One kiss can change everything
Eva Monroe is always cool under pressure. As a firefighter, itâs part of the job. But after kissing Jake Beauchamp in a moment of confusion, sheâs struggling to keep it together. Jakeâs her best friend and coworkerâtwo very good reasons why crossing this line is a bad idea.
Yet something between them mustâve changed, because one kiss isnât nearly enoughâfor either of them. But Jake is haunted by a past tragedy and isnât the commitment type. With more than just Evaâs heart on the line, she needs to end things now before this fire burns out of control.
Eva sat up.
âIt was a dumb kiss,â she said. âI donât know why I did it. Just drop it.â
Of course she knew why sheâd kissed him. Sheâd dreamed about doing just that for three years, yearning for his body against hers, almost desperate to take one little taste of Jake.
But he didnât have to know that.
âNo,â he said, wiping his hands on a napkin.
âNo? What do you mean, no?â
âSee, thing is, that was a crappy kiss. How can I let you walk around thinking that subpar kiss was indicative of what Iâm capable of? That would be...a travesty.â He reached over and dragged her into his lap, turning her so she tipped à la Scarlett OâHara into his arms.
âJake,â she said struggling against him even as something way deep down inside her screamed, âhell, yeah.â
Dear Reader,
Iâm so happy to be back in Magnolia Bend and giving that rascal Jake Beauchamp a bit of a comeuppance with a woman so suited to him. Of course, olâ Jake never thought about how perfectly his best friend fits him. Evaâs such a strong woman, fearlessly stepping in to take care of her younger brother and determined to prove to everyone sheâs tough enough to be the MBFDâs newest captain. And Jake has to make amends with a past heâs run from for all too long, finding the courage to break out of being the man he created long ago. There is danger, excitement and passion within the pages of this story, and I think youâll like catching up with the rest of the Beauchamp gang.
So come back with me to the sweet Louisiana town where love, life and the good stuff all meet up.
I love hearing from my readers. You can stay in touch with me through liztalleybooks.com or find me on Facebook at liztalleybooks.
Happy reading!
Liz
After being a finalist for RWAâs prestigious Golden Heart Award in Regency romance, LIZ TALLEY found a home writing sassy contemporary romance. Her first book, Vegas Two-Step, starred a spinster librarian and debuted in June 2010. Since that time, Liz has published fourteen more Superromances. Her stories are set in the South where the tea is sweet, the summers are hot and the men are hotter. Liz lives in North Louisiana with her childhood sweetheart, two handsome children, three dogs and a mean kitty. You can visit Liz at liztalleybooks.com to learn more about her upcoming books.
The book is dedicated to the men and women who face deadly fires in order to save lives and property. A special thank-you goes to my childhood neighbor, Captain Guy Mandino, and the Minden Fire Department who so graciously gave me a tour, answered questions and modeled what it is to be an everyday hero.
I would also like to thank Bora Sunseri, who helped me in regards to Child Protective Services.
And finally, the person who gave me a chance to blossom into the writer I am today. I will forever be grateful to Wanda Ottewell for guiding me, teaching me and being my friend.
CHAPTER ONE
EVA MONROE ADJUSTED her helmet as Engine One roared up to the Magnolia Breeze residential complex.
âYou ready?â Jake Beauchamp asked her, his blue eyes intense.
âIâm always ready,â she said, fitting the Nomex hood over her braided hair and securing the Velcro on her bunker coat. Her heart galloped in her throat. Didnât matter that sheâd done this hundreds of times. Preparing to battle a fire always felt the same. Like sex. Didnât know how good or bad it was going to be, but you were going to get hot and sweaty either way.
Captain Sorrento crossed himself as he shifted the engine into Park alongside a curb grown wooly with overgrown crabgrass. A string of tired duplexes squatted next to the one smudging a sky the color of Cozumel Bay with dark smoke. âCheck your radios. Everyone safe.â
âEveryone safe,â she and Jake repeated the department mantra.
Eva fitted her SCBA, strapping the air tank securely before pulling her mask over her mouth. She glanced at Jake, whoâd done the same, his eyes crackling with intensity and focus.