Fire and Fog

by Andrew Grey

  “What will your mother think about our homemade tree?” Relations had thawed considerably. Robin knew it was the fact that Dwayne was now a parent and they had a grandchild, which seemed to please Dwayne’s mother immensely.

  “She’ll love it.” Dwayne smiled.

  Robin was nervous about meeting Dwayne’s family. They were coming in five days for a visit over the long weekend.

  “Can we get it now?” Charlie asked as he bounced near their legs.

  “Yes. Dwayne is going to pay the man, and then we’ll load it on the car.” Robin took Charlie’s hand, missing Dwayne’s warmth and closeness as Dwayne went to pay for the tree and get one of the men to help load it. “We’re going to make our own decorations.”

  “Yay! I can make chains and stars and snowflakes and…” Charlie was off like a shot, and Robin listened as he listed everything he was going to make. Robin figured it would take weeks, but that was fine. Charlie could make all the decorations he wanted. “Can we put the tree up when we get home?”

  “Yes, but we’ll decorate it tomorrow after Uncle Dwayne and I get home from work.”

  “Can Alex help?” The older boy had become Charlie’s idol, and Alex had done worlds for Charlie, who wanted to do anything Alex could, including read on his own. Charlie was in kindergarten but was already reading at a second-grade level.

  “Of course. I’ll ask Mr. Donald if it’s okay.”

  Charlie pulled him after Dwayne and supervised the loading of the tree onto the car. Then they got inside, and Dwayne slowly drove them home and somehow muscled the tree into the stand and inside the house to the corner of their living room. Charlie danced and sang “Jingle Bells,” already excited for Christmas, which was still two weeks away.

  “What do you think about having a Christmas party?” Robin spoke to Charlie, but also Dwayne.

  Dwayne stepped back from the tree. “If you’d like to. We could do it next Sunday. I think it would be good for my parents to see that we have a real life with real friends. It would need to be simple, but we could invite folks over. Red and Terry will be back from what Terry assures Red is his last promotional gig. You can invite your friends from the Y. It will be fun.”

  “It will be an amazing way to thank everyone for all their help. We have a great life together with incredible friends, and I want to do something for them.”

  “Then we will.” Dwayne finished getting the tree close to where they wanted it and stepped back. It was straight, looked good, and was already filling the house with the scent of Christmas. Dwayne stood next to him, and they quietly gazed at the tree as Charlie played around it.

  “My family,” Robin whispered to himself as warmth spread out from his heart to the rest of his body.

  “You’re shaking,” Dwayne said as he pulled him closer.

  “I keep wondering how long this can last.” Sometimes he had dreams where he was alone and scared, with Stan chasing him. Each time he woke with a start to find Dwayne right there, holding him.

  “Forever,” Dwayne answered without hesitation and turned to him. Robin put his arms around Dwayne’s neck and pulled him closer. That was all he’d ever wanted. “You’ll be mine forever, I can promise you that.” Dwayne leaned closer to kiss him hard.

  “Ewww, kissing,” Charlie said from where he sat with his cars by the tree.

  Robin smiled into the kiss and Dwayne did the same. Then he slid his fingers into Robin’s hair and drew him closer once again.

  More from Andrew Grey

  Carlisle Cops: Book One

  Officer Red Markham knows about the ugly side of life after a car accident left him scarred and his parents dead. His job policing the streets of Carlisle, PA, only adds to the ugliness, and lately, drug overdoses have been on the rise. One afternoon, Red is dispatched to the local Y for a drowning accident involving a child. Arriving on site, he finds the boy rescued by lifeguard Terry Baumgartner. Of course, Red isn’t surprised when gorgeous Terry won’t give him and his ugly mug the time of day.

  Overhearing one of the officer’s comments about him being shallow opens Terry’s eyes. Maybe he isn’t as kindhearted as he always thought. His friend Julie suggests he help those less fortunate by delivering food to the elderly. On his route he meets outspoken Margie, a woman who says what’s on her mind. Turns out, she’s Officer Red’s aunt.

  Red and Terry’s worlds collide as Red tries to track the source of the drugs and protect Terry from an ex-boyfriend who won’t take no for an answer. Together they might discover a chance for more than they expected—if they can see beyond what’s on the surface.

  Carlisle Cops: Book Two

  Carter Schunk is a dedicated police officer with a difficult past and a big heart. When he’s called to a domestic disturbance, he finds a fatally injured woman, and a child, Alex, who is in desperate need of care. Child Services is called, and the last man on earth Carter wants to see walks through the door. Carter had a fling with Donald a year ago and found him as cold as ice since it ended.

