Page 24 of Big Daddy Firemen

“We were about to ask you that same thing,” Austin said. “Who are you, pal?”

“Pal?” the man repeated with disgust, clearly incensed. “I’m Clinton! Clinton Grimes.” He said the name as if it should mean something to them.

It didn’t.

When no one said anything, he added, “I’m an attorney in McAlester.”

“An attorney. That explains why you look like a douche,” Cane said.

Austin snuck a peek at Daisy and saw that she was straining to hold in her laughter.

Damn, she was cute.

Austin turned his focus back on the douchie attorney. “Well, Clinton Grimes. We’re her boyfriends.”

Clinton’s jaw dropped. He tried to speak but only stammered for a moment before finally gathering his words. “Her… boyfriends?” He held out the S to emphasize it.

“Yep. And let me guess,” Walker broke in. “She met you on some app.” He swiveled his neck until he was looking at Daisy. “Three isn’t enough? You want to add a fourth to our dynamic?”

“What can I say? I need… more,” Daisy replied, quickly catching on and going along with them.

Austin smirked at how cute Daisy looked with her lips pursed together tightly, still trying not to crack up.

“Man, you go from me, to him, to him,” Austin said, jabbing his thumb at his own chest before using his index finger to point to Cane and then Walker. “And you still need more? Damn.”

The attorney was trying to speak again, but he was clearly shocked. Austin wondered if this was new to him, being at a loss for words. Most attorneys loved to hear their own voice, it seemed. At least all the ones he’d ever met.

“Please, honey,” Cane said in a pleading, desperate tone. “Come home! You don’t need this guy! Think about what you’re doing to us!” He sniffled and wiped his eyes for good measure.

“Baby, we’ll give you what you need tonight,” Walker said. “If I go first, by the time you’re done with Austin and Cane I’ll have recharged and be able to go again.”

“They’re right, honey,” Austin said. “We already have to split you three ways. Please don’t add to our misery. Come home. Right now.”

To her credit, Daisy played her part well as she took a sip of wine, wiped her mouth, and then dropped the cloth napkin on the table. Standing up, she said, “Okay. I’m sorry, guys. I was only thinking about my own selfish needs.”

The three firefighters cheered in relief, causing some of the eatery’s other patrons to look their way as they stood up and gathered around Daisy.

Walker looked down at Clinton and said, “Where do you live?”

“Uh, McAlester.”

Walker shook his head, a look of faux remorse on his face. “Oh darn. And you drove so far to be here. Sorry to steal her away.”

Daisy lost it. She covered her mouth as laughter escaped her lips.

“Come on, honey,” Austin said. “Let us whisk you away into the throes of passion once more.”

The four smirked as they waved goodbye to Clinton, leaving the stunned attorney there at the table, all alone, and in utter shock and disbelief.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

It was when the group pulled onto Big Cedar’s Main Street that Walker said, “You don’t want to stay by yourself tonight, huh?”

Sitting in the front passenger seat, Daisy looked out the window at the passing darkness. She felt silly but finally nodded with a heavy sigh.

“Is sleeping over with us that bad?” Austin asked from behind the wheel. They were in his black, four-door pickup truck and the drive back from Krebs had been a pleasant one, with the group laughing as they recalled the look on Clinton Grimes’ face.

As they’d gotten closer to Big Cedar, however, Daisy had started fretting about going home alone to her dark house. Evidently, her apprehension had been easy enough for the guys to pick up on.

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