Big Daddy Firemen (Big Cedar Daddies Book 2)

“Littles are… something,” Daisy told Austin as they walked into the firehouse.

“That’s one way to describe them,” the firefighter said.

She stopped walking ahead and turned around to face him as he approached. “I didn’t do a very good job at watching them.”

“Now darlin’,” Austin said. “You’re being too hard on yourself. You’d never played babysitter to a group like that before. I’m sorry if we put you in an awkward spot.” He chuckled and shook his head. “Now that I think about it, Belinda is older than you are. In real life, or whatever you call it. But in Little life…” He shrugged.

Daisy laughed. “She’s as cute as can be. And it wasn’t awkward. I think Littles are adorable.” She ducked her head bashfully, her cheeks glowing slightly red, as she added, “I kinda wanted to play with them. Just a teeny, little bit.”

The grin on Austin’s face revealed that he wasn’t surprised by that fact.

“What?” she asked.

“Nothing,” he told her. “You’re just cute. Too cute for your own good.”

She put her tongue between her teeth and giggled. That giggle turned into a soft coo, though, as Austin reached out and took a hold of her waist. He reeled her in and then wrapped his arms around her, making her entire body tingle with excitement.

That answered a burning question she’d had all day, even when trying to focus on keeping the naughty Littles out of mischief: had last night been real or was it just flirty fun?

Based on the way he was acting, it was indeed very real.

She reminded herself of that. She recalled what they’d all talked about hours before at breakfast. But her self-doubts weren’t easy to let go of.

“Come here, babydoll,” Austin said. He gently gripped her elbow and escorted her to the couch. He sat down, pulled her in, and moved her body the way he wanted until she was nestled tightly on his lap. “You’re hard on yourself, you know that?”

“What do you mean?” she asked, though she knew exactly what he was talking about.

“Just what I said. You didn’t think you watched the Littles very good. This morning, you seemed surprised that me and the guys are crazy about you. Even now, you’re doubting this. I can read it in your eyes.” He kissed the side of her head and hugged her a little tighter. “You’re enough. You’re worthy. That voice inside doesn’t want you to believe it, but in this case, it’s wrong. Listen to your Daddy. Or one of your Daddies, at least.”

She giggled and closed her eyes, soaking in the moment. She sighed wistfully as he planted a series of tender kisses atop her head.

“This can’t work, though. Right? Not long term?” she finally said.

“You’re talking about all four of us.”

It wasn’t a question, but she answered it anyway. “Yeah.”

“It’ll work.”

“Why?”

He thought for a moment, feeling the silence with a few more kisses. “Because we all love you. And we love each other. It’s not romantic, obviously, with me and the guys. But we have a bond. We’re brothers. And we each want you, but each want the other to have you, too. Both desires are equal. Does that make any sense?”

Daisy pinched her eyes closed for a long moment, her chest rising and falling as she reflected on his words. She shifted on his lap, looked into his eyes, and smiled. “You really love me, huh?”

“More than you can know.”

Their faces moved closer to one another.

“How long?”

“Have I loved you?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve known for months. We all have.” His grin highlighted those delicious dimples. “Me, Cane, and Walker talked about it. We all sort of had the epiphany at the same time. And it wasn’t just because you come here day after day, spending so much time with us. Sure, that’s how we got to know you over the past year, but we all came to realize that fate delivered you to us. You’re our girl. We’re your Daddies. It’s just the way it is.”

She thought of arguing with him. There were a hundred reasons—maybe even a thousand—she could come up with as to why this wouldn’t work. None of them had to do with the guys, either.

She wasn’t pretty enough. She was awkward. She’d mess it up. Somehow, even if things were going great, she’d find a way to ruin it. That was what she did and who she was.

Yet she couldn’t bring herself to voice any of that right now because, unbelievably, she wasn’t feeling all those things as strongly as she usually did. They were still there, but the very presence of Austin, and the love she felt radiating off him, was pushing them all away, overpowering them.

Vanquishing them.

Daisy searched for the right words. All she could think of was, “I love you, too.”

“Mmm. The sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.” Austin gave her another kiss. He stood, holding onto her and taking her with him.

He was heading to the bedroom.

“Daddy!” she squealed through excited giggles. “What about Walker and Cane?”

“I told you earlier, on the drive here, honey. They are out investigating those fires. They’ll be back soon. But that’s no reason why you and I can’t have some quality time.”

Daisy’s stomach was flipping somersault after somersault as excitement gripped her. With her arms wrapped around Austin, she kneaded the knotty muscles on his hard back, sucking in sharp breath as her fingers pushed in on them.

“Besides,” Austin continued. “I don’t think you could hold out another minute. I can tell.”

He put her feet on the floor in front of his bed and appraised her.

She hung her head bashfully, chewing on the inside of her cheek as she stared at the floor.

“I can… wait.” She didn’t sound very convincing.

“Oh, really?” Austin stepped closer and put his hand on the waistband of her jeans. “And if I check your panties, I’m not going to find them soaked?”

She threw her head back and laughed. That laugh morphed into a moan, though, as he moved his hand down on the front of her pants. She ground into him, rocking her hips as a wave of sensual desire seized her.

“They’re wet, Daddy,” she admitted.

The smirk on his lips reached his eyes, revealing that he’d never had any doubt.

“You just hold still and let Daddy check, little girl. I want to see how wet you are.”

Daisy froze in anticipation as he began unbuttoning her pants.

There was no turning back now.