Chapter 4
“Caden!” she squealed and threw her arms around his neck when the handsome man who held her stood and whirled in a circle celebrating her answer. She couldn’t help but giggle at his enthusiasm.
I guess he liked my answer.
On the other hand, Fluffikins was highly annoyed and glared at her from the rocker where she’d left him. Her bunny was a wild man who loved zooming around her apartment. Her stuffie would scold her if he didn’t get to have fun too.
When Caden slowed down, Brooklyn’s head spun delightfully. “Do it again! Fluffikins missed out on the fun!”
“We can’t have that.” Caden leaned over to pick up the stuffed bunny and tuck it into her hands. “Let’s go the opposite way. Ready?”
“Yessss!” she cheered as Caden twirled them one more time.
This time when he stopped, Fluffikins looked happy. Her tension and worry evaporated when he held her. She couldn’t believe how this dynamic man had made a scary day suddenly the best she’d had in a very long time. Hope for a much rosier future kindled inside her.
“Thank you, Caden.”
“You’re welcome, Brooklyn. Now, I need to feed us. Do you want to play here or come chat with me as I round up something for us to eat?”
“I’ll stay with you. Fluffikins wants to take a nap.”
“I don’t blame him.” Caden set her feet on the carpet and released her when she had regained her balance.
Drawn by the special bed with a railing around it, Brooklyn walked across the room to tuck her stuffie under the covers with his pink nose sticking out so he could breathe.
Brooklyn didn’t feel rushed or embarrassed to have him see her taking care of her bunny.
He understood. She’d never met anyone like him.
Turning around, she walked back to him. Caden stood patiently, his body as relaxed as those muscles would allow. When she got close, he reached out a hand to her with a smile. When she took it, he squeezed her fingers playfully.
“Come on, little girl. Tell me what you like to eat.”
“I can eat anything. Well, anything but slimy avocados. They’re gross.”
“I see.” He paused for a minute as if he were thinking. “You’re in luck. I’m fresh out of avocados. I could make grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup?”
“No soup for me, but I’d love a sandwich,” she answered and clapped a hand over her stomach when it growled loudly.
“Sounds like your tummy is starving. I’ll get toasting. Sit here and talk to me.” Caden pulled out a high stool at the island for her.
“I could help,” she suggested, shifting awkwardly from one foot to another.
“You can set the table for us in a few minutes. Keep me company while I put together the sandwiches.”
Brooklyn gave in and levered herself up on the seat he held. Caden pressed a kiss to the top of her head before circling around the island. That small gesture of affection warmed her heart. On her own for so long, she craved human contact.
No, not just anyone’s touch. She treasured every tender gesture Caden lavished on her. How had she found a man who checked off all her wants and needs? Was he real or pretending like Brent had?
“Breathe, Brookie. You’re safe here,” Caden said quietly.
Brooklyn looked up to see him focused on her with a concerned expression. “Sorry. I must have spaced out.”
“If you’re worried about something, talk to me.”
“I’m okay,” she told him quickly.
“But I want you to be fabulous.” Caden winked at her and turned to grab a few things from the refrigerator.
His statement repeated in her brain. For what seemed like months, Brooklyn had simply existed. Hunted, she’d hidden in a series of apartments and hotels, scared Brent might knock on her door at any moment. Caden suggested she should reach for more.
“I’d like to be fabulous,” she whispered, watching him cut the bread.
He paused to meet her gaze and smiled. “Then we’ll make that happen. Tell me how you discovered you were Little.”
Her cheeks heated. Brooklyn resisted the urge to look away from him in embarrassment. She forced herself to be brave and answer. “I found a book. I read it five times, over and over.”
“What was it about?”
“A little girl who found her daddy at a BDSM club. Of course, she had to go through several who were total jerks. But he rescued her and claimed her as his own.”
“What was her name?”
“Dorie. She was tall and plump. She didn’t think anyone would ever consider her as a little girl,” Brooklyn shared, eager to share her favorite storyline.
“Little girls come in different shapes and sizes. Was Dorie a young Little or was she more of a Middle?” he asked, turning to grab a pan from the drawer next to the stove.
“Little Little,” Brooklyn answered automatically, before realizing how much of herself she’d revealed. She tensed with panic. What would he think of her?
