But I have the best of both worlds: two great mentors in Luke and Roman, and less likelihood of running into a situation where Roman would feel compromised about making a call. Luke has no problem telling me what needs to be done on the job. And now that we’re talking again, Dad’s very free with his advice, making sure all that experience is passed on to the next generation. Basically I have more mentors than I can shake a Halligan at.
I’m a lucky woman to have landed here. The house of my mom, the house of my heart.
A shuffling sound followed by the whisper of a door opening and closing somewhere else in the building interrupts the silence. A message from Jo Sullivan, perhaps? I’ve become more superstitious since I started at Engine 6. It’s hard not to feel blessed and protected by her presence.
A text comes in on my phone, My office now, Sullivan.
Ah, I knew there was a reason for my restlessness.
Less than a minute later, I find the door to Lieutenant Rossi’s office open, the dimmed light raised by half, and the most amazing gift awaiting me.
Cookies.
On a plate, chocolate with powdered sugar, and enough to make my mouth water.
Or maybe it’s the cookie courier, who’s sitting in his chair, looking even more delicious than the baked goods on his desk.
“Close the door, Abby, and come get your treat.”
I push the door flush with my butt and lock it (with my fingers because my butt’s not that talented). With a touch of insolence, I pick up a cookie.
My man cocks his gorgeous, dark head. “Really?”
“Oh, you thought …” My waved hand is the epitome of mock-casual. “Uh, no. Sugar always wins. Tell Lena I said thanks.”
The last cheeky word is barely out of my mouth before I’m positioned on the desk with the hard body of Roman Rossi slotted in between my thighs.
“The cookies are for after, ciliegina.”
I take a bite … of his fleshy, lower lip and let myself fall into sweet and spice and the innate knowledge that Roman will always protect me in every way possible. It feels wonderful to be loved with such assurance and clarity.
“How’s your mom doing?” he murmurs against my lips.
“How did you know—How did you even know I was awake?”
“I know you talk to her and I know you don’t sleep well here. Probably because you sleep like the dead when you’re in my arms.”
I chuckle. “Your body is like one of those weighted blankets.”
“And right now, you’re only getting it—and the perks of sleeping in my bed—for two nights a week. It’s not enough, Abby.”
This is the downside of being on different shifts at the same house. Every third night, I can be with him and his family. But those other nights, two shifts of mine and two of his, are tough.
“I miss you, too,” I say quietly.
“What if I told you it could be more?”
“That would mean one of us—”
“Me, Abby. I want to put in for a transfer for the LT spot at Engine 70. It’s on the same shift as A platoon here, so—”
“We’d work the same 24 hours.” My throat feels tight. “You’d do that for me?”
“For us. I want as much time as possible with all my girls. I want to prioritize us and our family and I think this is the best way to do it. Maybe that’ll change when we have kids—and I’m not rushing you into that—but I do want to give Lena a little brother or sister one day. When that happens, we’ll figure out what works for us. But I won’t apply for the job if you’d rather I didn’t.”
He’s not trying to end run me or force me into a corner. His generosity floors me. It always does.
“I was going to say that I can’t believe you’d do this for me. For us. But that’s not true. I completely believe it because you are as solid and dependable as the walls of this firehouse, Roman Rossi. Chicago is so lucky to have you on the front lines and I’m so lucky to have once mistaken your pie for mine.”
I kiss him with all the emotion in my heart, all the love that’s his.
“Baby, my pie is yours,” he whispers, his voice rusty. “All of it, my body and my soul, everything belongs to you.”
He goes on to prove it. His hands on my ass pull me into a seal against the part of him I need pretty badly right now. Urgency dictates our movements as we break all the rules about getting busy on city property. Not the first time for either of us, but then I’ve been pushing the envelope since day one and it seems I’m not quite ready to become a rule follower.
Where this man is concerned, I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure he’s 100% mine.
He buries his face in my neck as I take him in hand and absorb the hard, pulsing heat of him alongside his yeah-that’s-it groan. Joined as one and hurtling toward release, we murmur words of love and appreciation as we christen another surface at Engine 6.
The man of my dreams, the house of my heart.
With Roman Rossi, I am home.
Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed Roman and Abby in UP IN SMOKE and are excited about my new Hot in Chicago Rookies series. Please leave an honest review on your blog, Goodreads feed, and favorite book platforms. I would so appreciate it.
Next up is Jude’s story. What’s his connection to Chicago Rebels hockey player Hudson Grey? Is it a crush or something more? (Spoiler: it’s something more!) Get all the details in DOWN IN FLAMES, an MM romance in the Hot in Chicago Rookies series, which is also linked to my Rookie Rebels books (learn more about Hudson in the next Rookie Rebels book, JOCK WANTED). If you’re new to the Rebels world, get started on my bestselling hockey series for free with GOOD GUY.
Or maybe you want to stay in the world of hot, buff firefighters? You might have noticed hints to previous stories set at Engine 6. All five Dempsey foster siblings met their romantic matches in the original Hot in Chicago series and live by the family motto: fire is stronger than blood and defend the people you love to the last ember. Nowhere is this tested more than on the battlefield of love! The original Hot in Chicago series is complete and available on all platforms, including the Chapters gaming app.
Finally, to stay in touch about new releases, sales, and what I’m working on, sign up for my newsletter or join my reader group, Kate’s Kittens on Facebook. Also you can follow me on Bookbub and never miss a new release or deal announcement.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to my editor, Kristi Yanta, for her amazing insight and for helping me kick off this new series with a bang, to Kim Cannon for another great copyedit, to Julia Griffis for her fabulous attention to detail during the final proofread, and to Lori Jackson for the wonderful cover.
To everyone who asked if I would return to Engine 6, I hope you enjoy this new firefighter romance. And if you’re new to this world or found me through my Chicago Rebels books, thanks for trying this new series.
Finally, thanks to Jimmie for all you do.
About the Author
Originally from Ireland, USA Today bestselling author Kate Meader cut her romance reader teeth on Maeve Binchy and Jilly Cooper novels, with some Harlequins thrown in for variety. Give her tales about brooding mill owners, oversexed equestrians, and men who can rock an apron, a fire hose, or a hockey stick, and she’s there. Now based in Chicago, she writes sexy contemporary featuring strong heroes and amazing women and men who can match their guys quip for quip.