Enamored, p.1
Enamored, page 1
part #1 of MetroGen After Hours Series
Enamored
A Steamy Valentine’s Day Romance
MetroGen After Hours
Carina Alyce
Contents
Are you ready for sexy firefighters, dirty doctors, and hot cops?
Your Free Gift Is Waiting
Previously on MetroGen After Hours
Cast of Characters
Part I
The Diary of the Chaplain at MetroGen
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Part II
The Diary of the Chaplain at MetroGen
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Part III
The Diary of the Chaplain at MetroGen
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue
Also by Carina Alyce
Afterword
About Carina Alyce
Need more MetroGen STAT
Are you ready for sexy firefighters, dirty doctors, and hot cops?
Do you wish Grey’s Anatomy and Chicago Fire were available all year-round and could be read whenever you wanted?
Me too! I took all your favorite TV fire/police/medical drama tropes and gave you the addictive plot twists, sexy times, and drama you are dying for. (I’m a real doctor so it’s more legit!)
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Catch up with your favorite couples as the ladies of MetroGen After Hours and MetroGen Scandals get together for brunch. The mimosas are coming fast, and so are the secrets. It's full of steamy scenes, drama, and naughtiness exclusive to this holiday collection!
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(If you haven’t read a single MetroGen After Hours book, you can grab Live Wire: A Steamy Friends to Lovers Firefighter Romance or Vortex: A FREE Steamy Grumpy Sunshine Firefighter Romance to start off!)
Copyright © 2023 by Carina Alyce
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise without written permission from the publisher. It is illegal to copy this book, post it to a website, or distribute it by any other means without permission.
Carina Alyce asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.
Carina Alyce has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of URLs for external or third-party Internet Websites referred to in this publication and does not guarantee that any content on such Websites is, or will remain, accurate or appropriate.
Designations used by companies to distinguish their products are often claimed as trademarks. All brand names and product names used in this book and on its cover are trade names, service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks of their respective owners. The publishers and the book are not associated with any product or vendor mentioned in this book. None of the companies referenced within the book have endorsed the book.
This novel is a work of fiction. The names, characters and incidents portrayed in it are the work of the author’s imagination beyond events covered by fair use and public record.
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First edition
Created with Vellum
Your Free Gift Is Waiting
There’s a naked ER doctor in her shower promising her screaming orgasms. Should she say ‘yes?’ As if that’s a question . . .
You will need a fan because this is get-naked-burn-down-the-building scorching hot!
__________________________________
Get a free copy of the sexiness at
Wanted: A Steamy Medical Romantic Short
carinaalyce.com/hot-treat-for-you
Scan below to grab your copy!
To Erica who understands the boxes
Previously on MetroGen After Hours
Carina Alyce’s MetroGen Downtown books encompass the Medical, Fire, and Police heroes of Cuyahoga County and their complicated love lives with the steam and the drama of your favorite TV shows. Everyone needs a hot protective hero falling for a strong woman with goals.
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MetroGen After Hours tells the secret past of MetroGen, and what sacrifices were made before the present day series MetroGen Scandals.
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Live Wire stars Lieutenant Mateo ‘Matt’ Soto as he faces peril in his love life and at his firehouse. An avowed bachelor, he finds himself falling hard for old friend and police officer, Isadora ‘Izzy’ Reyes. His independent minded woman puts him at odds with Firehouse 15’s captain who doesn’t appreciate their first female member, Leslie McClunis. Matt makes his peace with it, but others are not so sure. . .
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Wildcat picks up Firefighter Leslie McClunis’s story. She prefers a ‘love’em and leave’em’ dating style - until she meets Trevor Hampton. The city’s star NFL player isn’t interested in being discarded after one night, and he’s coming back for more.
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Volatile starts ten years later when nurse/part-time arson investigator Jennifer Bayani gets exiled to small town USA where she’s following up on a set of suspicious fires. Getting cuffed by Deputy Brandon Smythe, tattooed and so surly hot, is not one of her goals.
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Burn Card jumps forward to near present day following grumpy Fire Captain James Haskell on what is supposed to be a weekend of firefighter business in Las Vegas. Things change when he crashes into the Vegas B4 Vows Bachelorette party and his secret crush - his next-door neighbor, Caroline Peters.
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Roulette happens during Burn Card at the Vegas B4 Vows Bachelorette party when superfans ER doctor Ryan Yates and NICU nurse Kyra Washington find they have perfect chemistry and make a bet on their future - that they can live together without sex. . .
