Page 40 of Rescued Dreams (Last Chance Fire and Rescue #8)
ONE MONTH LATER
A melia slid the baking tray of cookies out of the oven in the firehouse kitchen. Ridge had taught her how to make his chocolate banana cookies, so cakey they were amazing. She was more than obsessed and figured she’d make them for the firehouse Thanksgiving party.
She set the tray down, and Eddie tried to snag a cookie. She smacked him with the potholder. “You’ll burn yourself.” Amelia spotted someone in the doorway. “Besides, your guest is here.”
“Bia!” Eddie headed for his actress girlfriend. A woman no one would have expected to land in Last Chance County, but she had. The work they were doing together with local kids’ programs was amazing.
Eddie and Bia went over to Zack, who had his arms around Naya—only a couple of months from her due date now.
Music played through the firehouse kitchen from one of Maddie’s holiday playlists. The girl was obsessed with Christmas music, and that was just fine. Even if it was early.
The table had been covered with a fall-themed tablecloth, and the spread of food made Amelia feel full just looking at it. She’d been training hard the last few weeks and had finally taken the lieutenant’s test last Monday. Now all she had to do was wait for the results.
Waiting sucked.
Bryce and Penny occupied the couch, with Kane nearby, talking to them.
The twins strode in from the front door, hauling bags that looked like presents. Ridge had a stack of wrapped gifts in his arms, which he tucked under the food table while the girls came over and gave Amelia hugs. Ella snagged one of the hot cookies, chewing appreciatively.
“How was your bizarrely early Christmas shopping trip?”
She’d asked Ella, but it was Maddie who said, “He’s crazy. We had to go to three different stores and the mall just to find what he was looking for. All because Kane is impossible to buy for.”
Amelia grinned because Ridge was adorable in his need to overplan the holidays and get everything done way ahead of time.
Ella shrugged. “I got him an Alaska Air One Rescue T-shirt and a Midnight Sun Smokejumpers one.”
Maddie twisted around. “That’s a better idea than what I did!”
Amelia chuckled. “I’m sure he’ll love whatever you got him.”
“Yeah, but what Ridge got you is better.”
Ella smacked her sister’s arm, and Maddie flushed red.
“What did you tell her?” Ridge came over, holding a thin rectangular package that looked heavy. “Did you tell?”
The girls lifted their hands, snagged another cookie each, and scurried off toward Zoe and Della, who were laughing over plates of nibbles. Izan held out a fist and got a bump from both the girls.
Amelia wiped her hands on the towel she’d hung on the front of the oven.
Ridge held out the package. “This is for you.”
“It’s Thanksgiving.” She frowned. “You’re giving me a Christmas present on Thanksgiving?”
“Trust me.” His brows rose. “You’ll want to open this now.”
Amelia gingerly peeled back the paper. When was the last time she’d been given a gift? And one from Ridge? She wanted to savor the moment, but soon enough, she got the paper peeled back and found a frame. Glass on the front. Metal bar for a hook on the back. Something to hang on a wall.
She turned it over.
Her breath caught.
In loving memory.
“I had the department give me the badge and name tag for your dad.”
She ran her fingers over the name Matthew Curtis Patterson, too choked up to say anything.
“I think we could hang it on the wall in your office. If you’d like.” He shifted, as if nervous about how she’d receive it.
Amelia hugged the memorial display to her front, lifted up on her toes, and kissed Ridge in front of everyone.
He was so certain she’d pass the lieutenant’s exam.
She had started to dream big, but life was still life.
When had it consistently gone in her favor?
But now that she had God in her life, she had someone to whisper her worries to. A place where she found peace and hope.
Someone whistled—probably Izan. He was bizarrely on board with their relationship.
She heard a throat clearing. The chief. Amelia lowered her heels to the ground and looked over at him in the doorway, her face flaming.
“Special delivery.” The chief split what was in his hand, holding out two white envelopes. One toward her, and the other to Bryce.
She went over and grabbed the envelope. Bryce did the same. Penny came over and hugged his side.
“Three, two, one, go?” Bryce said.
Amelia grinned. “Race you.” She tore open her envelope.
He did the same.
Amelia slid out the paper, her stomach flipping over. Unfolded it. “I passed.”
“Duh.” Izan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “ Lieutenant. ”
Having the paperwork to prove it…
She looked at Bryce. “Well?”
He looked at Penny. “I passed. I’m a captain now.”
Amelia cheered with everyone else.
