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

W aking up immediately as his little girl rolled toward the edge of the bed, Koa asked, “You okay, Flame?”

“Just running to the bathroom,” she explained. He could hear the faint embarrassment in her tone.

“That’s allowed,” he teased and was pleased to see the tension in her shoulders ease. “Need help?”

“No, Daddy,” she said and fled for the bathroom with pink cheeks.

After checking the clock to see it was slightly past seven in the evening, Koa swung his feet over the side and stood. As he made his bed, Koa fluffed the pillow on Giana’s side. A whiff of her scent tantalized him. He pressed his face into the stuffing and inhaled.

“You’re not smothering yourself, are you?” she asked with an arched eyebrow.

Koa dropped the pillow back to the bed and walked toward her. “I’ll get my fix from the original source.” He buried his head in the crook of her neck and sniffed.

“You’re smelling me?” she asked, laughing.

“A long-lasting holdover from our caveman days. I’ve imprinted on your scent,” he explained in mock educationalese.

“Caveman days? I’ll believe that! Got a T-shirt or something I can wear? You’re going to tire of me parading around nude,” she said.

Koa placed his hand on her forehead as if checking for a fever. “Maybe I should grab my thermometer. You must be coming down with something if that idea even pops into your mind.”

Playing along, she opened her mouth as if waiting for the instrument.

Koa gently lifted her lower jaw to shut her mouth. “That’s not where little girls have their temperature taken,” he told her and patted her cute bottom.

The play of emotions on her face was adorable. Shock. Disbelief. Interest. Arousal. She was such a precious little girl. He waited patiently.

“I feel wonderful—not sick at all,” she assured him.

“I’m glad.” Koa walked over to his dresser and grabbed a T-shirt and shorts. She could pull the string tight, and they’d probably stay up. If they didn’t… well, he could live with that. “Let’s see if you’ll be comfortable in these. I’ll clear out a drawer for you.”

“Do you think that’s moving too fast? My bringing clothes over here?” she asked, worrying her bottom lip with her teeth.

“It doesn’t seem fast to me. I’d move you in permanently tomorrow. What’s more important is how you feel. Is it too early in our relationship for you?” Koa asked.

Giana stared at him for a few seconds and slowly shook her head. “I’m baffled why I feel so confident about this, but no. I enjoy being with you. I missed you so much while you were gone.”

Koa walked forward and pulled her into his arms. He hugged her tightly before dropping a kiss on the top of her head.

When he heard her exhale strongly, he cupped her jaw to tilt her gaze up to meet his.

“I missed you too, Flame. How about if we spend time together and not worry about whether it’s the conventional thing to do?

No one gets any say in what we do except us. ”

She nodded immediately. “I’d like that.” Her stomach growled loudly.

“Then that’s what we do. First, we get you dressed, and then I get us some food.”

“I don’t need anything fancy,” she told him. “A sandwich is great… Or something frozen.”

“You’ll get Daddy’s fancy, make-ahead taco feast.” Koa stepped back and grabbed the shirt, pulling it over her head.

“Daddy’s fancy, make-ahead taco feast?” The fabric muffled her voice.

Koa smiled and tugged the opening over her head. “Exactly. I took advantage of downtime to get everything together so that when you got here, we could concentrate on other things.”

“Do you have groceries here? We could go out,” she suggested.

“I’m not ready to share you with the world, little girl,” he told her honestly and watched her smile at that thought.

“Possessive much?”

“Definitely.”

“I like tacos,” she offered a subject change.

“The world of taco fans is filled with controversy. Are you team soft or hard taco?”

She studied his face before commenting, “I’m picking up that there’s a right and a wrong answer to your question.”

“Definitely.”

Giana sighed and answered, “Hard. Soft tortillas get mushy.”

Koa lifted her into his arms and whirled her around the room to celebrate her correct opinion. “I knew you were the perfect little girl for me.” He kissed her deeply and couldn’t resist stealing a few more smooches before setting her physically away from him.

“Let’s get you all covered up before I toss you back on the bed,” Koa told her as he picked up the shorts he’d grabbed for her to wear.

In a couple of minutes, he led her to the kitchen and pulled out one of the high-backed stools at the island. “Sit and tell me what you were up to while I was gone.”

“I can help.”

“Not going to happen. Daddy takes care of the kitchen. Too many hot and pokey things for little girls. How many shifts did you pick up?”

