I ran from the altar … and ran straight into the man who still holds my heart.After bolting from my high-society wedding in a designer gown and heels, I had nowhere to go but back to Ember Ridge, the small town I left behind.
I wasn’t expecting Cal Bennett, my high school ex, to pull me from a ditch in the pouring rain. Or to still be just as grumpy and gorgeous.
When the town assumes we’re together, I panic and blurt out we’re engaged.
Cal’s a rule-following fire captain. But agrees to fake it to protect me from my ex.
What starts as pretend turns real fast: glances that last too long, walks in town that lead to sweet kisses that don’t feel fake.
Tangled sheets and feelings we never dealt with the first time around.
But when the man I ran from tries to ruin everything with one post, the fallout threatens to destroy our second chance—for good.
And I’ll be damned if I’ll let that happen.
Chapter 2
Harper
The Runaway Bride
Present Day
Somewhere outside Ember Ridge, Oregon
Harper Montgomery couldn’t breathe.
The engine light was on, the gas gauge was blinking, and her train of silk organza was currently tangled around the brake pedal of her mother’s overpriced luxury car.
Not ideal for a smooth getaway. Her designer heels were kicked off in the backseat, one false eyelash was stuck to the steering wheel, and her phone had buzzed seventeen times with a text from her maid of honor that simply read:
“ARE YOU OKAY?!?”
She was not.
But she was moving.
At least until the rain started, and the narrow road curved, and she took the corner too fast and…
CRASH.
She didn’t see the fence until she was through it. Wood splintered, tires skidded in mud, and the car came to a jarring stop that flung her forward hard enough to knock the veil loose from her twisted-up hair.
For a second, everything went quiet.
Then headlights cut through the downpour, blinding and high-beamed, rumbling closer until a fire truck, yes, an actual fire truck… pulled up with a hiss of brakes.
Someone stepped down from the cab. Tall. Broad. Wet from head to toe. And definitely, 100%, glaring at her.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” the man muttered.
Harper blinked against the rain.
Cal Bennett.
He looked exactly the same and completely different all at once—gruffer jaw, broader shoulders, and a scowl that could stop traffic.
And she was barefoot, soaked, and sitting in a crumpled wedding dress in the wreckage of his firehouse fence.
So yeah.
This was going great.
He stopped a few feet from the front bumper, arms crossed over his broad, very wet chest, eyes narrowed like she was a three-alarm fire he wasn’t in the mood to deal with.
“Harper Montgomery,” he said flatly. “Of course.”
She swallowed hard. “Hi.”
He stared at her. Just stared.
Water dripped from his short, dark hair, trailing down the side of his neck and soaking into a T-shirt that clung to every solid inch of him.
He looked like every bad decision she’d ever been tempted to make—and he looked like he knew it, too.
She cleared her throat and pushed open the car door. It creaked in protest.
“So… I might’ve taken a wrong turn.”
His brows shot up. “You took a wrong turn through my fence?”
“I was… avoiding the freeway.”
“In a ballgown?”
“I didn’t exactly have time to change,” she snapped, gesturing to her ruined dress and muddy bare legs. “I sort of left in a hurry.”
A muscle ticked in his jaw. “Left what?”
She exhaled, hands shaking slightly as she braced herself on the hood.
“My wedding,” she said. “I left my wedding.”
Cal blinked once. Twice. Then turned slowly toward the fire truck, muttering something that sounded a lot like unbelievable.
“Look,” she said quickly, rain plastering her hair to her face. “I didn’t come here to make a scene. Or to… relive high school trauma. I just needed somewhere to go. Somewhere no one would think to look.”
“And you thought my town was a good option?” he asked, voice sharp.
“I didn’t think,” she snapped. “I panicked. Congratulations, Cal—you’re my panic destination.”
That earned a snort, low and reluctant.
She hesitated, arms wrapped tight around her waist. “I’ll leave. As soon as I figure out where to go next.”
He looked at her for a long beat. Then let out a breath and glanced up at the sky like he was asking for divine patience.
“You’re not driving anywhere tonight. The roads are flooding.”
“I can’t stay here.”
He turned back to her with a scowl. “You just drove through my fence in a wedding dress, in the middle of a thunderstorm, and I haven’t arrested you yet. Maybe don’t push your luck.”
Her jaw dropped. “Are you seriously threatening to arrest me?”
“No,” he said. “But I am seriously thinking about making you explain this mess to Aunt Lou in the morning. And she’s meaner than me.”
Harper blinked.
Cal sighed and turned toward the firehouse. “Come on. You can sleep upstairs.”
