Page 4 of Koa’s Little Girl (Soldier Daddies #8)

T he next day in the middle of a set of three hundred sit-ups, Jerico’s phone went off.

They all froze at the sound of the tone Jerico had programmed in to notify him that there was a message from the base.

Only Jerico and Caden carried phones during training for emergencies.

Everyone else stored theirs in their lockers.

“Jerico, get that. Everyone else, keep going unless you want to do another set,” Caden ordered.

Jerico rolled away from the ground and rose to walk a few feet away. He answered the phone as everyone strained to finish the exercise and eavesdrop at the same time. “Koa? Yes, he’s here training. Okay. I’ll tell him.”

Without saying anything else, Jerico rejoined the group and upped his pace to make up for the thirty seconds he’d missed. Koa waited for him to explain why his name had come up. Jerico said nothing, but continued to do his workout.

“Two minutes to rest and then plank,” Caden announced.

“Jerico, what’s up?” Koa asked.

“Oh, there’s a letter from a sexy woman at the front gates for you,” Jerico answered.

Koa stared at him in disbelief as the other men hooted, applauded, or both. “What?”

“A beautiful brunette just drove up and left an envelope for you at the front guard shack. She didn’t have clearance or an appointment, so they couldn’t let her in,” Jerico reported. “They notified me you can pick it up whenever convenient.”

“Giana. It has to be her,” Koa guessed. He whirled to look at Caden, hoping to get permission to go.

“No way, Koa. You’ll be mush for the rest of the day. They’ll hold on to it for you. You can pick it up at lunch,” Caden told him.

“You’re kidding, right?” Koa stared at the older man in disbelief.

“I am. Come on. I think we’ll hold off on that plank challenge until we have a sprint for the guard shack. What do you say? The first soldier there gets to read Koa’s letter aloud?” Caden suggested.

Koa sprinted out the door before the team chief finished.

The others were on his heels as they pelted down the hallway and out the front door.

Jabbing Hank in the side with his elbow as the sniper tried to pass him, Koa took advantage of Hank’s stumble to the side to stay in the lead.

There was no way anyone would get to read that letter before him.

The guards stood outside the shack watching them come. Koa didn’t care that he’d become the day’s entertainment. He wanted that letter now. Please let it be her. He hadn’t been able to get her out of his mind.

“Hey, Koa. I guess you got the message,” the guard said with a smile as he handed over a long white envelope.

“Thanks,” Koa said, holding it away from his sweating body.

He turned to walk back to his team, who waited a few feet away. They all smiled broadly at him. Koa realized they hadn’t truly attempted to win. They’d just made him work for it.

“Going to read it?” Zale asked.

“Later,” Koa told him. He wanted to have privacy to process whatever Giana written. Please don’t let her tell me to fuck off.

“Alright! If you all are finished slacking off, let’s head for that field,” Caden directed and took off running. “We can hold that plank in the fresh air. You guys are getting too fragrant for the gym.”

Koa scooped up a clean-looking stone from the ground.

He’d need something to work as a paperweight while they trained.

Soon, he balanced on his forearms as he stared down at the white envelope.

His mind whirled so much with the possibilities, Koa won the competition without realizing it.

He dropped to the grass when he noticed everyone had collapsed.

Thanks, little girl. She was already bringing him good luck.

By the end of the day, the crisp envelope was battered and bruised. Koa had carried it with him throughout their activities today. It looked as worn as his team.

“Dismissed,” Caden announced.

Koa didn’t hesitate. He grabbed the envelope and pelted toward his locker to get his keys and phone. Raising a hand to acknowledge the calls from the team wishing him good luck, Koa concentrated on reaching his truck to open the letter in private.

There, he unsealed the envelope carefully and pulled out a single sheet of white paper.

Are you a daddy?

G

He reread the question three times, trying to convince himself it was real. When he trusted what he saw, Koa checked the time and drove toward the coffee shop. Racing to the firehouse would cause her problems. He could only hope that she would be brave enough to meet him.

When Koa turned into the parking lot, he spotted her in the window. When their eyes met through the glass, Koa’s heart thumped hard in his chest. He parked and hurried to the door. He walked straight to Giana.

Pulling a chair as close as possible, he sat down and wrapped his hand around hers, which twisted on the tabletop. “Yes.”

“Really? I’d started to think they didn’t exist.”

“I wondered if I’d ever find you. I should have sacrificed wings to the barbecue gods a long time ago,” Koa said, trying to break the tension he could see stiffening her body.

“That was dangerous,” she warned, regaining a bit of her fire.

“How long have you been here?” he asked.

“I figured you’d get my note on your way out. I didn’t cause you any trouble, did I?” Giana asked.

“You did not. And even if you did, I couldn’t care less. Thank you for being so brave. I didn’t know whether you felt it too. I’d already decided to ask you this afternoon if you were here.”

When she leaned slightly toward him, Koa couldn’t stop himself. He slid his fingers into her thick, soft tresses and drew her forward. He kissed her lightly, nibbling at her lips until she pressed her mouth against his fully. Fighting his flaring desire, Koa ended the kiss.

The look in her eyes tested his resolve. He loved the soft glow of her happiness. “We have a lot to discuss, little girl,” he told her quietly. “Can we go somewhere more private? Perhaps my house? I promise you are perfectly safe with me.”

She hesitated for a second and then nodded. “Are you okay with me sending your name and address to a friend?”

Koa reached for his wallet in his back pocket and pulled out his driver’s license and his military ID. After placing them on the table in front of her, he said, “Take a picture of these and send it to her. That address is correct.”

She smiled and quickly followed his directions. “Can I have your number? It would be easier to contact you directly.”

“Of course.” Koa recited the number and had her call him to double check she had it correct. He quickly saved her number as well.

“Ugh,” another customer said and moved to a table farther away with her nose in the air.

Giana’s lips twitched with amusement as she tried not to laugh.

Koa leaned slightly away from the beautiful woman next to him. “I probably smell like I’ve done a million jumping jacks,” he said as he quickly replaced his identification.

“Add a few thousand burpees,” she suggested with a smirk.

He had to laugh. Her training as a firefighter was intense as well. Giana would be used to being with a group of smelly athletes. That didn’t excuse his odor. “Sorry. I didn’t stop to take a shower. I wanted to come find you.”

“I’m glad you did. Let’s go before they kick us out for spoiling the caffeine brew scent in here,” Giana suggested.

Koa stood and waited for Giana to join him. Needing to touch her, he placed his hand lightly on her lower back and guided her out of the coffee shop. “I’m in that black truck,” he said, pointing to his vehicle. It was wonky in the parking lot, revealing his need to get to her quickly.

“I’m over there, in that black truck,” she told him with a laugh.

Koa shook his head in disbelief. His Little was so right for him.

He couldn’t wait to learn everything about her.

To his delight, she stepped close and lifted her chin to ask for a kiss.

Koa wrapped his hands around her waist and fought his desire to pull her tight against his post-training sweatiness as he kissed her. Her flavor and eagerness thrilled him.

Don’t go too fast , he reminded himself. Her small sounds of enjoyment spoke directly to his cock. Damn, he wanted this woman badly.

He stepped back and met her gaze. “Come home with me, Giana. I need to learn everything about you.”

“I’m right behind you,” she promised.