couch the other day after his massage was highly embarrassing. After he’d confirmed his cooperation, she’d dropped off into the land of nod and he’d let her enjoy her catnap before he’d woken her and given her a ride home. Despite her protests he hadn’t allowed her to drive—said he didn’t trust her not to fall asleep at the wheel.
She’d been too embarrassed and let him have his domineering way. Dani shook her head, so much for her big seduction routine. One minute she’d been awake and listening to his concerns, and the next, nothing. In her defense, she’d used muscles she hadn’t been accustomed to using and had received a relaxing massage with hot oil. Put it all together, she was lucky she hadn’t passed out until the next day.
“So are the rumors about him true?” Charlie wagged her eyebrows. “I’ve heard he can make a girl scream for hours on end. He’s like a younger brother to me and I try to ignore the gossip but damn, the things people tell me...” she trailed off, shaking her head.
“Hush, Charlie. Leave the girl alone.” Mrs. MacKinnon admonished her only daughter. She leaned close to Dani. “He’s always been a sweet boy. He just needed to find the right girl.” She patted Dani’s hand with a conspiratorial smile.
Dani’s answering smile was weak. She didn’t want to lie anymore than she needed to. “How about the other bachelors?”
“There’s a nice range, from guys in their twenties through to their fifties. Should be a good showing for the Ladies League. I might even put in a bid myself.”
“Yeah, mom? Who’s going to be my future step dad?”
“Dean Markham looks pretty sharp in his tux.” Dani looked at the gentleman Mrs. MacKinnon indicated and saw an adorable bald guy with twinkling eyes. “Heard he’s a good dancer.” Mrs. MacKinnon gave them a knowing look that bordered on rascal like. Dani could see where Charlie got her mannerisms. “And you know what they say about a guy who can move his hips, don’t you?”
“Please don’t tell us, mom. I can live without a visual.”
Mrs. MacKinnon’s laugh rang through the store and Dani grinned. Charlie was lucky. Even though Charlie acted like her mother drove her crazy, Dani could see they were close. It made Dani wistful. Her mother had left when Dani had been young. Her dad had a thing for wild women. Both of his wives left him to raise three children on his own.
“Well, you’d better get ready to shake your piggy bank, Mom. I heard Merry Hightower say she was bidding on him as well.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“There’s always Walter Pickering. He’s around your age.”
“Forget it. Walter pulls his pants up too high.”
“And why’s that a problem?”
“He’s hiding a saggy butt and that just won’t do. I like a little something to pat every now and then.” Mrs. MacKinnon winked at Dani.
“Oh for the love of Pete,” Charlie muttered.
Dani left the pair to bicker and took the padded cake box to her car. She wedged the box in for the ride home. Her phone vibrated an alert while she buckled her seatbelt. She grinned when she saw the message was from Joe and texted back.
Come save me.
From?
Crazy women.
Clarify.
Since the marketing photos came out, women keep stopping by the firehouse.
And that’s a problem?
YES. Guys like to hunt, not be hunted. The photos have turned perfectly normal women into crazy aggressive stalkers. Need backup. ASAP.
I’ll think about it.
Might I remind you it’s your fault, so…
Still thinking…
I’ve got cupcakes.
See you in 10.
Good. Besides George wants proof of your existence. He said you were a unicorn I’d made up.
Aww—TinkerJoe and his little unicorn.
So funny—NOT.
She tossed the phone in her bag and started Thelma. Minutes later she arrived at the station and Joe met her in the parking lot.
“I can’t stay long. I’ve got precious cargo on board for Janie’s birthday dinner tonight. You mentioned
She’d been too embarrassed and let him have his domineering way. Dani shook her head, so much for her big seduction routine. One minute she’d been awake and listening to his concerns, and the next, nothing. In her defense, she’d used muscles she hadn’t been accustomed to using and had received a relaxing massage with hot oil. Put it all together, she was lucky she hadn’t passed out until the next day.
“So are the rumors about him true?” Charlie wagged her eyebrows. “I’ve heard he can make a girl scream for hours on end. He’s like a younger brother to me and I try to ignore the gossip but damn, the things people tell me...” she trailed off, shaking her head.
“Hush, Charlie. Leave the girl alone.” Mrs. MacKinnon admonished her only daughter. She leaned close to Dani. “He’s always been a sweet boy. He just needed to find the right girl.” She patted Dani’s hand with a conspiratorial smile.
Dani’s answering smile was weak. She didn’t want to lie anymore than she needed to. “How about the other bachelors?”
“There’s a nice range, from guys in their twenties through to their fifties. Should be a good showing for the Ladies League. I might even put in a bid myself.”
“Yeah, mom? Who’s going to be my future step dad?”
“Dean Markham looks pretty sharp in his tux.” Dani looked at the gentleman Mrs. MacKinnon indicated and saw an adorable bald guy with twinkling eyes. “Heard he’s a good dancer.” Mrs. MacKinnon gave them a knowing look that bordered on rascal like. Dani could see where Charlie got her mannerisms. “And you know what they say about a guy who can move his hips, don’t you?”
“Please don’t tell us, mom. I can live without a visual.”
Mrs. MacKinnon’s laugh rang through the store and Dani grinned. Charlie was lucky. Even though Charlie acted like her mother drove her crazy, Dani could see they were close. It made Dani wistful. Her mother had left when Dani had been young. Her dad had a thing for wild women. Both of his wives left him to raise three children on his own.
“Well, you’d better get ready to shake your piggy bank, Mom. I heard Merry Hightower say she was bidding on him as well.”
“We’ll see about that.”
“There’s always Walter Pickering. He’s around your age.”
“Forget it. Walter pulls his pants up too high.”
“And why’s that a problem?”
“He’s hiding a saggy butt and that just won’t do. I like a little something to pat every now and then.” Mrs. MacKinnon winked at Dani.
“Oh for the love of Pete,” Charlie muttered.
Dani left the pair to bicker and took the padded cake box to her car. She wedged the box in for the ride home. Her phone vibrated an alert while she buckled her seatbelt. She grinned when she saw the message was from Joe and texted back.
Come save me.
From?
Crazy women.
Clarify.
Since the marketing photos came out, women keep stopping by the firehouse.
And that’s a problem?
YES. Guys like to hunt, not be hunted. The photos have turned perfectly normal women into crazy aggressive stalkers. Need backup. ASAP.
I’ll think about it.
Might I remind you it’s your fault, so…
Still thinking…
I’ve got cupcakes.
See you in 10.
Good. Besides George wants proof of your existence. He said you were a unicorn I’d made up.
Aww—TinkerJoe and his little unicorn.
So funny—NOT.
She tossed the phone in her bag and started Thelma. Minutes later she arrived at the station and Joe met her in the parking lot.
“I can’t stay long. I’ve got precious cargo on board for Janie’s birthday dinner tonight. You mentioned
Similar Books
