A Firefighter's Promise

A Firefighter's Promise
Patricia Johns

A Hero for Her SonWhen the baby he rescued seven years ago returns–with his widowed adoptive mom–Deputy Fire Chief Matt Bailey can't turn them away. Desperate to escape the reminders of his failure in the line of duty, Matt is close to leaving town. But one look at Rachel Carter and her son, Christopher, has him second-guessing his plans. Rachel is a mom in need of a hero for her son. But as much as she wants the two to bond, she's determined to keep her distance from Matt. After losing her husband on the job, she promised never to love another fireman. Yet somehow she finds herself drawn to the one man she should avoid.

A Hero for Her Son

When the baby he rescued seven years ago returns—with his widowed adoptive mom—Deputy Fire Chief Matt Bailey can’t turn them away. Desperate to escape the reminders of his failure in the line of duty, Matt is close to leaving town. But one look at Rachel Carter and her son, Christopher, has him second-guessing his plans. Rachel is a mom in need of a hero for her son. But as much as she wants the two to bond, she’s determined to keep her distance from Matt. After losing her husband on the job, she promised never to love another fireman. Yet somehow she finds herself drawn to the one man she should avoid.

“I’m doing my best to leave town, you know.”

“I know.” Rachel brought her eyes back to Matt’s face and gave him a sad smile. “And I’m not stopping you.”

“As long as I can do well with the presentation to the schoolkids tomorrow, I’m pretty sure I’ve got the job.”

“Congratulations.” She forced a smile and nodded quickly. “You deserve it.”

“I’m not as excited as I thought I’d be.”

“No?” She tried to force some cheerfulness, but failed. “I’m sorry. You’re my first friend here in town, and I’m going to miss you.”

“Me, too.” He sighed. “If things were different—”

“You don’t have to say it,” she said quietly. “It’s okay. They aren’t different.”

Rachel couldn’t help the melancholy thoughts that rose up inside her. She thought of her husband, who’d died too soon, of her son whose birth mother hadn’t been able to care for him, of her attempts to rebuild a life for her little boy, and now of Matt who had wormed his way into her life, and who would be off to new adventures just as soon as he could manage it. She felt lonely standing there, because no matter how solid and reassuring he felt right now, this wouldn’t last.

PATRICIA JOHNS willfully became a starving artist after she finished her BA in English literature. She lived in a tiny room in the downtown core of a city, worked sundry part-time jobs to keep herself fed and wrote the first novel she would have published. That was over ten years and ten novels ago. She’s now married with a young son, and always has a new book on the go.

A Firefighter’s

Promise

Patricia Johns

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

He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.

—Psalms 23:2–3

To Deputy Fire Chief Tim, our own hometown hero.

And of course, I dedicate this book to

my husband, who inspires the romantic in me.

He still makes my heart race.

Contents

Cover (#u431a7d21-ba50-5487-88c8-c52af9c50d74)

Back Cover Text (#u31547173-9dbc-557b-af76-1c875412db82)

Introduction (#u899306c1-cc18-5da1-905e-cfff7d8e2616)

About the Author (#u663321a1-ab19-536d-9334-25681b77a957)

Title Page (#u090f18d4-fe1d-520a-bee7-1c2c6f9440bc)

Bible Verse (#ub0d4b535-2a36-5692-81cf-8212c0751cff)

Dedication (#u3bcd4338-8078-5beb-8053-f2b3842583b3)

Chapter One (#ulink_972f2a64-c796-51ec-bed8-3be97779230b)

Chapter Two (#ulink_af6a4c9a-4140-5ee0-a5ca-cc3f28db3513)

Chapter Three (#ulink_80bd7012-4b8f-52fd-8ea8-4b7d21805aa4)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

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)

Epilogue (#litres_trial_promo)

Dear Reader (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

Copyright (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#ulink_13c8ea75-4bc0-57fc-a9b7-407f08e76e78)