Page 7 of Koa's Little Girl
By the endof 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 rereadthe 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, inthatblack 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.