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Tempted moves forward to present day as Lieutenant Fabian Santos is forced to face the one that got away - Cassie Odon from Vegas B4 Vows. He’s waited long enough and nothing will keep him from coming for her - not hell or high water.
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Sampled spins its own steamy tale on the other side of Tempted with Firefighter Royce Murphy from Firehouse 15 as he bumps into college student Vandy Patel. She could learn to loosen up, and a night of skinny-dipping with sex on the beach is just the beginning.
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Matched moves onto the medical students of MetroGen where Nora Borenstein has met her match in the mysterious and handsome Barak Perez. Unfortunately, he might be a lying international super-spy assassin which could be a problem for the woman with the perfect memory.
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Wrapped Up leads our previous After Hours couples on a hot holiday adventure bringing you up to speed on who’s still together, who didn’t make it, and who’s gonna pop the question.
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Enamored brings the ladies of MetroGen After Hours and Scandals together for the perfect drunk brunch with wedding planning? Because when the drinks start flowing, so do the stories. . .
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Get ready because there’s steam, secrets, lies, and betrayals ahead. . .
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(And by the way, the MetroGen Chaplain might stop by to check out the new decor at the North Star Cafe.)
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Don’t miss the whole series!
Live Wire: A Steamy Friends to Lovers Firefighter Romance
Wildcat: A Steamy Opposites Attract Football Romance
Volatile: A Steamy Grumpy Sunshine Small Town Medical Romance
Burn Card: A Steamy Grumpy Sunshine Firefighter Romance
Roulette: A Steamy Opposites Attract Vegas Medical Romance
Tempted: A Steamy Friends to Lovers Firefighter Romance
Sampled: A Steamy Opposites Attract Medical Romance
Matched: A Secrets and Lies Medical Romantic Suspense
Wrapped Up: A Steamy Holiday Romance
Enamored: A Steamy Valentine’s Day Romance
Embers: A 9/11 Romantic Suspense
Sentinel: A Steamy Grumpy Sunshine Medical Romance
Unwrapped: A Steamy Holiday Romance
Cast of Characters
MetroGen Hospital
Elizabeth Kandal – general surgeon at MetroGen
Kayla Varma – pulmonologist, Elizabeth’s sister
Dr. Daniel Steadman – plastic surgeon
Dr. Ryan Yates – ER doctor, married to Kyra
Cuyahoga Combined Fire Department
Leslie McClunis – Battalion Chief CCFD
Jennifer Smythe – Geauga County Fire Chief/Fire Marshal/Nurse
Kyra Yates – nurse-paramedic for the CCFD, Cassie’s best friend, married to Ryan
Francis Witte – assistant to CCFD head of PR Hannah Fitzpatrick
Enamored
Past tense verb
To have had strong feelings of love or fascination for something - a dangerous situation for any gambler.
-Casino Insider by David Kuznetsov
Part One
Introductions
The Diary of the Chaplain at MetroGen
Great news! The radio just told me about the newest updates to the North Star Cafe. Assuming my the day shift chaplain arrives to his shift on time, I’ll stop by for their
Chapter 1
Now
The blonde woman cleared her throat in a vain attempt to get everyone’s attention. The five women who had been summoned were busy chatting away and introducing themselves to each other this Saturday morning.
“I would like to thank you all for coming. I am Francis Witt from PR at Cuyahoga Combined Fire Department,” the slim woman raised her voice, a bit of a surprise on her slight frame.
The women finally stopped talking and viewed the speaker’s designer dress and pumps with various expressions ranging from bemusement to cynicism.
The eldest, red-headed CCFD Battalion Chief Leslie McClunis, currently nine months pregnant, said, “Yes, please explain why the Department voluntold me to attend brunch here at this sci-fi cafe.”
“The North Star Cafe, which has its very famous—trademark pending—Alternate Timeline Pancakes, was selected as a gesture of citywide goodwill after the unfortunate incident in May. They’re remodeling and working on a rebranding,” Francis said. They were sitting in the newly constructed private party room of the North Star Cafe, which happened to be modeled after the Cantina from Star Wars.
“Two employees blew up an Atlantis warehouse, killing six people, and held Fire Chief Baker hostage here,” said Kyra Yates, former nurse and interim director of the advanced paramedic program Rescue Alpha. She was married to one of the MetroGen Hospital ER doctors and was the mother of the cutest baby, who was currently babbling in her car seat nearby. The Yates ladies were both wearing Cleveland Browns gear.
“Allegedly. Federal charges pending,” Jennifer Smythe pointed out. Her invitation had brought her in from rural Geauga County, where she was the local fire chief and fire marshal. If that wasn’t enough, she had an in with the local law enforcement, having been married to one of their deputies for over fifteen years.
