by Layne, Lyssa
As she pulled away from Andy, Jeremiah kissed her cheek. “My Knockout, the all-star marathoner.” Jeremiah grinned as he complimented her.
Tiffany pulled Katy into one of her infamous bear hugs, muttering in Katy’s ear how much she missed her best friend. Katy squeezed her tight, knowing exactly how she felt.
Behind her, Katy heard Abby and her daughters squeal in delight. Her tired body slowly turned to them and she saw tears rolling down their cheeks. Katy shed her own tears as she laughed at them and embraced them all in a group hug.
Rich slid his arm around her shoulders and gave her a sideways smile. Katy snuggled against him as he kissed the top of her head and said in his twangy voice, “I knew ‘ya had it in ‘ya, darlin’.”
More runners finished as she drank water and ate actual food instead of gel. Everyone began to part ways as they made plans to have dinner before their flight back to Baltimore in the morning.
She walked to the car hand in hand with the man she had chosen while he played with her ring and smiled. “Pearls look good on you.”
She grinned and leaned up on her tired feet to kiss the man she loved. Jesse pulled her close and let his tongue dance with hers. Sophia rolled her eyes. “Come on you two, get a room!”
They laughed and Katy kissed her daughter on the forehead as her free hand took hers. Sophia leaned against her, smiling. Katy walked back to the car proudly, not just because she’d just run a marathon, but because of this family that she called hers.
***
Jesse wasn’t going to let Katy go to Baltimore that easily. He didn’t care that he was giving up the only life he’d ever known, leaving his parents, friends, and the FDNY behind. He had to follow his heart. He had to follow her. It took a few favors, but the Chief had landed him a job in Baltimore as a fire inspector. It was perfect. They could be in the same town, he could do what he knew best, and she’d be happy because he wasn’t risking his life every day.
As soon as he got the news, he tried all day to get a hold of her, but she wasn’t answering her phone. The house was already sold and no one at the hospital had seen her. He was afraid he was too late...again. Then he looked at the calendar and knew exactly where she was.
It was the second anniversary of Nick’s death. He pulled into the cemetery and a feeling of melancholy washed over him as he saw her lying on his grave. She would always love Nick. Every year on this date, she’d be lying in the same spot until she was old and gray. Jesse smiled; his buddy deserved that kind of love.
He watched her for a few minutes, giving her time to be with her husband. The wind picked up and he saw storm clouds rolling in. He got out of his truck and walked toward her. Her chocolaty brown mane framed her face, her eyes closed as her manicured fingernails traced over Nick’s name on the tombstone.
Without saying a word, he lay beside her putting his arm over hers, twisting the wedding ring she’d worn every day since Nick gave it to her. He closed his eyes and took in her scent before he whispered, “Go to Baltimore. I’ll come with you. It’s where we’ll raise our family.”
She didn’t say anything at first. He felt her snuggle into him and link her fingers through his. He pulled her tightly against his body. They laid in their embrace until it started to sprinkle. Jesse didn’t want to let her go, but he knew the storm would be starting soon. He stood up, pulling her with him. She looked into his eyes and gave a soft smile.
“Is your offer still on the table?”
He pulled the ruby and diamond engagement ring he’d offered to her just a month earlier and nodded. She held up her left hand and started to take off Nick’s ring. Jesse stopped her and she looked at him confused.
He kissed her hand and slipped the ring on her right hand. “I’d never ask you to leave Nick.”
Tears fell down her cheeks as they kissed. The clouds let loose and they were engulfed in rain drops. Katy and Jesse broke their kiss and both looked up. They started laughing; they knew it was Nick’s way of offering his blessing.
***
Katy sat at the table in the restaurant looking around at the people who surrounded her. Her son was the only one related to her by blood, but these people were her family. Andy, Abby and her girls, Jesse, Sophia, his parents, Jeremiah, Tiffany, Rich...these were the people who loved and supported her. She touched the ring on her left hand and fought back tears. Nick was the reason most of these people were in her life.
Jesse squeezed her knee under the table and kissed her cheek. “How ‘ya feeling, champ?”
She smiled and leaned against him. “Loved.”
He grinned as he kissed her, slipping his tongue between her lips. “That you are.”
Tom O’Neil looked at her and asked, “So when are you running another one?”
She took Jesse’s hand and looked at him as she answered. “Well, at least not for another nine months...” She laughed as Jesse’s jaw dropped.
“Nine months? Are you...you’re…? We’re…?”
She nodded with a big smile and he let out a whoop covering her lips with his. The table erupted in cheers as the restaurant turned to see where the noise was coming from. When they’d reconciled, they hadn’t been quite as careful as previously. It only took one night together for them to become parents for the third time.
Jesse picked her up and spun her around. He looked at the other diners and announced, “My wife’s pregnant!”
Katy pinched his waist but he just laughed as he kissed her. The rest of the restaurant joined the excitement while their family gasped and then cheered some more. They hadn’t told their families yet that they’d gone to the courthouse a couple weeks ago to get married.
He broke the kiss and grinned as he said, “I can’t help it, Katy Garrity. I want everyone to know that I love you and you’re mine.”
