Viviana cleared her throat.
“Sorry, ma’am.”
Viviana nodded with pride. “There we go.”
Ethan set down his tongs and reached behind his back to untie his apron strings only to stop when his wife gave him a pointed look. As Viviana let go of Rhett’s arm she stepped up beside her husband and smoothed his apron so everyone could see the boldly printed letters on the front.
THE CHIEF IS BLAISING HOT
Everyone gathered around except for Chief who was still snoozing in the shade with the baby, and Aylin leaned closer to Rook. “Out with it.”
He gestured helplessly at the Chief. “He’s going to make the announcement now.”
Folding her arms across her chest she glared at him. “You had plenty of time to tell me.”
“Relax, baby, you can take it out on me later.”
“Oh, you know I will. If you’re not sleeping on the-”
“Aylin?”
They both looked up as the Chief gestured to the group. “Fight with your boyfriend later.”
“Sorry, Dad.”
Ethan smiled and blinked a few times. He still got choked up from time to time when she called him Dad.
“No problem, Sweetheart.” He cleared his throat and addressed the group. “I want to thank you all for coming today. As the Station Seven family continues to grow with new firefighters,” he gestured to Rook, “and precious babies,” he looked over at Harper and the other children in the area, “and our loved ones,” he pressed a kiss on his wife’s lips that started out gentle but got heated enough that a couple of the men cleared their throats, “I’m planning on having these picnics at least once a quarter to bring all of our folks together for fellowship-”
“And FOOD!” Someone from the back of the group shouted out.
“Yes, and food.” The Chief shook his head. “Most of you are all bottomless pits!”
The consensus through the group was that everyone knew and not one of them was sorry about it.
“So, I thought I’d pick up something that we could use for these events and that my wife could use if she wants to for her catering business.”
Aylin could see Viviana’s excitement easily. She was already wrapping her arms around her husband and pressing a kiss to his cheek.
Someone off to the side let out a shrill whistle and Cowboy’s truck came into view. As soon as the back of his tailgate cleared the porch, Aylin heard her mother scream like she’d won the Price is Right. And maybe she had because the truck was towing a top of the line smoker.
Aylin watched a bunch of the guys cheer and a few of them high-fived and fist-bumped. She knew what they were thinking.
Good Eats.
And they’d be right. Her mother had so many recipes that she could break out now that she had the ability to smoke meats. Business was going to pick up, fast.
Aylin turned in Stillman’s arms and leaned her head on his shoulder. “I’m so happy.”
He rocked her gently as the voices started to die away, and she could hear the song on the speakers in Lincoln’s car. Kane Brown’s “Worship You” was just leading into the lyrics and she felt the quiet power of the melody as they swayed in time.
“I have this huge family of sweethearts and oddballs,” she sighed. “I have my classes that I’m kicking butt in.”
“Yes, you are.” Stillman kissed her temple. “You’re doing great.”
“And I have you, Still. Your love and your support. I think I would have gone nuts going through the trial without you.”
“You didn’t need me, Aylin.” He lifted a hand to her cheek and gently swept his thumb over her skin. “No matter what, you’d be fine, but I’m glad I was there. I’m glad you forgave me for being stupid.”
“We both have our moments, Still. The important thing is that we work our way through it. I’m going to be there for you for as long as you want me. I’m going to love you and stand by you no matter what happens.”
“Careful,” he whispered and leaned down to kiss her lips, “I’m going to hold you to that, Aylin. I’m going to love you like my life depends on it because it does. From the moment I saw you looking back at me through the rubble I fell for you. I’d never seen someone so brave and you put your trust in me... me!”
“I’d follow you through fire again, Still. You mean everything to me. And I know,” she leaned up and kissed his neck, enjoying the flutter of his pulse under her lips, “that will never change.”
