Hi! I am so excited to be here on one of my favorite blogs with an exclusive excerpt of HIGH HEAT, my sexy new firefighter romance. This is book two in my Hotshots series about smoke jumper wildfire fighters in Central Oregon, but each book is designed to stand alone as well. HIGH HEAT centers around an injured smoke jumper, Garrick, trying to recover from serious injuries and his sexy new neighbor, Rain who barrels his way into Garrick’s life, complete with a lost dog who needs them both. In the exclusive scene that I’ve brought Smexy Books today, Garrick is anticipating sharing some hot tub time with Rain. They’ve been dancing around an attraction for a sometime and all that simmering chemistry is about to boil over…
Grateful to not need to demonstrate his new painstaking way of undressing, he retreated to his room. His grabber tool helped him with his slip-on shoes, and he wriggled out of his pants sitting on the bed. He’d let Rain have his no swim trunks thing, but he left his own black boxer briefs on, at least for the moment. And because crutching across the deck in the chilly evening air was likely to be a slow effort, he shrugged into his old fleece robe, which was in the closet next to various castoffs from parties past—swimsuits, towels, assorted robes and cover-ups that weren’t his, unclaimed stuff he kept meaning to donate—and his hand paused near a silky emerald robe.
Pretty. Sexy. It was a dangerous idea, but the vision of Rain in the garment slithered through him, warming him way more than his own wrap. Unable to shake the thought, he draped the spare robe around his neck before carefully making his way out to the hot tub.
“Hey, Skinny-Dipping King, I brought you something,” he said as Rain stood from where he’d been sitting on one of the deck chairs. He already had the cover off the tub and the water bubbling. Cookie was napping by one of the loungers, already bored with the proceedings. “Someone left this here several parties ago. Thought you might like to borrow it.”
He tossed the jewel-toned robe at Rain, who easily caught it.
“Oh nice.” Rain smiled, his shyer, pleased one that he usually kept hidden behind his wider, flirtier front. “I’m going to try it on.”
Apparently, the whole no-modesty thing the other day wasn’t a fluke because Rain pulled off his sweatshirt right there, not even sparing a glance at Garrick. His chest was more muscled than Garrick might have expected, with intriguing fuzz across his pecs. Still in his pants, Rain put the robe on before Garrick had a chance to truly look his fill.
“It feels amazing. Forget the tub, I might want to bond with this all night.”
“It’s yours then.”
“Really?” Rain’s whole face lit up, making Garrick want to buy up all the silky garments in the area.
“It’s been a couple of years at least. Doubt its owner has missed it and they probably didn’t enjoy it as much as you seem to.”
“I do like it.” Rain twirled once, robe flapping in the night breeze, before pushing down his black pants, some sort of slinky workout material that were nominally track pants but that clung to his ass in all sorts of good ways. And—
“Sweet Jesus.” Garrick’s voice went gruff and his eyes flew open so wide it was a wonder they stayed in his head at all. Damn. He should have been better prepared and braced himself, but maybe there was no preparing for Rain in sheer, lacy black briefs that while covering the essential bits left little to Garrick’s already overheated imagination.
“You like.” Rain’s grin was both surprised and mischievous. “Like not in a ‘you do you, Rain’ way, but in a turn-on-for-you sort of way.”
“Yeah.” Garrick didn’t bother denying the obvious. “I’ve always had a weakness for…pretty things on other people. Like I’m not much on wearing glitter or glam stuff myself, but put someone else in it…and yeah, I can get into that.”
“Good.” Rain took a step forward, robe swishing about him, but Garrick held up a hand.
“I can appreciate without taking advantage. I’ve got some self-control.”
“And if I want you to take advantage?” Rain’s voice was low and seductive now.
Garrick’s breath caught, anticipation thrumming low in his gut.
About the Book
High Heat, Hotshots, #2 by Annabeth Albert
Annabeth Albert’s Hotshots series continues—the emotions and intensity of Chicago Fire with the raw, natural elements of Man vs. Wild.
Smoke jumping is Garrick Nelson’s life. Nothing, not severe injuries nor the brutal physical therapy that follows, is going to stop him from getting back with his crew. But when a lost dog shows up on his front porch, he can’t turn her away, and he can’t take care of her on his own. Thankfully, help comes in the form of his new sexy, dog-loving neighbor. As they work together, trying to re-home their little princess, Garrick can’t resist his growing attraction for the other man, even though he knows this guy isn’t the staying type.
Rain Fisher doesn’t take anything too seriously. He dances through life, one adventure at a time, never settling in one place for too long. When his hot, conveniently buff, neighbor shows up on his doorstep, dog in tow, Rain’s determined to not just save the adorable puppy, but her reluctant owner as well. He never expects their flirtation might tempt him into stay put once and for all…
Danger lurks everywhere for Central Oregon’s fire crews, but the biggest risk of all might be losing their hearts. Don’t miss the Hotshots series from Annabeth Albert: Burn Zone, High Heat, and Feel the Fire.
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About Annabeth Albert
Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer.
Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two children.
Connect with Annabeth Albert
Website: http://annabethalbert.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AnnabethAlbert
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annabethalbert
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/annabeth_albert/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6477494.Annabeth_Albert
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Annabeth-Albert/e/B00LYFFAZK
Welcome, Annabeth, and thanks for sharing the excerpt from High Heat! Best wishes for its success.