Carol Lynne [Cattle Valley] 17. ...

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A Total-E-Bound Publication
www.total-e-bound.com
Firehouse Heat
ISBN #978-0-85715-126-1
©Copyright Carol Lynne 2010
Cover Art by April Martinez ©Copyright April 2010
Edited by Claire Siemaszkiewicz
Total-E-Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination
and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or
places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form,
whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of
the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound
Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil
proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs
and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator
of the artwork.
Published in 2010 by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank, Ruston Way, Lincoln, LN6 7FL,
United Kingdom.
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature
readers. This story has been rated
Total-e-burning.
Cattle Valley
FIREHOUSE HEAT
Carol Lynne
Dedication
In early April of 2007, shortly after my second book was released at Ellora’s Cave, I decided I
wasn’t cut out to be a writer. I stopped writing for over a month, miserable and quickly
sinking into a depression of epic proportions.
One day I received an email from Claire Siemaszkiewicz about a new epublishing company
she was planning to launch. There was something about Claire that drew me in. For the first
time in weeks I was able to see a light at the end of the tunnel.
I quickly agreed to write a short story for Total-E-Bound. To be honest, I wasn’t sure at that
point I could even pull a short story off. I wrote Coach, book one in the Campus Cravings
series, and Claire released it on Total-E-Bound’s opening day. It truly was the start of a new
type of writing for me. To work with an owner/editor who seemed excited by my stories
was like a breath of fresh air.
Firehouse Heat is my 50
th
book with Total-E-Bound, and I’m as happy working for Claire
now as I was that first release back on July 2, 2007. I can’t explain what it is like to work for a
publisher that truly seems to care about their authors and the stories they put out. A
publishing house that doles out respect along with on-time payments and a cheerful attitude
is not easy to find, and for me, Total-e-bound is one of the best.
Thank you, Claire. Without you, my life would not be what it is today. Here’s hoping for
another 50!
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following
wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Dr Pepper: Dr Pepper/Seven Up, Inc
Twister:
Milton Bradley
Twilight:
Summit Entertainment, LLC
FIREHOUSE HEAT
Carol Lynne
5
Chapter One
Leo Burkowski lifted the barbell from its stand and began to do his normal set of fifty.
He was getting into his zone when Sammy Lee popped into the room.
“Pirate’s Cove is about to start,” Sammy informed him.
“That’s okay. I’ve got other things on my mind today. You go ahead,” Leo replied.
Hopefully Sammy would leave it at that.
“Want me to record it?”
“Naw, don’t worry about it.” Leo continued his workout without looking at Sammy.
“Well, okay then. I guess I can fill you in at supper.”
Leo heard the hurt tone in the other man’s voice, but didn’t acknowledge it. “Sure.”
Sammy left the small weight room, and Leo resettled the weights on the stand. He
reached beside him and grabbed a towel to wipe his face and neck.
In the beginning, he’d enjoyed spending time with Sammy. The younger man liked to
flirt and it was a nice feeling to know the handsome man was attracted to him. Over the
winter things started to get out of control. Sammy became more obvious, and Leo became
more tempted.
Leo sat up and braced his forearms on his knees as he looked out the window. The most
recent deluge of snow was quickly melting under the unseasonably warm March
temperatures. According to George, Cattle Valley didn’t normally dig out until well into
April. Leo hoped they’d seen the last of the snow for a while, but he knew enough not to
hold his breath.
Having been born and raised in Milwaukee, Leo was used to the snow, but that didn’t
mean he had to like it. He’d much rather be outside, walking around town or swimming.
Jogging used to be his passion, but with his busted-up knee, that particular activity was no
longer an option.
Leo absently rubbed the small scars on his knee. If it hadn’t been for the injury he’d
sustained on a call, he wouldn’t have been off work so long. If he hadn’t been off work, his
partner, Randy, wouldn’t have had the chance to hook up with that young EMT at the
station.
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