Expectant Father (4 stars, RT), Hot Shot Series (Book 3)
Note from Melinda: The 3rd story in the Hot Shot series has lots of fire action and a May-December romance that has sparks flying. Here's a taste...
Excerpt:
“Move! Move! Move!” Spider shouted as he sprinted after nineteen men and women through a tunnel of flame.
No one heard him above the roar of the fire.
The Silver Bend Hot Shots were in a race for their lives down a mountainside that they’d been trying to save from a wildland fire. A few minutes ago, they’d been scraping away brush with shovels and Pulaskis, clearing a fire break next to a tame flank of the Flathead, Montana fire on the slope above them, joking about how there’d be no overtime on this fire because it would soon be put out.
Then the wind swirled about them, no longer coming from the creek below in gentle puffs. Whipped into a ten foot tall wall of menacing flame, the fire toyed with them only for a moment before bending across their six foot wide fire break and touching off a fire on the opposite side with a heated kiss. Tools scattered and packs were abandoned as the group began a desperate run for the ribbon of water they’d started at this morning.
As an assistant superintendent of the team, it was Spider’s job to make sure everyone made it out ahead of him. One misstep by someone before him and they’d go down like dominoes, more fuel to be consumed by the fiery dragon on their heels.
How much farther?
Ahead of Spider, the fire seemed to be closing ranks around them. The heat and smoke from the flames made it difficult to fill his lungs with air. His heart pounded wildly from exertion, adrenaline and fear.
Someone stumbled in front of him. Swerving to the side, running perilously close to the tongue of flame on his right, Spider dragged Victoria back to her feet.
“We’re not going to make it,” she cried, barely audible above the angry roar of the fire.
Even as some part of Spider agreed, he rejected defeat. At thirty, he still had things to accomplish, places to see, and women to meet. Single, few responsibilities, with few regrets and only his dad to mourn him, the world was his oyster.
Only he was about to be fried.
*** And later in the book ***
It was him.
Black hair and intense black eyes. All five-foot-ten inches of sculpted, sexy man.
Not only was it him, but Aiden Rodas - better known around here as Spider - had looked her in the eye as if she were some irresponsible, idiotic pregnant woman who had caused her own accident. He had filled her nights with pleasurable memories that came pressing back on her now, heating her from the inside out. And he…
Didn’t even recognize her.
While the man they called Doc applied a bandage to her temple, Becca’s foolish pride steamed. Aiden didn’t recognize her. Had he really been that drunk when they’d met? She hadn’t thought so. She should be grateful he didn’t recognize her. It made everything that much easier.
Still, Becca didn’t want to be just another notch on his bed post.
The baby kicked her belly in Aiden’s direction, a proverbial wave to garner his attention. Becca ran a hand over her tummy, trying to satisfy the urge to shush her little one. There were plenty of reasons why Aiden didn’t need to know of his role in creating this child. But now wasn’t the time...
Expectant Father
