Page 16 of Daddy’s Pursuit (The Daddy Guard #1)

Chapter Sixteen

“I have rules,” Jack announced as he buckled Iris into his SUV’s front passenger seat.

He let the statement hang in the air as he closed her door and walked around to his spot. Sliding behind the steering wheel and firing up the vehicle, he put his own seatbelt on and then continued.

“This one is very important, so listen up. You stay with me at all times. No wandering off by yourself. Got it?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“I still can’t get over that little stunt you tried to pull the other night. Sleeping on the streets and all.”

He could tell, by the sound of her voice, that Iris was uncomfortable admitting what she said next.

“I’ve done it before.”

“That was before you met me,” he stated. “You won’t be doing it again.”

He pulled out of the drive and onto the palm-tree-lined street. It wasn’t dark yet, instead being that beautiful time of evening that only L.A. summers can deliver. Everything had a golden-and-pink hue, and the world looked shiny and friendly.

But he knew how the city was: beautiful but dangerous, if you went to the wrong places and got connected with the wrong people. Tragically, he saw it every day.

He’d be damned if his sweetie would fall victim to that.

Okay, so she didn’t know she was his yet. But that didn’t change the fact that she was. She’d figure it out soon enough. Until then, it was still his job to keep her safe.

If he had to be strict to do so, then so be it. It was what she needed.

“Rule number two,” he went on, “do whatever I say.”

He’d nearly said, “Do whatever Daddy says.” But he’d caught himself at the last moment.

He had no qualms about the title. It wasn’t something he threw around loosely, either.

It was a term reserved only for Iris. The other Littles called him Jack Daddy, but that was just the silly nickname they’d pinned to him.

But when it came to simply Daddy , only one Little would refer to him that way.

But he didn’t want to push Iris too quickly. She’d get there in her own time.

Thinking again about the rules, he continued, “That one kind of encompasses everything. But it’s important.

If I make a rule, it’s for your own good.

One of your jobs is to just be a good girl and obey.

That way, you don’t have to worry about anything except having fun.

And, as it turns out, that’s rule number three. Have fun.”

He didn’t want to take his eyes off the road for very long, so he only briefly looked over to try and gauge how Iris was handling all this.

Based on the peaceful, whimsical look on her face, she was taking it all just fine. In fact, he couldn’t swear to it, but it sure looked like there was a tear of happiness sliding from her left eye that matched the grin she wore.

Would she still feel that way when he finished the conversation?

It was time to find out.

“If you disobey, sweetie, it won’t be so fun. I can easily pull you aside somewhere private and take this belt off if that’s what I need to do. So stay close to me and follow the rules.”

He reached over and placed his hand on her knee, squeezing it gently to let her know that he was still the gentle, fun-loving guy who cared about her.

“Yes, Sir,” she said.

He was delighted when her hand found his and held it tightly.

This night was already shaping up to be wonderful.

The ice-cream shop wasn’t too busy, and the couple had plenty of privacy as they sat at a table along one of the walls.

Ever the cop, Jack sat where he could watch the front door. He also had a good view of most of the room. If any trouble sprang up, he’d be ready to protect Iris and everyone else in there.

He didn’t think that would be necessary, though. All seemed calm. Still, L.A. had taught him that things could change any second.

“Why are you looking around?” Iris asked him.

She shoved a big spoonful of her sweet concoction into her mouth and stared at him as she awaited an answer.

Damn, she was cute.

He picked up a napkin and came out of his seat as he reached across the table to dab the ice cream from her lips. She smiled at that.

Once he was seated again, he said, “You’re pretty observant.”

“Thanks. But it wasn’t hard to miss. Your eyes have been darting everywhere. It’s like you’re scanning everybody in here or something.”

He nodded. “Comes with being a cop.”

“Ooh. Are you worried you’ll see someone you arrested and they’ll want revenge or something?”

“That’s part of it,” he conceded. “But I’m also surveying the crowd to make sure no one is about to start any trouble. Obviously, I can’t tell a hundred percent just by looking at them. But there are certain signs you can spot if you know what to watch for.”

Iris nodded thoughtfully. “You have to be hyper-vigilant, huh?”

Jack shrugged. “I guess I don’t have to be , when I’m off duty. But it’s hard to turn off.”

“Same.”

He cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean?”

She seemed uncomfortable. Shifting in her seat, she took another bite of ice cream. Once she’d swallowed it, she said, “I told you there were some times I was on the streets. You have to be vigilant out there, too.”

His heart hurt. The thought of his precious Little lying on some cold sidewalk or hard park bench was enough to make him nearly cry.

And he never cried.

If only he would have known her back then. There’s no way he would have left her out there to fend for herself. But there wasn’t anything he could do about her past.

But he could build her future.

Was what had led to all that was behind her, though? Now probably wasn’t the time to ask. While he wanted to get to know her—everything about her—this was only their first date. It was about fun. There would be time for the other stuff later.

“You piled that ice cream high,” he noted. “What do you have on it? Gummy worms? Sprinkles?”

“Don’t forget marshmallows and chocolate syrup!” Her nose crinkled as she giggled, and it was all Jack could do not to come across that table and scoop her into his arms.

“We could never forget those. But you’re going to have a sugar rush. Athena is going to wonder what on earth I did to hype you up!”

She laughed again. “She’ll probably make you take me to your house.”

Mmm. Jack liked the sound of that. He didn’t have a spare room at his place, but that was fine.

One bed was all they’d need.

“Do you ever get into car chases?” she randomly asked.

He chuckled. “Not on the regular. But I’ve been in two.”

“Whoa! Was it like in the movies?”

Shaking his head, Jack said, “Nope. In real life there’s tons of traffic and pedestrians and it’s dangerous for everyone involved. In fact, one of them was so dangerous that we backed off and let the chopper follow the suspect in the sky.”

Iris ate more ice cream. “I’ve never been in a helicopter. That would be so much fun!”

“Well, maybe I can arrange a ride. One of our pilots is a guy named Ace Riggs. He’s like me. A Daddy. He’s also one of my best friends.”

Iris’s eyes grew wide. “Really?”

Jack nodded. “There are several other Daddies on the force. Used to be more. But one… left.” He didn’t elaborate on that point. There was no reason to go into that sordid tale right now.

“And Mr. Riggs would take me for a ride?” she asked, so excited she bounced in her seat.

He chuckled again. “I bet so, cutie. Right now, though, let’s finish this ice cream. Then I want to take you somewhere fun.”

“Ooh, where?”

He shook his head. “It’ll be a surprise.”

His smile matched the big one she wore. At that moment, Jack’s heart was so full it felt as if it might burst.

There was no question that she was his Little.

And he suspected she knew it, too.

Fortune had smiled upon them both. They’d found one another.