Fully Ignited (Boston Fire #3) Read online

  Fully Ignited

  By Shannon Stacey

  When Jamie Rutherford takes a temporary assignment as lieutenant of Boston Fire’s Engine 59, she doesn’t anticipate any problems. She’s been in the fire service for a long time and, even though she’s fairly new to Boston, she knows how to make any firehouse her home. What she’s not prepared for is her reaction to firefighter Scott Kincaid.

  Scott is looking for a wife. It’s been a fun ride as a single guy, but he’s tired of being the third wheel, and nearly losing his brother-in-law finally made him realize just how much he wants a family of his own. When the new guy at the firehouse turns out to be a capable, confident and very attractive woman, his plan is completely derailed.

  Hooking up with a fellow firefighter has never been part of Jamie’s plan, but she’s tempted by Scott—even though getting involved with him could tarnish the reputation she’s worked so hard for. And Scott can’t stop thinking about Jamie, despite the fact that she’s his superior and not sticking around. Chemistry can crush the best-laid plans, though, and while Jamie and Scott might not be each other’s future…there’s no resisting the right now.

  Dear Reader,

  You know that moment when you’re reading a great book and you hit around the 70 percent mark and you realize: this book is going to end. And then you’ll be done with it. And will have to leave the characters behind. And find another (hopefully equally amazing) book to read next? So you want to slow down but instead you speed up because you just have to know what happens. The next thing you know, it’s done, you’ve got that happy-book-sigh feeling and…now you really do have to decide what book to read next. The great thing about reading is that there is always another fantastic book available, and I think you’ll find a few that will help with this issue in this month’s releases, because they are awesome!

  Shannon Stacey is one of our most popular authors and her Boston Fire trilogy has not disappointed readers (or her editor)! But I’m particularly excited about Fully Ignited because it brings us not only the alpha men of Boston Fire but also a badass female firefighter who is unapologetically good at her job. I love a strong, confident heroine who makes no excuses for who she is, and that’s what we get with Jamie. Scott can’t stop thinking about Jamie, despite the fact that she’s his temporary superior and not sticking around. Chemistry can crush the best-laid plans, though, and while Jamie and Scott might not be each other’s future…there’s no resisting the right now.

  Laura Carter debuts with a darkly suspenseful, erotically charged Vengeful Love trilogy that’s a return to the glamorous, jet-setter romances of Jackie Collins and Sidney Sheldon. In book one London city lawyer Scarlett Heath’s neat little world is shattered when she meets Gregory Ryans, the mysterious, irresistible CEO of GJR Enterprises—and her new client. Too late, Scarlett realizes the truth about the hostile takeover she’s been brought in to handle: the man she’s fallen in love with is out for revenge. And he’s taking her with him. Gregory and Scarlett’s story continues across Rome and Dubai in the next two installments releasing in April and May.

  A.R. Barley is debuting in male/male contemporary romance with Out of Bounds. A line of tape down the center of the room is the perfect plan: boundaries established for college sophomore Jesse Cole and his sexy new roommate, senior Nick Moretti. These two strong-willed men are as opposite as opposite can get. But as their initial friction moves into straight-up dirty talk, who wouldn’t want to cross the line?

  Also in male/male contemporary romance, j. leigh bailey’s heroes Fight to Forgive as they face family manipulation, past betrayal and an uncertain future to find their second chance at love. Perfect for those of you who love the second-chance trope!

  We have two erotic paranormal romances for you this month on two ends of the paranormal spectrum: vampires and shifters! In Dee Carney’s Hunger Untamed, a beautiful courtesan must overcome her fear of a beastly vampire mercenary if she’s to avenge her sister’s death. And on the shifter side Laurent, the second-in-command for the Cherchez Wolf Pack, didn’t expect to find his destiny in a roadside café. But there’s no doubt in his mind that waitress-by-day, artist-by-night Rain is his mate. And the urge to be near her, to protect her, to have her, is intoxicating. Don’t miss Sworn to the Wolf by Lauren Dane.

  Speaking of erotic, check out the beautiful cover on Kira A. Gold’s The Dirty Secret, and while you’re there, peek inside the covers to find out what happens when an architect with a dirty mouth and a secretive, sensual painter are thrown together and challenged to decorate a house. The real challenge is figuring out how to complete the project while taking every opportunity to discover what’s under each other’s clothes—and behind one another’s personal walls.

  This month’s mystery offering comes from Julie Anne Lindsey. In A Geek Girl’s Guide to Arsenic, the resident geek girl puts her high IQ to work uncovering the killer when a man is poisoned at Ye Ole Madrigal Craft Faire. Don’t miss the previous title in this series, A Geek Girl’s Guide to Murder.

  Pick up one (or all) of these new releases this month and let us help you solve your book crisis. Giving Readers Their Next Good Book Fix can become our new imprint motto!

  Coming next month: a sexy and captivating (literally) romance from Amber Bardan, Vengeful Love: Deception with its continuation of Gregory and Scarlett’s story, and a new author makes her debut!

  As always, here’s wishing you a wonderful month of books you love, remember and recommend.

  Happy reading!

