Tears filled her eyes and she saw Ross frown in concern. “What is it? What have I done?”
“It’s not you, Ross. It’s me. I should never have let things reach this point.”
“How can you say that?” he exclaimed, trying to draw her into his arms.
“Please don’t. I’m sorry, Ross.…”
“For God’s sake, Heather, stop it! Don’t do this to yourself or to me.” He didn’t try to touch her again but the pain in his voice was more than enough to gain her attention. Heather’s heart ached afresh because it was all her fault that he was suffering.
“Don’t push me away, Heather. Talk to me. Tell me what the problem is and then maybe we can find a solution. I—I know this has something to do with Grace’s father and I swear I’ll understand.”
Every woman dreams of finding a hero to share her life, but imagine how difficult it must be, loving a man who constantly puts his life at risk? That idea was the starting point for this book and, as I wrote it, I soon realized that if it takes a very special man to be a hero, then it takes a very special woman to love him.
When firefighter Ross Tanner is brought into the emergency room, Dr. Heather Cooper finds herself instantly attracted to him. However, she is determined not to get involved. She has loved one hero and there is no way that she is going to risk falling in love with another one! Heather is content with the life she has made for herself and her small daughter, and she doesn’t intend to let anything ruin it. Nevertheless, she soon discovers it isn’t easy to switch off her feelings. Can she find the courage to overcome her fears?
Ross Tanner is deeply attracted to Heather as soon as they meet. He is confident that he can give Heather the happiness she deserves until he gradually starts to realize how dangerous it is to let her fall in love with him. He might have accepted the risks that come with his job, but would it be right to put Heather through the heartache of loving a man who might not come home one day?
Helping Heather and Ross work through their problems was a joy. I hope you enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it. There can be nothing better than bringing together two very brave people and watching them find true happiness.
Best wishes to you all,
Jennifer
Saving Dr Cooper
Jennifer Taylor
CONTENTS
THE call came in shortly before Red Watch were due to go off duty. Up till then the day had been unusually quiet. Weekends tended to be their busiest periods but there had been just one call that afternoon, to a fire started by some teenagers who’d set light to the contents of a skip left in the car park of a local supermarket.
It had taken the crew from Hexton fire station less than an hour to get the blaze under control and arrange for the skip to be collected. They’d been on their way back to the station when the second call had come through. It had been immediately apparent that this one wasn’t going to be anywhere near as easy to deal with.
Ross Tanner nodded as one of the crew finished checking his breathing apparatus and gave him the thumbs-up sign. He waited impatiently while his colleague Terry Green’s equipment was also checked. The fire had started in the basement flat of a run-down Victorian terrace and had spread rapidly through the four-storey building. Even from a distance of several hundred yards, the roar of the flames was deafening.
Crews from neighbouring fire stations had been called in to assist because of the danger that the fire would spread to the adjoining properties. That wasn’t Ross’s main concern, however. A three-year-old child had been reported as trapped inside the blazing building and the sooner they got him out the happier Ross would be.
‘I don’t want either of you taking risks. The upper floors could cave in at any moment. You’re to get the hell out of there at the first sign of trouble.’
Ross listened while the senior divisional officer, Mike Rafferty—who was in charge of the fire ground—issued some last-minute instructions. As Station Officer at Hexton, Ross knew the rule, of course, that no firefighter should needlessly put his own life at risk. He also knew that when there was a child involved none of the men from Red Watch would hesitate. If there was a chance of saving the little boy then neither he nor his colleagues would pull out.
Ross led the way to the front of the blazing building and waited while the crew hosed him down. The equipment he was wearing was both heavy and cumbersome but he spent hours practising the drill each week and he was used to the weight of the air tank on his back and the difficulties of breathing through a mask. He was even used to the ferocity of the heat that greeted him as they entered the smoke-darkened hallway and made their way to the staircase at the rear.
He’d been a firefighter for ten years and he’d attended enough fires during that time to know what to expect. He was trained for this situation. He knew what to do. Now all he had to do was find the child and get him out…alive.
‘Will I be glad when this shift is over. If I see one more person who’s injured himself doing DIY then