She stood frozen.
“You coming or not, runaway?”
From flirty texts to falling hard… now he doesn’t remember my name.I fell hard for both of them. Trips to the park, special time with Lilly, and late nights with Jack!
As the Charge Nurse in the ER, I received a call stating that an incoming firefighter was in critical condition. I knew it was Jack before I saw him.
Now he’s broken. Bruised. And doesn’t remember I exist.
And now I will fight for a man who’s forgotten he ever loved me.
Karla
The ER was quiet.
Too quiet.
Not the peaceful kind—more like the calm before a storm. The air held its breath the way we did when we were waiting for something to go wrong. No beeping monitors. No trauma alerts. Not even the usual overhead calls for backup or psych consults. It was the kind of stillness that made you flinch when it finally broke.
Upstairs, the ICU buzzed faintly, and the smell of antiseptic clung to everything, layered with undertones of scorched coffee and over-microwaved lasagna. Vending machines hummed in the background, throwing a dull, fluorescent glow across the break room like a cheap motel hallway.
Cindy and Becky were flanking me on the break room couch like sentries stationed for snack duty. Both looked suspiciously content for a night shift. That alone was unnerving.
Cindy was curled sideways in her chair, nursing a bag of pretzels like they held the secret to eternal youth.
Becky, perpetually unimpressed and aggressively caffeinated, had her feet up on the table and clutched a chipped mug of black sludge someone had the audacity to call coffee. I think it was leftover from the last administration.
We weren’t built for lulls, but we treated them like gold—fragile, short-lived, and a little cursed.
“I swear,” Cindy muttered, her mouth full of pretzels, “if something doesn’t crash, bleed, or puke soon, I’m diagnosing people in the parking lot.”
“Start with Dave from maintenance,” Becky said. “I caught him talking to the vending machine again.”
“Maybe he’s in love,” I offered.
Cindy smirked. “With the Snickers bar he can’t reach?”
“I’ve seen people do worse for less,” Becky deadpanned.
“I’m serious.” Cindy tossed a pretzel in the air and caught it with her mouth. “I need action. I need to feel alive.”
“Easy, E.R. adrenaline junkie,” I said, stretching my arms behind my head. “You’re one flatline away from your own spinoff: Nurses Gone Wild.”
“Tagline,” Becky added, “Chart it or fight it.”
I laughed, sprawling across the scuffed vinyl couch with my legs kicked up on the armrest, letting the beat-up cushions squeak under me. They smelled faintly like bleach and stress, but it was the closest thing we had to luxury.
“Enjoy the lull,” I sighed. “It’s a gift from the chaos gods. They’re just fattening us up before the slaughter.”
Right then, my phone buzzed on the table.
Unknown number.
I raised an eyebrow. “Speak of the devil.”
“Answer it,” Cindy said, already leaning in.
“Put it on speaker,” Becky added, eyes gleaming.
I hesitated for exactly half a second. Then I shrugged and tapped the green button. “Hello?”
The voice on the other end hit me like a slap of cold air.
Deep. Rough. Furious.
“How could you do that to Brandon?”
My brows lifted. The hell?
“He called me at midnight! He hasn’t eaten in days. You broke him.”
There was a heat in the voice—not just anger, but the kind that cracked from the weight of something deeper. Loyalty. Pain. A protective burn that came from watching someone you love get destroyed.
It stopped me.
I should’ve said he had the wrong number. I should’ve shut it down right then.
But I didn’t.
“You said you loved him—and then you disappeared,” the voice went on. “Do you know what that did to him?”
Cindy slapped a hand over her mouth to stop from giggling.
Becky nearly choked on her coffee.
I shot them both a look and mouthed, Should I go with it?
Cindy nodded so hard her ponytail bounced.
Becky gave me a shrug and a smug, What’s the worst that could happen?
So I sat up, squared my shoulders, and dropped my voice to something low and a little dramatic. “It’s complicated.”
The man scoffed—loud and scathing. “Complicated? That’s the excuse? That’s what people say when they don’t want to take responsibility. He thought you were it. You met his mom. He was planning your damn future.”
“She’s so good,” Cindy whispered.
“I didn’t mean to hurt him,” I said, trying to keep my face straight. “But I had to do what was best for me.”
“You’re unbelievable,” he growled. “I knew you were bad news. I told him. But he was stupid in love.”
That one hit different.
His voice was steel, but under it… I don’t know. It caught on something inside me. Some half-forgotten ache I hadn’t looked at in a while.
It wasn’t just that he was mad. It was that he gave a damn. And I couldn’t remember the last time someone fought this hard for someone else.