  ~Angela James

  Executive Editor, Carina Press

  Dedication

  For Megan. As your oldest sister, I have to admit that seeing a photograph of you in your firefighting gear struck a little fear in my heart, but I am immensely proud of you. Be brave, be safe, and know that I love you.

  And though she be but little, she is fierce.

  —Shakespeare

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Excerpt from Heat Exchange by Shannon Stacey

  ONE

  “THE STREET’S PROBABLY going to be full of people, so try not to run anybody over.”

  Scott Kincaid ignored the helpful instruction from Simmons since driving the big-ass fire engine through the narrow backstreets of Boston was hard enough without looking over to roll your eyes at the asshole officer riding shotgun.

  Chemistry in a fire company mattered, and Engine 59 had it. Or they used to. And it wasn’t a surprise they’d been a close group. Their lieutenant, Danny Walsh, was Scott’s brother-in-law. Aidan Hunt, his best friend for years, was going to marry his other sister very soon. Even Grant Cutter, who was the kid of the bunch, had fit right in. And their pumper always rolled out with Ladder 37, and they meshed with that company, too, which was good since they shared the old brick fire station.

  Things had gone south about six weeks ago, though, when Danny got hurt. Besides smoke inhalation, he’d suffered a concussion, a busted arm and a leg broken in two
places. Having guys fill in here and there wasn’t easy, even short term, and then they’d heard the news Danny needed surgery on the leg. They’d found a temporary lieutenant solution with Simmons, but it wasn’t really working out.

  Mostly because Simmons was such an asshole.

  Scott turned onto the side street and rolled up in front of the function hall that had called in the alarm. He didn’t have to worry about running anybody over because there was nobody on the street.

  “Did the Rapture come and nobody told us?” Grant asked, leaning between the front seats to peer out at the empty street.

  Aidan snorted. “Shit, the Rapture could hit and it would probably be a month before Boston noticed.”

  “Hey, anybody seen Mrs. Broussard lately?” Scott joked.

  “Maybe we can save the stand-up routine for after we clear the scene,” Simmons barked.

  “Do you think everybody went home?” Grant asked.

  “Dispatch said it’s a wedding reception and they weren’t sure what set the alarm off, so it’s more likely they’re all still inside,” Aidan said.

  “I want this building cleared,” Simmons said, and he gestured for Aidan to go first. Simmons was never first through any door.

  Scott was familiar with feeling as if he’d just stepped through a door into hell. But walking into the function hall was a special kind of hell.

  Unable to silence the fire alarm, it sounded as if they’d simply cranked the music higher and kept dancing. For a few seconds he wondered how they’d managed to dim the lights more than the code would allow, but then he figured out some genius had plugged in a smoke machine.

  “They weren’t sure what set the alarm off?” he asked Aidan, watching fake smoke billow up from the dance floor to hover at ceiling level. At least the sprinkler system hadn’t gone off, since it was triggered by heat.

  “Everybody out,” Simmons tried to shout over the music. Everybody ignored him.

  Welcome to the party, Scott thought. As Aidan went to deal with the alarm, Scott sent Grant over toward the corner to pull the plug on the smoke machine. They’d have to clear everybody out and do a quick sweep of the building, but it wouldn’t take long.

  The guys from Ladder 37 came in on their heels, with their lieutenant, Rick Gullotti, in front. Gavin Boudreau, who was only a little older than Grant, stood in the shadow of big Jeff Porter, and Chris Eriksson—the oldest of all of them, barring Chief Cobb—pulled up the rear.

  “You owe me ten bucks, kid,” Chris said.

  Gavin rolled his eyes at Scott. “I bet him it was somebody smoking in the bathroom.”

  “Hell, half the people in here could be smoking right now and nobody would know.” Scott shook his head. “Simmons wants us to get everybody outside.”

  Rick nodded. “I only saw one cruiser out there, so we’ll have to send Cutter and Boudreau outside with them. As drunk as these people are, they’ll want to play with the shiny fire trucks.”

  Before they could move, a woman in a frilly hot-pink dress clearly marking her as a bridesmaid stepped up to Scott and ran her hand down the front of his bunker coat. “Well, hello, sexy.”

  “I’m going to have to ask you to go outside, ma’am,” he said, taking a step back.

  Instead, she looked over her shoulder and waved at a friend. “I think they’re strippers!”

  It wasn’t the first time they’d been mistaken for strippers, but it was the first time it had happened to Scott at a wedding reception. Who expected strippers to show up at a wedding? Luckily, the alarm and the music both cut off, and Simmons’s voice boomed through the speakers.

  “Everybody needs to evacuate the building so we can do our jobs. The sooner we can verify there’s no threat to your safety, the sooner you can get back to your party.”

  It didn’t take them long to sweep the building once everybody had cleared out, even with two of their guys tied up keeping drunk people from climbing on the trucks. Then they stood around while Simmons rounded up the people in charge and threatened them with all kinds of dire consequences if the smoke machine was turned back on.

  “It’s too bad you swore off women,” Aidan said. “A drunk bridesmaid who thinks you’re a stripper is just your type.”

