Look who she attracted!
One glance at the hot firefighter who responds to a misguided 911 call and Penelope Denning knows sheâs out of her depth. Leo Montesano is a charmer with an exciting career. Sheâs an accountant focused on getting her son through his teenage years. Yet Leo is definitely pursuing her. How can she possibly resist?
As the attraction between them ignites, Penelope discovers a wild side she never knew. The passion makes her think about a future beyond this affairâ¦until her real life interrupts. And when sheâs convinced she must choose her son over romance, Leo does something she never expects!
âIâd like to ask you out.â
Penelopeâs throat dried. She couldnât feel her fingers and had to lock her knees to remain upright. Date? Leo? Absurd. They were too different.
And she was afraid she wasnât nearly enough.
She leaned her hip heavily against the desk. âI donât thinkââ
âOr we could start slow. Have lunch. Or even just coffee.â His voice dropped to a husky, sexy tone that could strip a woman of her inhibitions. And her good sense. âIt doesnât matter to me. Just a few hours. Iâd like to get to know you better.â
âWhy?â
The word hung in the air, bald and loud and yes, desperate-sounding. Too bad. She wouldnât take it back even if she could. She was too curious to hear his answer.
âBecause I find you interesting.â Leo stepped forward, his body and her own pride trapping her between him and her desk. âBecause Iâm attracted to you.â
A thrill raced through her before she could stop it. He was attracted to her? Thatâ¦that was impossible. Implausible. Incredible.
And terrifying.
Dear Reader,
Itâs been seven years since I sold my first book to Mills & Boon Superromance. Seven years isnât all that long, but oh, how things can change. Then, I was waiting for my first book to hit the shelves, my youngest daughter was in grade school, my older daughter had just entered the teen years and my son was learning how to drive. Now, my fifteenth book is out, my baby is a high school senior, her sister is a college sophomore and my son a college graduate.
Heâs also a married man. Which makes me old enough to be a mother-in-law! How that happened, Iâm not sure, but I feel incredibly blessed to have such a sweet and beautiful daughter-in-law.
So much has changed. Yet there are many constants, too. Family who give love and support. Dear friends who bring joy and laughter, and the familiar faces of the people in my hometown. Maybe thatâs why I love writing the In Shady Grove series so much. Not only do I get to revisit previous characters, but I can also share some of my favorite things about small-town life.
In Charming the Firefighter, Penelope Denning moves to Shady Grove hoping to find a safe environment to raise her teenage son. When she meets firefighter Leo Montesano, she finds much more. Love, of course, but also a place where she truly belongs.
I hope you enjoy Penelope and Leoâs story and that youâll look for the next book in the series, out next year. Please visit my website, bethandrews.net or drop me a line at [email protected]. Iâd love to hear from you.
Happy reading!
Beth Andrews
When Romance Writers of America RITA® Award-winning author BETH ANDREWS was a young wife, she started a gas grill with the lid down. The small explosion left her with singed hair and a lifelong respect for propane. While no handsome firefighters came to her rescue that day, she will never forget that particular incident. Mainly because her husband reminds her of it every summer. Learn more about Beth and her books by visiting her website, bethandrews.net.
For Hannah Grace.
Welcome to the family!
CHAPTER ONE
PENELOPE DENNING GLANCED behind her, left, then right, then left again. Still alone. She was safe.
Shaking her hips to the Frayâs latest song, which streamed from her laptop, she danced from the pantry to the center island and set down the bottle of olive oil. She wiggled her shoulders and moved side to side to the beat, the tile floor cool under her bare feet. At the catchy chorus, she sang along under her breath.
And Andrew said she couldnât sing. She may not be in Beyoncéâs league, but Penelope could hold her own against the likes of a few of those American Idol finalists. She was definitely good enough for the church choir, no matter what her son said. It wasnât as if sheâd have to stand in front of the entire congregation under a spotlight, performing solo and, no doubt, sweating and nauseous. Sheâd be a part of the group.
She sang louder. Sheâd finally be a part of something. Would have a place where she belonged. Maybe she should audition for the choir.