Title: Fire and Granite
Series: Carlisle Deputies #2
Genre: M/M
Contemporary Romance/Law Enforcement
Release Date: July 10 2018
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
The heat is growing from the inside, but danger is building
on the outside.
Judge Andrew Phillips runs a tight ship in his courtroom.
He’s tough, and when he hands down a sentence, he expects to be obeyed. So when
a fugitive named Harper escapes and threatens his life, Andrew isn’t keen on
24-7 protection… especially not from Deputy Clay Brown. They have a past, one
that could cause problems in their careers.
But with Clay assigned to Andrew and the two of them
together every minute, there’s nowhere to hide from their attraction—or from
the fact that there’s much more than chemistry blooming between them. As the
threat intensifies, Clay knows he’ll do anything it takes to protect the people
who are taking their places in his heart: Andrew and his young niece and nephew.
Thank God the day was over. Andrew had managed to keep
things moving and had gotten through his entire agenda. He took off his robe
and hung it up, then sat at his desk to get some work accomplished and prepare
for the following morning. What he needed was a few hours alone, but he was
more likely to get just a few minutes. Still, he used them to his full
advantage.
“Judge Phillips,” Clay said after Andrew had gotten in a
half hour of uninterrupted work. “When do you intend to leave for the day?”
Andrew checked the clock and figured now was as good a time
as any. He stood and began packing his bag for the evening. “Give me ten
minutes.”
“Then I’ll bring the car around so I can take you home.”
Clay picked up the suitcase that Andrew had placed by the door that morning and
left the office.
Andrew finished up, and by the time he was ready, Clay had
returned. They went down the back stairs and out through the front door. A
sheriff’s vehicle was parked just off to the side. Clay watched all around as
he escorted Andrew to the car and got him inside before hurrying to the
driver’s side. They took off and turned onto Hanover Street.
“Where are we going?” It definitely wasn’t his home.
“I need to stop at my house to check on Petey. He’s been
cooped up inside all day, and I need to let him out and feed him. It won’t take
long.”
“Do we really have to do this?” Andrew grumped as Clay turned
onto Chapel and pulled into his garage.
“Yes… we do. Please stay here,” Clay directed. He got out,
closed the overhead garage door, and locked it before checking the yard. Then
he motioned for Andrew to join him, and they walked up to the house. Clay
opened the back door, and a short blond dog raced by, hurrying to the nearest
tree to do his business. “That’s Petey.”
The dog ambled back, and Clay knelt down to pet him and
receive doggie kisses. Petey accepted the attention and then hurried over to Andrew,
looking upward with huge brown eyes, his tail wagging constantly.
Andrew knelt and petted the dog slowly. “He’s really
adorable.”
“Petey is special.” Clay went inside, and Andrew followed.
Petey raced to his empty bowl, and Clay fed him and changed his water. “He
spends a lot of the day here alone. I try to come home at lunch to let him out,
but I didn’t get a chance today. Corgis are pack animals, and I think he
suffers when he’s alone so much.” He set the bowl down, and Petey crunched his
food.
“But he’s alone all day,” Andrew said, kneeling down when
Petey finished, holding out his hand. Petey came right over for more scratches.
“You’re a pretty boy, aren’t you?” He scratched between Petey’s ears, and the
dog sat down, soaking in the attention. “Why don’t you bring him to the house?
It’s a shame to leave him here all alone so much of the time.”
Clay seemed taken aback. “Are you serious?” It was clear
Clay really cared for his dog.
Barnes and Noble
Dreamspinner Press
