Chapter One
“Look, military hotshot, based on the height of those flames, I could charge you with arson. I don’t know if you’re dimwitted or totally incompetent, but you risked your home and the homes of the other hard-working people in the area,” the fire captain told him with anger radiating from her gaze.
Koa backtracked immediately, dropping his charming smile that usually smoothed over any disagreement with the opposite sex. She was not receptive to flirting at all. He switched to all business trying to dig himself out of the hole he found himself almost buried in. “Yes, ma’am. You are absolutely correct. I should have never started my teammate’s grill without him being here to clue me in about its operation. Thank you for coming to assist.”
“Assist? You mean put out the roof-high fire flare,” she corrected him, visibly bristling more at his use of that word.
Koa had regretted his wording immediately when he saw her react to it. He backtracked again. “You are totally correct. Our fire extinguishers did not faze the flames. Your firefighters saved the day.”
“You bet your ass they did. Don’t let it happen again or I will cite you.”
Replaying the previous evening’s conversation with the fire captain on an endless loop had interrupted his sleep last night. By the morning, he’d already decided he needed to mend fences, or at least, apologize one more time. Not only did Koa know she was right, he needed to see her to double-check his reaction. He’d picked up something special about that woman.
Throwing on fatigues and a T-shirt for that day’s training, he headed to the fire station. He left his car in the parking lot and headed across the asphalt driveway. With luck, she would still be on duty. As he approached, a couple of guys paused from their chore of sweeping out the bay.
“Can we help you, sir?” one called.
“I’m looking for Giana Mancini. Is she working today?” Koa asked, glancing around.
“She’s here. Who are you?” the other said suspiciously.
Instantly, Koa knew they were interested in the stunning captain. “Would you tell her that the wingman last night wishes to see her?”
“Wingman? She’s not going to understand that,” the man said, glaring at Koa.
Something in his tone that made Koa take a hard look at him instead of a fleeting glance. Physically fit, of course, the blond firefighter’s expression was anything but welcoming to a visitor. The glare he leveled at Koa felt personal.
“Wait! Are you the guy who started a ten-foot-high flame in a gas grill last night?” the dark-haired one asked, drawing Koa’s attention away from the first man. This guy’s demeanor was completely different as he grinned and shook his head in disbelief.
“Yeah. My teammate’s grill. I should have waited for him to get home,” Koa admitted. The team had ribbed him all day about the wing fiasco. While it had been good-natured teasing, he was starting to bristle when they brought it up now.
“You think?” a woman’s voice mocked him from behind.
Koa turned to meet beautiful brown eyes. “Definitely. I’d hoped to talk to you. Can I steal a bit of your time?” When she hesitated and glanced at the men working in the outside bay, he suggested, “Let’s stand under that big oak tree on the edge of the drive.”
“Why?”
“I thought we got off to a rough start,” Koa said, walking forward. When she crossed her arms over her chest, he immediately halted, not wishing to push past her comfort zone. Damn! She’s even prettier without the heavy protective gear. He swallowed hard in reaction as something inside him clicked into place. Koa hadn’t imagined his attraction to her last night.
To his surprise, she nodded and walked past him to the spot he’d indicated. When they reached the shade, she turned to face him with a hard stare. “What do you want?”
“To apologize. I’m sorry for losing control of the fire. That could have had a bad ending.”
She stared at him as if assessing his honesty for several seconds before answering, “Mistakes happen. That’s what we’re here for.”
“I’m Koa,” he introduced himself, holding out his hand.
“I’m not interested,” Giana answered bluntly. She didn’t extend her hand. She glanced past Koa to the line of male firefighters who stood watching their exchange.
When Koa followed the line of her view, he noted their expressions ranged from casual interest to anger. That blond guy has judged me as competition. Koa was okay with that. He was here for a reason.
When he turned to Giana once again, her expression had hardened further to pure granite. It didn’t take a genius to figure out what was happening here. She had very consciously separated business from pleasure. Some guys had accepted that. One had not.
“This doesn’t seem like a good place to talk. Where do you usually hang out when you’re not at the station?” Koa asked.
“Look. I accept your apology, Conan,” she told him. “Just don’t create any more charcoal wings.”
“Koa.”
“What?” she asked, her eyebrows drawing together in confusion. Was he making it up, or did her eyes reveal that her bumble was deliberate?
“My name is Koa.”
“Right. Koa. We’ve got a lot to do around the firehouse. If you’ll excuse me.”
“Where’s the best coffee in town?” he asked on impulse.
“Krieger’s on Main,” she answered automatically.
“Thank you, Giana.” Koa nodded. “Tell me, who’s the tall blond guy on the end?”
“Why?” she asked, her eyes narrowing at him.
“I always listen to my intuition,” he answered honestly. Something about that guy set off warning signals in his brain. A shadow passed over Giana’s face, and he suspected she had the same sense about him.
“Tom, stop standing around and hand me the wrench, please,” a voice requested from the open bay.
Koa turned to see a firefighter back at work, fixing a panel on an ambulance. The glowering blond reached into a toolbox and handed the tool over before returning to scrutinizing Koa and Giana.
“Tom. Watch out for him, Giana.” Koa didn’t wait for her to answer, but returned to his truck, shouting, “Be safe,” to the firemen still working outside. Nothing to see here. Simply a grateful citizen.
The last thing he wanted to do was to cause his little girl trouble at the station. He already suspected that her rise to captain had been hard-fought. Shocked, Koa repeated that phrase to himself. His little girl. His brain didn’t have any doubt that she was his or, despite all her bravado, that she was a Little. Koa didn’t have a clue how he knew. He just did.
Grinning, he started his truck and drove out of the fire station’s parking lot. He’d have some work to do, but he’d never run from a challenge. Stubborn, his mother had called him. Koa preferred to call himself determined. That trait, whatever it was, had helped him achieve a position on the Special Forces team.
The image of his unit ribbing him over the wing fiasco last night made his lips twitch upward again. They’d saved his life a half a dozen times already. As the communications soldier on the team, he was a huge target for any opposing force. Take him out, and the entire team was isolated.
Koa knew each man on the team would risk his life to save his—not because of the radio he carried. He’d give his for them as readily as well. They survived together, or didn’t.
Pulling into the base, Koa drove to the training building Jerico had arranged as their equipment space. After Jerico had been chosen by the last team leader, Koa had slowly accepted his authority. The newest member of the team had shown his dedication, skills, and intelligence repeatedly. The way Jerico had zeroed in on Aspen and saved her from being terrorized by her brute of a neighbor had shown Koa Jerico’s true character.
As he parked, Koa caught sight of his team gathered outside with packs on their backs. Damn. Caden had a tough day planned for them. He slid out of his truck and jogged forward.
“Good timing,” Caden called and slung Koa’s pack toward him. As soon as Koa caught it, Caden ordered, “Go grab your practice firearm.”
Without a second’s pause, Caden said, “Hank, you take lead.”
Instantly, the quietest member of the team ran for the tree line. Koa swore and shrugged into his pack, racing inside to unlock the training locker and retrieve the weapon he used in training. The team had disappeared from view when he returned.
Speeding in the direction he’d seen them last, Koa sprinted to catch up with the others. A snapping twig helped him get oriented. When Koa reached the group, he automatically fell into step and shot a thankful look at Max. The big man nodded, confirming what Koa had guessed. He’d deliberately broken the debris to signal Koa.
The team ran in perfect harmony, their breaths slow and controlled. Each stride of their protective combat boots landed quietly in the dirt. They trained to achieve the ultimate athletic performance—one that would help ensure their survival in the worst conditions.
After five miles, Caden sped up to take the lead, relieving their sniper from setting the pace. Caden immediately flashed a hand signal that every member of the team followed. Within a couple of seconds, they’d faded into deeper foliage. Like usual, Caden directed them with gestures, and the team divided into two. Koa stuck with Jerico. Max, the team’s bomb expert, joined them.
Operating blind since he’d missed the team meeting, and they were under orders for silence, Koa could only guess that Max had a pivotal part in today’s exercise. The radio pack sent an unmistakable thump against his spine, silently alerting him. Without hesitating, Koa stopped in his tracks and signaled the target location to Max. Caden had obviously activated target locations in the radar of his communication pack.
They moved through the woods noiselessly, stopping only when Koa located a new spot. As always, he studied Max’s skilled hands setting up the detonation charges. The large man’s dexterity impressed him. Koa would move from being the communications guy to another skilled position on the team as he gained experience. Rarely did a team need two bomb experts, but someone to help in a pinch was always a bonus.
The sound of gunfire echoed under the canopy of the trees. Birds flew in a flurry of sound and color. A specific firing pattern identified the attackers. The other half of Koa’s team pushed the enemy back toward the charges. They needed to finish their job quickly.
To Koa’s surprise, in the next location, Max thrust a supply of materials toward him and pointed to a large pile of rocks to their right. Koa didn’t hesitate. Following the steps he’d memorized watching training videos and seeing Max in action, Koa quickly set up a powerful explosion. When Max’s mass approached, Koa slid out of the way. Max altered Koa’s setup slightly and gave him a thumbs-up.
The trio moved out of the blast zone and waited, ready to surprise anyone who survived the explosions. The first flares went up, representing the first bombs igniting. Koa spotted a bunny running from his right. At his signal, the trio moved away, finding a better location. They didn’t question his input.
Being trusted felt good.
A small group burst into their recently vacated area. Koa didn’t have time to celebrate for heeding his intuition earlier. From their new sheltered location, Max, Jerico, and Koa eliminated them as Max triggered the last charges, sending up flares. That took out the last surviving attackers.
When the other team leader conceded their defeat, Koa’s team reunited without celebration. They weren’t arrogant or gloating. This training mission would hopefully prepare them to survive a real-life skirmish. The team would celebrate that win. Koa watched Caden and Jerico walk forward to meet with the other troop’s leadership.
“Any injuries?” Zale asked the team. When he had everyone’s assurances they were fine, Zale moved forward to help the other troop’s medic.
With fake charges and rubber bullets, the damage was minimal. The morale of the larger group that hadn’t succeeded in its mission took the biggest hit. Koa spotted a familiar face: a soldier he’d met in training who hadn’t landed a Special Ops position yet. He walked forward to greet him.
“You all dogged us,” Mark said, pulling Koa into a one-armed bro hug.
“That move to the side was smart. You almost got us there,” Koa shared.
“But not quite. Had I moved my section earlier, I would have had you,” Mark said.
“Maybe,” Koa hedged. The possibility he wouldn’t have noticed earlier existed—barely. “A bunny gave you away.”
“Fuck! Of course it did,” Mark laughed. Natives could always throw a monkey wrench into a great plan.
After debriefing the conflict thoroughly with the other troops, Caden called the team back together. “Let’s get out of here. Koa earned a beer on me tonight. But we’ve got miles to go yet.”
By the time they returned to base, everyone dripped with sweat. Koa shrugged off his pack and collapsed to the grass with the others. When they’d all drained the last of their water, Caden targeted Koa with an assessing look.
“What delayed you this morning?”
“I made a stop at the firehouse to apologize,” Koa said, striving for a casual tone.
“To apologize?” Max focused on that bit of information. “To whom?”
“My bet’s on the fire captain,” Jerico said.
“She was not into you at all,” Zale chimed in. “So, how did it go?”
“I apologized and hightailed it here to go hang out in the woods with you losers,” Koa answered, ribbing his team.
“But we weren’t losers,” Max said. “Good work on the explosives. Yours would have worked as you shaped it. Mine was just better.”
“Thanks. I’m trying to figure out whose job I’m coming after. I’d try for Jerico’s, but he’s in too many meetings,” Koa said.
“Speaking of… I have to shower and change before I go do battle over our budget. Maybe I need to learn to ‘shape’ explosives.” Jerico always kept his tone light, but the others on the team recognized how hard he worked to get the leadership to spring for what they needed.
“Here. I hid a candy bar in my pack for secret energy,” Koa said, pulling out a Snickers.
“Keep it. I need to watch my girlish figure,” Jerico said with a laugh. “I don’t want Aspen to start counting my gut rolls instead of my abs.” He eyed Koa’s flat stomach as if he noticed a few extra pounds.
“Get out of here with your buff body. I could beat you at sit-ups any day,” Koa challenged.
“Thanks, guys. I was just thinking about how we should train tomorrow. Old-fashioned calisthenics it is,” Caden announced.
Groans filled the air. It was one thing to run an obstacle course or take part in a staged encounter like today. But a day filled with endless exercise in the gym was a killer. Especially if it was a competition among their team. None of them would ever give up.
“There’s a sadistic streak in you, isn’t there, Caden?” Max asked.
“It’s taken you this long to figure me out?” Caden joked.
Koa rolled his eyes and peeled back the wrapper of his treat. He was usually very exacting with nutrition, but sometimes everyone needed pure, empty calories. “Anyone up for a night out?”
“Not me. I promised to make cheesy spaghetti for one little girl tonight,” Jerico said with a smile.
“I’m out, too. Pippa’s classroom is having a singalong with their parents this afternoon. I promised to go watch,” Zale explained. His little girl worked at the on-base daycare. “Pray for everyone that they don’t ask me to carry a melody.”
“No one is ready for that,” Hank said with a shake of his head. “I’m working on my place. Anyone who’s free can come help pull up carpet.”
“Count me in. I don’t have a life,” Max answered.
“I’ll help,” Koa volunteered. “I’ll even stop and pick up some coffee for everyone.”
“You don’t even drink coffee,” Zale pointed out.
“So?” Koa answered. “I may have to take up the habit.”
[divider]Chapter Two
Whoever invented an Americano with two shots of espresso should be a millionaire. Giana yawned behind a polite hand and tried to keep her toe from tapping impatiently as she waited. She had ordered after the flashy young woman ahead of her had finished batting her eyelashes at the barista. Giana thrust a hand through her work-rumpled hairdo and remembered dressing up to be seen and admired. She was not attracting the same level of attention as the blonde dazzler. Priorities definitely change with time and responsibilities.
Customers packed the coffee shop in the early evening. She loved this place for the great coffee and the range of customers. Everyone from elderly couples to teenagers already addicted to caffeine filled the shop. Giana had found a spot close enough to hear the barista yell names, but far enough away to avoid the crush of people hoping their order would be crafted next.
“Order for Lookaloo!” the barista called.
No one moved.
“Lookaloo?”
When no one stepped forward to take the cup, she tried, “Three pumpkin spice latte frappes?”
A muscular man stepped into her line of sight and claimed the milkshake-like concoctions in a cardboard carrier. He didn’t fit the image she had of the average pumpkin spice frappe drinker. Giana controlled her expression with effort as she laughed inside. And his name? Lookaloo? Poor guy. Thank goodness he didn’t work at the fire station.
Crap! Giana glanced down immediately as the buff man turned to face her. She recognized the man who’d come to see her this morning.
“Hey, fancy meeting you here,” Koa said, stopping in front of her.
That was all she could take. Her mouth quivered with merriment. “Lookaloo?”
“Yeah, it took me a minute to figure out they’d butchered my name. It’s actually Lokela. It’s Hawaiian.”
“Do you drink a lot of pumpkin spice?”
“Are you the coffee police?” Koa lifted the cup to his mouth and stopped, realizing he needed a straw.
That was the final blow. Her control totally evaporated. Giana shielded her mouth with one hand as she giggled. She tried never to laugh around anyone other than family. Her amusement sounded like a delighted seven-year-old. It hadn’t changed since then. His answering smile told her he’d noticed.
Giana spoke quickly to distract him. “I thought you Special Forces guys treated your bodies like a temple?”
“Noticed my physique, did you?” Koa teased.
Immediately back on the defensive, Giana pushed back her shoulders to stand at her full 5′5″ height. She’d grown up with five brothers. Giana had learned to go toe to toe with any of them. She never backed down from a fight.
“Hey, I’m sorry. I thought we were joking with each other. You’re right. I do watch my diet carefully,” Koa assured her.
She eyed him, trying to figure the soldier out. Something was different about him. “I bet. Nutrition is important.”
“Giana? An Americano with double espresso?” the barista called.
Koa looked at her as he absorbed her order. Less sugar than his, but an insane amount of caffeine.
She held up a hand and shook her head. “I know—the proverbial pot calling the kettle black, right? A coffee shop is a nonjudgmental zone. Excuse me. I’ll go grab that.”
Giana weaved her way through the gathered customers and claimed her drink. Tightening her resolve, she headed for the door. Time to leave.
As she opened the door, she spotted him waiting for her outside. Koa had anticipated her actions once again. First her coffee run and now her escape. “I’m not interested, okay?” she told him bluntly.
“Gotcha. I wanted to thank you for the coffee shop recommendation. It’s hard to find good…” His voice died away as he waved a hand over the drinks he’d ordered.
“Pumpkin spice latte frappes?” she suggested.
“Exactly. I don’t suppose you know a good hairstylist?” he asked, rubbing his hand over his military-short stubble.
She rolled her eyes at him, charmed by his quick wit and willingness to make fun of himself. Giana lifted her hand and said a quick, “Bye!” before heading to her truck. Time to go home.
“See you later, Flame.”
She kept herself from turning back to glance at him. Why did that sound like he’d given her a nickname? And why did she get the impression Koa wasn’t fooled by the polished persona she showed the world?
Giana studiously didn’t look back at him as she left the parking lot. Something about Koa Lokela that captured her attention. Whatever it was, she’d avoid it like wildfire.
Pulling into her apartment complex, she navigated to her assigned parking spot. Oh, great. Her next-door neighbor’s boyfriend already occupied it. Giana crossed her fingers, hoping they’d choose to go to his house. The paper-thin walls didn’t block their vigorous activities.
Just what she needed after her regular twenty-four-hour shift—Veronica’s headboard banging into the wall that separated them. Giana didn’t need to be reminded of how long it had been since she’d had a guest with benefits. She’d decided at the beginning of her career not to date a firefighter. Complications and jealousy could run rampant inside the building.
Giana preferred the men to view her as the captain rather than a potential girlfriend. It had taken months to convince everyone that she wasn’t interested—even in them. After Koa’s visit, she’d had to fend off three requests for dates.
Koa. What was it about the Special Forces soldier?
This close to base, she was used to military guys. They were always in incredible shape. Koa seemed even more… He’d focused only on her. The flashy blonde teenager in abbreviated shredded shorts and a halter top hadn’t caught his eye at all, despite the virtual drool on the floor from the other men in the coffee shop.
Those dark brown eyes seemed to see past all the barriers she’d created to guard her inner self. The dark shadow of his whiskers after a long day made her imagine what the handsome man would look like with a full beard. The scruff was attractive. After not shaving for a week, he would be a walking billboard for a testosterone overload.
A honk behind her made Giana realize she was idling in the middle of the parking lot. With an ‘I’m sorry’ wave, she pulled into a guest parking spot and turned off her engine. The horn blared a second time with indignation, and the inconvenienced driver didn’t move. Rolling her eyes, Giana stepped out of her car.
“You need to learn how to drive!” the jerk behind the wheel of a blue sedan yelled as he glared daggers at her.
“Sorry, sir. A long day at work. My apologies for holding you up,” Giana said and headed for her apartment building.
“We all have long days at work, bitch.”
Giana kept walking and took a sip of her coffee to stop herself from popping off with an equally rude response. She refused to allow the man to rile her. Waving her key fob at the security door, she walked into her building and pushed the door closed behind her. She’d be careful going in and out for the next few days. That hothead would soon shift his anger to someone else.
Taking a second to claim her mail from the entryway, Giana couldn’t wait to get in the shower and unwind a bit before going to bed. She’d become a firefighter to help others, but some days her job was a bit too people-y.
Once in her apartment, she locked the door and deadbolt. She dropped off the rest of her drink at her favorite spot on the sofa before heading for the shower. For many, drinking caffeine before bed would make them toss and turn for hours. Giana lived on the delicious brew at all hours. She’d learned to sleep when she could because the next emergency could sound at any time.
After letting the water pelt down on her tired muscles, Giana pulled on her favorite nightshirt and stepped into her bunny slippers. She padded out to the living room and pulled the vertical blinds across the sliding glass doors on the balcony. The room darkened immediately, and she asked her virtual personal assistant to turn on the light.
With a sigh of relief, Giana crawled onto her modular sectional sofa. She loved this U-shaped monstrosity with ottomans cuddled up to it. It was the closest thing to having a crib that looked normal to anyone who visited. She carefully picked up Jellybean from the nest the stuffie had napped in while Giana was at work and settled on the pile of pillows. Jellybean was a new acquisition, but she loved her lots.
“Hi, Jelly! I missed you. Did anything exciting happen here?” Giana asked the sweet creature.
She listened carefully to Jelly’s answer and nodded. “The office sent out a notice last week that they were going to come in to check the air filters. The maintenance guy didn’t scare you, did he? Yeah, he’s nice. I like him too. Want to watch a movie?”
After listening to the stuffie’s answer, she cheered, “Perfect! That’s a brilliant choice.”
Giana squirmed on the couch to reach the remote and started the movie she’d seen a million times before. Singing along with the dancing animals, she and Jelly enjoyed it for the million and first time. When the credits ended, she was too lazy to move. After turning everything off, she grabbed a throw from the back of the couch and crashed into sleep.
[divider]
“Please. Please, Daddy,” Giana begged.
Jolted out of an erotic dream by the sound of her own voice, Giana stilled and blinked into the darkness. She ached with desire. Damn him. Koa’s face lingered in her mind. He’s not a daddy.
Or is he? Her imagination battled with her skeptical nature. She’d searched for a daddy for so long and not found one. Why was this guy sticking in her brain?
She untangled herself from the soft material trapped around her legs. Her fingertips brushed over her mound, leaving an electric zing that lingered from the soft touch. Giana spread her legs as she pulled up her nightshirt. She traced the cleft of her pussy, finding herself slick.
An image of Koa popped into her mind as she stroked herself more intimately. His powerful form inspired her fantasies. What would he look like naked?
Her imagination’s Koa yanked his fitted T-shirt over his head and drew his fingers down his chiseled torso. When he popped open the top button of his fatigues, Giana glided her fingers through her wetness to trace her opening. She shivered as her body responded eagerly.
Picturing him in her mind, she watched him slowly finish releasing his pants, revealing his thick cock. Giana slid two fingers into her drenched pussy as she dreamed of how his shaft would stretch her. A soft moan fell from her lips as she flicked her thumb over her clit. She wouldn’t last long. Just talking to him briefly had put her on edge.
In her vivid fantasy, Koa crawled on his hands and knees toward her and stopped to wrap his fingers around himself. “Let’s have a contest, little girl. Who can hold out the longest? The person who comes first gets her bottom spanked,” he explained the rules as he jerked his hand down his cock.
That threat was all it took to push her over the edge. Giana cried out as she exploded with pleasure and shook. She lightened her touch and then pulled her hands away when even that was too much. Koa faded from her mind, and she blinked into the empty room. Her stuffed bunny stared back at her with knowing plastic eyes.
“He’s a daddy, Jelly. I know he has to be. Can you help me be brave enough to take a risk?”
Did Jelly just wink at her? Giana grabbed her new best friend and hugged her close. With her stuffies in her corner, Giana might be able to try.
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