Blazed: A Firefighter Romance Read online

  BLAZED

  POSEY PARKS

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Blazed

  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

  EPILOGUE

  LUCA ESPOSITO

  LICENSE STATEMENT

  THIS EBOOK IS LICENSED for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each reader. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please visit your favorite ebook retailer to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  COPYRIGHT

  Copyright © 2020 by Posey Parks

  Published by Posey Parks Publishing

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

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  CHAPTER ONE

  CHANDLER

  “Fire! Fire!” The hazy words gripped me in my dream.

  “Chandler, get out!” she yelled.

  I sat straight up, gawking at the smoke pouring into my room. My heart beat against my rib cage. I dragged the blanket off my bed and darted across the room.

  “I’m up!” I shouted.

  I placed the blanket over the knob and swung the door open. Orange flames engulfed the walls and ceiling. My eyes widened as I peeked down the hall. Her hand stretched out through the black smoke.

  “Chandler, wrap the blanket around you and get out of here,” she coughed.

  The thick, black smoke crushed my lungs.

  “No.” Tears streamed down my cheeks. “Not without you. I can’t leave you,” I choked out.

  Her blue eyes watered in the distance. “I love you, Chandler. Never forget that. Please get out of here,” she cried.

  The burning ceiling caved, knocking her to the floor.

  “No!” A blood-curdling scream ripped from my throat.

  “She told you to get out of here, kid,” a deep voice penetrated my ears.

  He threw me over his shoulder and ran down the stairs.

  “No. I can’t leave her.”

  The tall, muscled man placed me on my feet in the circular drive. He stalked back into the house before I could see his face. Fire trucks sounded in the distance. Flopping on the grass, I sobbed in the dead of night. I lost her. She mattered the most to me.

  Chest heaving, I flew into a sitting position in bed, drenched in sweat again. The sun peeked through the heavy, dark curtains. I sighed, clutching my head. Thank goodness, I was at home this time. I didn’t need the chief calling me into the office again asking was I fit for duty.

  I busted my ass on a fire call later that afternoon, revealing I was more than capable of handling my demons and performing my job.

  I’ve had the same dream since I was seven-years-old. My world was turned upside down. I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. Shift would begin soon. I better hop in the shower. My cousin, Sebastian, suggested I move to Atlanta. He thought maybe the change in scenery would help with my demons. It had helped a little. I couldn’t drive past the empty lot where my home once stood any longer. The move from L.A. to Atlanta was a good idea. I’ve lived in Atlanta for two years now and had no urge to visit my father or grandparents.

  I worked out of fire rescue station one in downtown Atlanta. It was the first firehouse opened in the city of Atlanta. It has since been remodeled. There were twelve bedrooms and six bathrooms upstairs. Before the house had ten bedrooms and four bathrooms. The upgrades were nice. We worked forty-eight-hour shifts. But I often worked two forty-eight-hour shifts. Not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Usually, there were seven firefighters in the house on one shift.

  After my shower, I slid the navy firefighter T-shirt over my muscled frame. The navy khaki slacks fit just right. I laced up my black Gor-Tex boots then darted out the door.

  “CASSADY, TASTE THIS chili.” I halted in the large firehouse kitchen.

  “Ok.” I grabbed a spoon and tasted the food.

  I jumped over to the sink, leaned under the faucet, and poured water in my mouth. “Smooch, it’s blazing hot.”

  His last name was Smith. But we nicknamed him Smooch because every week, a different woman dropped him off at work. They were out front all hot and heavy. Battalion Chief Trent Brennings had warned him several times. He said we didn’t need to give the firehouse a bad reputation. Not sure that would help. Every Friday night we hung at the local bar in Midtown. We even had our own calendar. I believed we were past women thinking we were dogs.

  A wide smile spread across his brown face. “Yeah, just what I was shooting for,” he snickered, patting my arm.

  “Are you preparing two pots? You know Cap hates spicy food.”

  He turned, stirring the oversized pot of chili.

  “I take your silence as a no. I don’t want to be around for this when that shit goes sideways.” I ran up the stairs toward our living quarters.

  We rarely called each other by our first names, unless we were at the bar. I worked at one of the busiest firehouses in the city of Atlanta. We received calls more than any other firehouse in the city. My cell buzzed.

  I peeked at the screen.

  Dad- Chandler, are you coming home for your grandfather’s birthday next month?

  My jaw twitched. Shit, I had no intentions of going home. I Face Timed my grandfather last year on his birthday. Why wasn’t that enough? I even mailed him a new set of golf clubs.

  I pecked away at the keys.

  Me- I will think about it, Dad. I have to start my shift. I’ll talk to you later.

  “Cassady,” Simpson shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

  I dropped my duffel on my bed.

  “Yes, Cap?”

  “Get fire engine two cleaned up.”

  “On it.”

  Atlanta summers were brutal. Hosing down the firetruck in that heat wasn’t my favorite thing to do. But I did it, especially if it was around five -thirty in the evening.

