Jack: Stryker County Fire Dept., #5

By Kali Hart

Rena

My brother was supposed to come talk to my third grade class about fire safety.
But at the last minute he cancels and sends a replacement.
I'm fuming.
Until I see the hottest man alive walk through my classroom door.
I've sworn never to date any of my brothers coworkers.
But this firefighter starts his own undeniable fire deep inside me.
I'm torn.
I'm helpless.
Because I want him. Very, very badly.

Jack

Talking to a room full of kids about fire safety is not how I imagined spending my day off.
But I owed my buddy a favor.
What I didn't expect was to fall hard for the teacher.
Now that I've met Rena, I have to have her.
Our attraction is instant and combustible.
But she's trying to keep me at a distance because of some rule.
Time to school this teacher on the rules. Because they're meant for breaking.

Sweet & Steamy short story insta-love romance with a firefighter hero and younger curvy woman with an HEA. NO cliffhangers. NO cheating.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Jan 26, 2020
• ISBN: 9798223361374

Book preview

1

RENA

I’m so mad I could scream.

But of course, throwing a tantrum in front of a room of third graders isn’t exactly wise. Not to mention it’s considered unprofessional. But I’m so freakin’ mad!

The kids are entranced in the movie I let them watch for good behavior and good grades on their last quiz. So beneath the desk, I stab out a text back to my brother, demanding to know why he can’t show up today to talk to my classroom about fire safety. He agreed to this three weeks ago.

My kids are excited—so excited they’re squirming in their seats now even with a movie on. They’re expecting a fire engine in the parking lot and someone to show them how to turn on sirens and flashing lights.

Too impatient to wait for him to text back, I slip into the supply closet and close the door. I can still keep an eye on the class through the crack in the door, but I don’t think I’ll be missed for a couple of minutes. 

What do you mean you can’t make it, Braxton? You’re supposed to be here in an hour. One hour! I whisper-shout into the phone.

Something came up. It’s important. I don’t have time to explain. I’m sorry.

I let out a long, exaggerated sigh to let him know just how annoyed I am. What’s so important that he can’t even tell me why he can’t make it? What am I supposed to tell my kids?

Tell them they’re going to get to meet a real live firefighter, because I’m sending someone from the station to fill in. He’ll be there soon.

Who?

Gotta run.

The call goes dead, and I’m left with nothing but questions and irritation. I want to trust him, but he’s never really been into the kid thing. I don’t think he understands how excited they are to meet him. I’ve talked him up all week. Now I have to introduce them to a stranger. Just peachy.

I’m antsy through the rest of the movie. Normally I would break it up into two or three parts, but I know there’s no point in trying to teach a lesson the rest of the day. I just hope this last-minute replacement doesn’t phone it in.

I’m glaring at the fire-themed cupcakes I spent all night making last night when the movie credits start to roll. I might save one to smother my brother with. Death by frosting suffocation—that’s a thing, right?

Whoever this fill-in is, he has five minutes to show or Braxton will live to regret this day. I’ll make sure of it.

Do we get to meet a real firefighter now? One of the girls asks from the front row.

Yeah, three others chime in. And before I know it, my room is in an uproar of excitement and demands.

I’m going to kill Braxton. Slowly.

A pounding at the door silences the room, and every head turns to it.

On the other side of the door’s window, I see a tall man in a fireman jacket. His helmet is