Emerging Temptation: A BWWM Romance Limited Edition Collection

by Peyton Banks

  “Gabrielle.”

  The tiny hairs stood on my neck. I glanced over my shoulder, still walking. “Daniel?”

  I halted. “Hey, how are you?”

  He danced around with his hands deep in his jacket pockets. “I’m well. I saw you walking past. I live up this street a couple doors down.”

  “Oh, cool. I should have known all the firefighters would live nearby the station,” I laughed.

  “Would you like to come in and warm up?”

  “No thanks. I’m almost home. Good to see you. Bye.” I continued on my way.

  He kind of creeped me out. I wasn’t sure why.

  “Gabrielle.”

  I sighed and before I could turn around, he wrapped his arm around my body. “Wrong answer.” Daniel pressed a white cloth against my nose and mouth. That was the last thing I remembered.

  13

  Chandler

  My poor choices caught up with me. I shouldn’t have hidden who I was from Gabrielle. Now we were both miserable without each other. I’d do whatever needed to be done to get my woman back.

  “Hey, buddy, how’s domestic life?” Taviani chuckled.

  I hung my jacket on the hook in my locker then plopped on the cedar bench. “She broke up with me.”

  His eyes widened as he sat at my side.

  “What happened?”

  “Short story. My family owns Cassidy Energy. We aren’t known in the south. Just on the west coast.”

  “Dude, why are you a firefighter?”

  “My mother died in a fire when I was a kid. I walked away from my family and dedicated my life to rescuing others.”

  “That’s selfless of you.”

  “Gabrielle doesn’t see it that way. That’s all right. I will do all I can to get her back.”

  “I believe in you, man.” His heavy hand landed on my shoulder. “Oh, hey I forgot to tell you. I found another similarity in those condo fires.”

  My brow rose. “What was it?”

  “Kerosene.”

  I hopped up. “That’s great. Let’s inform the Chief.”

  Taviani and I spent most of the day investigating the condo fires.

  Around six in the evening, I received a text from Gabrielle. My face lit up.

  “Taviani, I need to drive by my house when we’re done here.”

  He snapped several photos. “Yeah, sure.” His New York accent was so pronounced.

  Ten minutes later, my cell rang.

  “Firefighter Cassady speaking.”

  “Chandler?”

  “Yes, this is him.”

  “Oh, thank God. I didn’t have your number, so I called the firehouse.”

  My heart plummeted. “It’s no problem. What’s wrong?”

  “Gabrielle never made it here. If she wasn’t coming, she would have called.”

  “She sent me a text. Gabrielle said she was sleeping at home.”

  “Chandler, I understand. And I know my sister. She would have called me by now. She knew I’d start calling if I didn’t hear from her.”

  I ran my hand over my brow. “I’ll stop by my house then give you a call back.”

  She sighed. “Thank you.”

  “No, problem. Talk to you soon.”

  I shoved my cell in my pocket. “Taviani, we need to swing by my house now. Gabrielle’s sister’s worried.”

  “Ok. I think I found something else.” He kneeled beside the charred wall.

  I peeked over his shoulder. “What did you find?”

  “Our possible missing thermal camera.”

  “We don’t know for sure. We’ll call Cap and ask him to question the last person who signed it out.”

  “Sounds good.”

  I unlocked my front door and stalked inside. “Gabrielle,” I called out.

  There was normally something in the sink by this time of day. A plate or a cup. I didn’t see her purse either. There was no sign of her. “Baby, where are you?” I said aloud.

  I placed my cell to my ear, firmly gripping the brim of my cap.

  “You’ve reached Gabrielle of Gabby Cakes. Please leave a message.”

  I stormed out of the house. “Gabrielle, call me back as soon as you get this. Erica and I are worried about you.”

  I disconnected and hopped in the truck.

  Tapping the steering wheel, I held my cell to my ear again.

  “Hello, Erica.”