  Donald (Ice) Ickle has had a hard life he shares with no one, and he’s closed his heart to all. It’s partly to keep himself from getting hurt and partly the way he deals with a job he’s good at, because he does what needs to be done without getting emotionally involved. When he meets Carter again, he maintains his usual distance, but Carter gets under his skin, and against his better judgment, Donald lets Carter guilt him into taking Alex when there isn’t other foster care available. Carter even offers to help care for the boy.

  Donald has a past he doesn’t want to discuss with anyone, least of all Carter, who has his own past he’d just as soon keep to himself. But it’s Alex’s secrets that could either pull them together or rip them apart—secrets the boy isn’t able to tell them and yet could be the key to happiness for all of them.

  Carlisle Cops: Book Three

  Since the death of their mother, Josten Applewhite has done what he’s had to do to take care of his little brother and keep their small family together. But in an instant, a stroke of bad luck tears down what little home he’s managed to build, and Jos and Isaac end up on the streets.

  That’s were Officer Kip Rogers finds them, and even though he knows he should let the proper authorities handle things, he cannot find it in his heart to turn them away, going so far as to invite them to stay in his home until they get back on their feet. With the help of Kip and his friends, Jos starts to rebuild his life. But experience has taught him nothing comes for free, and the generosity seems too good to be true—just like everything about Kip.

  Kip’s falling hard for Jos, and he likes the way Jos and Isaac make his big house feel like a home. But their arrangement can’t be permanent, not with Jos set on making his own way. Then a distant relative emerges, determined to destroy Jos’s family, and Kip knows Jos needs him—even if he’s not ready to admit it.

  Carlisle Cops: Book Four

  Fisher Moreland has been cast out of his family because they can no longer deal with his issues. Fisher is bipolar and living day to day, trying to manage his condition, but he hasn’t always had much control over his life and has self-medicated with whatever he could find.

  JD Burnside has been cut off from his family because of a scandal back home. He moved to Carlisle but brought his Southern charm and warmth along with him. When he sees Fisher on a park bench on a winter’s night, he invites Fisher to join him and his friends for a late-night meal.

  At first Fisher doesn’t know what to make of JD, but he slowly comes out of his shell. And when Fisher’s job is threatened because of a fire, JD’s support and care is more than Fisher ever thought he could expect. But when people from Fisher’s past turn up in town at the center of a resurgent drug epidemic, Fisher knows they could very well sabotage his budding relationship with JD.

  Carlisle Cops: Book Five

  Brock Ferguson knew he might run into his ex-boyfriend, Vincent Geraldini, when he took his first job as a police officer in Carlisle. Vincent’s attitude during a
routine traffic stop reminds Brock why their relationship didn’t last.

  What Brock doesn’t expect is finding two scared children in the trunk of a Corvette. He’s also surprised to learn the kids’ mother is Vincent’s sister. But his immediate concern is the safety of the two children, Abey and Penny, and he offers to comfort and care for them when their mother is taken into custody.

  Vincent is also shocked to learn what his sister has done. For the sake of the kids, he and Brock bury the hatchet—and soon find they have much more in common than they realized. With Abey and Penny’s help, they grow closer, until the four of them start to feel like a family. But Vincent’s sister and her boyfriend—an equal-opportunity jerk—could tear down everything they’re trying to build.

  Readers love the Carlisle Cops series by Andrew Grey

  Fire and Water

  “All of Andrew Grey’s books are good, but I think I just found a new favorite!”

  —Love Bytes

  Fire and Ice

  “I am continually amazed with Grey’s imagination. He constantly comes up with fresh new story ideas to keep his readers entertained and chomping at the bit for the next story.”

  —TTC Books and More

  Fire and Rain

  “I enjoyed every single second of this book. I tore through all 200 pages in just two hours… then read it again on the spot.”

  —Alpha Book Club

  Fire and Snow

  “Fire and Snow by Andrew Grey gave me exactly what I want out of a romance. It was an amazing love story.”

  —Two Chicks Obsessed

  Fire and Hail

  “I absolutely LOVE this series and this newest addition is without a doubt a wonderful welcome.”