I clutched my chest dramatically. “You’re right,” I gasped. “I’m a monster. A heartless, pillow-stealing monster. I probably kicked his puppy too.”
There was a pause on the line.
Then a sharp, suspicious breath. “Wait. Are you… laughing?”
I tried to hold it in. I really did.
But I was laughing so hard, I leaned back, tipped my chair over—and the call cut out.
All three of us burst into full-on hysterics.
“What the hell was that?” Becky wheezed, wiping tears from her eyes.
Never Give Your V Card to your BossChapter 1
EMMA
“There is no way I will ever work for Ethan Grayson.”
The words flew out of my mouth with the kind of certainty that didn’t leave room for argument, the declaration echoing through the room. I crossed my arms and stared Ava down, daring her to challenge me.
She didn’t miss a beat, raising one perfectly shaped brow. “You haven’t even heard the job description yet.”
“I don’t need to,” I replied, my voice sharp and final. “Ethan Grayson is an arrogant, emotionally stunted billionaire playboy who thinks the sun rises and sets on his schedule. I’d rather shovel manure than nanny for him.”
Ava flopped back onto my couch, one arm draped dramatically over her eyes like she was auditioning for a soap opera. “You’re impossible, you know that? Ethan isn’t that bad anymore.”
“Isn’t he?” I shot back, one hand on my hip. “Do I need to remind you of high school? He was the human equivalent of a cologne ad—smirking, winking, and constantly surrounded by a rotating cast of girlfriends. No thanks.”
Ava’s lips curled into a sly smile that immediately put me on edge. “What if I told you he’s willing to pay six figures?”
I blinked. “Six... figures? As in... more than five?”
“Yup,” she said, popping the p like it was nothing. “Plus, free room and board in that ridiculous mansion of his. And you’d get to live in the city instead of this one-stoplight town. Come on, Em. It’s the opportunity of a lifetime.”
Opportunity of a lifetime or not, the thought of working for Ethan Grayson made my stomach churn. Sure, I needed a job—desperately, in fact. My shiny new diploma didn’t come with a promise of employment, and the prospects in our sleepy little town were, at best, dismal. But Ethan?
“I’d rather be broke than deal with that man’s ego,” I muttered, mostly trying to convince myself.
“You’re being dramatic,” Ava said, rolling her eyes. She picked up a throw pillow and tossed it at me. “Jake’s the one who really needs you. He’s such a sweet kid, but he’s struggling—at school, at home, everywhere. Ethan’s completely in over his head. You’d be perfect for this.”
I sighed and sank deeper into the couch, my resolve faltering. I’d always been a sucker for kids, and hearing that Jake was having a hard time tugged at my heartstrings. But still, this wasn’t just about Jake.
“Why doesn’t he hire a professional nanny?” I asked. “Someone with credentials?”
Ava shrugged as if it were the simplest thing in the world. “Because I suggested you. And Ethan trusts me. Besides, Jake doesn’t need some cold, clinical professional. He needs someone who actually cares. Someone like you.”
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, and she snatched it up, her eyes lighting up when she saw the name. “Speak of the devil,” she said with a grin, tapping to answer. “Hey, big brother. What’s up?”
I glared at her, silently praying she wouldn’t drag me any further into this mess.
“Mmhmm... yeah, she’s here,” Ava said, her eyes glinting with mischief. “And guess what? She’s thinking about it.”
My jaw dropped. “I am not!”
Ava waved me off, still grinning. “Relax, Ethan. I’ll talk to her.”
She hung up and turned back to me, looking entirely too pleased with herself. “Good news. He’s calling you tonight.”
“What?” My voice hit an octave I didn’t know I had. “Ava, no! You can’t just—”
“Too late,” she said, shrugging like it was no big deal. “I gave him your number. And unless you want to ghost him—which, by the way, would make me look bad—you’d better answer.”
I groaned and buried my face in the throw pillow, wishing it could swallow me whole. I didn’t want to answer Ethan’s call. I didn’t want to think about his desperate nanny situation, or his ridiculously tempting six-figure salary, or the way he used to smirk at me like he knew every secret I ever had.
But deep down, a tiny, traitorous part of me was curious.
And that part was absolutely going to get me into trouble.
Can you, for those who don’t know you already, tell us something about yourself and how you became an author?