  “Chandler, did you find, Gabby?”

  “No, she wasn’t at home. I’ll keep looking.”

  “Oh my God, I hope you find her.” Concern laced her voice.

  “I will talk to you soon.”

  I gruffly rubbed my chin as I glanced at Taviani. “Gabrielle might’ve gone to the bakery.” I drove up the street, halting at the main intersection.

  Taviani’s phone rang. He hit the speaker button. “Cap, go ahead.”

  “Yeah, the last person who signed the thermal camera out and back in was Murphy.”

  “Is it in the supply closet?” I asked.

  “No.”

  “Could he be connected to the fires?” Taviani asked.

  “We’d have to investigate him. He’s off today.”

  “Wait.” I glanced at the sky. “I see smoke.”

  “Hold on,” Cap said. “There’s a call coming in. Fire at five-hundred-eighty Peachtree Street.”

  “That’s my condo building.”

  “We’ll meet you guys at the scene.”

  The line went dead.

  I pulled truck two into the parking lot. Taviani and I jumped out and climbed into our turnout gear. We always carried our gear when we investigated a fire. Never knew what could happen. Like now.

  “Cassady, the smoke’s coming from the top floor.”

  Gabrielle was on my mind. I hoped she was at her shop.

  “Taviani, I’ll go up. You stay close to the truck.”

  “Yeah, on it.”

  Mask in place, I trudged up ten flights of stairs. I swung open the door and smoke escaped. Fire rolled across the ceiling to my left.

  “Taviani, let rescue one know we need a hose on the tenth floor.”

  “Copy that.”

  “Fire department evacuate the building.”

  “Help, please help!” A woman screamed to my right. I barreled down the hallway.

  I slammed my axe into the door, until the lock busted. I kicked the door in.

  “Fire department call out!”

  “He’s going to kill me,” I heard in the distance.

  “Gabrielle,” I murmured.

  There wasn’t any sign of fire at this end of the hall. I peeked around the corner. Gabrielle was tied to a chair in the middle of an empty living room.

  “Taviani, we have a hostage situation. Go to channel two and dispatch the police.”

  “Ok. But Cassady, you have to get out of there.”

  “I can’t. It’s Gabrielle.”

  Walking along the wall, I peeked into the room.

  “Fire department call out!”

  “Cassady, just the man I was waiting for. I wondered if I left enough bread crumbs.” He stepped into view wearing his firefighter turnout gear. Smart, who would question a firefighter roaming the premises when a building is on fire.

  “Let Gabrielle go. This has nothing to do with her.”

  “That’s where you’re wrong. It’s all about her. We went to high school together.”

  “I don’t remember you, Daniel.”

  “What about the name Roger? I asked you to prom, and you turned me down.”

  “That was years ago. We were kids. I wanted to go to the prom with someone else and you became upset. That’s all I remember.”

  He ran his hand tightly over his pale face. “That’s because I was the pudgy guy with glasses.”

  “I had a crush on you since ninth grade. It took years to save money for the plastic surgery and gastric bypass. The moment I was ready to reintroduce myself to Gabrielle, who does she notice? Firefighter Cassady. No one had
a chance with you in her sights. Those poor idiots at her job definitely never had a chance. I thought transferring to rescue station one would help you notice me. And forget about Cassady.” His eyes darted back to me. "Nope, Mr. Starry eyes here moved in on my woman.”

  I stalked toward him. “This shit is over.” I shoved him back.

  “I need to get her out of here. She’s carrying my child.”

  His eyes widened. He ran into me head first, knocking me to the floor. We tussled in our turnout gear. Oxygen tanks and all. I pushed him off of me and ran onto the roof deck. He stormed after me. I needed to get him away from Gabrielle.

  “Time to die, Cassady.”

  In a fighting stance we walked in circles. I slammed my foot into his chest. He lost his footing and fell near the edge.

