Small-Town Fireman

Small-Town Fireman
Allie Pleiter

The Catch of a LifetimeKarla Kennedy doesn’t belong in Gordon Falls. The aspiring restaurateur has far loftier goals than running her grandfather’s quaint coffee shop. The only person who seems to relate is handsome volunteer firefighter Dylan McDonald. Dylan understands dreams—he risked everything to start his fishing charter business. Now, he needs Karla’s help to make it succeed. As they work together, Karla and Dylan quickly discover that while their timing may be bad, their chemistry is undeniable. Karla always thought of Gordon Falls as a layover on her way to a big city career, but could it be where her heart truly belongs?Gordon Falls: Hearts ablaze in a small town

The Catch of a Lifetime

Karla Kennedy doesn’t belong in Gordon Falls. The aspiring restaurateur has far loftier goals than running her grandfather’s quaint coffee shop. The only person who seems to relate is handsome volunteer firefighter Dylan McDonald. Dylan understands dreams—he risked everything to start his fishing charter business. Now he needs Karla’s help to make it succeed. As they work together, Karla and Dylan quickly discover that while their timing may be bad, their chemistry is undeniable. Karla always thought of Gordon Falls as a layover on her way to a big-city career, but could it be where her heart truly belongs?

Gordon Falls: Hearts ablaze in a small town

“This’ll get your motor humming.” Karla slid a coffee mug in front of Dylan.

“Go on, try it.” Her eyes were wide and persuasive.

Dylan took a sizable gulp. “Wow,” he said after a long pause. “That is…really…”

He set the cup back down on the counter and pushed it back toward her, smiling.

“…awful.”

Karla laughed. “Wow, don’t hold back on my account, Captain McDonald.”

“Maybe leave this one off the Coffee Catch menu.”

“Coward!” she playfully called as she snatched back the full mug.

“Purist,” he corrected. And just because her pout was so disarming, he added, “but the Captain part? You can keep that. How about you just give me a regular coffee today.”

“Aye, aye, sir. One boring regular coffee, coming up.” With a mile-wide smirk, she scribbled on the check before placing it facedown in front of him. “On the house.”

Smiling, Dylan turned the check to face him. Kaptain Koffee was written in an artistic hand, with a little doodle of fish and bubbles running up the side so the “$0” was the last of the bubbles.

Karla Kennedy sure knew how to bait a hook.

ALLIE PLEITER

Enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, RITA® Award finalist Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and nonfiction. An avid knitter and unreformed chocoholic, she spends her days writing books, drinking coffee and finding new ways to avoid housework. Allie grew up in Connecticut, holds a BS in speech from Northwestern University and spent fifteen years in the field of professional fund-raising. She lives with her husband, children and a Havanese dog named Bella in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.

Small-Town Fireman

Allie Pleiter

www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)

In their hearts humans plan their course,

but the Lord establishes their steps.

—Proverbs 16:9

To Les, who never made me bait a hook

Contents

Cover (#u2f2c2009-aa65-53d7-aead-79dc69821ff2)

Back Cover Text (#ub18549a7-4d89-5f1d-8003-b1a305d6a946)

Introduction (#u25219724-50c0-5768-a19b-d608f748ea52)

About the Author (#u453d908a-2e36-5db7-86b8-12b6a7971ed7)

Title Page (#u163a57aa-ea8d-5448-954c-b147160c9bd4)

Bible Verse (#u81941857-17e2-57cc-ba46-e3f875346573)

Dedication (#ueb174664-d0a3-5b0b-882f-f4c10dcb1122)

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen