Page 46 of The Captain's Little Girl

CHAPTER16

“Four more bites of egg, baby girl,” Mark encouraged late the next morning. He’d awoken her with breakfast in bed.

Cricket loved being cuddled against his broad chest as he fed them the fluffy concoction with one fork. She wasn’t allowed to do anything but chew, drink, and chat. Obediently, she opened her mouth for another taste.

“Mmm. You’re an excellent cook, Daddy. Do all daddies know how to take care of their Littles?”

“I would hope they’d learn quickly if not. I’m not a gourmet cook, but I’ve survived on my own long enough to keep us fed and healthy,” he assured her.

“You make great hamburgers,” she assured him, hinting at the dinner she’d like to have. Cricket had missed his delicious grilling talents.

“Great minds think alike, baby girl. The team is coming over for hamburgers tonight.”

“And the ladies?” she asked eagerly.

“I don’t think those little girls would let their daddies out of their sight this soon after our return,” he guessed.

Cricket nodded and hugged his arm, wrapped around her waist closer. “You don’t have to go train this afternoon, do you?”

“No maneuvers today. We have an appointment,” Mark informed her.

“An appointment?” she echoed, twisting around to look at him.

“It’s time for your checkup. Doniphan is going to make sure you’re healthy and recommend birth control for us,” Mark clarified, holding another bite to her lips.

Pushing the fork away, Cricket stared at Mark and shook her head emphatically. “I don’t want to go see Doniphan. I can call for an appointment with a doctor next week.”

“Not going to happen. You’ll go see Doniphan. I trust him and you do, too.”

She wrinkled her nose at him as she tried to come up with an argument that she could use to counter his plans. Cricket knew that Doniphan took care of not only River but Hope, Ember, and Rosie as well. She’d asked River before if she minded her daddy treating the other Littles. Cricket knew from personal experience Doniphan was very thorough.

River’s answer had been simple. “He’s the best. Why wouldn’t I want the man who knows how to take care of me to help my friends?”

Mark waited patiently, allowing her to process his plans. He took one last huge bite, finishing the eggs. Cricket could feel his gaze and knew he could read her expression to know what she was thinking. Her daddy always knew.

“I don’t want to go,” she muttered.

“I know.”

“You’re still going to make me go?” she asked, sending him a pleading look.

“Yes. I plan to make love to you frequently, baby girl. I want you protected until we decide we want children.”

“We could have a baby?” Cricket blinked her eyes in surprise.

“I only need you, Cricket, but if you decide in a few years that we need a baby to make our family complete, we’ll stop using birth control. But until we make a conscious decision, I want you protected,” he explained.

“Okay.”

“Good girl. Bath first and then we’ll go to Doniphan’s home office.”

“I still don’t want to go.”

“I know. Take one last drink and I’ll get the dishes clean. Do you want to color at the table while I put the kitchen in order?” he suggested.

“Yes. You need a new picture for the fridge,” she said before sipping the cold milk he insisted she drink at each meal.

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