She smiled as her husband pulled her tightly against him. She saw her family applauding for them, tears from some and cheers from others. She had gone from a lonely and sad Malone to a fulfilled and loved Garrity. Jesse O’Neil wouldn’t take that away from her, he insisted she stay Katy Garrity, the woman he’d fallen in love with.
The End
SNEAK PEEK AT LOVE IS A FIRE
“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn your house down, you can never tell.”
-Joan Crawford
Dr. Katy Malone sprinted down the corridor of St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital, adrenaline pouring through her veins, as she tried to outrun her fellow residents in hopes of claiming the best case coming into the emergency room. It was typically boots and leggings weather in early November in New York, but the temperature had drastically dropped overnight resulting in perfect conditions for the first snowfall of the season.
The third-year medical residents had all received the same 911 page dictating them to report to the ER to receive victims from a ten car pile-up on the Henry-Hudson Parkway. Snow typically meant that drivers forgot all basics and fundamentals of driving and to the residents, although unfortunate, this was the jackpot of learning since anything from broken bones to heart attacks could waltz in the doors. Katy reached the ER before her other co-workers and bent over to catch her breath as the first rig pulled into the bay.
As the ambulance doors opened, the paramedic called out, “Fifty-seven year old male, broken clavicle...” Katy tuned out as she saw the other rig pulling in and ran over, hoping for something more than a broken collarbone. The second medic had already called out the vitals and Katy knew this was the case she wanted, a pregnant woman who had been trapped in her vehicle and cut out by the Jaws of Life. As Katy was about to stake her claim, Dr. Jeremiah Thomas, a five feet, eleven inch preppy Momma’s boy from the Upper East Side, and the epitome of tall, dark and handsome, stepped in front of her, taking charge of the woman and shouting out commands. As he passed Katy, he gave her a sly wink, which made her cringe.
This interaction made her miss the next rig which was a sixty-five-year-old man in cardiac arrest. The last ambulance informed them t
hat the others had been sent across town to Mercy Hospital. This left her with the last victim to arrive, Mrs. Humer, a chatty forty-three-year-old woman who needed stitches on her left cheek. Katy sighed and followed her patient into the hospital.
Katy tried to ask Mrs. Humer about her medical history but the older woman only wanted to talk about the accident. Mrs. Humer was the tenth car in the pile-up yet she saw the entire thing happen “right in front of her very own eyes” and knew exactly whose fault it was. Katy nodded, smiled, and added her words of concern where she was supposed to interject.
As she finished up the last stitch, Mrs. Humer grabbed her hand, pointed to her name on her coat and said loud enough for the entire ER to hear, “Thank you so much, Dr. Malone. I was a little concerned when I was assigned a ‘knockout’ like you. You know, thought maybe you’d just skated through med school on your looks. I was a little worried you didn’t know what you were doing, but I think you did a mighty fine job.” Mrs. Humer beamed as she finished her statement expecting Katy to be beside herself by her ‘compliment.’ Katy bit the inside of her cheeks which were turning crimson and quickly excused herself.
As she turned, Katy walked right into the chest of Jeremiah. He put his left hand on her waist and the other on her chin, lifting her head up to look at him. Katy squirmed uncomfortably, hating that of all people he was the one she ran into. He gave a slight squeeze with his left hand and grinned. “Great job on the stitches, Knockout. I’d love to check out your work but I’m headed into surgery.”
Buy Link: https://amzn.com/B00N6XEMHK
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
There’s a lot of pressure to write a sequel that readers will love as much as your first book. I had doubts that Burst Into Flame could live up to Love is a Fire and almost contemplated not writing it. With my readers’ response, I knew that they wanted Katy to find her “happy ever after” and I had no choice but to write it.
As I typed “the end,” I was a hot mess sending it off to my beta readers. The feedback started rolling in and I cannot tell you the relief that came over me. You gave me the confidence I needed to publish this book and finalize Katy’s story...maybe, you might be in for more Dr. Katy Garrity down the road. Thank you for the wonderful feedback: Linda Armstrong, Amy Knappenberger, Jerrica Wright, Kelly Armstrong, and Alison Flores.
Burst Into Flame isn’t just all me. K.S. Thomas and I spent many an evening staying up way too late plotting and brainstorming this one...and many other stories of ours. I love our late night chats and the craziness we get our characters into. Also a big thank you to Amanda Gehman who gave me the idea to include the letter from Nick and to Justine Gaukler who named Sophia and Anthony.
This book wouldn’t have been possible without all the love and support I received from friends, families, and the online book community. First, a shoutout to all my critique partners at Critique Circle: Kristin Singer, Her Royal Highness Belinda Cohen, B.J.R. Johnson, and Barbara Yurkoski.
And the three amazing women who pulled the whole book together: Simone Beaudelaire, my editor, Melissa Keir, my formatter, and E.J. Kellan, my cover designer. Simone, I loved working with you and how you got my brain rolling to make this story better than when you first read it. Melissa, you are a great author and even better friend! I truly appreciate all the support and help you’ve given me on my writing journey. And Jesk, you are a-ma-zing!!! You have so much talent. I love being your guinea pig and helping you get your name out there.