He stood holding the chair for her until Giana climbed up on the stool. “Thank you, Flame.” He kissed her head before scooting her to the counter.

“I don’t want to take advantage of you.”

“That won’t happen.” Koa grabbed a package of animal crackers and opened it to scatter a few on the island before her. Giana picked up one to figure out which animal it was and then bit its head off.

Bloodthirsty. I love it.

“I did my regular shifts the first week, and then when I didn’t hear from you, I filled in my schedule.”

“Like every day?”

Koa opened the refrigerator and pulled out a bunch of different-sized containers. He carried them to the table and popped open the tops to reveal all the best taco fixings: shredded lettuce, cheddar cheese, tomatoes, jalapenos, salsa, pineapple, and diced ham.

I wonder how adventurous my little girl is with food?

“Yeah. Being at my apartment was lonely and boring. I didn’t want to go out and do stuff,” she admitted, shrugging her shoulders. “Is that SPAM?”

“Yes, have you ever tried it on a taco?” He reached back into the fridge to pull out the ground beef he’d already browned.

“Never. And is that pineapple?”

“Yes. They go together very well,” he told her as he vented the lid of the seasoned hamburger and put it in the microwave to heat. “No worries, I have regular taco meat as well.”

Opening the pantry, he found the package of hard taco shells and loaded them into the air fryer as he concentrated on his little girl.

Giana picked up another animal cookie and bit off the animal’s legs first this time. She really was a bloodthirsty muncher, he thought, controlling the smile that threatened. Koa didn’t want her to think he was making fun of her.

“Would you make me a taco the way you like them? I want to try it.”

“Of course.” Koa pulled out a large gallon jug of milk and poured two glasses.

“No milk for me, please.”

“Little girls need milk to grow strong and happy.”

“Milk won’t make me happy,” she told him.

“Are you allergic to milk?” He watched her carefully, ignoring the beeping microwave behind him.

“Well… no. But I don’t like it.”

“Thank you for being honest.” Koa carried the two glasses to the table.

Giana stiffened on the stool and pinned him with a look that probably scared her underlings at the fire station. “You’re going to make me drink it?”

“I’m going to make you try it. If you want something different after drinking half of the glass, we’ll talk.” He grabbed potholders and removed the covered dish from the microwave.

“You’re not the boss of me,” she snapped.

“Are you sure about that? I think having a daddy implies that he’s in charge.” Koa set the dish on a potholder on the table and returned to grab the crisp taco shells, two plates, napkins, and silverware.

She stared at him as he bustled around, struggling to find fault with his logic. Finally, she said, “But being in charge doesn’t mean being a bully.”

“Definitely not. As a little girl, you can always use your safeword to stop. Come join me at the table,” he said and pulled a chair out for her.

“I don’t have a safeword.” Giana picked up her last animal cracker and slid off the stool to walk over and sit down. She carefully placed the small giraffe-shaped treat next to her.

“What would you like to use? Something preferably that you wouldn’t say normally,” Koa suggested as he slid her closer to the table. “Red is easy to start with.”

“That works,” she said, shrugging. “I won’t ever use it.”

“Yes, you will. If you need to, I’m trusting you to tell me when something is too much. Little girls have an extremely important job. Much more important than a daddy’s,” Koa told her as he picked up a shell and put together a delicious concoction for Giana.

“How do you figure that?” she asked.

“For me, being a daddy is taking care of someone in a very intimate way. I’m trying to figure out what you want and need in every interaction.

What if I read your expression wrong? Or your desires for that day at that moment?

It can either cause an enormous problem, maybe the end of a relationship, or you can clue a clueless daddy in.

Which sounds better? Me blindly guessing or me pushing your boundaries and knowing you’ll let me know before I pass the point you’ll want me as your daddy? Here. Try this, Flame.”

He set the taco on her plate. Koa could almost hear the wheels churning in her mind as she considered his words. Slowly, she picked up the taco and took a bite.

“Mmm!” she hummed as she wiggled in her chair. “That’s amazing!”

“I’m glad you like it. Want me to make you another?”

“More jalapenos,” she requested.

“One more. I don’t want to set your mouth on fire and have to call the fire department,” he teased as he created another masterpiece.

“I love ham and pineapple as a topping. It adds so much flavor with the spices.”

“Trying new things can be scary, but sometimes there are huge rewards for stepping out of your comfort zone,” he said, setting the second taco on her plate. He didn’t link the two conversations together, but hoped she’d automatically make the connection.