The Fireman's Ready-Made Family

The Fireman's Ready-Made Family
Jules Bennett

THE HOMETOWN HERO'S MISSIONFor days, burn unit nurse Marly Haskins has noticed a handsome firefighter visiting patients, sitting vigil at bedsides. Chief Drake St. John’s concern touches the single mother deeply. But despite the warmth in Drake’s cobalt-blue eyes, tall, strong, powerful men only remind Marly of the abusive ex-husband on her trail . . . and the dreams she's long since given up on.With his own harrowing past, Drake recognizes that Marly is running scared. His life and career are about saving others from harm, but there’s something about Marly that makes his protective instincts more…personal. Helping Marly and her daughter feel safe in Stonerock is his new mission—one that might heal his own burned heart . . .

“Do I scare you?” Drake asked.

“A little,” Marly murmured. “But it’s nothing you did. It’s just … There’s a lot of stuff I’m working through,” she told him. “Sometimes it hits me harder than others.”

Drake knew all too well about painful memories creeping up at random times, cutting you off at the knees when you least expected it. But he’d learned to conquer those demons when they threatened him. He was stronger than he’d been a year ago, and he wanted to help Marly build on her strength.

“I’m a pretty good listener,” he said.

Drake stepped closer, fully aware that he was teetering on a thin line with her emotions. But that damn pull between them crackled in the air, making him want to hold her, to offer some sort of comfort.

“Sometimes it only looks like there’s no hope,” he told her. “Trust me.”

Damp eyes came up to meet his and the punch to the gut was swift and unexpected.

The St. Johns of Stonerock: Three rebellious brothers come home to stay.

The Fireman’s

Ready-Made

Family

Jules Bennett

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

Award-winning author JULES BENNETT is no stranger to romance—she met her husband when she was only fourteen. After dating through high school, the two married. He encouraged her to chase her dream of becoming an author. Jules has now published nearly thirty novels. She and her husband are living their own happily-ever-after while raising two girls. Jules loves to hear from readers through her website, julesbennett.com, her Facebook fan page or on Twitter.

I dedicate this book to all the real-life heroes who shine a light into someone’s darkened world.

May you ever be blessed.

Contents

Cover (#uc98ba55e-26c7-53f2-8573-bb5f64945c0c)

Introduction (#uf2bbe1be-8711-58da-a99b-b66e6f2ebd02)

Title Page (#uf4cb136b-93b2-5a41-acd7-3e7fa6cd7160)

About the Author (#u41566b05-776b-5494-996e-f6ff09d7991b)

Dedication (#ue703bbcd-ba44-54bd-9712-ed42e970ae7b)

Chapter One (#ulink_f317387d-5983-5e0c-9989-6f32c13bbe20)

Chapter Two (#ulink_1915e1e6-23a6-51dc-8156-c7afc2eaad9b)

Chapter Three (#ulink_f4676890-cb24-5c6b-a837-16e2e5f06914)

Chapter Four (#ulink_e70e364d-0cea-5ecb-8de7-fabbf55b0b92)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

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)

Chapter Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_fab020be-ef66-5d1e-a2a4-58524181e6e7)

The firefighter was back.

Once again dressed in his blue cargo pants and matching blue polo with the Stonerock, Tennessee, fire department’s seal embroidered on the left side of his chest...a chest that really maxed out the material of his shirt.

But muscles meant something entirely different now. A few years ago the well-sculpted body of a man would have had her appreciating the view. Unfortunately, her world had been vastly changed six months earlier, and now muscles, power and strength only reminded her of the scars she’d be wearing forever.