  “Was my type.” Scott snorted. “Except the drunk part.”

  “Lydia was just talking about how we should reconsider having a small wedding because there won’t be any single bridesmaids. Just Ashley as her matron of honor.”

  “Oh, hell no. When the wedding’s for your sister, you don’t mess around with the bridesmaids.”

  “How long’s it been since you went on a date?”

  As his best friend, Aidan knew he hadn’t been on a date in months. “Not long enough to tangle with a drunk bridesmaid.”

  After it had become clear his last girlfriend—who he’d actually felt something for—had been chasing his benefits and even hinted she might get pregnant so he’d have to marry her, Scott had decided to take a hiatus from the relationship scene. Seeing Aidan and Lydia together, as well as what Ashley and Danny had gone through—from their separation and reunion to his injuries—had just driven home that he wanted the real thing. Love, marriage and a baby carriage.

  But he hadn’t found the right woman and he didn’t want to miss her because he was hooking up with women he knew weren’t in it for the long run.

  “We’re outta here,” Rick Gullotti yelled to them, and they all headed for the door.

  By the time they were backing the engines under the brick arches at the station, Scott was feeling the exhaustion set in. Even though they only worked two shifts per week—barring extra time to cover for somebody or events like the St. Patrick’s Day parade last week—twenty-four hours was a long time. Hopefully, even though it was Friday night, he’d have time to hit his bunk for a quick power nap.

  “Who the hell gets married at the end of March, anyway?” Grant asked while they went through the process of checking over the engines and putting their turnout gear on the racks for the next run. “It’s too cold for a nice wedding, but not cold enough to be a winter wedding. Maybe you get a discount if you get married when nobody else wants to.”

  “Judging by the bride’s extreme lack of sobriety, I’m going to guess it wasn’t a shotgun situation,” Aidan said.

  Scott snorted. “She was pretty near that tipping point where one drink makes the difference between the groom having the best wedding night ever or the worst wedding night ever.”

  They all laughed, which annoyed Simmons. They knew he didn’t like chitchat when they were going through a procedure list because he thought things got missed when they were distracted. Like they weren’t capable of lining their boots up in a neat row while telling a few jokes.

  “I’m going upstairs,” Simmons said, disgust practically dripping from his voice. “I’m so glad after tonight, you idiots will be somebody else’s problem.”

  Nobody was as glad as they were, Scott thought, though he wasn’t so much an idiot that he voiced the thought out loud. He felt bad for the guys at Simmons’s usual house, who were stuck with him on a regular basis, unless they all had sticks up their asses, too.

  They’d just finished up and were ready to head up to the third-floor living quarters when a woman walked through the open bay door. Scott, who’d been just about to hit the button to lower the big overhead, dropped his hand.

  For a few seconds, all his mind registered was an attractive brunette who was a little on the tall side and had a smoking body, and he assumed she was stopping by to see one of the guys or bring baked goods. Homemade cookies and muffins, and even the occasional pie, were definitely perks of the job.

  Then he noticed the Boston Fire logo on her T-shirt, peeking out from behind her unzipped sweatshirt. The folded papers in her hand. The way she stood with her feet slightly apart
and her back straight, her gaze sweeping around the engine bays in a way that didn’t strike him as curiosity. She was appraising. Judging.

  She stared at Engine 59 for a long moment, her gaze sweeping over the apparatus. And then she turned that same steady scrutiny on the guys, looking each of them in the eye for a few seconds before moving on to the next.

  When she got to Scott, he looked into eyes that were a pretty shade of green and found himself surprised. He was expecting them to be brown. He grinned, a reflexive reaction to making eye contact with a pretty woman.

  “I’m looking for Chief Cobb,” she said, and the truth of the situation hit Scott like a hydrant wrench.

  Holy shit. The new guy wasn’t a guy.

  * * *

  JAMIE RUTHERFORD KNEW that look, since she’d seen it a few times before. It was the look that said somebody hadn’t gotten the memo that Jamie wasn’t short for James, and that they were about to share their firehouse with a woman.

  She’d been in this situation before and, as long as there wasn’t a straight-up misogynistic jerk in the building, she’d be fine. The guys would be awkward and stiff around her for a few days, but once she’d been out on some runs with them and done her job, that would wear off.

  And if there was a misogynistic jerk in the bunch, she’d deal with that, too.

  Since there were still guys moving around on the other side of the truck marked Ladder 37, she’d guess these men in front of her were with Engine 59. While she’d probably crossed paths with all or some of them, there were almost fifteen hundred firefighters in Boston and she didn’t recognize any of them. She’d been sent some basic information ahead of time, though, so she knew their names and didn’t have any trouble matching the photographs to the real faces.

  “Is he expecting you?”

  It was Aidan Hunt who’d spoken, and she wasn’t surprised to see he was standing next to Scott Kincaid. They’d been best friends for years, although the relationship had gotten rocky when Aidan started secretly dating Scott’s sister. Scott and his sisters, Lydia and Ashley, were the kids of Tommy Kincaid, a retired firefighter who owned Kincaid’s Pub, and Aidan was like a second son to Tommy.