Protecting What's Mine(124)

“You must really like this idea,” she whispered, cuddling against the hardness in his pocket.

And that’s when he remembered what he’d put in there.

“About that, Dreamy,” he said, sliding a hand into his pocket.

“Don’t you dare get your dick out yet,” she hissed.

“I’m not getting my dick out.”

But his complaint was drowned out by the creaky ascent of the fire station’s garage door. He saw feet. A lot of them. And tires. And a gleaming chrome grill.

“What did you do?” he asked her. Sunshine darted under the door and disappeared.

Mack grinned at him and pressed her face into his chest. “Happy engagement present.”

His crew, all of them grinning maniacally, surrounded his beloved Betsy. His 1954 Mack B85 Antique Fire Engine. But it wasn’t the wreck it had been. It was pristine, perfect.

“How?” It was the only word he could get out.

“Abner Kersh and Shorty’s garage helped out with the bodywork, but your guys did the rest,” Mackenzie told him.

“You do a lot for us, chief,” Brody, in a Santa beard, told him. “This is a thank you.”

“Shut the fuck up,” Linc said, feeling his throat tighten.

“You shut the fuck up,” Brody countered, pulling him in for a hug.

“Thanks, chief,” Kelly said, elbowing her way into the hug.

There were hugs, a few manly tears, and a lot of appreciative nodding as they circled Betsy with him.

“Who wants a beer?” someone yelled.

“Me!” they all responded.

Linc found his way back to Mackenzie. He always would.

“Pretty confident that I was gonna say yes,” he teased, slipping his hands around her waist and bringing his forehead to hers.

She pinched his ass. “It was incentive. I mean, I already bought the station.”

“Doc Dreamy owns real estate?” he teased.

“Doc Dreamy and Chief Dreamy own real estate,” she corrected.

“About that,” he said, once again slipping his hand into his pocket. “Sunny, come here.”

Sunshine trotted up to them and plopped her butt on the cold concrete.

“Mackenzie O’Neil, let’s make this official,” Linc said, producing the box from his pocket.

“Shut the fuck up,” she said, bringing her gloved hands to her mouth.

“I will once you put this damn diamond on your finger,” he promised.

She tore off her glove and threw it on the floor.

Sunshine helpfully picked it up and watched dopey-eyed while her mommy and daddy made things official with a bit of sparkle and a long, sweet kiss.