CONRAD

  CONRAD:

  Sunset Canyon

  Fire & Rescue #3

  by Kate Tilney

  Copyright © 2020 by Kate Tilney

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

  Cover Photos by

  SSilver/ depositphotos

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  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  CONRAD: Sunset Canyon Fire & Rescue #3

  Chapter One | Conrad

  Talia

  Chapter Two | Conrad

  Talia

  Chapter Three | Conrad

  Talia

  Chapter Four | Conrad

  Chapter Five | Talia

  Chapter Six | Conrad

  Chapter Seven | Talia

  Epilogue | Conrad

  Also by Kate Tilney

  Where there’s smoke, there’s a Sunset Canyon Fire & Rescue firefighter . . .

  Talia

  After making national headlines at their annual Cops versus Firefighters baseball game, the city of Sunset Canyon hires me to manage their sudden fame. With my PR experience, there isn’t much I can’t handle.

  Until the fire department’s resident goofball makes it his mission to complicate my life when the mayor hand-selects Conrad to be the poster child of my campaign.

  He may be the sexiest man alive, but he’s driving me crazy.

  Conrad

  I’ve never responded well to orders, especially not when they’re issued by a spunky woman with a mouth that could drive a saint to sin.

  But when my boss, and my boss’s boss, tell me to do whatever she says, I don’t have a choice.

  Underneath the tension, there’s a heat and passion between us. I’m not one to play with fire, but I might not be able to resist her.

  Sunset Canyon Fire & Rescue is a steamy, instalove short story romance series with the alpha men sworn to protect their community and the women they love. No cliffhangers! Read CONRAD if you like enemies to lovers, bad boy firefighters, and a love that burns hot.

  Chapter One

  Conrad

  Stepping through the door of the mayor’s private office, I give a low whistle.

  “This is a pretty fancy set-up you have here.”

  The mayor shoots me a death glare from his seat behind the mahogany desk. He wordlessly points to one of the empty seats opposite him. I exchange a worried glance with Dallas. He’s the new chief of Sunset Canyon Fire & Rescue and one of my best friends. But right now, I know he’s acting in that first capacity.

  I just don’t know exactly why I’m here.

  Taking the offered seat, I wince.

  The mayor’s eyebrows shoot up. “I take it you’re still a little sore from earlier.”

  “Yeah, I slid into third base in the fourth inning. Hurts like hell.”

  I know he isn’t buying that. Because we know it isn’t true. Not the part about sliding. I really did do that earlier this afternoon during the annual Cops versus Firefighters charity baseball game. But we both know that isn’t why I’m nursing a couple of bruised ribs.

  Those came from the knock-out, drag-out fight that just broke out during said baseball game. I’m still a little hazy on all the particulars, but in the top of the ninth, my buddy Shane got into it with one of the cops. Whatever set them off, it was enough to empty the benches for both teams.

  The door opens and Jami, Shane’s cop girlfriend, joins. She gives Dallas and me a little wave, which is probably more than we deserve.

  “Now that I have you all here, let’s talk about how we’re going to fix this mess of yours,” the mayor says.

  “With all due respect,” Dallas says, “I think what happened was a heat of the moment thing. The police chief and I have already talked. We’ll make sure punishments are handed out.”

  It looks like we’ll be clearing out the storage rooms and scrubbing the garage floor with toothbrushes. Still, it could be worse.

  The mayor frowns. “With all due respect, I don’t think that’s going to cut it right now.”

  He flips his computer screen around. There, in full color is video of the fight on the local news station. Okay, that’s not great. Then he clicks another video. It’s cell phone footage uploaded to Facebook. Then another angle on YouTube. Another on Twitter. And another. And another. Each one already has enough views to tell us we’re in real trouble.

  “We’ve gone viral.”

  “And we’re going to fix that now. You’ve been selected as representatives of your respective departments to help us stage a public relations campaign to fix this.”

  I smirk. “What? Am I here for my dazzling personality?”

  “You’re here because you’re the only firefighter—besides your chief—who doesn’t have a bruised or bloodied face. And we need you camera ready.”

  So I’m being punished for being a good fighter. Son. Of. A. Bitch.

  “What do you want us to do?” Jami asks. “Hug and make up on camera.”

  “That’s just a start. Luckily, my niece in Los Angeles is a crisis manager. She’ll be here any minute to tell us what to do.”

  I snort. “A crisis manager. Isn’t that a bit much? It was just a little fight.”

  The mayor hits play on another video with well over a million views and counting. In this one, it’s impossible to ignore a few choice four-letter words being thrown out.

  I slouch in my chair, but snap back up to attention when Dallas glares at me. I open my mouth to say perfect face or not, I’m really not the best choice. The mayor’s office door swings open once again before I can get it out.

  Through it walks the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever seen in my life. With black hair swept back into a tidy bun, a skirt and top that hug mouth-watering curves, and a pair of green eyes that could put a spell on a man, she’s a fantasy.