Hello,
I am thrilled to be participating in this. Last year, I turned 60 and realized how close I am to retirement. I also began to imagine what that would look like. My husband and I are looking forward to traveling in our RV, taking cruises with our friends, and taking our grandchildren on vacations with us. Being able to do this without worrying about having enough vacation time or money would be a dream come true. This is a way to supplement retirement, and I can do it as long as I want. Reading has always been a passion of mine, and one day I just sat down and started writing. It was clunky at first, but now the ideas are flowing, and I can not write fast enough. Some of my stories are based on real-life experiences, such as 'My Grumpy Firefighter Daddy.'
What is something unique/quirky about you?
Oh my gosh! Where do I start? Something quirky about me is that I am a true believer that there is a song for everything.
For some reason, certain words trigger a song in my mind. And most of the time, I either blurt it out or start singing it. I love to sing, but can not carry a tune to save my life. LOL
The other thing is, I smell everything. I do not know why. My little sister does it too
Tell us something really interesting that’s happened to you!
Honestly, my life has really been pretty boring. Scarey, yes, infuriating, yes but interesting, I don’t know.
A moment I am not proud of, but I can laugh about it now and is always a great laugh. My first wedding was at Memorial Coliseum, a hugh sports auditorium.
I got married on the back of Big Foot Monster Truck. Long story, but my dad was being difficult and wanted me to have a Catholic wedding. Now, I was raised Episcopalian, but in middle school, I attended a Baptist church, and in high school, I attended a Methodist church. But had never attended the catholic church. But my dad was raised Catholic and later in life became a Deacon in the Catholic church. So that was his dream, and I was his last daughter to get married. This gal that I worked with, Betty, ( a HOOT!!) said she found a solution. She was so excited to tell me she had entered me in a contest to get married on Big Foot…. We won.
I had family there for the show, and then they realized I was the wedding. It was pretty funny. It was a radio station and they paid for our rings, my dress, and tuxes. A beautiful reception with tons of food and a honeymoon in Vegas. What could go wrong, Right??? LOL!!
What are some of your pet peeves?
When I am at the grocery store and the person in front of me does not put a blocker thing to separate our groceries. I have left the store without some of my stuff and/or accidentally paid for part of someone else's stuff.
People who do not use turn signals. OMG!
Where were you born/grew up at?
I was born in Greeley, Colorado. I lived there until I was 8. My dad owned the 2 McDonald's in town. During the summers, we would trade McDonald's food for Putt-Putt. Our neighbor, 3 houses down, owned the Local Putt Putt so it worked perfectly. After my parents divorced, we moved to Oregon so my mom could be close to her family.
If you knew you’d die tomorrow, how would you spend your last day?
In the ocean, snorkeling. Not in Oregon, though. Our ocean is freezing! Caribbean or Hawaiian islands. That is my happy place. Bonus points if there are sea turtles.
Who is your hero and why?
That one is tough. I don’t know anymore.
What kind of world ruler would you be?
I am a pretty fair person, so I think I would be a pretty fair ruler. And I would have silly laws like you can take your dog anywhere. Or, you have to wear tennis shoes on Tuesdays. I don’t know.
What are you passionate about these days?
Honestly, my books. I pour my heart and soul into them. After working a 10-hour day at my “real job” I will then put at least 5-6 hours working on my books.
However, I am also passionate about BINGO right now. I love playing it so much.
What can we expect from you in the future?
I am just finishing up a series and would like to do two or three more series.
Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?
Karla and Becky are really my best friends. They are my right or die
The story of My Grumpy Firefighter Daddy actually happened.
Reality is Jack was actually Becky’s son, we found out at the end of the day when Becky put 2 and 2 together. That made it even more funny.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in My Grumpy Firefighter Daddy?
The book starts in the Emergency Room. 3 nurses are sitting around complaining about how slow it is.
Becky and Cindy are me and one of my bestfriends. We really did all work together for about 7 years. The conversation in the office really happened.
Karla really did flip backwards in chair.
We laughed all day long about this kid who kept texting Karla. Evidently his girlfriend had broken up with him and he was devastated.
Close to the end of the day, Becky says, “Karla, what is the # that has been texting you?” Turns out it was Becky’s son. His girlfriend was Kari and he was using Becky’s old phone and we call Karla, Karl.
How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?
Life mostly
Where did you come up with the names in the story?
My coaches make me use tropey titles. They say thats what sells.
Who designed your book covers?
I am using a company called Get Covers. They are located outside the US and are very reasonable. But their models are just stock guys and very homely. One of my writing coaches said, “He’s UGLY.” “Why would you pick that?” I explained I did not pick him or want him. That's when I finally decided to create my own guy and send it to them, and then they made the cover with my guy.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?
I love The Fireman’s Fake Fiancée. Creating it was so much fun. Creating
The Wildfire Pact, those girls are survivors. The first part of the book grabs you. You don’t always get friends like that. Bonding over a traumatic event.
