Beth Andrews - Charming the Firefighter

Look who she attracted!

One glance at the hot firefighter who responds to a misguided 911 call and Penelope Denning knows she’s out of her depth. Leo Montesano is a charmer with an exciting career. She’s an accountant focused on getting her son through his teenage years. Yet Leo is definitely pursuing her. How can she possibly resist?

As the attraction between them ignites, Penelope discovers a wild side she never knew. The passion makes her think about a future beyond this affair…until her real life interrupts. And when she’s convinced she must choose her son over romance, Leo does something she never expects!

“I’d like to ask you out.”

Penelope’s throat dried. She couldn’t feel her fingers and had to lock her knees to remain upright. Date? Leo? Absurd. They were too different.

And she was afraid she wasn’t nearly enough.

She leaned her hip heavily against the desk. “I don’t think—”

“Or we could start slow. Have lunch. Or even just coffee.” His voice dropped to a husky, sexy tone that could strip a woman of her inhibitions. And her good sense. “It doesn’t matter to me. Just a few hours. I’d like to get to know you better.”

“Why?”

The word hung in the air, bald and loud and yes, desperate-sounding. Too bad. She wouldn’t take it back even if she could. She was too curious to hear his answer.

“Because I find you interesting.” Leo stepped forward, his body and her own pride trapping her between him and her desk. “Because I’m attracted to you.”

A thrill raced through her before she could stop it. He was attracted to her? That…that was impossible. Implausible. Incredible.

And terrifying.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN EXTRACT Copyright ,

It’s been seven years since I sold my first book to Mills & Boon Superromance. Seven years isn’t all that long, but oh, how things can change. Then, I was waiting for my first book to hit the shelves, my youngest daughter was in grade school, my older daughter had just entered the teen years and my son was learning how to drive. Now, my fifteenth book is out, my baby is a high school senior, her sister is a college sophomore and my son a college graduate.

He’s also a married man. Which makes me old enough to be a mother-in-law! How that happened, I’m not sure, but I feel incredibly blessed to have such a sweet and beautiful daughter-in-law.

So much has changed. Yet there are many constants, too. Family who give love and support. Dear friends who bring joy and laughter, and the familiar faces of the people in my hometown. Maybe that’s why I love writing the In Shady Grove series so much. Not only do I get to revisit previous characters, but I can also share some of my favorite things about small-town life.

In Charming the Firefighter, Penelope Denning moves to Shady Grove hoping to find a safe environment to raise her teenage son. When she meets firefighter Leo Montesano, she finds much more. Love, of course, but also a place where she truly belongs.

I hope you enjoy Penelope and Leo’s story and that you’ll look for the next book in the series, out next year. Please visit my website, bethandrews.netor drop me a line at beth@bethandrews.net. I’d love to hear from you.

Happy reading!

Beth Andrews

Charming the Firefighter

Beth Andrews

www.millsandboon.co.uk

When Romance Writers of America RITA® Award-winning author BETH ANDREWS was a young wife, she started a gas grill with the lid down. The small explosion left her with singed hair and a lifelong respect for propane. While no handsome firefighters came to her rescue that day, she will never forget that particular incident. Mainly because her husband reminds her of it every summer. Learn more about Beth and her books by visiting her website, bethandrews.net.

For Hannah Grace.

Welcome to the family!

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text Look who she attracted! One glance at the hot firefighter who responds to a misguided 911 call and Penelope Denning knows she’s out of her depth. Leo Montesano is a charmer with an exciting career. She’s an accountant focused on getting her son through his teenage years. Yet Leo is definitely pursuing her. How can she possibly resist? As the attraction between them ignites, Penelope discovers a wild side she never knew. The passion makes her think about a future beyond this affair…until her real life interrupts. And when she’s convinced she must choose her son over romance, Leo does something she never expects!

Introduction “I’d like to ask you out.” Penelope’s throat dried. She couldn’t feel her fingers and had to lock her knees to remain upright. Date? Leo? Absurd. They were too different. And she was afraid she wasn’t nearly enough. She leaned her hip heavily against the desk. “I don’t think—” “Or we could start slow. Have lunch. Or even just coffee.” His voice dropped to a husky, sexy tone that could strip a woman of her inhibitions. And her good sense. “It doesn’t matter to me. Just a few hours. I’d like to get to know you better.” “Why?” The word hung in the air, bald and loud and yes, desperate-sounding. Too bad. She wouldn’t take it back even if she could. She was too curious to hear his answer. “Because I find you interesting.” Leo stepped forward, his body and her own pride trapping her between him and her desk. “Because I’m attracted to you.” A thrill raced through her before she could stop it. He was attracted to her? That…that was impossible. Implausible. Incredible. And terrifying.

Dear Reader Dear Reader Dear Reader Title Page About the Author Dedication 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 CHAPTER SEVENTEEN CHAPTER EIGHTEEN CHAPTER NINETEEN EXTRACT Copyright , It’s been seven years since I sold my first book to Mills & Boon Superromance. Seven years isn’t all that long, but oh, how things can change. Then, I was waiting for my first book to hit the shelves, my youngest daughter was in grade school, my older daughter had just entered the teen years and my son was learning how to drive. Now, my fifteenth book is out, my baby is a high school senior, her sister is a college sophomore and my son a college graduate. He’s also a married man. Which makes me old enough to be a mother-in-law! How that happened, I’m not sure, but I feel incredibly blessed to have such a sweet and beautiful daughter-in-law. So much has changed. Yet there are many constants, too. Family who give love and support. Dear friends who bring joy and laughter, and the familiar faces of the people in my hometown. Maybe that’s why I love writing the In Shady Grove series so much. Not only do I get to revisit previous characters, but I can also share some of my favorite things about small-town life. In Charming the Firefighter, Penelope Denning moves to Shady Grove hoping to find a safe environment to raise her teenage son. When she meets firefighter Leo Montesano, she finds much more. Love, of course, but also a place where she truly belongs. I hope you enjoy Penelope and Leo’s story and that you’ll look for the next book in the series, out next year. Please visit my website, bethandrews.net or drop me a line at beth@bethandrews.net. I’d love to hear from you. Happy reading! Beth Andrews