Jobe Tucker is the hottest fireman in Templeton by Lake Erie. Hot, single, and a fireman, he’s caught the eye of Stuart Talbot, owner of a local convenience store. But if Talbot doesn’t stop prying in the fireman’s life, there might be hell to pay. He just can’t control his crush, though.<br><br>Enter Talbot’s best friend, the straight Adam Lark, who balances Talbot when needed. Plus he owns a cabin away from the city where the two men occasionally spend weekends for downtime, relaxing. Unfortunately, Adam can’t stop Talbot from stalking Jobe.<br><br>When Jobe flirts with him, Talbot’s obsession and liking for the fireman heightens. But he has a heated history of being burned in a long-term relationship. Can Talbot put his tragic past behind him and begin a new love affair with the fireman? Or will his heart go down in flames?

Play with Fire

The day started out normal. I drove to Erie and Matt slept in. A-okay. Everything was normal. Then there was an electrical fire in the kitchen of our Colonial. The fire started at the Keurig and consumed the house within minutes. One spark sent the entire home into an inferno. Matt lay in our bed on the second floor, above the kitchen. According to Dr. Eli Channing, the Templeton medical examiner, Matt died of smoke inhalation.


I learned of his demise when returning to Templeton. I heard one of the firefighters at the Colonial telling his hero buddies, “There are no survivors. One victim. Dated him once. The fish that got away. Nice guy. I knew him. Sad time right now. Sad day.”


Chapter 9