If your book were made into a film, who would you like to play the lead?
Cal Bennett has that steady, grounded, protective vibe with a soft heart he only shows to Harper. He’s rugged, dependable, and small-town sexy, but also has those hidden layers of tenderness and humor. So for actors, I’d look at guys who can play both “grumpy walls” and “heart-melting protector.” A few that pop to mind:
Taylor Kitsch – He’s got that broody firefighter energy from Friday Night Lights days, and he can play tough but vulnerable really well.
Scott Eastwood – Rugged, small-town cowboy vibes, and let’s be honest—he could carry a fireman’s uniform.
Jensen Ackles – He’s got the smoldering intensity, the protective streak, and enough charm to balance Cal’s grumpy side.
Luke Grimes (Yellowstone) – Quiet, intense, but with that loyal family-man vibe that feels very Cal.
Chris Evans (bearded mode) – A little more Hollywood, but when he does his scruffy look, he nails that “grumpy protector who secretly melts for his girl.”
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
Thank you!! I couldn't have done it without them.
What is your favorite part of this book and why?
For Firefighter Protector, it's when Jack is in the ER with his daughter. He is texting Karla. Her phone buzzes. She does not touch it. That's when Karla discovers that this good-looking hunk is actually Jack. He finds out later.
If you could spend time with a character from your book who would it be?
I am not sure I would want to. LOL But to pick it would have to be the Wildfire Pact girls.
Are your characters based on real people, or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
Some are based on real people. Some just came to me when I started brainstorming. My Grumpy Billionaire Protector is set in a place I love in Oregon. Kah Nee Ta Resort and hot springs. That place is heaven. Its in the high desert and then down in a valley. They have hot pools, a lazy river, a cold plunge, riverside Cabanas, a snack booth, and a restaurant. There is so much more. It's a dry heat, and I love it. We stay in the RV park, but there is also a hotel nearby.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
I don’t think so. I think I carry the story. So far at least.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
Why My Grumpy Firefighter Daddy is a Must-Read
This book isn’t just about a wrong-number text gone hilariously right, it’s about fate sliding into your messages when you least expect it. Jack Reid is everything we secretly (or not so secretly) want in a hero: a rugged firefighter, a fiercely protective single dad, and a man who thinks he’s too broken for love… until the right woman calls his bluff.
And that woman? Karla. A whip-smart ER nurse who gives as good as she gets, even when she has no clue the anonymous man she’s texting is the same grumpy firefighter standing in her trauma bay. Their banter is laugh-out-loud, their chemistry is electric, and the way Jack falls, not just for Karla but for the found-family bond they create, will have your heart in a chokehold.
This isn’t just steamy romance (though, trust me, you’ll need a fan). It’s also about resilience, second chances, and the kind of everyday hero who runs toward the fire, but has no idea how to run from love.
So why is it a must-read? Because you’ll laugh, swoon, maybe cry a little, and close the book hugging it to your chest like it just saved you.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I have the 2nd book of the Wildfire Pact. It Piper's story. I am just starting on the 3rd book. I also wrote a memoir. It was very Cathartic. Healing.
Hello, Friend!Welcome to my little corner of the romance world—where grumpy heroes fall hard, sassy heroines steal hearts, and happily-ever-afters are always guaranteed
I'm so glad you're here. Below is a list of my steamy, feel-good reads, perfect for curling up with a cup of coffee... or a glass of wine (no judgment here!).
The Grumpy Billionaire Collection
My Grumpy Billionaire’s Nanny
Enemies to lovers. Best friend’s brother. Surprise pregnancy.
My Grumpy Billionaire Mountain Man
Brother’s best friend. One wedding. One bed. One mistake that feels way too right.
My Grumpy Billionaire Protector
Runaway bride. Best man. Secluded resort. He was never supposed to be the one…
My Grumpy Firefighter Daddy
Mistaken identity. Single dad. ER nurse. Sparks fly and hearts collide.
And now I have a
A BRAND-NEW SERIES!
The Wildfire Pact Series – Book 1
The Firefighter’s Fake Fiancée
Runaway bride + fake engagement + small-town chaos = one blazing hot second chance.
Book 2, Damaged Daddy, coming soon!!
Thank you so much for being here. I hope you fall in love with these characters the way I did while writing them. Your support means the world to me!
With love and a little steam,
Click Here for the list!
(Google gives me a small commission if you click on ads)
These sounds like good books
ReplyDeleteCongrats to the author! Thanks for the giveaway.
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