The Firefighter's Match

The Firefighter's Match
Allie Pleiter

After serving overseas, former soldier Josephine "J.J." Jones needs a fresh start. And Gordon Falls is just the place.When J.J. meets executive Alex Cushman, her world is turned upside down. Alex is seeking a respite from all the pressures of his multi-million dollar business. And the beautiful firefighter might be the answer to his prayers. But a secret lies between them. One so big, it threatens to end their love before it's even begun. Can she ever trust Alex when she finds out he may be responsible for a family tragedy that changed all their lives?

A Healing Match

After serving overseas, former soldier Josephine “JJ” Jones needs a fresh start. And Gordon Falls is just the place. When JJ meets executive Alex Cushman, her world is turned upside down. Alex is seeking a respite from all the pressures of his multimillion-dollar business. And the beautiful firefighter might be the answer to his prayers. But a secret lies between them. One so big, it threatens to end their love before it’s even begun. Can she ever trust Alex when she finds out he may be responsible for a family tragedy that changed all their lives?

Gordon Falls: Hearts ablaze in a small town

“You should just leave.”

Alex had thought about leaving. The old Alex would have been long gone days ago. Still, he couldn’t.

He saw it, then, in her eyes. JJ was waiting for him to leave. Watching for him to betray her in the way she had been betrayed before.

“I can’t leave.”

“Why?”

“You really don’t know the answer to that?”

Her face flushed. “Why would I ask a question I know the answer to?”

JJ tried hard not to look him in the eye, but the more she dodged him, the stronger his conviction became. “Because I’m supposed to stay.” And then, even though it felt like jumping off a cliff to do so, Alex made himself add, “And because I want to stay.”

Her eyes widened, and she backed up. “Max doesn’t need you.”

“I’m not staying for Max.” He reached for her hand.

At first JJ edged out of his grasp, but when he took another step, she stilled her hand and let him grasp it. “I’m staying for you.”

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 B.S. 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.

The Firefighter’s Match

Allie Pleiter

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

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to his purpose.

—Romans 8:28

Dedication:

To Rachel

Who has overcome so much

Acknowledgments:

This story needed a hefty dose of technical support to get the details right. My thanks to fire chief Don Lay for again checking all the firefighter and firehouse facts. Lisa Rosen and Dr. David Chen from the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago were also great helps. Thanks as well to Sean Smith,

who lent me his climbing knowledge and expertise. If any of the medical, climbing or firefighting facts of this book are incorrect, the fault lies with me

and not with any of these generous experts.

Contents

Chapter One (#u6cbf277f-7086-550a-badd-e47e944949df)

Chapter Two (#ufb43577e-0819-59be-8c07-4c179b09d6c9)

Chapter Three (#uf00c79ce-5aa5-58e3-ae04-ac07e2bc1c7e)

Chapter Four (#u2a4e5a8d-4a27-596a-b422-77087b91b721)

Chapter Five (#uc645ab3c-3417-5815-baff-a1c9ea0d541e)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)