Susan Stoker’s Fan Fiction World
Rescuing Hi`liani
San Antonio First Responders Series
Justice for Sloan
Justice for Miranda
Shelter for Viviana
Justice for Hildie
Justice for Blyss
Shelter for Aylin
Sylvan City Alphas Series
The Tiger’s Innocent Bride
Too Much to Bear
The Fighter
Bear His Mark
Center City First Responders
Wild Hearts
Her Rock
Mystic Mountain Series
Winter
Xavier
Locke
Three Rivers Express Series
Always, Ransom
Always, Wyeth
Always, Ellis
Orsino Security Series
Her Unbearable Protector
His UnBearable Touch
Their Unbearable Destiny
St. Raphael, CA Series
Finding Home
Playing With Fire
Healing Hearts
Taking a Chance
Shapeshifters of Arcadia
Beneath the Surface
Ellingsford, Montana Series
Stay With Me
Her Gentle Heart
Hold Her Close
Other
Too Much Bear
Home to Roost
Loving Graystoke’s Heir
Jesse
The Mechanic
Gingerbear Christmas
About the Author
Who would have thought that I'd start off as a painfully shy child writing stories and end up as a painfully shy adult writing books and publishing them for others to read? Crazy? That's me!!
When I was a little girl, I read every book I could get my hands on and if I didn't have one available to read, I'd get out my pencils and paper and write down stories and scenes. Waiting for my mom to finish working, I'd duck into the ladies' break room and use the typewriter. I'd feel like Jessica Fletcher, happily tap, tap, tapping away until I got to 'The End.' Couldn't quite get the flourish after that and end up tearing the paper, but it was cool and scary to sit down and read the book or give it to my friends to read.
Now my 'typewriter' doesn't clack the same way and the I don't even have paper to pull out of it with a nod of satisfaction, but I have the joy and excitement of sharing my characters and books with people all around the world!
I hope you'll enjoy reading my books, because I'm going to keep writing as long as the characters are feeling chatty!
There are many more books in this fan fiction world than listed here, for an up-to-date list go to www.AcesPress.com
You can also visit our Amazon page at:
http://www.amazon.com/author/operationalpha
Special Forces: Operation Alpha World
Christie Adams: Charity’s Heart
Denise Agnew: Dangerous to Hold
Shauna Allen: Awakening Aubrey
Brynne Asher: Blackburn
Linzi Baxter: Unlocking Dreams
Jennifer Becker: Hiding Catherine
Alice Bello: Shadowing Milly
Heather Blair: Rescue Me
Anna Blakely: Rescuing Gracelynn
Julia Bright: Saving Lorelei
Cara Carnes: Protecting Mari
Kendra Mei Chailyn: Beast
Melissa Kay Clarke: Rescuing Annabeth
Samantha A. Cole: Handling Haven
Sue Colet
ta: Hacked
Melissa Combs: Gallant
Anne Conley: Redemption for Misty
KaLyn Cooper: Rescuing Melina
Janie Crouch: Storm
Liz Crowe: Marking Mariah
Sarah Curtis: Securing the Odds
Jordan Dane: Redemption for Avery
Tarina Deaton: Found in the Lost
Aspen Drake, Intense
KL Donn: Unraveling Love
Riley Edwards: Protecting Olivia
PJ Fiala: Defending Sophie
Nicole Flockton: Protecting Maria
Michele Gwynn: Rescuing Emma
Casey Hagen: Shielding Nebraska
Desiree Holt: Protecting Maddie
Kathy Ivan: Saving Sarah
Kris Jacen, Be With Me
Jesse Jacobson: Protecting Honor
Silver James: Rescue Moon
Becca Jameson: Saving Sofia
Kate Kinsley: Protecting Ava
Heather Long: Securing Arizona
Gennita Low: No Protection
Kirsten Lynn: Joining Forces for Jesse
Margaret Madigan: Bang for the Buck
Kimberly McGath: The Predecessor
Rachel McNeely: The SEAL’s Surprise Baby
KD Michaels: Saving Laura
Lynn Michaels, Rescuing Kyle
Wren Michaels: The Fox & The Hound
