Page 1 of Koa’s Little Girl (Soldier Daddies #8)

“ L ook, military hotshot, based on the height of those flames, I could charge you with arson. I don’t know if you’re dimwitted or totally incompetent, but you risked your home and the homes of the other hard-working people in the area,” the fire captain told him with anger radiating from her gaze.

Koa backtracked immediately, dropping his charming smile that usually smoothed over any disagreement with the opposite sex.

She was not receptive to flirting at all.

He switched to all business trying to dig himself out of the hole he found himself almost buried in.

“Yes, ma’am. You are absolutely correct.

I should have never started my teammate’s grill without him being here to clue me in about its operation. Thank you for coming to assist.”

“Assist? You mean put out the roof-high fire flare,” she corrected him, visibly bristling more at his use of that word.

Koa had regretted his wording immediately when he saw her react to it. He backtracked again. “You are totally correct. Our fire extinguishers did not faze the flames. Your firefighters saved the day.”

“You bet your ass they did. Don’t let it happen again or I will cite you.”

Replaying the previous evening’s conversation with the fire captain on an endless loop had interrupted his sleep last night.

By the morning, he’d already decided he needed to mend fences, or at least, apologize one more time.

Not only did Koa know she was right, he needed to see her to double-check his reaction.

He’d picked up something special about that woman.

Throwing on fatigues and a T-shirt for that day’s training, he headed to the fire station. He left his car in the parking lot and headed across the asphalt driveway. With luck, she would still be on duty. As he approached, a couple of guys paused from their chore of sweeping out the bay.

“Can we help you, sir?” one called.

“I’m looking for Giana Mancini. Is she working today?” Koa asked, glancing around.

“She’s here. Who are you?” the other said suspiciously.

Instantly, Koa knew they were interested in the stunning captain. “Would you tell her that the wingman last night wishes to see her?”

“Wingman? She’s not going to understand that,” the man said, glaring at Koa.

Something in his tone that made Koa take a hard look at him instead of a fleeting glance. Physically fit, of course, the blond firefighter’s expression was anything but welcoming to a visitor. The glare he leveled at Koa felt personal.

“Wait! Are you the guy who started a ten-foot-high flame in a gas grill last night?” the dark-haired one asked, drawing Koa’s attention away from the first man. This guy’s demeanor was completely different as he grinned and shook his head in disbelief.

“Yeah. My teammate’s grill. I should have waited for him to get home,” Koa admitted. The team had ribbed him all day about the wing fiasco. While it had been good-natured teasing, he was starting to bristle when they brought it up now.

“You think?” a woman’s voice mocked him from behind.

Koa turned to meet beautiful brown eyes. “Definitely. I’d hoped to talk to you. Can I steal a bit of your time?” When she hesitated and glanced at the men working in the outside bay, he suggested, “Let’s stand under that big oak tree on the edge of the drive.”

“Why?”

“I thought we got off to a rough start,” Koa said, walking forward.

When she crossed her arms over her chest, he immediately halted, not wishing to push past her comfort zone.

Damn! She’s even prettier without the heavy protective gear.

He swallowed hard in reaction as something inside him clicked into place.

Koa hadn’t imagined his attraction to her last night.

To his surprise, she nodded and walked past him to the spot he’d indicated. When they reached the shade, she turned to face him with a hard stare. “What do you want?”

“To apologize. I’m sorry for losing control of the fire. That could have had a bad ending.”

She stared at him as if assessing his honesty for several seconds before answering, “Mistakes happen. That’s what we’re here for.”

“I’m Koa,” he introduced himself, holding out his hand.

“I’m not interested,” Giana answered bluntly. She didn’t extend her hand. She glanced past Koa to the line of male firefighters who stood watching their exchange.

When Koa followed the line of her view, he noted their expressions ranged from casual interest to anger. That blond guy has judged me as competition. Koa was okay with that. He was here for a reason.

When he turned to Giana once again, her expression had hardened further to pure granite. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was happening here. She had very consciously separated business from pleasure. Some guys had accepted that. One had not.

