Oh Baby(12)

Marcus grinned teasingly. "Your old man is the head honcho. Why don't you just ask him to hook you guys up with a new truck?"

Magnum laughed at the suggestion, which, of course, had been made in jest.

As the son of Atlanta's fire chief, Magnum had risen through the ranks on his own merit, proving himself through hard work, grit and determination. To avoid the appearance of nepotism, he went out of his way not to ask his father for anything. Like, ever.

Tinkering with a molded black hose, Magnum said conversationally, "Wifey and kids doing all right?"

"Yup," Marcus said, smiling. "Just counting down the days to Christmas."

"I bet they are." Magnum shot him a sly grin. "By the way, I saw the looks you and Samara were giving each other on Sunday. If she's not already pregnant again, she will be soon enough."

Marcus laughed. "From your lips to God's ears."

Magnum's grin broadened. "You always talked about wanting a big family if you ever got married. Guess you weren't lying."

"Nope."

Magnum chuckled. "Hand me that ratchet wrench right there."

Marcus picked up the right tool with barely a glance and handed it over.

"Thanks." Magnum started spinning the handle of the wrench, loosening a nut. "So you really want more kids, huh?"

"I do." Marcus leaned back against the truck, his hands tucked into his pockets. "See, you grew up with four brothers, so you always had someone to keep you company. Sometimes I envied you."

"Really?"

"C'mon, MG. I've told you that before. I mean, don't get me wrong. Mike and I have always been there for each other. I couldn't have asked for a better brother. But we're six years apart. At some point we stopped sharing the same interests. When Mike started hanging out with his older friends like Quentin, I felt kinda left out. It was especially hard after you guys moved to Denver. With Mom gone, Dad working late and Mike out doing his thing, I got lonely sometimes." Marcus shrugged a shoulder. "I want a big family. I want a house filled with rambunctious kids and the sounds of running feet and happy laughter." 

"I hear you, bruh." There was a smile in Magnum's voice. "Nothing wrong with obeying the Lord's command to be fruitful and multiply, especially if wifey's on board." He paused. "She is still on board, right?"

"She is," Marcus said, smiling softly. "Samara grew up an only child, so she understands better than anyone what it's like to feel lonely. We've both always wanted a big family."

"See, that's another reason she's perfect for you. A lot of women nowadays would be too worried about ruining their figure to give you a ton of babies. Not that Samara has to worry about that," Magnum drawled appreciatively. "Baby girl got it goin' on."

Marcus smiled. "That she does."

"I mean, not only does she have a beautiful face, but-"

"Watch it," Marcus warned, lurching off the truck to glare menacingly at Magnum.

He laughed. "I'm just sayin', cuz. Samara's fine as hell. Mason still jokes about wishing he'd met her first."

Marcus scowled. "Mason better back up off my wife before he gets knocked the fuck out."

Magnum threw back his head and roared with laughter.

Marcus scowled harder, shaking his head. Pipsqueak played too damn much.

"Refresh my memory," Magnum said when his mirth subsided. "How many more kids do you want again?"

Marcus grinned. "Honestly? I'd be good with another two or three-"

Magnum guffawed.

"-but I'd be just as thrilled and grateful if we only had one more. Preferably a sister for Milan to bond with."

"Two boys, two girls." Magnum smiled. "Sounds perfect to me."

Marcus grinned. He couldn't wait for Magnum to find his Mrs. Right and start his own family.

No sooner had the thought crossed his mind than he heard a smoky female voice behind him say, "Excuse me."

He turned around to find a gorgeous black woman standing there, a warm smile curving her full lips. She was wearing a camel cowl-neck sweater with tapered black slacks and black ankle boots. With her flawless mahogany complexion and high cheekbones, she was almost a dead ringer for Tika Sumpter. If Marcus didn't know better, he would have sworn the actress had just strutted off the set of The Haves and the Have Nots and made her way over to the fire station.

"Captain Wolf?"

Marcus grinned, jerking his thumb to the left. "That would be him."

"Oh, I'm sorry," she said with an endearingly self-conscious laugh. "I've seen your family on TV. You all look so much alike, it's hard to tell you apart."

