Undamaged: Stories from the San Juan Islands
()
About this ebook
An island brings together two damaged souls seeking respite and recovery. Will they discover love as well?
Working wildlands fires is what Royce Donovan was born to do. But he's been living in Dallas for the last year and fighting urban fires is fraying his nerves. When tragedy strikes, Royce finds solace in alcohol, and ends up in rehab on rural and remote San Juan Island.
Samantha Vickers swears she's happy. She has the perfect job as Historian at San Juan Island's National Park. Leaving the excitement and stress of the big city for the bucolic life of an island was a huge change—and a risk she had to take for peace of mind.
A firefighter coping with tragedy. A historian escaping traumatic shock. An island brings together two damaged souls seeking respite and recovery. Will they discover love as well?
Undamaged is a contemporary firefighter seasoned romance with a silver fox hero and a heroine in her prime. The novella is part of Regina Kammer's Stories from the San Juan Islands collection of standalone short reads set in the San Juan Islands.
Stories from the San Juan Islands
* Undamaged ~ A contemporary firefighter romance set on San Juan Island
* Disputed Boundaries ~ A historical romance set on San Juan Island in 1869 during the Pig War
* "Orcas" ~ A steamy contemporary short story set on Orcas Island
All three stories are also available in one volume: The Stories from the San Juan Islands Collection
Regina Kammer
Regina Kammer is a librarian, an art historian, and an award-winning, international best-selling, multi-published writer of provocative historical romance and contemporary romance with a touch of history. Her short stories and novels make history sexier, whether the era is Roman, Byzantine, Viking, American Revolution, or Victorian. She’s even sexed up contemporary settings, Steampunk, and Greco-Roman mythology. She has been published by Cleis Press, Go Deeper Press, Ellora’s Cave, House of Erotica, Story Ink, Loose Id, The Naughty Literati, and her own imprint, Viridium Press. She began writing historical fiction with romantic elements during National Novel Writing Month 2006, switching to erotica when all her characters suddenly demanded to have sex.Keep up with Regina via her newsletter: https://reginakammer.com/newsletter/
Read more from Regina Kammer
Modern Shorts: A Contemporary Romance Collection Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Disputed Boundaries (Stories from the San Juan Islands): Stories from the San Juan Islands Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Hadrian and Sabina: A Love Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsImperial Warriors: Two Scorching Tales of the Roman Empire Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOn the Eighteenth of January, ’78; or, A Night at Valley Forge Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAncient Shorts: An Ancient World Romance Collection Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsOrcas (Stories from the San Juan Islands): Stories from the San Juan Islands Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsAn Age Play: A Modern Romance Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Related to Undamaged
Related ebooks
An Unlikely Alliance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5A Broken Bond Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Heiress and the Baby Boom Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBurning both Ends Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Groomed For Love Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Texan Takes A Wife Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Wedding Garden Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5To Be Chosen: Second Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTales of the Missouri Indians Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsTime Trap Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsYuletide Cold Case Cover-Up Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDiamond Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Christmas Cowboys Volume 1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFive Golden Rings: Stoneybrook Mysteries, #2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnwrapping Chris Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsCrandalls' Castle Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Carnelian Legacy Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWest of Forgotten Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWolf Moon: Moonstruck, #4 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSantiago's Convenient Fiancée Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsExplosive Reunion Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hello Girls Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Strongest Magic Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Rich Man's Son Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsReturn to Pelican Inn Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsWhisperer Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLake of Whispers Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Farewell Tour Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBlood and Breakfast: A Friday the 13th Story Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsClouds of Grey: On The Edge action suspense thriller, #1 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Romance For You
Heart Bones: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe Not: A Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5It Starts with Us: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5All Your Perfects: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Ugly Love: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Chased by Moonlight Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Something Borrowed: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Confess: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Hopeless Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5November 9: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Wuthering Heights Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Under the Roses Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Before We Were Strangers: A Love Story Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5My Favorite Half-Night Stand Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Finding Perfect: A Novella Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Without Merit: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Maybe Now: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Swear on This Life: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buzz Books 2023: Spring/Summer Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Bossy: An Erotic Workplace Diary Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Dating You / Hating You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Seven Sisters: Book One Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Stone Heart Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Adults Only Volume 3: Seven Erotica Shorts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Rosie Effect: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Second Glance: A Novel Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Roomies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Erotic Fantasies Anthology Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Tess of the d'Urbervilles Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related categories
Reviews for Undamaged
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Undamaged - Regina Kammer
Undamaged
Stories from the San Juan Islands
Regina Kammer
Viridium Press
Copyright
Undamaged is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons living or dead is entirely coincidental.
Copyright ©2018 by Regina Kammer
Undamaged was previously published in October 2016. It has been reedited with minor revisions.
Cover design by Dar Albert of Wicked Smart Designs.
Cover photographic elements of San Juan Island by Regina Kammer.
