Page 24

Kyle leaped onto the truck and into his seat only seconds before the v ehicle started lumbering forward and the siren began wailing in the air around him.

“Rock and Roooooll…” Austin and Andy crowed happily, angling their chins to the air, and howling like a couple of playful mutts as the rest of them laughed.

It was showtime!

Friday afternoon…

Kyle was sweating buckets – and it had nothing to do with the temperature of this strangely warm, yet beautiful November afternoon. No, he was nervous, and with good reason. They had all loaded up on one of the smaller fire trucks to make sure to make a ‘good show’ for the sake of charity…

Before they left, the captain literally inspected each of them, instantly making him wary.

He didn’t, shouldn’t , have anyone to impress – and the fact that he was told to tuck in his t-shirt once again…

before they were all told to get their hefty, insulated jackets – to make a good show for the people attending the auction.

Listening in disbelief, he realized that this ‘auction’ was literally going to be an actual meat-market of men for all sorts of women to ogle and bid on. Chase was right! They were going to be ogled like pieces of meat!

He was going to be going on a date with some strange woman, all for the sake of charity.

“I need an adult…” Kyle whispered openly, swallowing nervously .

“You are the adult, dipstick…” Chase whispered loudly, grinning nervously, and sweating almost as much as Kyle was.

The temperature was perfect, and the sun was beating down on them, keeping the chill from the air despite the fact it was late in the year.

“God help us all…” Justin muttered, shaking his head and rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

“Seriously, I don’t think I want to do this,” Kyle whispered, looking down the line of firemen standing there in the sun wearing their heavy yellow jackets and helmets… and Austin, his partner, wasn’t helping things in the slightest.

The outrageous man was posing for the crowd, grinning and smiling, right before slipping off his jacket, causing a group of ogling women to gather near them where they were lined up.

“Awww yeah, this is gonna be great!” Austin crowed happily. “Check this out!”

He flexed his biceps and kissed each one playfully, causing Justin to put his head down in his hands again in annoyance as the chief laughed from where he stood at the end of the line. Every man hesitated and looked down the line to gawk at the stoic man that led them, who was always so quiet.

“See?” Austin jeered happily, elbowing the two men closest to him – Justin and Chase, the two divorcees.

“If Carpenter can loosen up and have some fun? Then you two spaz’s should be able to as well.

I mean, seriously?! It’s a beautiful day, there’s a breeze, we are off work…

” and Austin’s voice got louder, working the crowd as he stepped forward and jerked off his uniform shirt, much to Kyle’s horror.

“… And all these fine women are here to support a good cause – am I right, Ladies?”

A rowdy, boisterous thunder of appreciation swelled around them as Austin flexed again and showed off his tanned six pack, his tattoo, and then openly smiled, shaking hands with the women and kissing knuckles repeatedly.

Yep. The playboy could certainly work a crowd.

“Someone’s gotta stop him,” Kyle whispered in a hushed panic. “They’re gonna expect us all to act like that …”

“Then someone’s gonna be really disappointed, aren’t they?” Chase muttered.

“No kidding…” Justin agreed.

Austin ripped… literally RIPPED… his t-shirt off of himself, causing several women to scream in excitement – and Kyle nearly died as he realized he screamed aloud as well, but in horror.

Like a girl.

What was his partner even doing?

“I can’t do this!” Kyle balked, feeling faint and definitely disturbed at the fiasco that was about to happen. “Chief! Chief! H-Hey – s-someone g-get Carpenter for me… I c-can’t do this!”

His voice was breaking and croaking like a boy going through puberty – and he was thinking of his own pasty skin, if they put him standing next to Andy or Austin. Someone was going to laugh or chase him off the pergola where the auctioneer was…

“Alright… Alright… Alright! My lovely, esteemed ladies of Ember Creek – are you ready to play with fire? Are we having some fun yet? Just look at these fine specimens we have here today…”

“Not yet… but getting there, Mayor Winstead! ”

“Right? You’ve got some flamboyant young men that are eager to get this auction started… and let’s hear it for the Flirt’s Battalion!”

“First…” Kyle hissed, mortified. “ First Street battalion… not Flirt’s!”

The mayor actually ignored him… and picked up a gavel to bang it on the small podium that she was standing at.

“We’re here today to raise funds for the children’s home, and every dollar spent is being donated one hundred percent to Sister Agatha’s loving care.