Kat Mizera: Protecting Bobbi
Keira Montclair, Wolf and the Wild Scots
Mary B Moore: Force Protection
LeTeisha Newton: Protecting Butterfly
Angela Nicole: Protecting the Donna
MJ Nightingale: Protecting Beauty
Sarah O’Rourke: Saving Liberty
Victoria Paige: Reclaiming Izabel
Anne L. Parks: Mason
Debra Parmley: Protecting Pippa
Lainey Reese: Protecting New York
TL Reeve and Michele Ryan: Extracting Mateo
Elena M. Reyes: Keeping Ava
Angela Rush: Charlotte
Rose Smith: Saving Satin
Jenika Snow: Protecting Lily
Lynne St. James: SEAL’s Spitfire
Dee Stewart: Conner
Harley Stone: Rescuing Mercy
Jen Talty: Burning Desire
Reina Torres, Rescuing Hi’ilani
Savvi V: Loving Lex
Megan Vernon: Protecting Us
Rachel Young: Because of Marissa
Delta Team Three Series
Lori Ryan: Nori’s Delta
Becca Jameson: Destiny’s Delta
Lynne St James, Gwen’s Delta
Elle James: Ivy’s Delta
Riley Edwards, Hope’s Delta
Police and Fire: Operation Alpha World
Freya Barker: Burning for Autumn
B.P. Beth: Scott
Jane Blythe: Salvaging Marigold
Julia Bright, Justice for Amber
Anna Brooks, Guarding Georgia
KaLyn Cooper: Justice for Gwen
Aspen Drake: Sheltering Emma
Deanndra Hall: Shelter for Sharla
Barb Han: Kace
EM Hayes: Gambling for Ashleigh
CM Steele: Guarding Hope
Reina Torres: Justice for Sloane
Aubree Valentine, Justice for Danielle
Maddie Wade: Finding English
Stacey Wilk: Stage Fright
Laine Vess: Justice for Lauren
Tarpley VFD Series
Silver James, Fighting for Elena
Deanndra Hall, Fighting for Carly
Haven Rose, Fighting for Calliope
MJ Nightingale, Fighting for Jemma
TL Reeve, Fighting for Brittney
Nicole Flockton, Fighting for Nadia
As you know, this book included at least one character from Susan Stoker’s books. To check out more, see below.
SEAL of Protection: Legacy Series
Securing Caite
Securing Brenae (novella)
Securing Sidney
Securing Piper
Securing Zoey
Securing Avery
Securing Kalee
Securing Jane (Feb 2021)
Finding Elodie (Apr 2021)
Finding Lexie (Aug 2021)
Finding Kenna (Oct 2021)
Finding Monica (TBA)
Finding Carly (TBA)
Finding Ashlyn (TBA)
Delta Team Two Series
Shielding Gillian
Shielding Kinley
Shielding Aspen (Oct 2020)
Shielding Riley (Jan 2021)
Shielding Devyn (May 2021)
Shielding Ember (Sep 2021)
Shielding Sierra (TBA)
Delta Force Heroes Series
Rescuing Rayne (FREE!)
Rescuing Aimee (novella)
Rescuing Emily
Rescuing Harley
Marrying Emily (novella)
Rescuing Kassie
Rescuing Bryn
Rescuing Casey
Rescuing Sadie (novella)
Rescuing Wendy
Rescuing Mary
Rescuing Macie (Novella)
Badge of Honor: Texas Heroes Series
Justice for Mackenzie (FREE!)
Justice for Mickie
Justice for Corrie
Justice for Laine (novella)
Shelter for Elizabeth
Justice for Boone
Shelter for Adeline
Shelter for Sophie
Justice for Erin
Justice for Milena
Shelter for Blythe
Justice for Hope
Shelter for Quinn
Shelter for Koren
Shelter for Penelope
SEAL of Protection Series
Protecting Caroline (FREE!)
Protecting Alabama
Protecting Fiona
Marrying Caroline (novella)
Protecting Summer
Protecting Cheyenne
Protecting Jessyka
Protecting Julie (novella)
Protecting Melody
Protecting the Future
Protecting Kiera (novella)
Protecting Alabama’s Kids (novella)
Protecting Dakota
New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author Susan Stoker has a heart as big as the state of Tennessee where she lives, but this all American girl has also spent the last fourteen years living in Missouri, California, Colorado, Indiana, and Texas. She’s married to a retired Army man who now gets to follow her around the country.
www.stokeraces.com
www.AcesPress.com
susan@stokeraces.com