Big Daddy Firemen (Big Cedar Daddies Book 2)

Daisy had calmed down by the time dinner was served, but just barely.

She was still plenty flustered as she sat at the round table with the guys. They were clothed now but still looked abso-freaking-lutely hot in their gray sweatshorts and tight, dark blue t-shirts that strained over their muscular chests and shoulders.

“You’re a good cook,” Austin said.

“Thank you,” Daisy replied. “But there really isn’t much to pasta.”

“You seasoned this meat just right,” he countered. “Don’t sell yourself short.”

She thought of telling them that meat was her specialty, but it was a lame double entendre, at best. She wasn’t good at flirting or talking sexy. So, she simply gave a meek, “Thanks.”

“So tell us about this date tomorrow,” Walker said.

“There’s not much to tell.”

“Start with the guy’s name,” Walker commanded.

“Why do you want to know that? You don’t know this guy. He doesn’t live in Big Cedar,” Daisy said.

“Sounds like she doesn’t want to tell us,” Austin noted as he popped a bite of garlic bread into his mouth.

Daisy spread her hands and laughed. “What? I’m not hiding anything. I just know what y’all will do.”

“And what’s that?” Walker wondered, cocking his head to one side and staring across the table at Daisy.

“You know. That thing y’all do where you act like my older brothers and get all protective and stuff,” Daisy explained. She playfully stuck out her tongue afterward, causing the guys to chuckle.

“Like we’re your brothers?” Cane scoffed. “Honey, I’ve never thought of my sister the way I think of you.”

The other guys laughed and nodded their agreement.

Daisy grabbed a stick of garlic bread, shoved it in her mouth, and prayed she wasn’t blushing too hard.

Once the laughter had died down, Walker said, “Yeah, we’re protective. Because we care about you. What if this guy is some sort of deranged killer or something?”

“You met him on a dating app, right?” Austin asked.

“Uh-huh.”

“So, you know nothing about this guy.”

“I read his profile. The app said we match.”

“Honey, if a serial killer was on a dating app, he probably wouldn’t mention that in his spare time he likes to tie up women in his garage and murder them with an ax,” Walker pointed out.

Daisy laughed. “Why do you think this guy is an ax murderer?”

“I didn’t say that,” Walker said. “I just said if he was, you wouldn’t know it.”

“Why don’t you look for a nice guy here in Big Cedar?” Austin asked.

“Or guys,” Cane said, holding out the S to make sure she caught it.

Daisy’s heart rate sped up as she considered that little comment. Surely he wasn’t really implying what it sounded like he was implying. He was just being funny. They were always making little jokes like that. They didn’t mean anything, though.

“All the guys in Big Cedar are… you know… Daddies. They want Littles,” Daisy said.

Instead of addressing the comment head-on, Walker just looked past her, toward the refrigerator in the kitchen, and said, “That sure is a pretty picture you colored us earlier.”

Daisy blushed hard, picking up her glass of lemonade and bringing it quickly to her lips in an effort to hide her reaction to the comment and its implication.

It was Austin who spoke next. “We’re just saying you need to be careful. And if you need anything tomorrow, call us.”

“He’s right,” Walker said. “And we want to know where you’re going. Probably a good idea if you let us track your phone, too. You can share your location with us.”

Daisy thought of refusing but then held the protest back. After considering it for a few seconds, she actually warmed to the idea. It was probably for the best, just in case. While she had no reason to believe she was in fact meeting a deranged killer tomorrow, the extra safety was a good idea. Still, she wasn’t ready to concede all their points.

“You know, most people meet on dating apps these days. It’s not like it used to be, where you meet at the church ice-cream social or whatever.”

“Churches don’t have ice-cream socials anymore?” Cane asked. “They were always my favorite.”

“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.

And it felt wonderfully freeing.