A flash flood hits the small town, stranding Firefighter, Ryan, and a few strangers at the local bar. Worst of all, Leilani, his old high school rival - and last night's scorching one-night-stand - is one of the people stuck in the bar. With waters rising, they need to stick together and wait for rescue.
The power grid's knocked out, and cell phones aren't working. When the others panic and leave, Leilani and Ryan are left alone in the dark. Fortunately, words aren't necessary to keep the former rivals warm. But when they're forced to leave their refuge, they must cooperate to navigate the flood ravaged town and reach safety.
Rising waters bring them closer together. Rising tempers might tear them apart.
Not that his turnouts were comfortable, but at least there was a point to his work gear; it protected him from fires. Nothing protected him from the small talk of the people around him. Yes, it was a nice wedding. Yes, it was amazing how they'd managed to make the room "their own" with only some crepe paper and balloons. No, he wasn't seeing anyone. Yes, the cucumber sandwiches were delicious. Yes, Mildred's hat was lovely. No, he wasn't in a firefighter's calendar. Yea, he got the joke about his "pole." Yes, he was single. No, he wasn't interested in being set up on a blind date.
He didn't begrudge good people good things, but it was like life was rubbing his face in the fact he hadn't found anyone since Melanie had left him just over a year ago. He'd found a lot of someone's since her, but a relationship wasn't something for him. Hell, even Melanie had gotten married.
To the bastard she cheated on him with.
He'd met Kyle "Spence" Spencer, four years ago at the twelve-week training program to be a firefighter, and they'd been buddies ever since. They'd saved each other's lives a couple times, and he was the reason Ryan was sitting in dress pants, dress shirt, and a tie that felt like it was choking him. Ironically, Spence had left his dad's wedding early to go back to the station, refusing Ryan's offer to go for him, knowing Ryan had just come off working two twenty-four hour shifts with only ten hours in between. The flu going around was kicking their station in the teeth, and they couldn't wait until they were only working fifty-six hours a week again.
So here he was at the Spencer wedding. And - duh - the "flower" he'd thought he'd seen. Year, it had to be Leilani. Spence's little sister wouldn't have missed her father's nuptials. They just looked so different.
Kyle's sister. His buddy Kyle's little sister. His co-worker and buddy Kyle's off-limits little sister. He hadn't seen her since he graduated high school - two classes ahead of her - but oh, how she'd grown up.
Still, Spence's sister was off-limits, even though he'd known her since she was a varsity cheerleader, and he'd been the star quarterback, adored by everyone. He'd played football because he was good at it and it was an easy ride - not because he really loved the game. He'd gotten a full scholarship to college, but had no interest in going pro. He'd wanted to do something with his life. Not like it had done him any good in the present. He was still going home to an empty house - unless he took someone warm and wild home with him. If Leilani wasn't his best friend's sister, they'd be in his truck now.
Instead, he sat watching happy couples do the chicken dance. It was definitely time to go. He'd hadn't expected to have a family at this point, but he'd thought at twenty-six he'd have found the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. It certainly hadn't been Melanie, no matter how badly he'd wanted it to be.
He slid from his stool. Hard work and hot sex were all he wanted. Screw marriage and commitment. They just complicated thing. He was good at no strings. He was good at setting a woman's senses on fire with pleasure and find with the one-and-done kind of mindless sex.
And maybe that was all he was good for.
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