Marcus chuckled. "It's okay. We get that a lot."

"Who's looking for m-" Magnum broke off as the woman stepped into his line of sight. He froze, then slowly pushed his goggles off his face and gave her a thorough once-over, an appreciative gleam sparking in his eyes.

"Well, hello there," he murmured.

The ebony beauty smiled. "Hello, sir. I'm-"

"Hold that thought, sweetheart. I'm coming out."

The woman frowned slightly and mouthed to herself, Sweetheart? Really?

Magnum crawled out from the fire truck, climbed down the short ladder and came around to introduce himself.

"Magnum Wolf at your service," he drawled, wiping his hands on a greasy rag before extending a handshake. "And you are?"



       
         
       
        

"Brienne Burke." She shook his grease-stained hand with a firm, sure grip. Although her slender palm was engulfed by his much larger one and he had a considerable height advantage, she looked him confidently in the eye.

As a current of awareness passed between them, their hands clung.

Brienne let go first and retreated back a step, then seemed embarrassed for doing so.

Magnum smiled, his eyes lazily roaming her face. "Pleased to meet you, Brienne Burke. Are you here to cover our holiday toy drive?"

"Toy drive? Oh, no, I'm not a reporter-"

"Then you must be here about our receptionist opening," Magnum said.

"Actually, sir, I've already been hired." Brienne gave him a narrow smile. "As a firefighter."

A look of pure surprise crossed Magnum's face. He looked her over and repeated dumbly, "A firefighter?"

"That's right." She lifted one perfectly arched brow. "Don't tell me you've never met a female firefighter, Captain Wolf?"

Marcus covered his mouth with his hand to hide a smile.

"Of course I have," Magnum said quickly, recovering his composure. But it was too late. He'd already lost major points with the sista.

Too bad. She was a stunner.

"I've been assigned to this station," she said crisply. "I was told to ask for Captain Wolf."

"Well, you found me." Magnum's smile was uncharacteristically sheepish. "I apologize for not knowing who you were. There must have been a mix-up somewhere because I was expecting someone else."

"Someone with chest hair and a deep voice, right?"

Magnum's smile wavered. "Uh … "

Brienne's eyes were glinting with humor. She was totally busting his balls.

Magnum huffed a laugh and rubbed his bristly jaw. "Well, anyway … welcome."

"Thank you, Captain Wolf."

Magnum cleared his throat. "Let's go inside so I can, uh, show you around and introduce you to everyone."

"All right." Brienne smiled at Marcus. "It was nice meeting you. You're Marcus, right? The lawyer?"

He smiled lazily. "Guilty as charged."

Brienne grinned at the little joke.

As Magnum started to escort her away, he shot Marcus an almost panicked look and mouthed, Is this for real? Are you punking me right now?

Marcus just laughed and mouthed back, Good luck!

He had a feeling Magnum was going to need it.





8





When marcus got back to his car and checked his phone, he had two missed texts. One was from his secretary, reminding him about his afternoon meeting with an important new client. 

The other message was from Samara: Miss you …

That was it. Just two simple words. But they had the power to set his pulse racing and get him aroused.

When he started his car, he knew he wasn't heading back to the office just yet. Although he had a partners' meeting in less than two hours, he couldn't resist the unmistakable lure of a booty call.

Twenty minutes later, he was stepping off the elevator on the top floor of the office building where his wife worked.

The receptionist at the front desk gave him a welcoming smile. If she was surprised to see him in the middle of the workday, she didn't show it. She never did.

"Hello, Mr. Wolf. Samara's in a meeting, but I can let her know you're here."

"No worries," Marcus said, already taking out his phone. "I'll tell her myself."

"All right." The receptionist's eyes twinkled at him. "Would you like some coffee?"

"Nah, I'm good. Thanks, Emma." Marcus patted the top of the desk and winked. "I'll be in Samara's office."

Emma grinned. "Of course, sir."

As Marcus headed down the maze of corridors leading to his wife's corner suite, he sent her a text: I'm here.

Her response came seconds later: What took you so long?