Page 11 of Big Daddy Firemen

“You know what I mean!” Daisy said. “Everything is online now. That’s how people meet.”

“There are still lots of other places to meet someone,” Walker countered. “In town. At the store. Get set up by friends…”

“At work,” Austin teased with an arched eyebrow.

“I was about to say that, too,” Walker said. “At work.”

“Oh my gosh! Y’all are so protective.” Daisy rolled her eyes, standing up and grabbing her empty plate.

The guys were finished eating, too, but apparently, they weren’t finished with Daisy. She could feel their presence behind her as she walked toward the kitchen.

“Honey, come here,” Walker said.

She stopped walking, closed her eyes, and sighed as his hand came to rest on her shoulder. She slowly spun around to face him, but she couldn’t bring her eyes to look into his until he gently put his hand under her chin and tilted her head up. “We didn’t mean to upset you. We just want to make sure you’re safe. Do you know how important you are to us?”

Daisy felt the pressure of mounting tears in her eyes. She sniffled and nodded.

“You go and have fun on that date tomorrow,” Walker said.

“Yep. But you call us if you need us. Even if the guy is just lame and you need an evac. We’ll rescue you,” Cane said, standing beside her now.

Austin was on her other side. “Of course the guy’s going to seem lame,” he teased. “If you compare him to us.”

Daisy giggled, and the men’s faces lit up in appreciative smiles.

“Boys, that’s the sweetest sound in the whole damn world. Wouldn’t y’all say?” Walker asked.

“You know how I feel,” Cane said.

“Me, too,” Austin added.

Walker hugged her tightly, and Daisy melted into the embrace. She closed her eyes, breathed in the scent of the body wash he’d used in the shower, and sighed.

“My turn,” Cane announced.

She dutifully went into his arms.

“Good girl,” he murmured, resting his chin atop her head and gently swaying her.

A moment later, Austin tugged on her arm. “Save some for me.”

“Always,” Daisy said as she went to him.

“We’re going to walk you home,” he told her once he’d wrapped her tightly in his arms.

“I need to clean up the kitchen,” she protested.

“Nope. You’ve been here all day,” Austin reminded her. “Way past your normal shift. You’re going to go home, get ready for bed, and get some sleep.”

“We’ll take care of the dishes,” Cane promised. “No arguing, little missy.”

Daisy still thought about putting up a token fight, but she knew it wouldn’t do any good. Once the guys had made up their minds about something, there wasn’t any getting around it.

Besides, being walked home by the trio—and going to bed—did sound nice. She just wished she was going to bed with them!

But she’d take sleep however she could get it, she decided, a yawn reminding her of just how tired she was.

So, without any backtalk, she obeyed.

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