  I grabbed him up by his jacket. “It’s over.”

  “Not on your life,” Murphy yelled.

  Smooch crawled on the ladder toward us.

  I ripped off Murphy’s hat and slammed my fist into his face. “You need help.”

  “Freeze. Hands in the air.” Straddling, Murphy I didn’t move.

  Officer Bennett approached. She placed my hands behind my head and pulled me to my feet. Murphy crawled over the edge and fell on the ladder. Smooch tried holding squirming Murphy. Bennett’s partner latched onto him and pulled him back onto the roof. He handcuffed him and read him his rights.

  “Officer Bennett, Cassady called for backup.”

  She nodded at Smooch and released me.

  “Did you see the woman in the chair?”

  “Yes, Captain Simpson carried her out.”

  “Thanks, Officer Bennett.”

  I ran down the stairs. “Cap,” I called out.

  He glanced over his shoulder. “Cassady.”

  “Captain Simpson, if you don’t mind…”

  He placed Gabrielle in my arms. “Thank you, sir.”

  My eyes marveled hers. “Baby, are you ok?”

  She nodded then removed the oxygen mask. “I love you.”

  I placed the mask back over her nose. “I love you, too.”

  Epilogue

  CHANDLER

  ONE YEAR LATER

  * * *

  The store doorbell chimed. I removed two cakes from the oven and placed them on the cooling table.

  “Chandler,” Gabrielle called.

  “Yeah, babe.”

  My forehead creased. “Grandfather? When did you get in?”

  I slipped the apron over my head and set it on the counter.

  “Thirty-minutes ago.”

  I embraced him. “It’s so good to see you.” He had a head full of gray hair. He and my dad shared the same bright gray eyes, and he was a foot shorter than me.

  “We haven’t seen you since the wedding in person, anyway. I’m convinced you talk to my wife more than me.”

  We laughed.

  Gabrielle hugged him. “It’s good to see you again, Jack. Have a seat.”

  I called one of our employees from the back of the bakery to assist the customers.

  “When will I see my great grandson?”

  “In an hour.” Gabrielle smiled.

  “What’s so important that I needed to fly to Atlanta?”

  “I wanted you to spend time with me and my family. I’ll in turn visit you more often.”

  “What?” His eyes lit up.

  “My beautiful wife told me family is important. We want Chandler junior to know his family.”

  “I am so thankful for you, my dear.”

  Her face brightened.

  ∞

  Grandfather enjoyed the trip. He spent time with his great grandson and he met my firefighter family. He understood what I had here and why I wasn’t willing to run the company full time. I consult from time to time on conference calls.

  * * *

  Gabrielle urged me to purchase a bigger house deeper in Buckhead. One with two floors. She said Chandler junior (C.J.) needed space to grow.

  Ever since the night Murphy kidnapped Gabrielle, we’ve been inseparable. We didn’t waste time tying the knot in Saint Croix. My honeymoon was my first real vacation since I’d traveled abroad.

  Gabrielle and I were meant to be. She was always the woman for me. When the bakery had been short staffed, I chipped in and baked cakes.

  We’ve had our share of ups and downs. There was absolutely no other woman I could ever see sharing my life with other than my beautiful wife Gabrielle.

  She gave me a very special gift. Our son.

  “Chandler, come to bed.”

  She slipped under my arm. I stared down at our brown haired, curly little man. He was in a deep slumber.

  “You did good, Mrs. Cassidy.”

  “We did good, Mr. Cassidy. It’s time for a little play time before he wakes in the middle of the night.”

  I flipped off the lights and closed his door.

  The mini mansion still made me nervous. The nightmares about my mom would probably never go away. But my wife was there by my side to help me through the rough times. Just for that alone, she’d always be number one in my heart.

  The second we stepped into our bedroom. I scooped her up into my arms. She looped her arms and legs around me.

