Secret Fire

von Morticia Knight

Police officer Zach and Fire Marshal Daryl would be perfect together-if they would ever quit fighting long enough to find out. A devastating fire and the secret behind it almost keeps them from getting what they really need-each other.Mesa police officer Zach is a fun-loving guy. Now that he's hit the big three-oh, he's looking to stop the hook-up train and find someone he can get serious about. When a mutual friend suggests Fire Marshal Daryl, Zach assumes he must be joking. The surly marshal has given cranky a new meaning. It's unfortunate, though, since he is one fine-looking man.Daryl has sworn off relationships ever since he caught his ex-partner cheating. He's always taken everything in life seriously-from jobs to relationships-and is afraid he might be alone in that regard. Certain he can't risk love again, he panics when he sees his secret crush Zach approaching him at a police versus firemen softball game. He's nervous, as he is socially challenged with a tendency to blurt out the wrong things. It gets worse when he realises their shared buddy gave Zach a push. He assumes that Zach is only talking to him out of pity.Zach has been pissed off at Daryl ever since they got into a verbal sparring match at the park. Yet, when Daryl comes to his aid during an explosive fire, Zach wonders what secrets might be hidden beneath the layers Daryl has built to protect himself from the world-and love. A night of passion turns into the possibility of something more as they struggle to find their way to one another. But all of that is threatened when there is a devastating fire that causes many people to lose their lives. As they work together to uncover the truth, someone thinks they've asked too many questions-and plans to stop them before they can ask any more.