Internal Memo: Courage Bay City Council
From: Mayor Patrick OâShea Re: Increased Funding to Emergency Services
The recent aftershock that struck Courage Bay has brought home to me once again the urgency in gaining councilâs approval for increased spending for the cityâs emergency services.
As you know, I spent many years as a firefighter for the city, but never before has the need for extra funding been illustrated so clearly to me as the night of the aftershock. My administrative assistant, Briana Bliss, and I spent almost ten hours in a disabled elevator waiting for rescue. We requested that we be placed on low priority because we knew we were in no immediate danger. However, as you know, not all citizens of Courage Bay were as fortunate that night.
It is my belief that extra funding to our emergency services would result in quicker response times and a decrease in casualties. This past year has been a tough one for our city. Weâve had storms, forest fires, earthquakes and mudslides.
The police, fire and medical services have all been pressuring the city for larger budgets. It is hard for me to understand how anyone who loves this city as much as I do could think twice about increasing the funding. If we delay any longer, more lives will be lost. Now is the time to act.
Dear Reader,
This is my first ever continuity, and I have to say itâs been a wonderful experience. As an author, I found it a real challenge to write about characters I hadnât created and a plot that wasnât my invention, but the minute I âmetâ Patrick and Briana, I knew we were going to have some fun together.
The other thrill about writing for the Code Red continuity was having a chance to work with authors I love, whether they normally write for the Intrigue, Superromance or Blaze line. It was a fun, supportive group. I hope you enjoy your time in Courage Bay as much as I enjoyed mine.
Hearing from readers is one of the best parts of my job. If youâd like to drop me a line, come visit me on the Web at www.nancywarren.net.
Happy reading,
Nancy
PATRICK OâSHEA wanted the one thing he couldnât have.
The knowledge burned inside him from nine in the morning until five in the afternoon every weekdayâwhich were the hours his admin assistant, Briana Bliss, worked, plus a whole load of overtime.
It was Briana he wanted. Even admitting to himself how badly he lusted after her was dangerous. She was out of bounds. Verboten. Untouchable.
Yes, untouchable. And he wanted to touch her so badly that their constant proximity was torture.
The last time heâd wanted a woman this badly heâd married her. Patrick glanced at the picture on his desk, at the smiling face of the woman heâd loved faithfully for more than a decade, including the three years sheâd been gone.
âAre you laughing, Janie?â he asked softly, tightening his tie and slipping on his suit jacket. At first when heâd started talking to the framed photo, heâd thought grief might be making him insane, but now he realized it was his way of staying in touch with his memories. Janieâs laugh had been light and quick, and he imagined sheâd laugh now if she could see him.
Here he was, finally registering signs of vitality in that part of his anatomy heâd thought had died with his wife, and the woman whoâd brought them rushing back was the one woman he couldnât have. Not without going against his principles and destroying his career, his credibility and his reputation.
âHoney, you never should have left,â he told Janie, knowing that heâd never have thought about Briana sexually if he were married. Janie knew it, too.
Sheâd been a warm and generous woman who would never want her children to remain motherless for longâor her husband a widower.
âMaybe this is a sign Iâm ready to look around? Maybe lots of women would get to me this way?â
Janie didnât reply, merely stared back, forever young, forever smiling.
A soft knock sounded, and the oak door of his office opened. He didnât have to turn to know who had entered. Every male atom in his bodyâand they were all maleâquivered to attention.
He turned and, even though heâd known it was Briana, was still slammed by the force of attraction. God, she was beautiful. Blond and green-eyed, she had a generous mouth and a determined chin. Her blouse wasnât tight or revealing, yet her spectacular curves made it seem both. Her skirt was straight and hung to below her knees, but he had enough imagination to sketch in what couldnât be seen.