  Cold water seeped over the sides of the red and white fire engine. I circled the sudsy sponge over the ladder on top of the truck. I glanced at my watch. Five thirty-three. I peeked around the garage. Everyone was off doing their own thing. Maybe working out or handling paperwork. I returned my attention to the street. A smile crept across my face. There she was. Shit, she was beautiful. Her black hair dangled over her shoulders. The yellow sundress fit nicely in all the right places on her petite, brown frame. Don’t lick your lips, Chandler. Play it cool.

  Her eyes met mine. The corners of her beautiful, purple plump lips ticked upward. A wider smile fell across my lips.

  I hadn’t spoken to her due to my demons. They hung over my head like a heavy burden. If I allowed her into my life, she’d witness those demons first hand. At what point would I stop allowing my past to ruin my life? She was the only woman I was interested in since the first day I laid eyes on her. I’d take a chance. No time like the pre
sent.

  I hopped off the fire engine and walked toward her. “Hello.”

  She stopped and faced me. “Hello.”

  “I’ve seen you walk by sometimes.” Being up close and personal with her almost left me speechless. Her eyes were a rich, dark brown with hints of orange. I loved her narrow nose with a semi wide base. Her eyebrows were arched perfectly. I wanted desperately to cup her oval face and run my tongue over her mocha high cheekbones. That was next on my list of things to do to her.

  “I felt it was time I introduced myself. Chandler Cassady.” I extended my hand.

  “Gabrielle Marcus.”

  I loved how her soft hand fit into mine. We shook hands too long. I didn’t care. Our hands slipped apart.

  “Your beauty is breathtaking.”

  She blushed. “Thank you.”

  “Are you single?”

  “Yes, and you?”

  “Hopefully not much longer.” I winked.

  She cocked her head to the side, smiling from ear-to-ear.

  “I’d like to call you. May I have your phone number?”

  “Yes.”

  I slipped my cell from my pocket. The siren sounded.

  “Shit, I have to go.”

  “See you tomorrow,” she stated.

  “You bet your pretty ass I will.”

  She blushed again.

  All good signs.

  I’ve dated one woman since I moved to Atlanta. One night at the bar, Captain Ben Simpson dared me to ask a cute red headed chick out on a date. They’d been busting my balls the first couple of months. Asking did I do anything other than work. I was always a loner. Never participated in many activities at my last firehouse in L.A.

  Work, work, work. Saving lives consumed me. My idea of a good time was hanging with my cousin Seth or my aunt and uncle. Or my other cousin Hayden and his mom and dad. They only ever wanted me to heal from my tragic ordeal as a child. I tried.

  I suited up, then climbed into the back of truck one, sitting behind the captain and across from Smooch and Marks. Smooch was our back up driver.

  JT rolled out of the firehouse. He was the main driver of truck one. He’d been the driver of this truck for five years.

  The chief was looking for one more driver when I inquired about the station house. I told him I’d rather be just one of the guys on the truck. I was only interested in being one of the first firefighters responding to those in need.

  JT barreled through the streets of downtown Atlanta. I held on tight as he hugged the curb, turning onto a street brimming with tall apartment buildings. Flames and smoke curled toward the sky from the high rise. Residents of a five-story, red brick apartment building pointed and gawked across the street at the burning building.

  The truck came to a halt. I swung the door open and jumped out.

  “Cassady, you’re with me. Let’s move.”

  “Yes, sir.” I placed the oxygen mask over my face as I followed the Captain into the building. We ran up the stairs. Residents covered their mouths, coughing as they walked down the steps.

  A pregnant woman holding her young child was huddled in the corner.

  “Ma’am, you have to keep moving.”

  “I can’t. The pain is too much.”

  I glanced over my shoulder. “Marks, she can’t walk the rest of the way.”

  He pulled her up into his big arms. He was one of the tallest firefighters in our house.

  “Hang on tight, little man,” he told the little brown-haired boy.

  I slapped him on the back, then caught up with the captain.

  We knocked on several doors. A few firefighters from our team walked by clutching survivors.

  “Firefighter call out. Firefighter call out,” I yelled.

  A burning ceiling panel fell on my head. I knocked it aside.

  “Help,” I heard a faint cry.

  “Captain, someone’s trapped inside.”

  “It’s not safe, we need to vacate this floor immediately. It’s going to blow.”

  I stared into his blue eyes. “Please let me try?”

  “Hurry.”

  I stood back and slammed my foot into the door. Running into the apartment, I glanced around for any signs of life.

  “Firefighter call out.”

  “I’m in the bedroom,” she coughed.

  Burning ceiling panels dropped around me as I ran into the room. The woman laid on the floor in the fetal position wrapped in a blanket. I scooped the older woman up into my arms.

  “Captain, I’m coming out.”

  “Cassady, get off of that floor, before it collapses,” Chief Brennings ordered.

  “Yes, sir.”

  The captain pointed out the fire hose toward the flames blocking our path.

