Hometown Fireman

Hometown Fireman
Lissa Manley

A Home Lost–and Found Ally York’s rental house has gone up in flames—along with her plan to rescue abandoned dogs. When the smoke clears, volunteer firefighter Drew Sellers is there, offering help and shelter. Ally knows she can’t get attached. After a childhood spent in foster care, she intends to put down deep roots in Moonlight Cove.And Drew is on the brink of leaving town. He’s drawn to Ally’s compassion and steady faith, but love has steered him wrong before. Yet this time it may have led them both to the place they truly belong. Moonlight Cove: A beachside town where love and faith blossom.

A Home Lost—And Found

Ally York’s rental house has gone up in flames—along with her plan to rescue abandoned dogs. When the smoke clears, volunteer firefighter Drew Sellers is there, offering help and shelter. Ally knows she can’t get attached. After a childhood spent in foster care, she intends to put down deep roots in Moonlight Cove. And Drew is on the brink of leaving town. He’s drawn to Ally’s compassion and steady faith, but love has steered him wrong before. Yet this time it may have led them both to the place they truly belong.

Just as he thought his actions were futile, the pup shuddered and took a noisy breath, followed by the tiniest doggy whimper he’d ever heard.

“Was that...?” Ally breathed.

“Yep,” he said, holding up the swaddled puppy. Joy arced through him. “It’s breathing.” He looked at her, his heart surging at the pure relief shining on her face.

“Oh, thank You, God!” she said, then she gripped his arm, her touch firm and warm. “And thank you, too, Drew.”

The pup squirmed in his hands, and Drew kept stroking it to encourage adequate blood flow, and to comfort it, as well. Sadie sniffed the pup intently but seemed content to let Drew hold her littlest baby.

He waited with bated breath, and then, after a few minutes, the pup lifted its head and gave a miniscule yowl.

“Listen to that,” Ally said, her tone laced with wonder. “What a little fighter.”

He held it out to Ally. “Just like you.”

LISSA MANLEY

decided she wanted to be a published author at the ripe old age of twelve. After she read her first romance novel as a teenager, she quickly decided romance was her favorite genre, although she still enjoys digging into a good medical thriller now and then.

When her youngest was still in diapers, Lissa needed a break from strollers and runny noses, so she sat down and started crafting a romance and has been writing ever since. Nine years later, in 2001, she sold her first book, fulfilling her childhood dream. She feels blessed to be able to write what she loves, and intends to be writing until her fingers quit working, or she runs out of heartwarming stories to tell. She’s betting the fingers will go first.

Lissa lives in the beautiful city of Portland, Oregon, with her wonderful husband, a grown daughter and college-aged son, and two bossy poodles who rule the house and get away with it. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, crafting, bargain hunting, cooking and decorating.

Hometown Fireman

Lissa Manley

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

But if God so clothes the grass of the field,

which today is alive and tomorrow

is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?

—Matthew 6:30

This book is dedicated to the brave fireman

in my family’s life, Tommy Bonin.

Thanks for all of your help with research—

I couldn’t have done it without you.

Contents

Chapter One (#ufe718c82-8cb2-55cc-9674-7777c4a24263)

Chapter Two (#u646c69a7-1e3b-5f62-adc7-55c4cb2d2c09)

Chapter Three (#ueba56c46-958c-523d-afac-6efe2a286047)

Chapter Four (#udb755d6c-4feb-5347-9938-73cba67e41fd)

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)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)

Questions for Discussion (#litres_trial_promo)

Excerpt (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One

His eyes on the fingers of black smoke hanging in the rays of the setting sun to the west, volunteer firefighter Drew Sellers pulled up to 25 Flying Fish Lane.

He jerked his truck to a stop behind one of the two fire engines flanking the house. The massive rig ran all pumps on, drawing from a water tender parked at an angle on the road, spraying a thick jet of water on the blaze.