Love Reclaimed: To Protect and Serve

By Constance Phillips

He's everyone's hero but hers. So why does he long to rekindle the embers of their past passion? 

From high school star athlete lettering in three sports to becoming a fireman, Brian Doravek has always lived to save the day, but when it comes to Charlene Norris, he somehow fails to live up. He lost her in high school and then failed to save her father—his mentor—when he suffered a heart attack at the station. 

A year ago, Charlene's newly perfect life went up in flames when her father died of a heart attack. He was surrounded by his brothers on the fire department, yet no one could save him. Now, she's moving back to Caseville—where she always felt like an outsider—to be close to her mom, leaving behind the life she's built. She fears facing the demons of her past, especially Brian—the man who stole her heart and broke it all at once. Will the unquenched flames of their past passion save them or destroy them? 

To Protect and Serve is a spin-off series from my Sunnydale Days series, with firefighters and policeman from the same small town. You will be sure to see some familiar faces, but these books are spicier than their counterparts. 

(Note: Love Reclaimed is an expanded version of the story Fire and Ice which appeared in the Hunks to the Rescue Boxed set.)

• Language: English
• Publisher: Constance Phillips Press
• Release date: May 15, 2018
• ISBN: 9781944363161

Book preview

Love Reclaimed

To Protect and Serve, Book One

By

Constance Phillips

Love Reclaimed

Constance Phillips

ISBN 13: 978-1-944363-16-1

ISBN 10: 1-944363-16-5

© Constance Phillips 2018. All Rights Reserved

Editor: Gilly Wright

Cover artist: Katherine Bogle, Katzilla Designs

All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission.

This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale or organizations are entirely coincidental.

The following trademarks appear in Love Reclaimed. The authors acknowledge the trademarked status of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Jeep, Camaro, Coke, Diet Coke, Lifetime, Dairy Queen, Starbucks, Bluetooth

Dedication

To the memory of Ayda Recknagel. I miss your wit and your smile.

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

From the Author

About the Author

Acknowledgements

More From Constance Phillips

Love Reclaimed

He’s everyone’s hero but hers. So why does he long to rekindle the embers of their past passion?

From high school star athlete lettering in three sports to becoming a fireman, Brian Doravek has always lived to save the day, but when it comes to Charlene Norris, he somehow fails to live up. He lost her in high school and then failed to save her father—his mentor—when he suffered a heart attack at the station.

A year ago, Charlene’s newly perfect life went up in flames when her father died of a heart attack. He was surrounded by his brothers on the fire department, yet no one could save him. Now, she’s moving back to Caseville—where she always felt like an outsider—to be close to her mom, leaving behind the life she’s built.

She fears facing the demons of her past, especially Brian—the man who stole her heart and broke it all at once. Will the unquenched flames of their past passion save them or destroy them?

To Protect and Serve is a spin-off series from my Sunnydale Days series, with firefighters and policeman from the same small town. You will be sure to see some familiar faces, but these books are spicier than their counterparts.

(Note: Love Reclaimed is an expanded version of the story Fire and Ice which appeared in the Hunks to the Rescue Boxed set.)

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Chapter One

Didn’t people always compare coming home to a warm fuzzy sweater or an old pair of slippers? So why did Charlene feel restless and out of place, like a piece of the puzzle that didn’t quite fit in?

Maybe because she always felt like an outsider in this small town.

The teenage years were awkward for everyone. Right? But most kids didn’t face what she had gone through in high school. It certainly wasn’t the status quo for those who tormented her for skewing the grading curve since kindergarten. It wasn’t commonplace for the cool kids to be pushed and shoved in the hallway. No, they were the ones doing the taunting and the torturing.

When her acceptance letter from Eastern Michigan University came in the mail, she felt as though she’d been paroled from a prison and began counting the days to her freedom.

As she drove her Volkswagen GTI out of town—a graduation gift from her parents—she vowed the only reason she’d come back would be to visit.

