By Fire

Dirk Krause is an asshole of the first degree. His life is a hell of his own making, and he makes everyone around him just as miserable. When he's injured on the job while fighting a fire, he's nearly unbearable to the hospital staff, and of course no one from his unit cares enough to visit. Lee Stockton is the new guy at the station, so he gets saddled with the job of bringing Dirk a sympathy bouquet from the guys at the firehouse. To Dirk's surprise, Lee sees through him like a pane of glass and doesn't take any of his crap.

Lee Staunton and Dirk Krause have been seeing each other for a couple of months when they get the bad news: The firehouse they work at will be closed unless they can come up with the money to complete some maintenance and repairs. The union wants to stand and fight. There's just one problem: The only suggestion for how to raise the money is Lee's. And Dirk hates it.

Firefighters Lee Stanton and Dirk Krause need a vacation. Work seems to have other ideas: They spend the day before their holiday begins battling a fire that claims three lives. Thankfully, Lee and Dirk will have a whole week on the high seas to recover. They're having a wonderful time - until they spot Dirk's miserable, closed-minded father on the ship. Between his father's presence and his guilt over the lives he couldn't save, Dirk feels sure his romantic cruise is going to tank.

Justin Briggs can shout out directions all day on his job as a traffic cop, but put him in front of a hot guy, specifically firefighter Rock Sparks, and he clams up. Rock finds Justin confusing. While saving a busload of children hanging off the edge of a highway overpass, the cute rookie is cool and confident. But when Rock tries to chat him up, he stutters and chokes. Frustrated, Rock teases Justin, and boy, is his temper hot.