A huge shoutout to all the fans of Love is a Fire! The wonderful reviews and requests for the sequel always made me smile and want to do more for you. I hope that you love Burst Into Flame just as much and will continue to follow the rest of the Burning Lovesick series. I promise... no more tissues!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lyssa Layne is first, and foremost, the proud momma to her precious daughter, AR. In addition to working full-time and being a mommy to AR, she is also an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, a runner, blogger, and an infertility survivor.
Having watched one too many medical dramas and being inspired by author Rachelle Ayala, who introduced her to the world of indie writing, Lyssa decided to try her hand at writing a romance story. Her attempt turned into the Burning Lovesick series. You can find Lyssa’s own interests throughout her stories although all stories are fictional.
Contact Her:
Website: http://www.lyssalayne.com/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bq2JQn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyssalayne
Twitter: https://twitter.com/layne_lyssa
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorlyssalayn/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lyssa-Layne/e/B00KP1Y5BY
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8280977.Lyssa_Layne
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lyssa-layne
Guilty Until Proven Innocent
Deb Julienne
Kensington books by Deb Julienne
The Twisted Sisters Club Series:
Sex, Lies, and Beauty Aids
Sex, Secrets, & Happily Ever Afters
Love, Lies, & Alibis
Other books:
A Splash of Love
All I Want For Christmas
Bronco Boys Series:
The Bronco Boys: Sterling in the Cowboy Country box set
The Ride of His Life in the Cowboys, Bulls and Buckles box set
Other books in the Bronco Boys Series:
Blake
Dane
Clayton
Quinton
Virgil
Wyatt
Logan
Darcy
Copyright © 2016 Deb Julienne
All rights reserved.
DEDICATION
To D’Ann Linscott-Durham: Thank you for inviting me to participate in this anthology. Bless you my friend.
To the authors in this box set: You’ve been a pleasure to work with.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank all branches of law enforcement in the United States for their service and sacrifice, and unwavering duty to the public. I pray that someday, we’ll all get along and this angst will disappear. Until then you have my undying thanks and support
CHAPTER ONE
As a detective, Brad Maxwell seldom had the need to wear a uniform. Today, he stood tall in his Class A’s. The long sleeve, dark blue dress uniform he wore was decorated with three service stripes on the sleeve, Lieutenant’s bars on the collar, and mourning band across the badge on his chest. In addition to the Sam Browne duty belt with gun, handcuffs—the works—all weighed around his waist, bringing home the reality of this day.
Head held high, as close to attention as possible except for the fact that in each gloved hand he held the smaller hand of his godchildren, eight-year old Danny and five-year old Kelly.
Ignoring the murmurs and whispers from those in attendance behind him, instead he concentrated on the August winds blowing in off the cliffs on the east side of Newport Beach, California. A cool stream of air wafted in from Pacific Ocean and swept through the cemetery, but did nothing to temper his angst.
There had been a constant pounding at the base of his skull and a vise like death grip on his tension headache since the shooting three days ago. Even the sound of his pulse reverberating in his ears threatened to demolish what remained of his control.
Marty would have wanted, no expected, him to push past it for the sake of his family.
The priest loomed over the head of Marty's coffin as he began the eulogy. “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today, in the sight of God, to celebrate the life of Martin Alexander Rodriquez…”
In his peripheral vision, Rosie, Marty’s wife, stood tucked into her father's shoulder for comfort before a flag draped coffin, balanced precariously over a gaping hole in the earth. Brad focused on the golden leaves of a lone oak up the hill and took a deep breath, blinking back emotion, swallowing the lump of grief in his throat.
Whe
n he glanced down his gut wrenched, tears poured down Danny’s face as Kelly just stared wide-eyed at the coffin.
The priest’s gently spoken words jarred Brad from his thoughts.
“...killed in the line of duty, doing a job he believed he was born to...”
On his left, Marty's parents clung to one another their faces frozen in sorrow.
Brad scrutinized the sea of faces, at his brothers in blue gathered before the gravesite, across from where he stood. Several of the guys met his gaze, but when he spied at Tim Chan, a cadet Marty recruited, he looked away—they were all hurting.
It was hard to lose an officer. Especially in light of all the shootings in recent months and the public’s outcry questioning who the bad guys really were.
Their commanding officer Captain Vince Roberts stood at attention, hands squeezed into fists.
Watch Commander George Van Norton clenched his jaw and blinked once then shut his eyes.
Dean Fletcher’s hard eyes were focused on the coffin. Dean was Marty’s current partner and probably understood his emotional state better than anyone.
Even Joe Gallagher, Brad’s current partner seemed despondent, and he’d only known Marty for a year.
Of course, none of them had been as close to Marty. Not only had Marty been an ex-partner, mentor, and sounding board, but he’d been Brad’s best friend and the brother he’d never had. Marty had given him a permanent open invitation for home cooked dinners—which Brad cashed in on a least once a week; not to mention every holiday, family, and birthday party the Rodriguez clan hosted.
