Felix: Stryker County Fire Dept., #7

By Kali Hart

Felix

I don't like to go out.
I'm content with staying in and tinkering with some electronic or reading a physics book.
I'm a total nerd, I know.
But I'm here at this charity auction to support my friend who's about to be sold as a date.
It's for a good cause.
Plus, there's a taco bar.
But no one prepared me for the angelic voice that takes the stage.
I'm entranced by her beauty, her grace, her voice.
I know in that moment I would give all the tacos in the world to make her mine.

Bailey

I agree to sing for my friend's charity auction, even though performing on stage terrifies me.
I've secretly longed for this dream for so long that I find the courage to push through.
When I see the sexy man in glasses in the audience, my fears disappear.
But when I learn that he's a firefighter, I run.
My brother was a firefighter, killed on duty.
I swore I would never fall in love with anyone who put their life at risk every day.
But Felix is smart, funny, and most of all persistent.
It will take every ounce of willpower to turn him down.
Because despite his risky profession, I want him.
More than I've ever wanted anything.

Sweet & steamy short story instalove romance with a firefighter hero and younger curvy woman with an HEA. NO cliffhangers. NO cheating.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Feb 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9798223347620

Book preview

1

BAILEY

It’s probably not the wisest idea to inhale an entire taco minutes before I’m supposed to get on stage and sing, but there’s something about guacamole that’s always managed to calm me down. It’s weird, I know. But that cool, refreshing taste of avocado loaded with flavorful goodies transports me to another world.

Did I mention I’m single? This weird little infatuation might have something to do with that.

You ready to go? Rena, one of my dearest friends, asks at the moment my mouth is the fullest. I think there’s guac on my chin. She’s the one who organized this charity event to help raise money for new playground equipment at the school she teaches at. Rena is simply amazing.

Mmm-hmm. I try to close-lip smile through my chewing, but it’s not an easy task.

She bends down and digs a bottled water out of a cooler beneath the taco bar table. Here, you’ll need this.

Thanks, I say, now that my mouth is empty. Just a little hungry.

You’re going to do great, Bailey. You have the voice of an angel, and as soon as the audience hears it, they’ll be in a trance.

I only agreed to do this very public performance to help raise money. Rena enticed me further by telling me it could help me get other gigs around town. It sounded magical at the time, but now that I’m about to take my first real stage, I’m terrified. There, I admitted it.

Over Rena’s shoulder, I eye my car parked along the curb. I contemplate how long it would take to run to it and drive away. Maybe I could move to Mexico.

Sweetie, Rena caps both her hands on my shoulders. "You’re wildly talented. These people deserve to hear your voice. Your brother would be so proud. You’re following your dreams."

I glance up at the clouds, as I always do when thinking of my late brother. My biggest cheerleader, he was also a firefighter. One night he didn’t come home, but the little girl he saved was in Rena’s class last year. Rena said she still talked about her hero.

I don’t know Rena.

"For the kids?"

Well, poo. She pulled the charity card. Okay.

Five songs tops, she reminds me.

Right. I know I’ll be singing one song for sure. But depending how much is raised during my performance, I might be obligated to sing more. Every hundred dollars means I sing another song—up to five. Five isn’t so bad, is it?

Rena gives me a squeeze and walks me to the side of the stage. Now that the charity auction is over—Rena’s brother was the top item and he just sold for a thousand freaking dollars—I’m