Page 11 of The Captain's Little Girl

“Both. Coffee’s not good for you. We’ll drink milk usually at meals.”

“I don’t really like milk,” she rushed to tell him.

“If you’re a good girl, I’ll add some chocolate syrup.”

Cricket looked at him in astonishment. He wasn’t really going to make her drink milk instead of coffee. She felt her forehead wrinkle as she glowered at him.

“Don’t get yourself in trouble, little girl. You know as well as I do that chugging coffee to get energy isn’t healthy.”

Toying with a bite of pancake, Cricket debated arguing but knew that would only get her in trouble. Besides, he would never know if she stopped at a store for coffee or had a cup at the bar.

“Stop figuring out ways to get around the rules,” he growled, interrupting her plans.

“How did you know?”

“Your face is easy to read,” he assured her.

“That’s not reassuring,” she complained.

“There’s always an easy way to stay out of trouble,” he suggested.

“What? Fall asleep at two?”

“If you’re tired at two, I’ll tuck you in your crib for a nap.”

“I have a crib?” she gasped.

Before Mark had backed away to give Cricket an opportunity to find someone closer to her own age, she’d visited his house casually when the team met there. Trying to be on her best behavior, Cricket had never peeked past the closed door on the way to the bathroom. She’d figured it must be the guest room. But if there was a crib, it had to be there.

“Of course. All baby girls need a crib. I’ll have just enough time to show you after breakfast.”

Pushing her plate away, Cricket assured him, “I’m done.”

“Three more bites,” he directed with a steely tone that brooked no refusal.

Stabbing a small piece on her plate, Cricket soaked it in the remaining puddle of syrup. She didn’t want to waste the maple goodness, anyway. This was the pure stuff, not the cheap artificial brand she usually bought.

As she chewed, Cricket asked, “Are you all really going to work out today? You just got back.”

“Two more,” he encouraged, before answering, “We didn’t train the last two days, but were in transit. Everyone will bounce back faster if they move. I won’t send the team on a marathon, but we’ll tax our muscles.”

“One more after this,” she announced with sass in her voice before he could as she ate another bite. “These really are good. I’d eat them again,” she hinted.

“I’ll make them for you on special occasions,” he promised.

When Cricket had finished the last one, he asked, “Full?”

“Definitely. Thanks.”

“You’re very welcome. Let me show you the nursery I created for you. You can play there while I clean the kitchen.”

“You created it for me?” she echoed his words.

“No one else, little girl. I gave you a chance to move on, figuring that you would lose interest in an old guy quickly.”

“You didn’t think much of me, did you?” she accused, instantly going from contented and full to pissed off.

“I thought and do think the world of you. I knew you were the one for me. It wasn’t a test. Letting you explore other options was the toughest thing I’ve ever done.”

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