  Our gazes locked, then her lips melted against mine. A tear slipped down her beautiful brown face. Gabrielle caressed my cheek. “You, firefighter Chandler Cassidy, will always be…my hero.”

  THE END

  About the Author

  Posey Parks is a USA Today bestselling author. She has published over twenty novels. She will always give an unexpected plot-twist in all of her books.

  * * *

  She's from Detroit, Michigan living in Atlanta, Georgia. Traveling is her other passion. She has visited London and Paris and would love to travel to Italy one day.

  * * *

  When not taking care of her family she is reading or writing "HOT & STEAMY" romance stories.

  * * *

  Be sure to follow Posey Parks on Facebook.

  Check out Posey Parks website.

  Absolution

  Blurb

  Julian - Saving lives is his calling, or so he thought. When doing what he loves turns into his greatest fear, the lines between black and white turn gray. A little boy who needs to be saved, and a beautiful mother he can’t stay away from, bring him back from the darkness. Life and death are a part of his daily life, but Julian must find his own road to Absolution before he loses what he never realized he needed.

  * * *

  Kori – Raising her son was her only focus. When their lives are shattered by a devastating event, she knows they need a miracle. When he enters their lives, he seems to be the answer to her prayers. Now she wants nothing more than to grab on to him and never let go. Being a good mother was all that mattered, but that was before Julian entered their lives and made her desire something more. Is she willing to open her heart to someone who hasn’t forgiven himself for his past mistakes?

  1

  Julian

  Pulling up to the accident scene, Julian took a deep breath. A child had been struck by a car while playing outside with a group of friends. He hated to hear these types of calls come across their radio. When kids were involved, emotions always ran high. The innocents were always the ones who caused the most hurt. Seeing their tiny bodies broken, or worse, made rage grow inside him. Then again, this was his life. The one he’d chosen for himself. Becoming an EMT was the right decision for him, especially as a cocky high-school graduate, and it was still the only choice he would make. Calls like this one ate him up inside. He had to put on his game face. This child needed him, and there was no time to be distracted by his own bullshit, rolling around inside his head. The ambulance rolled to a stop, and Julian quickly exited the vehicle while his partner responded to dispatch, announcing their arrival.

  “Help my son. Please. Save my baby,” the wails were coming from a brown-skinned woman hovering over the prone form of a small child.

&nb
sp; Julian felt her pain as if it were a physical thing. Needles prickled his skin as he took in the sight in front of him. Could he save this child? Was it already too late? These were the times he questioned just why in the hell he didn’t take his father’s offer to join the family business.

  “Yo, Julian. You good?” His partner, Adam, asked.

  Coming out of his trance, Julian took in the large crowd and got moving. “All right, everyone, please take a few steps back.” He heard the sirens from the local police approaching the scene. He hoped it wasn’t his brother responding to the call. Not that he didn’t want to see him, because he would always want to see his baby brother. It was just the scene he’d been pulling up to and seeing Julian there would cause his brother to worry about whether this would be too much for Julian to handle. All he needed was for Steven to call their parents and tell them what happened today. They’d be blowing up his phone for days asking if he were doing all right.

  “Please? Can you help him?” The plea was more of a whisper this time. The woman leaned down, getting on her knees next to Julian, as close as she could possibly get to the child. “Please, Morgan. Wake up for Mommy. I need you to wake up, sweetie. Please,” she continued.

  Julian didn’t know why her voice was impacting him the way it was, but the tone and vibration of her cries moved him. Don’t even think about it. Focus on the kid. Turning to his partner, he began to bark out orders. “All right. Let’s go. We need to get him to the hospital. His breathing is too shallow. Adam, grab the neck brace and flatbed, we need to be careful of a potential neck injury.” While Adam ran to the ambulance to grab the extra gear they would need, he continued monitoring the child’s vitals.

  Once Adam returned, they made quick work of getting the child situated and into the back of their vehicle. As they climbed inside, the boy’s mother followed them.