In hindsight, she hadn’t visited often enough.

A year ago, she got the call from her mother with the unthinkable news. Her father—her hero—had died from a sudden heart attack.

Fred Norris had worked his whole life as a fireman. He saved people’s homes, businesses, farms, and lives. Yet no one had been able to save him. Ironic, since the heart attack happened at the fire station. He was surrounded by his fellow heroes, but not one of them could rescue her father. He was only fifty years old.

The loss shattered her and devastated her mother. The two only had each other, and moving home was the right thing to do. Even if it meant facing the demons she’d left behind.

But she also needed to make a living.

One week after her father’s funeral, she’d put in an application at the hospital. Trevor Collins, the head of the therapy department, told her he’d let her know as soon as a position came open. True to his word, he’d called her about a month ago.

Two weeks later, she was working here in the area hospital and living with her mom—until she could find a place of her own.

Life was slower here than in Ann Arbor and her previous job at the university hospital. In many ways, the pace was nice. She didn’t share the concerns of her former colleagues about stepping down the career ladder. No, her concerns were more personal. She feared running into the people she’d gone to school with.

Any one of whom could reopen painful wounds or might still hold a grudge against her for what she’d done back then. She tried to dismiss her fears as irrational. Ten years had passed, after all. Everyone involved had grown up. Certainly none of them had spent one minute of time thinking about her. Had they?

There was a light knock on the glass of her open office door, stirring her from her daydreams.

"Hey, you are here."

She looked up to see her boss and then glanced at the clock. I was just trying to finish up some paperwork. I was going to head home in a few minutes.

A long-term patient of mine was just bought into the emergency room, and I’d like to head down there and consult. Could I get you to stay over and take my next therapy patient? It’s straightforward. We’re six weeks into treating a torn ACL. He knows the drill.

I can’t say no to Trevor. Not after everything he’s done to help. He was the sole reason she’d been able to move back home. It wasn’t like she had any plans beyond dinner, tea, and the newest journal discussing therapy techniques. Of course.

Great! Thank you so much. He stepped into the small cubical and handed her a folder. Brian is always punctual. He’ll be here any minute.

Brian? It couldn’t be.

She opened the folder and looked in the right corner of the treatment sheet for the patient’s name. Brian Doravek.

Lovely.

She knew she’d eventually run into him again; the town was small, and his large family was one of the cornerstones. She just never imagined it would be here in the hospital.

How did Brian tear his ACL? Her best guess would be he took an unnecessary risk. In high school he’d been an adrenaline junkie, very daring and a bit impetuous.

Her father had made a point of telling her when Brian joined the fire department shortly after high school. Of course, Dad had always liked them as a couple and acted as though it was only a matter of time before she and Brian found their way back to each other.

Maybe a part of her had believed Dad, because Brian still held a very special place in her heart. But he wouldn’t be coming back to her. She’d been sure to slam that door shut.

On duty at work. It’s all there in the file. Trevor wrapped his knuckles against the door frame.

She surmised he was anxious to leave. Go on to the ER. I can handle this case. No problem.

I know you can. Thanks. I owe you one.

As Trevor walked away, she closed her eyes. She missed her father so much. The pain of his loss was never too far buried. Thinking about Dad’s fondness for Brian brought her ache to the surface.

Being a fireman was so dangerous. So noble and so lethal. She’d always been proud of the hero her dad truly was but constantly feared for his safety. Loving a man who risked his life daily was too big a hazard for her heart. She never wanted to feel the pain of losing someone like that again.

Not that Brian would try to pick up where they’d left off in high school. It was too much to ask for then, let alone now.

He was too much to ask for.

Surely he’d moved on with his life.

Even dated.

He might be married by now.

If so, had he remained faithful to his wife? Something Suzi Strafford had insisted he hadn’t been able to do while Charlene dated him.

