The Grumpy Firefighter: A Steamy Small Town Second Chance Romance

by Lane Winters

When yoga instructor Lily moves into the apartment above Maplewharf Falls' fire station, the last thing she expects is a grumpy fire chief pounding on her door at 6 AM. Jake is all scowls and crossed arms, complaining about the noise from her morning classes. But Lily doesn't back down easily—she challenges him to try yoga instead of complaining.

One private session leads to a kiss. A kiss leads to so much more.

But in a small town, nothing stays private for long. Jake's overprotective sister thinks Lily is wrong for him. The town gossips say it's too soon after his wife's death. Everyone has an opinion about their relationship—except the two people actually in it.

Jake and Lily refuse to let anyone else dictate their happiness. But can their connection survive the pressure of a town determined to keep them apart? Or will fighting the world together only make them stronger?

A steamy short story small-town romance with a grumpy hero who learns to love again, a sunshine heroine who refuses to back down, and a community that eventually realizes some rules are meant to be broken.

56 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 6, 2026

About the author

Lane Winters writes steamy, emotionally charged romances set against snow-drenched backdrops and quiet towns where everyone knows your secrets. Her stories blend heat and heartbreak, featuring men who wear their scars like armor and women who refuse to melt quietly.
Expect forbidden tension, deep emotional payoff, and love stories that feel like winter storms—intense, isolating, and impossible to ignore. Lane’s heroines are resilient and sharp-tongued, while her heroes hide tenderness beneath gruff exteriors and calloused hands.
When she’s not writing about slow-burn passion and redemption in cold places, Lane’s probably wrapped in a blanket, sipping coffee strong enough to wake the dead, and plotting her next snowed-in kiss.