It will help pay for school clothes, supplies, bicycles, and computers for the children, bringing so much joy and support to our beloved community – that is supported so wonderfully by our wonderful fire chief Reese Carpenter and the Flirt’s Battalion… ”

“FIRST!” Kyle hissed, correcting her again. “You’ve got a typo, lady…”

Then Andy and Austin took their places, returning to the line, and Kyle listened in disbelief as he realized that the auction was beginning. He felt several sets of hands shove him up the steps, stumbling, as he walked forward, looking distinctly uncomfortable.

“Now ladies… remember this is for charity, and we have some pesky rules for this proceeding. Now, he might be a very handsome man, but remember this is for one evening with this young firefighter,” the mayor smiled – and immediately Kyle felt a shiver of dread run down his spine.

“This fine, fine gentleman of the Flirt’s Battalion…”

“FIRST…” he hissed again, pointedly. “She meant to say First Street Battalion Firehouse…”

“I think ‘Flirt’ fits so much better…” a woman called out happily, waving her wallet… causing Kyle’s eyes to pop out of his head as h e saw that it was Mrs. Kendall, who called them weekly needing ‘assistance’.

It was the same call every single time.

Mrs. Kendall claimed that she’d fallen and couldn’t get up – and specifically asked if Kyle was working that day.

They would drive out and Kyle would have to endure the teasing of his coworkers, as he walked in to find her sprawled in various stages of undress, picking her up off the floor, and then suddenly?

She would have a miraculous recovery… asking him if he wanted coffee.

The guys always teased him about Mrs. Kendall – who was the same age as his grandmother Mae… and played bingo with the woman on Sundays at the Catholic church on Main Street.

“Hi Kyle…” she waved happily, wobbling her fingers at him, and making him feel cheap, sordid, and uncomfortable in that moment. He’d seen more of this woman than he would ever care to, and had requested that the team tell Mrs. Kendall that he was scheduled ‘off’ when she called.

“Hello, Mrs. K-Kendall,” Kyle said nervously, hating the way his voice stuttered, and he could feel his cheeks heating up.

“Ruthie, you behave now, young lady…” the mayor laughed, causing several in the crowd to chuckle with delight – as Kyle wished the floor would open beneath him.

Maybe lightning would strike the pergola and they would have to evacuate?

In that moment, he was sincerely grateful that he wasn’t having to pose for photos like Team Two… because he knew exactly who would mortgage their house or sell a kidney to be in some scantily clad firemen’s calendar photograph with him .

Mrs. Kendall.

Kyle swallowed nervously and scanned the crowd as he listened vaguely to the mayor speak.

“This strapping young man is good with his hands…”

“What?” Kyle whispered, realizing how she was twisting the small paragraph they had to write about themselves. “I do carpentry, work on my truck, and am able do small tasks around the house, like painting and electrical work.”

“He’s sooo good with his big, strong hands and can really work a tool…”

“Oh my gosh,” Kyle gaped, staring at her in shock and dismay as several people started to whoop excitedly, making his face turn even redder than it already was.

“He’s the one that holds the hose, ladies…” the mayor teased playfully. “Charity, remember ladies?”

“I’m on the nozzle team,” Kyle squawked, protesting. “I’m a nozzle firefighter, Mrs. Mayor. You’re painting a terrible picture of me…”

“TWENTY-FIVE DOLLARS!” a voice called out.

“What?” Kyle said, whipping his head around to see who had bid.

“Make him take off that jacket so we can see his muscles…” a woman cried from the back of the crowd.

“Noooo,” he grimaced, clenching it around him protectively.

“Take off your jacket, young man,” the mayor urged pointedly under her breath. “It’s for charity.”

“Charity begins at home,” he hissed back, glaring at her. “Why don’t you make a donation and get me off this auction block!”

The mayor glared at him and slammed down the gavel to get their attention, causing everyone to look at her – including Kyle .

“Ladies, he said he’s not taking off his jacket or anything else unless you get serious about the bidding…”

“I never said that!” Kyle balked.

“FIFTY!”

“SEVENTY-FIVE!”

“Do I hear a hundred?” the mayor asked openly, smiling happily.

“NOOOO?!” he yelped in shock, realizing this was getting completely out of control quickly every time he opened his mouth.

“ONE HUNDRED!” a woman said from the front row, not looking at Kyle, and her face was almost as ruddy with embarrassment as his was.

Her short cropped brown hair ended at her chin, and she was standing there looking like she’d just come from a funeral, wearing all black and dressed modestly despite the warmth of the day.

“There we go…” the mayor encouraged. “Did I mention that this young man, Kyle Rimes, is right at home getting on his hands and knees easily…”