The Firefighter Who Loved Them Both
(2026)(The second book in the Elk Ridge Fire Fighters series)
A novel by Susanne Ash
A single mom. Her son. And the firefighter who never meant to fall for either of them.
Lila Bennett has built a careful, steady life in Elk Ridge. One that puts her eight-year-old son first and leaves little room for risk. As the school secretary, she is surrounded by families every day, but when it comes to her own, stability matters more than romance. Especially with a child who has already learned that not everyone stays.
Mateo Martinez prefers his life uncomplicated. He dates casually, keeps things light, and pours his energy into the firehouse. Commitment has never been part of the plan, and he has always believed that was the responsible choice.
Until a small-town community event brings them together.
Mateo is calm and capable with Lila’s son in a moment that matters, and before he realizes it, he is showing up in ways he never has before. Coffee turns into real conversations. A school career day tugs at his heart. And somewhere between shared laughter and quiet moments, Mateo starts to care in a way that feels both unexpected and unavoidable.
But when a career opportunity threatens to pull him away from Elk Ridge, Lila knows better than to hope. She encourages him to do what is best for his future, even as she quietly pulls back to protect her son.
Because loving a man who does not stay is not a risk she is willing to take.
As fear, responsibility, and growing attachment collide, Mateo must face the truth. Some choices do not just change your career. They change who you are willing to be.
A heartfelt, slow-burn romance about a protective firefighter, a devoted single mom, and the family neither of them planned but both might be brave enough to choose. Perfect for readers who love small-town settings, found family, and heroes who fall hard and stay.
Genre: Romance
Lila Bennett has built a careful, steady life in Elk Ridge. One that puts her eight-year-old son first and leaves little room for risk. As the school secretary, she is surrounded by families every day, but when it comes to her own, stability matters more than romance. Especially with a child who has already learned that not everyone stays.
Mateo Martinez prefers his life uncomplicated. He dates casually, keeps things light, and pours his energy into the firehouse. Commitment has never been part of the plan, and he has always believed that was the responsible choice.
Until a small-town community event brings them together.
Mateo is calm and capable with Lila’s son in a moment that matters, and before he realizes it, he is showing up in ways he never has before. Coffee turns into real conversations. A school career day tugs at his heart. And somewhere between shared laughter and quiet moments, Mateo starts to care in a way that feels both unexpected and unavoidable.
But when a career opportunity threatens to pull him away from Elk Ridge, Lila knows better than to hope. She encourages him to do what is best for his future, even as she quietly pulls back to protect her son.
Because loving a man who does not stay is not a risk she is willing to take.
As fear, responsibility, and growing attachment collide, Mateo must face the truth. Some choices do not just change your career. They change who you are willing to be.
A heartfelt, slow-burn romance about a protective firefighter, a devoted single mom, and the family neither of them planned but both might be brave enough to choose. Perfect for readers who love small-town settings, found family, and heroes who fall hard and stay.
Genre: Romance