Part 1 (1/2)

Uniform Fetish.

Men of Station 23.

Stacey Espino.

Tammy Palmer can barely control her uniform fetish when she walks by Station 23. The four firefighters she fantasizes over are pure s.e.x and muscle. But Tammy's not ready for love after her last disastrous relations.h.i.+p, not to mention she's not even in the same league as these delicious men.

When the newspaper she edits for gives her the chance for a promotion from pus.h.i.+ng pencils, she jumps at the opportunity. The only problem is she's expected to spend two weeks at the new fire station in preparation for the article.

Tammy's wanton desires are soon unleashed when she moves into the station. But good things rarely last, and Tammy's crazed ex returns, luring the men away from the station. He's determined to get her back at any cost.

Will the men of Station 23 be able to save the woman they've grown to love in time?

Note: There is no s.e.xual relations.h.i.+p or touching for t.i.tillation between or among the men.

Genre: Contemporary, Menage a Trois/Quatre.

Letter to Readers.

Dear Readers, If you have purchased this copy of Men of Station 23 by Stacey Espino from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

DEDICATION.

Dedicated to the brave men and women who keep our country safe. And thanks for looking hot in that uniform!.

Chapter One.

Tammy Palmer reluctantly agreed to accompany her friend Stephanie to the fire station on the corner of Yonge and Bridgestone. Well, not to the station, more like by it. At two o'clock every day the men in Station 23 hit the gym. It was a gla.s.s-enclosed room on the northern corner of the new building. Since their office was less than a five-minute walk away, Stephanie insisted they spend part of their break casually strolling by at the same time each day.

The eye candy was nice, but Tammy was sure the men would figure out their game one of these days. She'd planned to stop the walks altogether but knew this was the week her men were on s.h.i.+ft. These four were unlike any of the others. Their bodies looked GQ-worthy, so hard and ripped. When they'd occasionally notice them walking by, a couple of them would always smile or wink. It got Tammy's heart racing and p.u.s.s.y moistening every time. Returning to the office all hot and bothered made for very uncomfortable afternoons sitting at a desk.

”Come on, Tammy. Hurry up!”

”Can I at least grab my purse?” If they were going to casually walk by, she at least wanted to be able to buy a coffee at Tim Hortons so the trip wasn't completely pathetic. Tammy was thirty-six, not sixteen. She shouldn't even be humoring her younger coworker, but they'd become best friends over the past two years they worked at the paper together.

Tammy had broken up with her controlling boyfriend, and Stephanie her cheating one, in the same week. It had been the catalyst to a deep, bonding friends.h.i.+p. It didn't matter that her friend was twenty-five because they just clicked, and Tammy had never really felt her age.

The walk itself was one of the reasons she'd convinced herself to keep up the ritual. It was the only exercise she seemed to get each day. Today the skies were gray, warning of rain to come. She could smell it in the air, heavy and thick.

They picked up their coffee first. Tammy had her usual double-double with milk. It looked better to walk along sipping on their drinks rather than race by while gawking. When they neared the infamous corner, a familiar thrill raced up her spine. It wasn't like she had the nerve to act on her desires. She lived behind a desk at one of the larger newspapers, editing and preparing articles for the Wednesday and Sat.u.r.day editions. Living the fantasy was not going to happen. Those muscled G.o.ds she enjoyed feasting her eyes on most afternoons were no more real for her than a picture in a magazine. It got depressing after a while, constantly craving but never getting the satisfaction.

”Look!” Steph b.u.mped her with her hip, stealing glances from the corner of her eye.

Tammy followed her gaze. Like she'd expected and hoped, her crew was on s.h.i.+ft. One was lying on a workbench, a metal bar propped up in his arms with a ma.s.sive amount of weight on each end. His muscles bulged and strained, making her weak in the knees. Another sat on a bench doing arm curls with a barbell. The first two wore white unders.h.i.+rts, but the third was on the elliptical bare chested and glistening with clean sweat. He looked in her in the eye, not slowing down his vigorous pace.