  “Hold on tight ma’am. Good thing you drenched the blanket in water, because we have to make a run for it.”

  The captain and I made a mad dash toward the stairs. The ceiling collapsed behind us. We ran down the stairs and out the door.

  Clapping erupted around us as I placed the lady on a stretcher.

  “Cassady, great job. We have it from here,” Paramedic Breanna Watkins stated.

  I removed my mask and hat as I peeked across the street. Gabrielle smiled, standing amongst onlookers in front of a small apartment building. So, that’s where she lived. A smile fell across my lips and my cock sprung to life. The desire to be deep inside her pussy was strong. Stepping into the street, I glanced both ways and ran across in the heavy gear.

  “Great job,” the crowd cheered.

  I nodded and waved as I halted in front of her.

  “Are you ok?”

  “Now that I’ve seen your beautiful face twice in one day, absolutely.”

  Her gorgeous brown face brightened.

  “We were so worried about all the people making it out of the building safely. Thank you for your hard work.”

  “You’re welcome. That’s my number one goal on the job; to save lives.” My lips tipped up at one end.

  Shit, I didn’t want to stop talking to her. My heart fluttered in my chest. I was star-struck, standing in her presence.

  “It has turned out to be a great day.” She slipped her hair behind her ear.

  “We met. Then you and your team saved the people from the burning building.” Gabrielle grinned.

  Clutching my other belongings under my arm, I slipped off my gloves, and retrieved my cell from my inside pocket.

  “Now for your phone number.”

  Gabrielle rattled it off.

  Her neighbors gawked at us, but we ignored them.

  “I wish I could talk to you longer.” I pointed over my shoulder. “I need to get back to work. I’ll talk to you soon.”

  Her soft lips parted. I instantly thought how good it would feel to slide my tongue into her mouth.

  “Sounds good. Be safe, Chandler.” She turned on her heels and entered the building.

  The second I laid eyes on Gabrielle, I knew I wanted to spend time with her. Stalking toward my squad, I placed my hat on my head. A part of me was afraid to move forward. My father told me several times I needed to live in the present and not in the past.

  The captain’s eyebrows wrinkled. “Cassady, hey was that the young lady who walks past the station sometimes?”

  “Yes, didn’t know you noticed.”

  “The entire house notices, Cassady,” he chuckled, and stepped away.

  ∞

  I twirled the beer bottle in my hand, tipping on two legs in the wooden chair.

  “You’re in a good mood,” Smooch smirked.

  “Once I am off work, I’ll call Gabrielle.” I chugged my beer.

  Cap smiled from ear-to-ear across the table.

  “What?” I widened my hands.

  He shook his head. “Nothing, just happy to see you take an interest in a woman you actually want to spend time with.”

  “I wasn’t aware that everyone watched my interaction with Gabrielle.”

  “I won t
he pot. I had a feeling you two would hit it off. All the staring back and forth all the time. The rest of the firehouse had little faith in you,” JT snickered.

  “Thanks everyone. I love how you all believed in me.”

  “Cassady, come on. Don’t pretend you associate with random women. You broke that pretty red headed woman’s heart.”

  “That was different. I was dared to ask her out. I didn’t want to. I’ve always wanted to date Gabrielle.”

  The waitress returned, placing fresh beers on the table.

  Cap tipped his beer bottle toward me. “Go on.” He ran his hand along his black-bearded face.

  “I just have that feeling she’s the woman I am meant to be with.”

  “Awe, that’s so sweet.” Lieutenant Mick Johnson joined us. “Not all men need to have several women at their disposal. Some of us would be happy with one woman.” His gray eyes glinted.

  Smooch gripped his shoulder. “Lieutenant, I’ll continue to move in on all the women you aren’t interested in.”

  Hardy laughter fell around the table.

  Simpson’s lips tightened. “Seriously, Cassady. Be sure to make a place for Gabrielle in your life. I know this isn’t easy for you. All you care about is the job.”

  I chugged my beer. “I will.”

  “What’s going on over here?” Breanna plopped in the empty chair beside me.

  Low growls rolled around the table.

  “Why the sour faces? Is this an all boys discussion?”

  “Watkins, you may not want to discuss Cassady’s love life with another woman,” Cap stared, cracking a snarky grin.

  Her fist slammed into my shoulder. “You are dating again?”

  “Breanna, yes.” I glanced into her brown eyes.

  She slipped her hand over her long, jet-black ponytail.

  Breanna was attractive. I just wasn’t attracted to her. Everyone around the fire house told me she had a crush on me since the day I arrived.

  Dating before Gabrielle rarely crossed my mind. I found a variety of women attractive. Skin color wasn’t a factor. The red headed woman, Kera, was white and Breanna and Gabrielle were black. I rarely dated in my life. Gabrielle was who I’d been attracted to the most in years. I was drawn to her curves. Those fucking sexy, plump lips and beautiful brown eyes. So many nights I laid awake after a nightmare and day dreamed about her being my woman. For the first time in a long time, I’d care for someone else other than those I rescued.