Macon said, “Sounds like it’s time for Frees to clear out his office and go full-time from city hall.”
“The guy should just run for mayor.” Zack snagged a handful of cheese cubes from the table, and the room erupted into conversation.
Ridge slid his arms around Amelia from behind and whispered in her ear, “I knew you’d do it.”
Amelia stared at the paper. “I did it.” And now she could prove it. No one could take her victory away from her.
“Guess I’ll have to move out of your office.”
Amelia laughed. “No way. Bryce’s is bigger. If he’s moving into Frees’s office, I get his.”
Ridge tickled her side, and Amelia broke into louder laughter.
He spun her around and kissed her.
Someone yelled, “Happy Thanksgiving!”
* * *
Spend Christmas with the Last Chance Fire and Rescue crew in our romantic suspense festive anthology, Last Chance Christmas by Lisa Phillips, Michelle Sass Aleckson, and Laura Conaway.
Dive back into the danger—and the romance—of the bestselling Last Chance Fire and Rescue series…
This Christmas, love is the greatest rescue of all...
Christmas was supposed to be peaceful in Last Chance County—until escaped killers turn their winter wonderland into a deadly hunting ground.
When a catastrophic blizzard causes a prison transport crash, hardened criminals scatter into the frozen wilderness. With roads impassable and temperatures plummeting, Last Chance County's bravest first responders must abandon their holiday plans for the most dangerous manhunt of their lives.
But in the heart of winter's fury, love is the light in the storm…
Firefighter Izan Collins has waited months to win guarded cop Olivia Tazwell's heart, but when a cartel killer targets his family during a church event, their first date becomes a fight for survival.
Officer Anthony Thomas never believed in Christmas magic—until protecting fierce firefighter Della Nixon from a vengeful serial killer shows him that some gifts are worth any sacrifice.
K-9 Officer Cole Stuart has hunted his nemesis for two years, but partnering with determined EMT Kianna Russell in a deadly mountain pursuit teaches him that some battles are meant to be fought together.
Three couples. Three heart-stopping chases through winter's deadliest storm. Three Christmas miracles that prove love conquers all.
Perfect for readers who love pulse-pounding romantic suspense, Christmas magic, and heroes who fight for love.
Discover why readers are calling this "unputdownable" and "the perfect blend of heart-stopping action and swoon-worthy romance."
Pre-order from the Sunrise Shop to get your hands on it early, or later from your favorite retailer.
Keep reading for a sneak peek…
LAST CHANCE CHRISTMAS | LAST CHANCE FIRE AND RESCUE ANTHOLOGY
CHAPTER 1
Officer Olivia Tazwell gripped the steering wheel and swung the squad car around a turn onto Rutland Boulevard. She’d broken her wrist a couple of months back, but it had healed since. The memories? Not so faded.
Her partner, Officer Junior Ramble, sat in the seat beside her. “Are we in a hurry for some reason?”
“Just keeping my skills sharp.” Truth was, she was restless in a way that she hadn’t been since college. That had caused her all kinds of trouble, getting in with the wrong crowd. Hooking up with the wrong kind of guy. Getting her heart broken and the downward spiral that followed.
She didn’t want to go back to that dark place.
Not just because she was a cop now and had been for four years. She lived on the right side of the law rather than skirting the dividing line and hoping she didn’t get caught. Thankfully she never had been. Otherwise a career as a cop would have been out of the question.
The last thing she wanted now was to get fired and have the people of Last Chance County think she had never deserved their respect.
“How’s your mama?”
Olivia blew out a breath, rolling her eyes. The usual reaction anytime he brought up her mom. “Ornery as usual. Complaining that the night manager hates her. She wants to get switched back to the day shift so she can get back on a cash register.”
“We should swing by. Say hi.” He checked his watch.
“Too early for lunch break.”
“It’s after midnight.”
“Exactly. We should wait at least another hour, or you’ll start complaining at four, and you’ll be miserable until we get off at seven.”
Junior liked to grumble under his breath.
Mostly she ignored it since he was a solid partner and he’d never tried to hit on her. They were more like brother and sister and had settled into a friendship that had developed over the last few years working together. Since they’d both graduated from the same academy class.
He’d been born and raised in Last Chance County.
She’d grown up in Benson, Washington, and the minute she’d been able to leave, she’d gone.
Olivia had persuaded her mom to come with her, and they’d left that town in the rearview—with Olivia eighteen and driving because her mom had been wasted at the time.
These days she had periods of being sober and on the right track, then rocky weeks where she needed some help.