Page 12 of A Daddy for Maddy

He no longer looked hard and tight around the mouth and eyes. Up this close, his lips were full and soft. His tanned skin smooth and perfect. I wanted to touch his face, feel the heat there, the line of his jaw and the curve of his cheek. With my full cheeks and straight light brown hair, I was such a baby compared to him. I didn’t even begin to think he was a daddy, but his offered hand was irresistible.

When I was standing, I still had to look up at him to meet his gaze. Never taking his eyes from me, Colin spoke into his radio.

“Maintenance. Clean up in the littles room. Spilled drink. All other matters are in hand.”

There was a quick response I couldn’t quite make out.

Colin squeezed my palm and fingers. I hugged the unicorn against my chest. With his free hand, he brushed Kornie’s horn as if he truly didn’t hate him. Kornie liked his horn to be touched very much.

“What’s his name?” Colin asked.

“It’s dumb.”

“Really? Why don’t you rename him, then?”

I gulped, still shaking. “Because his name is his name.”

“Well, you can keep it private for now if you want. Come along.”

I gasped as he gently yanked me forward. “Where are we going?”

“To my post. You can help me out while I make sure you don’t have a concussion.”

Did I have a concussion? I hoped not. The pain in my forehead was slowly receding.

“How do I help out?” I admit I was intrigued.

He stopped walking and turned, still holding my hand. “Hmm. Good question. Do you know Karate?”

I shook my head no.

“Judo?”

“No.”

“Boxing?”

“No.”

“Can you at least hold your own in a fight?”

“I don’t fight.”

A smile parted his lips. “No? Well, that means you’re a good boy, then. So you’ll just have to sit by and watch me do my job. Watch and learn.”

8

Colin

Asmall lump was beginning to form on Maddy’s forehead, white in the middle and red around the edges. He’d go home with a smarting bruise for sure. I toyed with the idea of taking him up to the on-call doctor upstairs, but he had not lost consciousness and he was coherent. I did want to watch him to make sure, but probably he was fine. That weird protective feeling overcame me again. I wanted to keep Maddy by my side.

He was hesitant at first to come with me. Pulling back.

“Do you want to stay in here, then?” I asked. If he did, I couldn’t watch him full time.

He shook his head no.

“Well, you can come back in a while if you want. I just want to keep an eye on that lump on your forehead.”

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