”He's looking at you,” Steph whispered, nudging her in the ribs.

Normally, Tammy would avert her eyes, but not today. Since this was the last time she planned to take this walk, she figured she may as well get a little brave. She smiled, a mix of flirting and sweetness. He was probably bored of all the women who came to gawk. Why would they enclose the firefighters' gym in gla.s.s? Seriously. It was a traffic accident waiting to happen. That's when she spotted the fourth man. He had been leaning over in a chair tying his running shoes, likely watching her the whole time. A conspiratorial smirk lit up his face, and she felt her own turn hot and flush.

”Let's just get out of here, Steph.”

They turned around before they even reached the corner, looking like two desperados with no destination. Tammy supposed she was, in a way, considering she hadn't been laid in over two years. She'd promised herself to make an effort at a new relations.h.i.+p but always chickened out. After her last experience, she was too leery to trust a new man.

”You're such a party p.o.o.per,” said Steph as they neared their building. ”Two of them were totally checking you out.”

”I don't think it was me they were looking at. You're young, cute, and your skirt is way too short. They probably thought I was your mother.”

Steph laughed. ”Stop making excuses.”

”For what? You think I actually have a chance with one of them? Ha! I'd have better odds playing the lottery.”

”Not every man is looking for Barbie, Tammy. You can't just hide away from life forever. Sooner or later, you'll have to take that plunge into the sordid, occasionally rewarding world of dating again.”

”How about I hide a little longer?” Tammy opened the gla.s.s door into the office and went for her desk. Steph went her own way, back to the grindstone. It was stuffy inside, barely any daylight entering from the small windows at the one side of the building. This was her reality-work, sleep, work. At least she lived by her own rules, no overcontrolling boyfriend breathing down her neck. Brian had seemed normal at first, but within months of committing to each other his true colors emerged. He'd call her nonstop, show up at the office, leave random gifts at her door. She'd had to move twice and change her phone number several times. His Jekyll-and-Hyde routine could turn downright scary when he showed how violent he was capable of becoming.

Now she had a new job, new place, and answered to n.o.body. Unfortunately, Tammy quickly learned that peace and freedom weren't enough for a satisfying life. She wanted so much more.

Why would G.o.d give her the desire for true love, pa.s.sionate s.e.x, and romantic fantasies, when they were out of reach or didn't exist for her at all? It wasn't fair.

Mr. Templeton came down the hall. ”Back from your walk already?” he asked, dropping a stack of papers in her in-box.

”It's not the best weather out.”

He sat on the edge of her desk, his eyes narrowed and brow lowered. He got the same look every time he wanted to talk about business, or something serious. ”I've just been given a new a.s.signment, Tammy. It's a big one because it was sent to me directly by our munic.i.p.al representative.”

Although she couldn't do it in front of him, she was rolling her eyes in spirit. Tammy could care less about politics or kissing a.s.s, but she needed this job, so humored her boss.

”Interesting...”

”Oh, it is. This is a big opportunity for the Heartland Tribute, and I want you to be the one on the a.s.signment.”

It was probably going in the Sat.u.r.day edition, which was already full. Tammy would have to shorten some of the highlights and juggle the paid advertising. ”Okay. Who's writing the article?”

He smiled, shaking his head. ”You don't seem to understand. I'm giving you a big chance here, Tammy. I want you to go out and do the interview and research hands-on, write the article, and get it in our big Sunday edition in three weeks.”

”Me?” She felt honored to be given an a.s.signment other than sitting behind her desk correcting comma splices and run-on sentences. An advance in her career could be the catalyst to bigger and better things in her personal life. Her daily routine was dragging her down lately, and a real a.s.signment promised new challenges and rewards.

”You've proved yourself an a.s.set since you started. I know I can trust you to handle this with the utmost professionalism.”