  —Diverse Reader

  ANDREW GREY 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 all over the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and now works full-time on his writing. 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 husband. Andrew currently lives in beautiful historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

  Email: andrewgrey@comcast.net

  Website: www.andrewgreybooks.com

  By Andrew Grey

  Accompanied by a Waltz

  Between Loathing and Love

  Can’t Live Without You

  Chasing the Dream

  Crossing Divides

  Dominant Chord

  Dutch Treat

  Eastern Cowboy

  Heart Unseen

  In Search of a Story

  Noble Intentions

  North to the Future

  One Good Deed

  Path Not Taken

  The Playmaker

  Saving Faithless Creek

  Setting the Hook

  Shared Revelations

  Three Fates (Multiple Author Anthology)

  To Have, Hold, and Let Go

  Turning the Page

  Whipped Cream

  ART

  Legal Artistry • Artistic Appeal • Artistic Pursuits • Legal Tender

  BOTTLED UP

  The Best Revenge • Bottled Up • Uncorked • An Unexpected Vintage

  BRONCO’S BOYS

  Inside Out • Upside Down • Backward • Round and Round

  THE BULLRIDERS

  A Wild Ride • A Daring Ride • A Courageous Ride

  BY FIRE

  Redemption by Fire • Strengthened by Fire

  Burnished by Fire • Heat Under Fire

  CARLISLE COPS

  Fire and Water • Fire and Ice • Fire and Rain

  Fire and Snow • Fire and Hail • Fire and Fog

  CHEMISTRY

  Organic Chemistry • Biochemistry • Electrochemistry

  Chemistry (Print Only Anthology)

  DREAMSPUN DESIRES

  #4 – The Lone Rancher

  #28 – Poppy’s Secret

  EYES OF LOVE

  Eyes Only for Me • Eyes Only for You

  GOOD FIGHT

  The Good Fight • The Fight Within

  The Fight for Identity • Takoda and Horse

  HOLIDAY STORIES

  Copping a Sweetest Day Feel • Cruise for Christmas • A Lion in Tails

  Mariah the Christmas Moose • A Present in Swaddling Clothes

  Simple Gifts • Snowbound in Nowhere • Stardust

  LAS VEGAS ESCORTS

  The Price • The Gift

  LOVE MEANS…

  Love Means… No Shame • Love Means… Courage

  Love Means… No Boundaries • Love Means… Freedom

  Love Means … No Fear • Love Means… Healing

  Love Means… Family • Love Means… Renewal

  Love Means… No Limits • Love Means… Patience

  Love Means… Endurance

  PLANTING DREAMS

  Planting His Dream • Growing His Dream

  REKINDLED FLAME

  Rekindled Flame • Cleansing Flame

  SENSES

  Love Comes Silently • Love Comes in Darkness • Love Comes Home

  Love Comes Around • Love Comes Unheard • Love Comes to Light

  SEVEN DAYS

  Seven Days • Unconditional Love

  STORIES FROM THE RANGE

  A Shared Range • A Troubled Range • An Unsettled Range

  A Foreign Range • An Isolated Range

  A Volatile Range • A Chaotic Range

  STRANDED

  Stranded • Taken

  TALES FROM KANSAS

  Dumped in Oz • Stuck in Oz • Trapped in Oz

  TASTE OF LOVE

  A Taste of Love • A Serving of Love

  A Helping of Love • A Slice of Love

  WITHOUT BORDERS

  A Heart Without Borders • A Spirit Without Borders

  WORK OUT

  Spot Me • Pump Me Up • Core Training • Crunch Time

  Positive Resistance • Personal Training • Cardio Conditioning

  Work Me Out (Print Only Anthology)

  Published by DREAMSPINNER PRESS

  www.dreamspinnerpress.com

  Published by

  DREAMSPINNER PRESS

  5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886 USA

  www.dreamspinnerpress.com

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

  Fire and Fog

  © 2017 Andrew Grey.

  Cover Art

  © 2017 L.C. Chase.

  http://www.lcchase.com

  Cover content is for illustrative purposes only and any person depicted on the cover is a model.

  All rights reserved. This book is licensed to the original purchaser only. Duplication or distribution via any means is illegal and a violation of international copyright law, subject to criminal prosecution and upon conviction, fines, and/or imprisonment. Any eBook format cannot be legally loaned or given to others. 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 the written permission of the Publisher, except where permitted by law. To request permission and all other inquiries, contact Dreamspinner Press, 5032 Capital Circle SW, Suite 2, PMB# 279, Tallahassee, FL 32305-7886, USA, or www.dreamspinnerpress.com.

  ISBN: 978-1-63533-844-7

  Digital ISBN: 978-1-63533-845-4

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2017905233

  Published July 2017

  v. 1.0

  Printed in the United States of
America