HaBO: Heroine Works in Diner Frequented by Firefighters

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This HaBO comes to us from Tania, who is searching for a contemporary-set category romance:

I’m looking for a book I read years ago. Any help is truly appreciated!

When I read it: late 1990s – 2009
Time setting: Contemporary
Book type: Category romance
Theme: Opposites attract

Hero: adventurous, outgoing firefighter (possibly named Zach) who at the heart of it is self absorbed and immature

Heroine: shy, timid waitress at a diner who is also studying to be an accountant

What I remember of the plot:

1. Heroine works at a diner where all the local firefighters come in to eat. She thinks hero is handsome, but out of her league. Hero flirts and thinks she’s sweet but there’s no big “pow – she’s hot” feeling.

2. On her way home from work her car breaks down and hero comes along to help her. (She has a leftover pot of coffee in her car from the diner that she was going to reheat in the morning – I have no why I remember that detail).

3. He helps her out and follows her home. He asks her out. Despite thinking he’s just being nice she accepts.

4. Friends and workmates find out that they’re going to go out – everyone is really a.) surprised and b.) sure that it’s a bad idea. It makes him more stubborn and her insulted in a timid way.

After that, the details get more blurry so the following events may not be in the right order or I may have some details wrong.

– They go to a ball game and then to a get together with the other firefighters. Hero’s determined to “fix” her timidness, including pushing her boundaries when she scared of a dog. Another firefighter doesn’t like what he’s doing and tells him to ease off.

– I don’t think he intended to follow up with a second date but either does because when he’s asked by a firefighter at the diner if it’s okay if her asks her out, he goes all “wait you mean someone else is interested in her!!”

– They start dating. He throws a tantrum when she refuses to postpone her studies to hang out with him.

– He continues to try to push her out of her comfort zone with activities. I think he takes her mountain bike riding and she gets injured.

The big conflict:

– He’s out quad biking with fellow firefighters and one gets injured possibly paralyzed.

– He goes on a big guilt trip and pushes her away.

– She has to go up to a cabin to tell him to grow the hell up and get over himself.

And they lived happily ever after.

I hope the heroine really lets the hero have it because he sounds like a jerk!