  Her lips curve up in a smile for the mayor, and my cock twitches. What I wouldn’t give to have those lips smile for me. Or more.

  Maybe being the poster boy won’t be so bad after all.

  Talia

  It’s all I can do not to trip over my own feet when I step into my uncle’s office. I’ve made a career of getting people and organizations out of tricky situations. I have a reputation for being composed and ruthless.

  But the hunk of man currently staring at me like I’m his next meal has the potential to undo all of that.

  With a runner’s body, a shock of dirty blond hair, and eyes the color of a clear blue sky, he’s about as handsome as they come. But it’s that wicked smirk on his mouth—the mischief in his eyes—that has me wanting to breathe into a paper bag.

  Based on the Sunset Canyon Fire & Rescue T-shirt stretched across his well-defined chest and arms, I have no doubt who I’ll be working with for the next week. And that’s a problem. A big one.

  “Talia.” My uncle rises and moves around the desk to fold me in a hug. “I’d like to introduce you to the only non-bruised, and non-bloodied members of our local police and fire forces. As requested”

  Which is who I told to bring to this meeting. Meaning my options are limited. Luckily, there’s a hulking, dark-haired, tattooed man with a firefighter shirt on too. I think I’ll work with him.

  “I also invited the chief of the fire department,” my uncle says, gesturing to the m
an in question. “This is Dallas. Unfortunately, the chief of police is dealing with maxed out holding cells while some of the scrappier men in uniform cool off.”

  The woman in a police T-shirt clears her throat. “There aren’t any women in holding cells, because we had enough common sense not to get involved.”

  We exchange a grin. I always appreciate a fellow smartass. We’ll have to stick together dealing with these overgrown man-children.

  Ignoring the intensity of the hotty firefighter’s stare, I take the only empty chair in the room, which is unfortunately next to him. My uncle finishes the introductions. The cop’s named Jami. I’ve already sort of met Dallas. And then there’s Conrad.

  I force myself to meet his gaze as we shake hands. My heart skips a beat and a shiver of delight runs down my spine as his hard palm presses against mine. I jerk back, my skin still warm and tingly where we touched.

  I turn my attention to my uncle, who’s seated back behind his desk.

  “Not to mince words, you have a serious public relations problem on your hands. But I already have ideas.”

  My uncle motions for me to continue, and I pretend not to be affected by Conrad’s low chuckle.

  “First things first, we need to change the story without ignoring it. Issuing a public apology and shaking hands on camera won’t be enough.” I pull out my phone to check the list I put together quickly. “We’re going to need to show the police and firefighters working together on a project.”

  “What do you have in mind?” Jami asks.

  “This all happened at a charity game, I think we start with a charitable project. You could have people from both departments working side by side to build houses and clean up parks.”

  Dallas and Jami nod. Though I don’t see Conrad’s reaction, I can practically feel the heat of his stare burning my skin.

  “Those are good first steps, but I also like the idea of a big project that could make just as many headlines as your boxing match did.”

  My uncle nods. “What would that be?”

  “My first thought: a calendar. Featuring the buff and beautiful men of both departments.”

  “Without shirts on?” Conrad asks.

  “Ideally, yes. It works for the New York Fire Department. And based on the video I saw, you have plenty of men in good shape.”

  Particularly the one sitting next to me. The one shaking his head at me like I’m crazy.

  “There’s no way that flies with the rest of the guys. It’s humiliating.”

  I roll my eyes. “It’s for a charity.”

  “But it still involves stripping for a camera.”

  “You can wear pants.”

  He snorts. “If you knew the guys, you wouldn’t even suggest it.”

  “Fine.” I fold my arms across my chest. “I’ll get to know the guys.”

  “What? Are you going to stop by the station for chili night or something?”

  “If that’s an invite, I’ll be there.” I narrow my eyes. “And with the mayor’s permission—as well as that of your respective chiefs—I’d like to shadow the fine men and women of your departments for a few days to get to know you better.”

  “We’d be glad to have you,” Dallas says.

  “I can’t speak for my chief, but I’m sure we will too,” Jami adds.

  “Sure, I’ll show you around the firehouse. Let you slide down the pole.” Conrad leans forward, and his spicy musk floods my senses making my body tingle. I’m so caught off guard by my reaction to him, I almost miss his words. “I have one piece of advice for you?”

  “Which would be?”

  “Wear something comfortable.”

  Chapter Two

  Conrad

  I take one look at Talia’s outfit and throw my head back in laughter.

  I know it’s rude, but did this woman really show up for a day of shadowing firefighters in a pantsuit and shiny flat dress shoes. I think my sister calls them ballet flats.

  Her bewitching green eyes narrow into slits. “What?”

  “You’re going to get those pretty shoes of yours dirty.”

  “I didn’t exactly pack with the plan of spending my days getting dirty.”

  “Fair enough.” I reach into my duffel bag and pull out an extra T-shirt with the department logo on it. I toss it to her. “We can’t do much about your shoes, but this might be more comfortable.”

