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    Strengthened by Fire
    Strengthened by Fire
    Strengthened by Fire
    Ebook112 pages1 hour

    Strengthened by Fire

    By Andrew Grey

    3.5/5

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    About this ebook

    Sequel to Redemption by Fire
    By Fire Series: Book Two

    Lee Stanton and Dirk Krause have been seeing each other for a couple of months when they get the bad news: the firehouse they work at will be closed unless they can come up with the money to complete some maintenance and repairs. The union wants to stand and fight. There’s just one problem: the only suggestion for how to raise the money is Lee’s. And Dirk hates it.

    Unfortunately, everyone else thinks Lee’s “Chicken and Beefcake” dinner—which they’ll attend in just their hats, boots, and fire pants—is a great idea, and Lee goes ahead with the organizing. But interference from the borough council and low ticket sales threaten to rain on Lee’s parade. If Dirk can’t put aside his pride and stubborn nature for one night, it could cost both him and Lee their jobs—never mind their relationship.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDreamspinner Press
    Release dateAug 8, 2012
    ISBN9781613726761
    Strengthened by Fire
    Author

    Andrew Grey

    Andrew Grey is the author of more than one hundred works of Contemporary Gay Romantic fiction. After twenty-seven years in corporate America, he has now settled down in Central Pennsylvania with his husband of more than twenty-five years, Dominic, and his laptop. An interesting ménage. Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He is a recipient of the RWA Centennial Award, has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, and now writes full-time. Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing). He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Email: andrewgrey@comcast.net Website: www.andrewgreybooks.com

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      Book preview

      Strengthened by Fire - Andrew Grey

      Chapter 1

      LEE STANTON sat in the station living area watching television during the evening shift. He’d just returned from a call, and he could hear the captain in his office working on the call report. The station was unusually quiet. If the television weren’t on, the place would feel closer to a morgue than a fire station. Find something to do, the captain called from his office, and then Lee heard heavy footsteps on the floor. Go check on the drying hoses, he barked a little harshly, pointing at one of the men. The showers need to be cleaned, he said, pointing at another of the guys. Lee jumped off the sofa and headed downstairs to the engine garage. He certainly was going to keep himself busy so he didn’t get one of the shit jobs. Finding a soft rag, he got to work polishing the brass and chrome on the pumper they’d bought recently. The yellow engine was the first piece of new equipment the company had been able to purchase in almost five years, and they’d been raising money for most of that time. Lee looked around the garage and reminded himself that he’d meant to ask if there were funds in the maintenance budget for paint and supplies. The inside of the garage could use a fresh coat of paint, as could the entire building, for that matter. Actually, what the building needed was a renovation. The showers and bathrooms were old and really showing the wear, and the kitchen needed updating. Not that any of it was Lee’s responsibility exactly, but he had eyes and he could see it, the same as anyone else. The captain had told him that once they got the pumper they needed, the plan was to raise funds to redo the building. Others worked around him, doing the same thing Lee was—keeping busy and staying out of the captain’s way.

      No one talked like they usually did. Instead, the same tension and quiet seemed to hang over the entire building. Greg Martin, who was working on one of the older engines, dropped a wrench, and the clang resounded through the building like nails on a chalkboard. Lee could feel the tension that had crackled around all of them for hours begin to sizzle. There wasn’t a person in the station who wasn’t balancing on a knife edge, and when the alarm rang, Lee practically jumped out of his skin before leaping into his gear and getting on the truck. The others rushed around with trained efficiency, and in a matter of seconds, they were ready to leave. Never in his life had he been so grateful for an emergency call. The vehicle began to move, and the siren sounded as they pulled out of the firehouse and turned onto Hanover Street.

      Lee’s heart pounded like it always did, and his mind shifted from worry to what he was trained to do. The tension that had been building for most of the evening receded, and he focused on the job ahead of him. By the time they arrived at the house with smoke billowing from the windows, Lee was in his normal work frame of mind and ready. The fire engine had barely pulled to a stop and the men were jumping to the ground, pulling out hoses and getting equipment ready. There’s still a boy in the house, the captain told Lee as he pulled on his breathing equipment. First floor toward the back of the house, according to the mother. Lee nodded and walked through the spray of water already being poured on the house. He often got assignments like this, both because he was levelheaded in these situations and because of his size. Lee was massive and strong as hell. A few weeks ago, he’d been in a burning building and part of a wall had fallen, trapping a man under it. Lee had simply lifted the wall, shoving it away, and carried the man to safety.

      Entering the front door of the small house, Lee was surrounded by swirling smoke and very little light. The smoke seemed to be heaviest in the area of the house that appeared to be the kitchen, and he heard crackling and sputtering from that direction, but he didn’t stop, continuing down the hall of the typical ranch-style house, pushing open each bedroom door and peering inside. They all appeared empty, and the smoke was definitely getting thicker. Lee could also hear fire building in the kitchen. Through his radio, he called his position to the crew and told them what he thought was happening. We’re on the kitchen, he heard in response. Find the kid.

      Roger, on it, Lee said as he approached the final door. It seemed to be locked, and Lee backed up before using his weight to break it in. The door flew open, and a kid who looked to be about twelve and who wore nothing but underwear jumped up out of the bed, screaming at the top of his lungs. The room appeared momentarily clear of smoke, but it billowed in through the open door, so Lee slammed it shut behind him. Lee rushed to the bedroom window and threw it open. I’m sending the kid out the back bedroom window. Have someone there! Lee called through the radio, and he heard an affirmative response. A loud whoosh sounded from behind him, and Lee immediately felt heat through his fire suit. Fire had erupted somewhere in the house, and the door to the bedroom blew open. Grabbing a blanket off the bed, Lee wrapped the kid in it and threaded him out the window. He felt someone take hold, and then the kid passed out of his hands. Lee grabbed a chair from the corner and used it as a club to break out the rest of the window. Making sure the opening was free of glass, Lee climbed sideways through it and felt the guys helping him out and onto the ground.

      Get the hell away! came through the radio in his headgear, and Lee grabbed the kid, lifting him off his feet as they ran a safe distance away. Then the house exploded in a fireball that knocked them all to the ground.

      What the fuck was that? Lee asked out loud as he turned back toward the house, trying to stop his heart from leaping into his throat. A few more seconds and he would have been toast. We’re okay back here, Lee said, looking around at the other firefighters and the kid, who were all slowly getting to their feet. Catching his breath, Lee pulled off his breathing equipment and lifted the barefooted kid into his arms before walking around the neighboring house to the street where numerous fire, police, and ambulance vehicles now sat with their lights flashing.

      Juan! A woman ran to where Lee was carrying the boy, tears running down her face, two small children in tow. Lee set the boy down, and he was immediately engulfed in what Lee assumed were his mother’s arms. She cried and began speaking rapidly in Spanish. Lee understood every sentiment, because her relief and the expression in her eyes when she looked at him told Lee all he needed to know.

      What happened, Cap? Lee asked once he’d stepped away. One of the guys handed him a bottle of water, and he gratefully took it. The last portions of the house standing collapsed in a hiss of smoke and steam as the flames died down.

      They were storing gasoline in cans in the basement. If I’d known, I would never have sent you inside like that. The usual lines on the captain’s forehead deepened. We didn’t find out until we were able to get someone in here to translate.

      There must have been quite a bit, judging by the size of that fireball. Lee gulped from the bottle, watching as more water was poured onto the pile of wreckage that had been a house. A man rushed across the front yard and joined the family, the

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