Why I Don't Write Firefighter Romance by Laura Hunsaker

In honor of my Romantic Suspense Dark Past coming out this month (April 30), I wanted to share why I've shied away from writing Contemporary Romance before. I've always wanted a wee bit of magic, a hint of the paranormal, a slip in time...

I'm married to a firefighter, and I frequently get asked why I don't write about firefighters. Isn't that the saying after all, Write what you know? Sometimes, when it's that close to home, it loses the magic. They're too realistic for me. I want that mystery. So I decided to show you what would happen if I ever wrote Firefighter Romance:

Cap’s family walked in right as the food fight began. His wife was used to the guys’ shenanigans, so she stepped out to the hall just as a pancake whizzed by her face. Her 5 year old son picked it up and frisbeed it right back. His 7 year old daughter saw him heading towards them, “Dadddeeeee!”

Captain Scott Johnson swung his princess up to his shoulders and asked if she wanted to surprise the crew?

“Yeah!”

He pulled out some pop its and let her throw them on the ground. The firecrackers popped and echoed throughout the kitchen. Every guy ducked and covered as their captain laughed.

A pancake that was harder than cement smacked him in the mouth, stopping the laughter.

He caught it before it hit the ground, and took a bite, “Good Lord, who made these! I think I cracked a tooth!”

At that, his son came shrieking out of the kitchen, “Daddy! Someone farted and it stinks really bad!”

“Was it you?”

His son smiled. “Maybe.”

His wife walked back in, “Is it safe?”

He kissed her cheek, “Cease fire!”

“Hey Jenn, did you bring those lemon squares?”

“Hi Jay, yep! Here ya go!”

“You’re the best!” He snatched the lemon squares and ran off.

“Share!” Jenn called after the thirty-five year old man who stole all the treats.

“Don’t worry, the guys won’t let him eat them all. They love your lemon squares.”

“Has it been busy today?”

“Not too bad, just a few calls.”

An alarm blared through the station, interrupting them. “Fire emergency. Structure fire at 123 Pine St. Batallion…”

He spoke over the tones. “Sorry babe, gotta go!”

She sighed and watched the crew run out the door to the trucks. Her kids wandered back in and sat in the kitchen. Jay was cleaning up and April walked in. 

“You two weren’t called out?” Jenn asked them.

“Nah, not yet. Our rig isn’t needed. We're on Rescue.” Jay pulled out the lemon squares he’d stolen.

“April, wanna share before they all get back?”

“Save me one. I don’t ever want to look at sugar again.”

“Did you guys have another donut eating contest or something?” Jenn was thinking of the last time they’d done that. It hadn’t ended well for anyone.

“Ugh no. Never again. I still can’t believe I ate 7 donuts. My blood sugar was through the roof!”

Jay was waving a lemon bar underneath April’s nose. “You mean you don’t want one of these? I mean, look at all that lemony goodness. How can you resist.” It was gone before Jenn could blink.

“Holy shit you bit my finger!” Jay

“Boo beserved bit,” April said around her lemon bar.

“Jenn, help me out here,” Jay begged.

“Well, you kind of did deserve it.”

“Traitor.”

They all looked up as they heard the garage doors opening.

“That was fast.”

Jenn’s husband walked in. “It was a stupid trash can fire. They didn’t even need us. A neighbor used his extinguisher before we got there.” It was just like her husband to be bummed out that there wasn’t a fire.

“Hey kids, want to play soccer in the barn?” The barn was what they called the garage. It was huge, with thirty foot ceilings. It had to be to house the engines.

“I’ve got ‘em, Cap. Hang out with your wife.” Jay loved soccer.

“Yeah,” April chimed in. “We’ll keep them busy! Go smooch your woman.”

Jen laughed as the two left making kissy noises.

“Fun crew you’ve got.”

“They’re amazing.” Scott slipped his arms around Jen. “They know when to give us privacy.” He gently kissed her. 

“Mmhmm,” Jen leaned against her husband expecting another kiss when the sploosh of a water balloon hitting them interrupted them.”

“Oh you’re dead, Jay,” Scott chased him down the hall.

Jen laughed and opened up her purse. She’d tucked away a couple of Nerf guns knowing something like this would happen. Hiding them behind her back, she walked to the hall and called Jay’s name. When he looked up, she tagged him in the chest.

“Oh it’s on!” Jay ran around to his locker, but before he could open it, Jen hit him in the back a couple of times before handing her husband the other Nerf gun.

"That's cold, Jen; hitting a man when his back is turned." Jay had a smile on his face, so she knew she was forgiven. After, the man loved her lemon bars.

“I love you so much right now,” he smiled as he took off running after Jay.

It wasn’t the most romantic setting, but Jen didn’t care. This was her life, and she loved every minute of it.

*The End*
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