly, it hadn’t been that bad of a shift, considering it was his first one since he had come back from Boston. And he had been demoted to a truckie.
His mind flashed to his first day as captain six months ago in Boston, to the burning building. At this point, he usually clamped down on the memory and refocused his thoughts. At least, that was what he’d been taught to do by the stupid shrink he’d been forced to see for weeks on end after it had all happened. The one who told him none of it was his fault. After all, he’d followed protocol. Squeezing the bottle between his fingers, he crushed it and then tucked it back into the water holster at his hip. Forget the shrink.
His mind opened to that day—his first call as the captain at Boston Fire. He’d done everything right. They had vented the building first and then sent in the truck crew to make entry and start search and rescue.
They’d pulled out twenty bodies.
The fire was moving fast. He could hear his men clearing the rooms. He could see it in his mind as easily as if he’d been in there himself. They were good men, trained properly. His mind was clear as he barked out orders. Everything was going down perfectly.
Until he heard Trev call out. “Chief, she’s hurt!”
At that point, it was like lightning struck his heart, and he instantly knew who Trev was talking about.
Jamie. The candidate. The new girl who had only shown up a week ago.
Without thinking, his feet went into motion.
“What the—!” He called, running to the truck and donning his air mask. He’d already had turnouts and SCBA on before they even arrived.
Corey was by his side as he moved toward the building. “Cap, you can’t go in there. You have command. We need your eyes out here. There are still ten guys in there.”
But come hell or high water, Damon was going in there. Time lost all meaning. He barged through the burning doors, sucking air from his tank and trying to see her, trying to feel her. He keyed his radio. “Trev, where is she?”
“I … part of the wall has fallen up here, I can’t get her out.”
Climbing the stairs quickly, he rushed straight to where he’d sent Trevor. The smoke was awful, and he could barely see through it. The hungry flames snapped at him as he made his way to Trev who was trying to figure out how to get her free. Springing into action, he rushed to the beam that had fallen, using all his force to push it off, but it wouldn’t budge.
On the radio, he heard the battalion chief. “Freestone, what are you doing? Get your butt out here.”
He ignored it, struggling to find a way to free Jamie.
The battalion chief ordered everyone to abandon the building then started calling out his crew one by one, telling them to get out. Air horns blared long blasts of four tones, the symbol to evacuate. The fire had burned long enough that either this thing would flashover soon or the whole building might come down.
Even though Damon could feel the blow was coming, he couldn’t leave yet. He scrambled to get another board and make a lever to push the beam.
Trev stayed by his side without asking and helped him push the lever.
“Freestone! Clark!” The battalion chief barked, calling the two of them.
Damon pointed at Trev. “Get out!”
Trev shook his head. “I’m staying with you, Cap.”
The battalion chief’s voice pierced the radio. “Then you are both fools that are going to lose your jobs.”
They pushed and levered the wood until Jamie’s leg came loose. Damon picked her up and carried her out of the apartment, down the stairs and into the pandemonium outside.
The building had the decency to not flash until both he and Trev were out. Flames tumbled over their heads and the pressure forced Damon down to his knees. He climbed to his feet and ran toward the medics.
As he laid her body on the stretcher, ambo crews and firefighters swarmed them, helping them take off their equipment. Damon sucked in the cool Boston night air.
The battalion chief walked over with anger in his eyes and stared at him. “Freestone, you made the wrong call.”
All Damon was concerned with at the moment was making sure Jamie was okay. He saw them intubating her.
“Is she breathing?” he asked Craig, the main paramedic.
When Craig didn’t answer, he began investigating the equipment they were using, and then the other medic pulled out an AED and shocked her chest.
“Breathe.” He commanded her, getting on his knees and feeling emotion bubble up in his throat. Emotion he never let out anywhere besides a punch to the face of his sparring partner at the gym in the morning.
His battalion chief was next to him, his hand on his shoulder, as Damon watched the crew frantically try to get a pulse, get all the smoke out of her so she could breathe.
Shedding his turnouts, he hopped into the ambo with them. The medics worked efficiently, doing everything they could, but in the short ride to the hospital, he watched her unresponsive lips go blue. He watched her die.