“This doesn’t seem like a good place to talk. Where do you usually hang out when you’re not at the station?” Koa asked.

“Look. I accept your apology, Conan,” she told him. “Just don’t create any more charcoal wings.”

“Koa.”

“What?” she asked, her eyebrows drawing together in confusion. Was he making it up, or did her eyes reveal that her bumble was deliberate?

“My name is Koa.”

“Right. Koa. We’ve got a lot to do around the firehouse. If you’ll excuse me.”

“Where’s the best coffee in town?” he asked on impulse.

“Krieger’s on Main,” she answered automatically.

“Thank you, Giana.” Koa nodded. “Tell me, who’s the tall blond guy on the end?”

“Why?” she asked, her eyes narrowing at him.

“I always listen to my intuition,” he answered honestly. Something about that guy set off warning signals in his brain. A shadow passed over Giana’s face, and he suspected she had the same sense about him.

“Tom, stop standing around and hand me the wrench, please,” a voice requested from the open bay.

Koa turned to see a firefighter back at work, fixing a panel on an ambulance. The glowering blond reached into a toolbox and handed the tool over before returning to scrutinizing Koa and Giana.

“Tom. Watch out for him, Giana.” Koa didn’t wait for her to answer, but returned to his truck, shouting, “Be safe,” to the firemen still working outside. Nothing to see here. Simply a grateful citizen.

The last thing he wanted to do was to cause his little girl trouble at the station.

He already suspected that her rise to captain had been hard-fought.

Shocked, Koa repeated that phrase to himself.

His little girl. His brain didn’t have any doubt that she was his or, despite all her bravado, that she was a Little.

Koa didn’t have a clue how he knew. He just did.

Grinning, he started his truck and drove out of the fire station’s parking lot.

He’d have some work to do, but he’d never run from a challenge.

Stubborn, his mother had called him. Koa preferred to call himself determined.

That trait, whatever it was, had helped him achieve a position on the Special Forces team.

The image of his unit ribbing him over the wing fiasco last night made his lips twitch upward again. They’d saved his life a half a dozen times already. As the communications soldier on the team, he was a huge target for any opposing force. Take him out, and the entire team was isolated.

Koa knew each man on the team would risk his life to save his—not because of the radio he carried. He’d give his for them as readily as well. They survived together, or didn’t.

Pulling into the base, Koa drove to the training building Jerico had arranged as their equipment space.

After Jerico had been chosen by the last team leader, Koa had slowly accepted his authority.

The newest member of the team had shown his dedication, skills, and intelligence repeatedly.

The way Jerico had zeroed in on Aspen and saved her from being terrorized by her brute of a neighbor had shown Koa Jerico’s true character.

As he parked, Koa caught sight of his team gathered outside with packs on their backs. Damn . Caden had a tough day planned for them. He slid out of his truck and jogged forward.

“Good timing,” Caden called and slung Koa’s pack toward him. As soon as Koa caught it, Caden ordered, “Go grab your practice firearm.”

Without a second’s pause, Caden said, “Hank, you take lead.”

Instantly, the quietest member of the team ran for the tree line. Koa swore and shrugged into his pack, racing inside to unlock the training locker and retrieve the weapon he used in training. The team had disappeared from view when he returned.

Speeding in the direction he’d seen them last, Koa sprinted to catch up with the others.

A snapping twig helped him get oriented.

When Koa reached the group, he automatically fell into step and shot a thankful look at Max.

The big man nodded, confirming what Koa had guessed.

He’d deliberately broken the debris to signal Koa.

The team ran in perfect harmony, their breaths slow and controlled. Each stride of their protective combat boots landed quietly in the dirt. They trained to achieve the ultimate athletic performance—one that would help ensure their survival in the worst conditions.

After five miles, Caden sped up to take the lead, relieving their sniper from setting the pace.

Caden immediately flashed a hand signal that every member of the team followed.

Within a couple of seconds, they’d faded into deeper foliage.

Like usual, Caden directed them with gestures, and the team divided into two.

Koa stuck with Jerico. Max, the team’s bomb expert, joined them.