I step back, alarmed. “What?”
“Bathtub Party Day. Is that really a thing?”
“Yes,” I snap, crossing my arms in indignation. Okay, so I didn’t know it was a thing either until I stumbled on it. But it’s perfect. “It’ll be just the thing we need to get attention. We can use the event to include some kitschy items like receiving a bath bomb with purchase to the event, spa giveaways, and that kind of thing. But one of the headline activities will be dropping thousands of rubber ducks into May River to see which ones cross the finish line first. People will adopt a duck with all the proceeds being split between the fire department and the shelter.”
Layton leans back in his chair. “You know, that’s not a bad idea. Let’s hope it stays warm. But so long asIdon’t have to swim in it, I guess some little rubber duckies can handle it.”
Clasping my hands together in excitement, I reach for my pen to take some notes.
“What are the other headline activities?”
The blood abruptly drains from my face. “Well, the animals up for adoption will be one highlight. I’m hoping I can count on your team to be there to greet people with the dogs and cats.”
“Of course. You know we’ll do anything we can to help you.”
And there’s my in…
“And it’d be a great time to sell firefighter calendars. People could get pictures and autographs with the monthly firefighter models?—”
His face morphs from encouraging to expressionless. “I’m sorry, what?”
“Oh, come on, Layton. Please? I’ve done some research. This is a very popular tool to drive revenue to fire departments who’ve done it in the past. If the photographer donates his time, and I can get the print shop to give us a discount, that’s a wide margin of profit that’ll go a long way toward getting you the supplies you need.”
Rubbing his palm down his face, he lets out a heavy sigh. “I don’t know, Quinn.”
I cross my arms over my chest. I hadn’t planned to go here, but… “Layton, it can’t be any more embarrassing than shaking your groove thing at the Diddled Fiddle for the World Beard Day competition every year.”
His eyes hold mine, and I think I have him. Ultimately, Layton’s heart is with this fire department. He knows as well as I do this could bring some much-needed funds and hopefully positive attention to a station that sorely needs it.
Deciding to use this opportunity to run with my plans, I switch to planning mode. “You have three twenty-four-hour shifts here, right? A, B, and C?”
“Yes.” Gah, he sounds so defeated.
“How many guys are on each shift? Four?”
He gathers the wrapper and napkin lying on the desk and throws it in the trash. “There are usually three of us on duty, plus two who rotate on the ambulance. We’ve been short on a few shifts, so I’ve been trying to pick up the slack whenever I can until we get some new hires.”
“Wow, Layton. That’s a lot. Do you ever get any time off?”
“Yeah, whenever B shift is here. They’re fully staffed. Plus, it’s Magnolia Point, not Miami. We don’t tend to getthatmany calls. It’s not ideal, but… well, we’re working on it.”
The last thing I want to do is make him feel worse by coming here. None of this is his fault. “Okay, so who’ve we got? It’s you and John.”
Layton’s face breaks out into a chuckle. “John, the self-described ogre. He’s no looker, Quinn. But he sure can cook up a mean pot of gumbo.”
Okay, Layton’s hot. He’s won the World Beard Day competition like five years running. But we might have to be creative with a few of the other guys. “Maybe we can do his shoot in his helmet and a chef’s apron.”
Layton runs his fingertips over his impressive beard and grins. “You know, that’s not a bad idea.”
“Who else?”
“On B shift, there’s Baxter, Nelson, and Tripp. I’m planning to move Baxter to A shift to prevent anyone else from dealing with him.” Oh, Lord. I know Baxter. This guy’s a legend in his own mind. He’s a middle-aged divorcee who thinks he looks like Henry Cavill when, in fact, he’s closer to Homer Simpson. Will really have to get the photographer to work his magic with that one.
Nelson isn’t bad as far as dad bod’s go. And Tripp’s in phenomenal shape. He might need to trim the facial hair so he looks more hero than homeless, but he’ll work out nicely.
“There’s Monty and Frank manning the ambulance. They’re the only guys employed with us at the moment. B and C shifts have paramedics from a local volunteer agency.”
“Got it.” Monty and Frank aren’t bad looking guys. Frank resembles a lumberjack. Who wouldn’t want to see a calendar photo with him in there? I bite the inside of my cheek as I scribble a note to get the photographer to use an axe as a prop with him. And Monty… well, there’s just something about a hot, fit firefighter in glasses.