When they pulled the stretcher out and ran her into the hospital, he ran with them down the hall, listening to the paramedics give their report to the doctors.
Can’t find a pulse, too much smoke in her lungs, gave her albuterol, cortisone, a plethora of other drugs.
His mind couldn’t decipher all of it. In truth, it was the first time he didn’t feel absolutely involved in the scene, but more like a bystander watching it all unfold.
As he watched them cover her with a sheet, he knew it was his fault. She’d died because he’d sent her in too soon.
He wished it had been him instead.
Find Taylor Hart’s book on Amazon
Sample Chapter from Rescued by Love
by Cami Checketts
Chapter One
Sage pulled up to Park City Clothing Company on Main Street, glancing around desperately for a parking spot. Downtown was too stinking busy. Ski season was over, but the mountain biking and hiking had begun. There was a red zone not too far from the store. She shouldn’t, but it was park illegally, drive around until something opened up, or drive to the parking lot and run to the store. She didn’t mind running, but she was in a hurry to get back and help her mom. She’d be two seconds and then she’d be back out.
Jamming her Jeep into gear, she leaned back for a second and breathed in the fresh Park City air. Yes for it being warm enough to have the soft top off. Her parents thought she was nuts driving a Wrangler around a mountain valley that was frozen a good portion of the time, but she loved it. It was still cool this time of year, high of seventy, perfect weather to have your top off. She could wear a coat and gloves while she drove to be able to taste the crisp air.
Jumping down, she patted her Jeep fondly. She’d restored it with her brother and now that he was deployed, the Jeep was the remembrance of him she needed when the days without him got lonely.
She sprinted into the store. Her mom had begged her to run in and get her Wolford tights for her dinner party tonight. Sage rolled her eyes at another request when her mom had twenty pairs of Wolford’s in her lingerie drawer, but with her dad’s fibromyalgia getting worse every day, Sage wanted to help them however she could.
She found the tights within seconds, groaning at the long line snaking toward the cash register. Pasting on her smile, she hoped some random cop didn’t drive by and see her parked in the red. Most of the cops in town knew her Jeep and had given her a ticket at one time
or another.
An older lady with blue-tinged white hair turned around and grinned at her. “You want to go in front of my, sweetheart?”
“Oh, no, I’m fine.” Had her worry been that evident? “I just parked in the red zone.”
The lady laughed and her eyes twinkled. “As long as those hunky firemen don’t come by, you’ll be fine.” “I’m more worried about a policeman than a fireman.” The lady waved her hand. “Beautiful girl like you could talk them out of any ticket.” Sage grinned at her. “I wish. I talk myself blue, but they always give me a ticket.” Her brother, Levi, on the other hand got out of every ticket. He never groveled like she did, simply greeted the policeman with his friendly grin and said, “Do your worst. I probably deserve it.” Everybody loved her brother and she felt well-loved too, but for some reason police seemed to have a radar where she was concerned. Maybe it was because she loved her Jeep so much and loved to drive fast with the top off. She’d gotten a reputation with the local law enforcement during high school and it wasn’t much better after she’d graduated from the U and moved back to Park City to teach fourth grade at Parley’s Park grade school. She reminded herself constantly to be a good example to her students, but sometimes a girl just needed to cruise fast.
Sirens cut through the air. Sage jumped and the lady’s eyes widened. “Firefighters,” she whispered.
Sage calmed her breathing. They weren’t coming for her. Firefighters lived to help not cuss a Jeep owner for parking illegally.
A distinctive smell of smoke wafted through the store.
“We’d better get a move on, sweetheart,” the lady said.
Sage hooked her arm through the older lady’s, having to stoop considerably as she was five-eleven and nine-tenths, and the lady probably didn’t clear five feet. She hurried with her to the exit, now blocked with all the people who’d been in line or were browsing the store.
“The fire is in the restaurant next door,” a loud voice boomed. “Exit in an orderly fashion and please move to the south down the sidewalk.”
Two Hearts Rescue: Park City Firefighter Romance Page 17