Page 13 of Koa's Little Girl
“Oh, I wouldn’t like those either,” she agreed with a shudder.
“There may be some others you’d like to take off. Be honest. Daddy will pick up if you lie about something you don’t want because you think I am into it,” Koa warned.
A honk drew their attention as Aspen and Jerico drove past followed by Pippa, Zale, and the rest of the team heading home. Koa loved Giana’s enthusiastic waves at her new friends. He loved that she’d already bonded with the other little girls.
Koa tightened his arms around her waist and kissed her soundly. “I’ve missed holding you as I sleep, little girl.”
“We only shared a bed once,” she said.
“We did. Somehow, the amount of time wasn’t important. My heart has already decided you’re mine. I don’t plan to let you go, Flame.”
“Do you call me Flame because I’m a firefighter?”
“No, Giana. Because I’m drawn to you like a moth to a flame. You’re irresistible,” Koa told her.
They both looked down at her arm when a beep sounded.
“Oh, no. I have to go, Koa. I’m so sorry.”
“Call me Daddy and I’ll forgive you,” he told her before pressing a soft kiss to her irresistible lips.
“I’m so glad you’re home, Daddy,” she whispered.
“Will you come to my house when you get off?” he asked. “We have three days off before our training starts again.”
“In less than twenty-five hours, I’ll pound on your door,” she promised.
“I’m going to hold you to that.” Koa stepped back and helped Giana into her truck. He didn’t move from that spot until she had disappeared from sight. Then, he dragged himself back to his vehicle and climbed inside. He’d go get some sleep to revitalize while he waited for her.
CHAPTER 6
Giana spotted Koa from several houses away and barely kept herself from drooling. Her buff daddy wore only a brief pair of training shorts as he pushed the mower around the yard. It looked like he’d already cut his neighbors’ lawns on each side of him and only had a small patch left to go. She slowed to watch the amazing scenery as his toned body maneuvered the rumbling machine across the grass.
When he turned to mow that final strip, Koa noticed her. He ran the mower forward, finishing the job as she pulled into his driveway. She’d barely gotten the truck turned off when he reached her. Giana threw open the door and tumbled out into his arms, confident he would catch her.
“I’m so sorry. I couldn’t believe it when that jerk ran into the firetruck on our last call. The paperwork is always a bear.”
“You’re here now. That’s all that matters,” Koa told her and kissed her hard. “Come inside. I’ll shower. I’m not always this sweaty.”
“I have to grab Jelly.”
“Of course.” Koa opened the passenger door and retrieved the plain canvas bag. The bunny stuffie disguised herself inside when Giana took her on an excursion.
“You are great eye candy for the housewives around you,” she teased as they walked up to the door.
“All the housewives around here have their own husbands to entertain them, little girl. They were glad I was here to repay their favor of mowing my lawn while I was gone.”
“Your neighbors mowed for you?” she asked in surprise. She hadn’t considered that he’d need someone to take care of that for him.
“We watch out for each other here in off-base housing. I’ll do the same for them if their soldier is deployed and I’m here. Are you hungry, little girl?”
“Only for you,” she dared to say as he opened the door.
Koa wrapped one arm around her and lifted Giana from her feet. He set Jelly in her arms.
“Whoa!” she yelped as he carried her inside and slammed the door shut behind them. He balanced her in his arms as he stepped out of his work sneakers. With that done, he carried her purposefully toward his master bathroom and set her feet on the tile in the center of the room.
“Let’s set Jelly on the dresser,” he suggested. When she nodded her agreement, he took the bag and placed it safely out of the way.