“So, is it tasteless for me to have ordered five Alternate Timeline Pancakes and two rounds of Shooting Star Mimosas?” Dr. Elizabeth Kandal, MetroGen General Surgeon, asked.
“I said, I am Francis Witte, assistant to Ms. Fitzpatrick, head of PR for CCFD.” Francis appeared to be reading off a script she hadn’t written. “Thank you for attending at the request of the Cuyahoga Combined Fire Department. This is an initial meeting to address the Fire Chief’s upcoming wedding.”
“I thought he was already married,” Kayla Varma said to her sister Elizabeth. In the most shocking scandal, CCFD Fire Chief Noah Baker had married his subordinate an unranked firefighter, Erin Hudgens, in secret.
Though how scandalous it was ended up being relative after the reveal of a firebombing, hostage taking arsonists, and a doctor who also secretly married a medical student.
“Technically, yes. Now they are going to have a formal ceremony. Are we getting So-fi to sponsor it?” Leslie asked sarcastically since she had helped broker the compromise.
To keep his job, Fire Chief Baker agreed to let the city stage his official wedding ceremony. From the way Francis had prepared, it appeared this wedding was going to be a really big deal.
“Atlantis Warehouses and Shipping has indicated interest. They have a reputation to improve,” Francis said, stepping out of the way for the waitress dressed as a Jedi to drop off their waters and mimosas. “We are responsible for providing appropriate wedding party candidates who reflect the values of CCFD, Cleveland, and MetroGen Hospital.”
“You got us together to form a girls’ singing group. I’m the mouthy redhead, Jennifer’s the sunny Filipina, and Paramedic Yates can be the no-nonsense Black lady,” Leslie suggested.
“I don’t think I get counted in the group. Not even the Spice Girls bothered to get an Indian girl.” Kayla sipped her first mimosa.
“Times be a changing. You must fill an important demographic role.” Eliza said, “I’ve been dying to be the feisty Latina my entire life. ¡Voy a guarachar!”
Poor Francis consulted her notes. “You’re Latina? I did not receive that information.”
“Soy Cubana. Contrary to certain opinions, Cubans are Latino, or Hispanic. Pick whichever one’s in style today.”
“Director Fitzpatrick will love to hear this. I mean… thank you for sharing,” Francis quickly corrected her statement, likely crossing off a box on her list. “Back to the agenda, you have been identified as a possible candidate for the wedding party, and we humbly extend an offer to consider joining the wedding party.”
“Isn’t it the job of the bride and groom to invite members of the wedding party?” Kyra asked.
“In most cases, yes; however, today, Erin Hudgens and Noah Baker are at an in-service and will be by later.”
“They got sent to sexual harassment training,” Leslie told the group.
“Hey, I bet it’s the same one Angela and Michael are at today. She’s a doctor who married a medical student this summer,” Eliza explained to Kyra and Jennifer, who probably weren’t up to date on the latest MetroGen love affairs and their associated scandals.
“Before we commence with candidate selection, we need to discuss the expectations for members of the wedding party and then fill out this questionnaire to judge your suitability,” Francis said, lifting a pile of papers wider than her own skinny frame.
“Does it include a background check?” Eliza asked.
“Those were already done.” There was a long silence before Francis continued. “Umm. Okay. Duties of the wedding party include bridal fittings, bachelorette party, cake tasting, bridal registry, menu samples, and Merry Christmas Wedding Shower.”
“What is a Merry Christmas Wedding Shower?” Kyra asked. “We’re meeting on Christmas?”
“No. The bridal shower is occurring in the Christmas season, not actually on Christmas,” Francis said. “It’s important to hit each holiday theme en route to Valentine’s Day.”
“Are you being serious?” Leslie passed her mimosa down the table, despite a longing look.
“Yes, expect Sweetest Day, Halloween, Veterans’ Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day events. The wedding will be on Valentine’s Day,” Francis explained.
Kyra had been taking notes on her calendar. “Is there more? Are we skipping Hanukkah?”
“Not much. The wedding party will be profiled on the Cuyahoga Today magazine, and you’ll be featured in the official social media accounts including TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest… with additional caveats on acceptable dress, behavior, and exercise regimen, which will be included in the handbook.”
“Exercise regimen?” Kayla repeated. “Are you going to enforce a weight limit?”
“Of course not. It is very important to present a well-rounded, stable, and diverse group of men, women, and other identity definition in the correct way for our city. Do any of you have pronouns we need to highlight?”
