Author: Ashlyn Chase
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of publication: September 6, 2016
TWO SHIFTERS APPLY…
SPARKS FLY
Dragon shifter Chloe Arish is hell-bent on becoming a Boston firefighter. She uses her Irish charm and fake documents to score an interview, knowing she has to work every bit as hard as a man—harder if she wants their respect.
Born into a legendary Boston firefighting family, phoenix shifter Ryan Fierro can’t possibly let someone best him on the training course or the job. He’d never hear the end of it. When a feisty new recruit comes along who’s determined to do just that, Ryan plots to kick her out—until their sizzling chemistry turns explosive…
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Enjoy this excerpt!
Ryan Fierro stared after the retreating figure of an incredibly surprising
woman. She’d embarrassed him in front of an old family
friend, and if it got back to his large, legendary firefighting family, he’d
never hear the end of it. Even with that, he couldn’t help being impressed by
the slender blonde.
She didn’t look back as she rounded the corner. Behind him, the
chief’s door clicked shut.
Oh
no. He wasn’t about to leave Chief O’Brian with that
as his final impression. He pounded on the door.
As if the chief had been expecting a reaction, he opened it right
away. He didn’t stand aside, however. Apparently they were to have their
parting words right there in the hallway.
“You can’t… I mean… I hope you won’t consider her based on that
little stunt she just pulled.”
Chief O’Brian folded his arms. “Not at all.”
Ryan let out a relieved breath—until the chief spoke again.
“I was already considering her.”
What?
“But my family… If I lose out to a girl…” He scrubbed his
hand over his face. He didn’t know how to finish that sentence. They’d never respect me? Never
forgive me?
Sure, his mother would. She was a saint. Her face should be in
psychology textbooks next to the words “unconditional love.” His father and six
brothers, however, were another story. Their Sunday dinner conversations were
unmatched when it came to firefighting bravado.
The chief clasped his shoulder. “Look, Ryan, I have to consider
every candidate who makes it this far. I’m sure you understand that. It’s
nothing personal.”
“Nothing personal? It sounds as if you’ve already decided.”
“Not at all.”
The chief took a good look at Ryan’s face, which must have been
etched with worry lines. At last he lowered his voice and said,
conspiratorially, “I’m going to speak to the commissioner. Perhaps we can find
the funds to hire both of you.”
So
it all comes down to money. What a surprise…not.
There wasn’t a damn thing Ryan could do about a budget. He doubted
the chief could influence the commissioner—or the mayor—into allotting more
money, even for the pricey Back Bay neighborhood. They had recently lost two
firefighters in the line of duty. He’d heard one had already been replaced, but
he assumed he
would be replacing the other one.
Ryan gazed at his feet and nodded. “I understand. Well, thank you
for the opportunity.”
“You’re not out of the race yet, boy. Something could still come
from the background checks, or any number of things. I want to be fair and
thorough. Don’t get discouraged if there’s a bit of a wait.”
“I won’t, sir.” The chief extended his hand and Ryan grasped it
firmly. The handshake felt like a formal dismissal.
As the chief’s door closed, Ryan thought that maybe he should do a
little background checking too. Just in case they missed something on the blonde.
About the author:
ASHLYN CHASE specializes in characters that reinvent themselves, having reinvented herself numerous times. She has a degree in behavioral sciences and has worked as a psychiatric and a Red Cross nurse for several years. She lives with her real-life hero husband in New Hampshire.
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