All Rights Reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Published by Viridium Press, Friday Harbor, Washington
More by Regina Kammer
Stories from the San Juan Islands collection
Undamaged
A contemporary firefighter romance set on San Juan Island
Disputed Boundaries
A historical romance set on San Juan Island in 1869 during the Pig War
Orcas
A contemporary women’s fiction short story set on Orcas Island
The Stories from the San Juan Islands Collection
All three stories in one book
Contemporary romance
Resistance: A Common Elements Romance
Modern Shorts: A Contemporary Romance Collection
Never miss a new release! Subscribe to Regina’s newsletter Kammerotica News!
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Carolyn Hudson, fire prevention educator and former firefighter, for generously taking time out of her work day to give me a tour of the San Juan Island Fire Department. Thank you to volunteer firefighter Nick for all his interesting stories. Thank you to the entire staff of the San Juan Island Fire Department for doing what you do every single day.
Thank you to my helpful beta readers Jason and Patricia.
Thank you to Paige Tyler for granting permission for the use of the characters of Captain Earl Stewart, Dane Chandler, Kole Brandt, and Tory Wilcox, and Dallas Fire & Rescue from her Dallas Fire & Rescue Series world.
Dedication
To all who have been damaged and still seek refuge.
Undamaged
Working wildlands fires is what Royce Donovan was born to do. But he’s been living in Dallas for the last year and fighting urban fires is fraying his nerves. When tragedy strikes, Royce finds solace in alcohol, and ends up in rehab on rural and remote San Juan Island.
Samantha Vickers swears she’s happy. She has the perfect job as Historian at San Juan Island’s National Park. Leaving the excitement and stress of the big city for the bucolic life of an island was a huge change—and a risk she had to take for peace of mind.
A firefighter coping with tragedy. A historian escaping traumatic shock. An island brings together two damaged souls seeking respite and recovery. Will they discover love as well?
*****
Chapter One
Royce Donovan began to sweat the moment his lips met the spoon heaped with chili. Around him, the crew of Dallas Fire and Rescue Station 58 stared, faces twisted in suppressed grins and smirks. He chewed tentatively, the stinging heat of peppers impossible to squelch. Mouth ablaze, he forced himself to swallow.
Tears flooded his eyes, then streamed down his cheeks, mingling with droplets of sweat.
Archer Blake peeled the foil back from a cup of yogurt and passed it to Royce. You might need this to smother the flames.
Hearty laughter filled the firehouse dining commons.
Royce coughed as the fire slid down his throat. Now that’s five-alarm chili.
They don’t feed you like that out in the hills of California, do they?
remarked Dane Chandler, exaggerating a Texas twang.
Nah, usually just basic mac-and-cheese.
Tears still weighed heavy on Royce’s lashes.
Is that Captain Stewart’s infamous firehouse chili I smell?
All heads turned at the sound of the female voice laced with chastisement. Royce’s sister Ginny stood in the doorway to the dining commons, her arms crossed over her chest, tapping the toe of her high-heeled shoe, one brow raised as her blue eyes glared at the squad.
He’s been on the crew almost six months, Mrs. Davis, ma’am,
Tory Wilcox said apologetically. We figured it was time.
Ginny’s scowl eased into a smile. And how did it go?
She flashed a quick look over Archer’s way.
I survived,
Royce said with a grin.
A blond blur flashed by Ginny’s side and came toward him.
Uncle Royce!
Charlee’s exuberant exclamation tripped the joy switch in Royce’s heart. She ran to him like any normal, healthy eight-year-old dressed in a soccer uniform. He lifted her handily onto his lap.
And what did you learn in school today?
Charlee puckered her lips. "Dónde está el perro?" she announced with pride.
Hmm.
One corner of Royce’s mouth ticked upward uncontrollably. Maybe one day the answer to that question will be ‘the dog is waiting for me to come home from school so I can play with it’.
Charlee bit her lip as she grinned. Ginny had resisted getting a dog, but Royce and Charlee were working on wearing her down.
The grin faded as Charlee’s icy-blue eyes searched his face. Are you sad again?
He swallowed emotion. Nah, just a wimp when it comes to the captain’s chili.
Good.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. I don’t want you to be sad again.
She pulled back and smiled, stretching her whole face when she did so. That look melted his heart every damn time. They had both shed too many tears when she was sick. Her anguish would punch him in the gut making him practically catatonic, but that smile left him malleable to her wishes. Which usually involved hot fudge sundaes.
I’m taking Charlee to practice,
Ginny said to Royce loud enough for all to hear. I forgot your schedule, Royce. Can you come to Charlee’s game on Saturday?
What a ruse. Even if Royce had been scheduled at the station, the wishes of his drop-dead gorgeous sister and her ridiculously cute daughter would sway the heart and mind of any red-blooded male within earshot to volunteer to take his shift.
Royce lifted a brow and the corners of his mouth as he took in Charlee’s pleading gaze. Yep. I’m off Saturday, Chuck.
Charlee giggled at their private nickname. His heart hitched at the happy sound. He smoothed back her blond curls. Thank God she resembled her mother and not her deadbeat asshole of a father, a guy who’d decided he didn’t want to stick