The Problem with Fire - M.E. Clayton Page 0,19

I shouted towards the roof, but it was too late. We had two trucks with eight firefighters and the Chief, and while the Chief, Leonard Sparks, and Garret Lytle were in the office with Daria, going over the minors from our building inspection, Carl Shield, Lance Barrett, and Demarcus Houston weren’t busy enough that they were able to come over at Jake’s announcement. You’d think any one of us had duties to attend to.

“Marriage, huh?” Lance spoke first. “About time.”

While Chief was the oldest, Garret was the second oldest at thirty-nine, with Kellen next, then me. Leonard and Carl were both thirty, Lance was twenty-eight, Jake was twenty-six, and Demarcus was twenty-five. But we were a good crew regardless of the age gaps. Lance has also been with his wife since they were like twelve, or some shit, so he was a big fan of love and commitment.

“I’m not getting married,” I repeated.

“It’s the sexy building inspector from last week,” Kellen supplied, not caring about the lie.

“Kevin?” Carl asked, confused.

Kellen and Jake started laughing, while Demarcus grinned. “That hot little number who had been pacing by her car?”

Lance let out a low whistle. “No wonder she couldn’t do the inspection.”

“We’re not getting married,” I said again, this time, a little more forcefully.

“Is that why Daria’s been in a snit lately?” Jake asked.

“Makes sense,” Demarcus added.

Like any workplace with close quarters, nothing was ever a secret. Between my sour mood and Daria’s pouting, it hadn’t been long before everyone had found out what had happened with Monroe. Especially, when another inspector had to complete our annual. We also couldn’t hide it from the Chief when Kevin had shown up, and he had demanded to know what had happened to Monroe. I guess she had been introduced to him when she had first arrived. Needless to say, he hadn’t been happy with the drama that had played out. And while I hadn’t told anyone about the exchanged, Daria had been quick to make sure every knew she had been the victim, and I had been the unreasonable one. I hadn’t bothered contradicting her version of the events because all the guys had known better.

“Daria is a nonfactor,” I quickly said. There was no way this was going to turn into some imagined love triangle.

“Never thought she was, Hayes,” Jake smirked. Jake and Carl were the two guys who’d slept with Daria, and it didn’t seem to bother them a bit that she was free with her affections. While Lance, Garret, Leonard, and Chief were happily married men, Demarcus was in a committed relationship with his college sweetheart, and Jake, Carl, Kellen, and I were the single ones. And no matter how good Daria was at her job, when I had heard that she had hit on Lance, knowing he was married and that he absolutely adored his wife, I’d lost all personal respect for her. That had been the beginning of me staying away from her.

“So, when’s the wedding?” Jake asked.

“I don’t-” I took a deep breath. “We have our first date next Sunday,” I told them, knowing they were not going to leave me alone until I gave them something.

“So, what do we know about her?” Demarcus asked.

“Well, we know she’s a county building inspector,” Kellen joked. “She’s also thirty-nine, has a teenage daughter, is Sayer’s neighbor, and had a dick of an ex-husband.”

I wanted to object to Kellen telling all of Monroe’s business, but I was brought up short by what he’d said about Thomas. “How do you know he’s a dick?”

“Only a dick would leave a woman who looks like that,” he retorted, and I punched him in his chest. “What? he laughed.

“An older woman,” Carl whistled. “Niiiiice.”

I rolled my eyes. “It’s only a four-year difference,” I pointed out. “That’s not shit.”

“You sure?” Jake asked. “Women can be funny about shit like that.” I honestly didn’t know how to answer him. I really had no idea what Monroe’s views were on age differences. I was hoping my six-pack and big dick could erase any hang ups she might have about age.

Then Demarcus winced a bit. “What if it doesn’t work out, man? Are you going to have to move?”

I shot him a quick look. “That’s not going to happen,” I snapped.

His dark brows shot up. “I see.”

“What are we seeing?” Carl asked.

Demarcus smiled. “I think Hayes is in love,” he chuckled.

“He’s been in love,” Kellen snorted.

“We’re planning a wedding!” Jake yelled out like a war cry, but of course,