  She doesn’t say anything but disappears into the restroom. While she’s away, I think about those green eyes of hers. Those curves. While it’s plain to see Talia doesn’t care for me too much, I like everything I’ve seen about her.

  It’s not just her looks. It’s the way she took charge of the meeting at the mayor’s office yesterday. The way she sassed me when I spoke out of turn. It all boils down to a feisty woman in an appealing package. And I’d like to open that package and see what’s inside.

  I’m working through my mental list of pick-up lines when my buddy Shane nudges me in the ribs. “What are you grinning at?”

  “Just thinking about something?”

  “Don’t you mean someone.” He flashes a smile, which is weird from him. Then again, he is back together with the woman he’s been in love with his whole life. If there was ever a reason to walk around like a lovesick puppy, I guess he has a good one. “You going after the crisis manager?”

  I shrug. “I was thinking about it.”

  “Well good luck. Jami had breakfast with her, and she said Talia is tough stuff.

  Like that’s going to stop me from trying. I open my mouth to respond but stop as the woman in question emerges from the bathroom. In my T-shirt.

  I swallow hard as she comes to stand in front of me. “Looks good on you.”

  I’d like it even better on the floor of my bedroom.

  “It is pretty comfortable.” She glances down at it. “Maybe I’ll keep it.”

  “Maybe I’ll let you.”

  That earns me my first Talia grin. It’s enough to have me seeing stars for a second. Tough stuff or not, I’m going to make Talia like me if it’s the last thing I do.

  The alarm on my radio sounds, and I answer without tearing my gaze away from her.

  “We’ve got a medical emergency. Pregnant woman in labor. We need to send out the medics.”

  “Copy that.” I reach for another bag and sling it over my shoulder. I turn to Shane. “You up to drive?”

  He nods and races toward our ambulance. Talia watches with interest and I grab her hand. “Time for your first ridealong.”

  She jogs to keep up with me. “Didn’t they call for a medic?”

  “I’m an EMT.”

  Her mouth makes an “O” as she slides into the middle seat of the ambulance. Shane flips on the sirens and we’re off. Though I can see Talia’s mind racing with questions as she takes in everything around her, she doesn’t say anything. It’s probably for the best. My mind is focused on the task at hand. Depending on how far this woman is into her labor, we may have to deliver.

  Shane gets us to our destination in under three minutes. I’m out of the truck and up the steps of the house before Shane or Talia slide out. A pretty red-haired woman with wide eyes and panic on her face opens the doors.

  “My water broke. My husband is at work. I didn’t know what to do.”

  “We’ll take care of you, darling. Are you okay to walk?”

  She nods and I help her to the back of the truck. Talia is watching with her jaw wide open. Shane already has the back open.”

  “Are we headed to Memorial?” he asks.

  “Too soon to tell.”

  I help the woman into the ambulance and onto the stretcher. While performing a quick examination, she has a second contraction in as many minutes.

  “Ma’am, you’re getting close to having this baby. Good news is, you’re doing great. Everything looks good to go.” I hand my cell phone to Talia. “Can you give us your husband’s work number? We’ll give him a call.”

  “I’ve tried him,
but okay.” She does as ordered while I get the supplies ready for delivery.

  Talia’s eyes widen, phone frozen against her ear. “Shouldn’t we get her to the doctor?”

  “The nearest hospital is thirty minutes away. There’s no time.” I flash her a grin. “Don’t worry, I’ve got this.”

  I turn my attention back to the woman. The next few minutes fly by with Shane and Talia following my orders. Fifteen minutes after we arrived, I’m cradling a bright-eyed baby boy.

  “Good job, Mom.” I place the baby on her chest. “He was in a hurry to meet you.”

  Shane goes to the front of the ambulance to drive us to the hospital for recovery.

  Talia is still watching me with wide eyes.

  “That was incredible.” She shakes her head. “I’ve never seen anything like that.”

  “It’s the miracle of birth.” I grin at her as I finish cleaning up. “It never gets old.”

  “I don’t see how it could.” Taking the seat next to me, she looks up at me, those eyes of her sparkling. “What you just did . . . you’re a hero.”

  I’m about to correct her. To tell her I was just doing my job. But with the wonder on her face, the fullness of her lips, I can’t seem to stop myself. I slip an arm around her and lower my mouth to hers.

  Talia

  I gasp in surprise, but it turns into a sigh. In response, Conrad’s lips urge mine open. I’m helpless to resist. I grab his shirt as his tongue gently meets mine. The rush of wonder from watching Conrad perform a miracle turns into pure arousal as every part of my body comes alive.

  Just as I pull him closer to take the kiss deeper he breaks it off.

  Resting his forehead against mine, Conrad’s chest rises up and down. “You don’t know how much it kills me to say this, but can we continue this later?”

  Finally able to draw a proper thought, I shake my head. “You’re on the clock. I shouldn’t have—”

  “Babe, this thing between us isn’t an accident. It’s god-damn destiny.”

  I’m not so sure about that. As my heartbeat slows, my common sense returns.