Brian never wavered in his denial of the accused infidelity, and a part of her believed him. The insecure and logical part of Charlene saw this as her way out of a doomed relationship. Her heart never forgave her for the break.

He seemed wounded at the time, but as the weeks passed, he moved on. They spent the last months at high school as classmates, nothing more. Even if he was still available now, did it matter? It wasn’t like he’d ever be able to forgive or trust her after what she’d done.

Shaking off the internal debate, she looked back down at the file and read through Trevor’s notes. He had surgery six weeks ago and now walked unaided. Today’s session goal was to evaluate his recovery and focus on strength and balance.

Easy enough.

She walked out into the therapy room and set his folder down on the bench before going to retrieve a board, roller, foam pad, and a football.

Might as well work with the tools he knows.

The memory of him playing center on the high school football team brought a smile to her face.

Have you seen Trevor Collins? I have an appointment.

Charlene heard Brian’s voice behind her. She’d recognize the deep timber anywhere. It hit that spot in her gut, making her knees nearly buckle.

Guilt over their past nailed her feet to the ground, preventing her from turning around. Eventually, professional Charlene regained control. She steeled herself and spun on her heel. He was called to the ER and asked me to take your session today. I hope that’s all right.

At first, his smile widened, but then the light in his eyes quickly dimmed. He turned away, shedding his black denim coat, tossing it to the padded exam table.

Just the sight of him made her insides gooey. His dark hair was cropped a little shorter on the sides than she remembered, but he still wore the top long. His hazel eyes held a light when she first turned but immediately darkened, as recognition seemed to take hold.

He was still in top physical form. If anything, the muscles of his arms were even larger now—straining against the short sleeves of his gray T-shirt bearing the logo and name of the Blue Water Inn. He also wore a pair of matching sweatpants with Caseville Eagles—the name of their high school mascot—running down the outside of the leg in crimson letters.

I’d heard you’d moved home, but I didn’t know you were a therapist. Or working at the hospital. His voice was devoid of emotion and gave her a chill.

About two weeks now. Working here, I mean. I passed my certification years ago. If you’re ready, we can get started.

He moved closer.

Charlene felt as though the temperature rose five degrees with each step he took, despite his icy demeanor. But Brian always did that to her. She moved to the right, giving him a wide berth. Before we start working, may I examine your knee?

He hoisted himself onto the exam table, sitting with his legs hanging over the edge.

She stepped closer and patted the black vinyl. Can you turn and put your right foot here? When he complied, she pushed up the leg of his sweat pants.

"Wow, Char, it’s been less than five minutes, and you’re trying to get me out of my clothes. I guess you have changed."

During that short three-month relationship senior year, teenage hormones surged between them. Toward the end, Brian had pressed for more physical contact than she had been ready to give. Maybe that’s why Suzi’s declaration she’d slept with Brian seemed so believable. Now, his anger-laden remark pricked at her as if he’d sliced her with a blade. She struggled to remain professional. I need to examine—

He laughed robustly. I’m teasing!

I know that. Didn’t she? She rolled her shoulders, cursing herself. Get it together. He’s a patient. You’re a therapist. We were together once, but that was high school. A lot of time has passed, and we’ve both grown.

You always were so serious, Char.

He was the only one in her life to call her by any kind of nickname. Maybe because of her studious nature, the shortened moniker didn’t seem fitting to anyone else. In truth, she’d only accept it from Brian. Her heart began to inflate, yet at the same time she felt like crying.

She missed his flirty smile and his incessant teasing. While others at school had berated her with such antagonism, he’d been lighthearted and charming. Outside of her very few close girlfriends, he’d been a light spot in her life. A symbol that—just maybe—one day she’d fit in.

Keep your mind on your job.

Doesn’t look like you have any swelling. How has your pain been?

Manageable. If I’m on my feet for a long time, the knee will ache and puff up.

What do you do when that happens?

Trevor told me to sit with it elevated and ice it.

"Is that