Hazardous: A Steamy Grumpy Boss Firefighter Romance

To the rest of the world, Fire Chief Noah Baker is merciless and colder than ice. He's served the fire department with complete dedication, sacrificing his friendships, family, and sometimes his soul, for the sake of the city.

Yet somehow, junior firefighter Erin Hudgens pierced his armor when no one else could. During their nightly secret rendezvous, she gives herself to him. Sharing her body and her love, it's an addiction he can't fight. Not to mention, pleasure beyond any he's ever tasted.

But it can't last forever, and he'll have to pay for his sins. With a dangerous arsonist on the loose, Noah may be forced to choose between duty. . . and love.

Erin was waiting at the North Star Cafe among a pretty solid crowd. As usual, the staff was dressed up in Sci-fi garb of their choice, adding to the atmosphere.

Noah was late, not much of a surprise. He’d told her to put their name on the list and wait for him. 

Their waitress, last seen dressed as Counselor Troi, walked by wearing high-waisted jeans, suspenders, and a fake machine gun.

“Sigourney Weaver, Aliens, right?” Erin guessed. It was a simple but classic costume. 

The waitress beckoned a group into the seating area. “Yep, there’s only so many women in Star Trek."

"So true," Erin agreed, checking her watch.

Noah was due via Uber any minute. This was actually good news because he wasn’t on call and wouldn’t have a Chief Car. It meant he was going nowhere except Erin’s bed. Or their bed, which had been his bed. Who cared? The point was, they’d have dinner and then roll around in their bed.

Tomorrow, he’d drive his car to work, and Erin would be on call at Firehouse 15.

“What’s the best thing on the menu?” a nearby woman asked the waitress.

“I got this. I’d pick the Lightspeed Cake Tour.” The North Star Cafe was in full geek mode, just like she and Noah. If only he’d get to her already…

“Oh my God! It’s him!” someone shouted. Heads jerked up, and Erin wondered if a member of the band Valkyrie StormFlyght or a Hollywood Chris had arrived.

“It’s the FIRE CHIEF!” another woman shouted.

Erin flattened herself against the side wall, lest she get stampeded by every single and not so-single woman in the joint.

“He looks even better than his picture.”

The unknown woman was right. The Cuyahoga’s Most Eligible Bachelor had refused to take shirtless pictures and opted to wear a white tank-top when they’d done his photoshoot in the CCFD gym during his workout. He’d been hot then, but his jeans and light gray sweater made him even hotter.

A flawless clean-shaven god who schooled his features into what Erin considered his emotionless Spock face. 

He maintained his neutral expression; eyes imperceptibly resting on Erin. “Hello, ladies.”

“I can’t believe you’re here! Can we get a picture?”

“Me too!”

“And me.”

He raised his hand. “Absolutely. Why don’t we stand right there with this gentleman and Ellen Ripley?”

The host, whose name tag read ‘Guard,’ nodded. Erin’s heart did a funny pitter-patter, because she already guessed what Noah intended. These ladies were going to share the picture on social media, so the North Star was about to get a bunch of free advertising.

He didn’t have to do it, but he was that good and true guy.

“I can take the pictures,” Erin volunteered. “Just get in line. I’ll make sure you each get a photo or…” fifteen phones appeared, “…or twenty.”

Noah’s blue eyes didn’t reveal his thoughts, though Erin decided to imagine he was screaming inside.

“Say ‘live long and prosper,’” Erin suggested. The Host-Guard and Noah immediately raised their hands in the appropriate hand signal, or as well as the Host-Guard could do with his missing finger. The group milled around in confusion. “Never mind, say ‘cheese.’”

As she took multiple rounds of pictures, she could hear voices speculating around her.

“What’s he doing here?”

“Does he have a date?”

“Have you seen her yet?”

One woman was bold enough to say, “Sorry, Noah, I hope we didn’t interrupt date night.”

“Not an issue. I’m a huge fan of the Light Speed Cake Tour,” Noah gave one of his classic non-answers.

“The Light Speed Cake Tour?” Women perked up, and host ‘Guard’ made a furtive motion. 

He whispered into Noah’s ear. “Ah, my good Gameroan here says they’re making a fresh batch right now.”

“Give me another ‘Live Long and Prosper.’” Erin snapped another photo on her own phone and said, “Wow, I can’t wait to send this to my friends. I hope my boyfriend won’t be jealous.”

A woman behind her said, “He should be. Wonder what he looks like naked… did I say that out loud?”

“We’re all thinking it,” someone chimed in, and Erin decided it was an excellent time to retreat.

“I assure you, my guy won’t be jealous, because he’s got nothing to worry about. He’s that hot.” Erin texted the photo to Noah’s phone with a request.

'Buy something and meet me at the corner.'

She was willing to wait another ten minutes for Fire Chief nookie.

Okay, she’d wait an hour.

Or as long as it took...