Leigh Bale - Wildfire Sweethearts

Reunion Under Fire

Eight months after their broken engagement, Tessa Carpenter is reunited with the man she could never forget—in the same wildfire-fighting unit and now as her boss. With the mystery of why he ended their relationship still between them, Tessa’s not looking forward to working under Sean Nash. Sean promised to take care of his late friend’s sister. That meant walking away, sparing Tessa from his guilt over the accident that killed her brother. But working beside Tessa reignites the embers of his memories, fanning them into love once more. And forcing Sean to decide: bolt again…or stay and fight for the woman of his dreams.

Did he still love her?

The question echoed in her mind as he scooped her into his arms and carried her into the ER.

“Put me down. I can walk on my own.”

She was used to being strong, carrying her own load. She took care of people, not the other way around.

“Maybe you ought to admit that you can’t do everything alone,” he said. “You should accept help and say thank you.”

“Back at you, buddy,” she said.

At her comment, his jaw hardened, but he didn’t reply.

“Why do you keep shutting me out?” she asked. “You need me. Can’t you admit it?”

He met her eyes. Maybe she shouldn’t have said that, but lately she’d been thinking it was true. That maybe it had been a mistake to let him break up with her.

But a second chance with Sean? It was a risk she didn’t know if her heart could take.

LEIGH BALE is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She is the winner of the prestigious Golden Heart® Award and is a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Booksellers’ Best Award. The daughter of a retired US forest ranger, she holds a BA in history. Married in 1981 to the love of her life, Leigh and her professor husband have two children and two grandkids. You can reach her at leighbale.com.

Wildfire Sweethearts

Leigh Bale

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

—John 14:27

This book is dedicated to the Stanislaus Interagency Hotshot Crew. Thanks so much for your hospitality when I came to visit your home base. I learned so much in that short time and enjoyed every moment. Stay safe out there!

And many thanks to Greg and JoAnn Overacker. Your expertise and knowledge of wildfire fighting astound me. How I wish my husband and I lived nearby so we could meet and chat over dinner with you on a regular basis. You are two of the warmest, most generous people I’ve ever met.

Any errors in this book are mine alone.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Reunion Under Fire Eight months after their broken engagement, Tessa Carpenter is reunited with the man she could never forget—in the same wildfire-fighting unit and now as her boss. With the mystery of why he ended their relationship still between them, Tessa’s not looking forward to working under Sean Nash. Sean promised to take care of his late friend’s sister. That meant walking away, sparing Tessa from his guilt over the accident that killed her brother. But working beside Tessa reignites the embers of his memories, fanning them into love once more. And forcing Sean to decide: bolt again…or stay and fight for the woman of his dreams.

Introduction Did he still love her? The question echoed in her mind as he scooped her into his arms and carried her into the ER. “Put me down. I can walk on my own.” She was used to being strong, carrying her own load. She took care of people, not the other way around. “Maybe you ought to admit that you can’t do everything alone,” he said. “You should accept help and say thank you.” “Back at you, buddy,” she said. At her comment, his jaw hardened, but he didn’t reply. “Why do you keep shutting me out?” she asked. “You need me. Can’t you admit it?” He met her eyes. Maybe she shouldn’t have said that, but lately she’d been thinking it was true. That maybe it had been a mistake to let him break up with her. But a second chance with Sean? It was a risk she didn’t know if her heart could take.

About the Author LEIGH BALE is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She is the winner of the prestigious Golden Heart® Award and is a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Booksellers’ Best Award. The daughter of a retired US forest ranger, she holds a BA in history. Married in 1981 to the love of her life, Leigh and her professor husband have two children and two grandkids. You can reach her at leighbale.com .

Title Page Wildfire Sweethearts Leigh Bale www.millsandboon.co.uk

Bible Verse Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. —John 14:27

Dedication This book is dedicated to the Stanislaus Interagency Hotshot Crew. Thanks so much for your hospitality when I came to visit your home base. I learned so much in that short time and enjoyed every moment. Stay safe out there! And many thanks to Greg and JoAnn Overacker. Your expertise and knowledge of wildfire fighting astound me. How I wish my husband and I lived nearby so we could meet and chat over dinner with you on a regular basis. You are two of the warmest, most generous people I’ve ever met. Any errors in this book are mine alone.

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

Dear Reader

Extract

Copyright

Chapter One

Tessa Carpenter stared with dismay at the drafts of gray smoke billowing from the engine of her beat-up old truck.

Correction. Zach’s truck. Even though her elder brother had died last summer, she would never sell his truck, even if it did qualify for the scrap pile.

Cruising down the highway at sixty-five miles per hour, she tapped the brake to decrease her speed. The moving trailer attached to the back hitch trembled slightly. It held all her worldly possessions. Clothes, books, bedding, her firefighting pack and her precious picture albums. Not a lot, but she didn’t want to lose any of it.

She gripped the steering wheel as the vehicle slowed. Edging over onto the shoulder, she killed the engine. As she thrust open the heavy door, she caught the acrid scent of burning oil. Her nose twitched with repugnance and she got out to inspect the problem.

Great! Just great. If it was a flat tire, no big deal. She could change that in a heartbeat. She’d done it before. Many times, in fact. But truck engines? She didn’t have a clue. As the only woman on the Minoa Interagency Hotshot crew, she could do anything the guys could do. It was just a matter of patience and leverage. But engines were not her forte. Never had been, never would be. She was better at numbers and always ended up doing the inventory reports instead.

She rested her hands on her hips. Turning her face into the fresh April breeze, she took a deep inhale then blew it out in an irritable sigh. She was officially stranded on Highway 50, halfway between the sleepy mining towns of Eureka and Austin, Nevada. It wasn’t called the Loneliest Road in America for nothing. Her gaze took in miles of brown hills, sage and rabbit brush. Not a single building or car in sight.