Caden didn’t react with shock or aversion. He simply flipped on the gas and set the pan on the burner to warm. Soon the sandwiches toasted slowly. A delicious scent filled the kitchen area.
“That smells so good!” she told him.
“Fingers crossed I don’t burn them.” Caden told her as he reached up to the top shelf of a cabinet.
Brooklyn couldn’t avoid noticing how he moved. Caden was handsome from the front and the back. Distracted, it took her a minute to see the items he removed from their packages. It was a set of pink dishes with tiaras printed on them.
He brought them over to the sink and washed them. Brooklyn struggled to find something to say. She loved the cute pattern on them. Should she let him see how excited she was?
“A grilled cheese sandwich will taste so much better on a cute plate, don’t you think?” he asked.
She nodded. “Did you buy those for the other woman?”
“No, Brookie. I bought these for my little girl. Just like the nursery, I knew I’d find you someday. I’m excited for you to use these. Will you try them for me?”
“I’d like that,” she whispered.
“Good girl. Let me flip these over before they burn.”
She stared at the adorable pattern and wiggled happily in her chair. She’d never owned any Little stuff. Caden rejoined her on his side of the island. He dried the cup and filled it with milk before snapping on the sippy cup lid.
When he set it in front of her, Brooklyn stared at it. What would it feel like to take a drink from the spout? Watching his face, she reached for it, ready to abandon the cute container if he laughed at her. Her fingers brushed the plastic.
“Oh, no!” Her gaze ricocheted to the cup as it tumbled over. Horror filled her. She was such a klutz.
Caden moved quickly and righted it. “It’s okay.
Look how well your scientific experiment to test it went.
There are exactly three drops of milk on the counter.
” He wiped them up with a paper towel, erasing her mistake.
“And they’re gone. Try another experiment.
Take a drink. Does it taste any different in that fancy sippy? ”
Brooklyn lifted it to her lips and took a drink. Cold milk slid down her throat as she swallowed. “It’s milk,” she answered, shrugging.
“Perfect.” He paused and smiled at her. “I’m so glad I found you, Brookie. Oh, no! The sandwiches!”
Of course, the food was fine. Brooklyn didn’t believe Caden could mess anything up.
He handled everything with ease. She tilted her head, fascinated by him.
Even when doing something as simple as slicing up an apple and cutting a sandwich into triangles without the yucky crust, Caden oozed control. Was there anything he couldn’t do well?
“Oh! I’ll set the table!” Brooklyn slid off the stool and carefully carried her cup to the round wooden table.
Caden met her there with napkins and forks. “Thank you, little girl. Let’s have you sit here next to Daddy’s chair.”
“Daddy,” she repeated in a whisper, peeking up at him.
“When you’re ready, I’d love for you to call me Daddy.” He lifted her chin and kissed her lightly before repeating, “When you’re ready. Now, sit down and see if you approve of my grilled cheese.”
“I’m sure it’s wonderful,” she told him, sliding into the chair he pulled out for her.
After putting her napkin on her lap to show him she had manners, Brooklyn took a bite of the sandwich. A long string of cheese stretched as she pulled the yummy treat away. She twirled it around her finger and popped it into her mouth when she’d finished chewing. “Absolutely incredible.”
“I’m glad you like it,” Caden told her.
Brooklyn couldn’t believe how easy it was to talk to him.
He didn’t probe into her past, but told funny stories about his team.
She could tell how bonded they were. Each seemed to know each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Caden’s perceptions of the other soldiers impressed her.
His role as the team chief relied on his experience and insight into those he led.
“Did you always want to be a soldier?”
“Always. My father and grandfather were in the military. I guess it’s in my blood.”
“Isn’t your job dangerous?” she asked, trying to look cheerful, while inside she worried.
“I won’t lie to you, Brookie. My team deals with some unpleasant characters. That’s why we train so hard. So we can get in, do the job we’re given, and all return safely. We should talk about deployments.”
Her appetite vanished. Brooklyn gripped her hands together under the table and asked, “You won’t leave soon, will you?”
“My position deals with a lot of emergencies, sweetheart. When my phone rings, I go. Let me grab a piece of paper and we’ll figure out what you should do if you’re here alone.”
“Oh, I’ll just leave,” she blurted. He wouldn’t want her to stay if he weren’t here.
“You will not. This is your home now.” His tone was stern and commanding.
She definitely didn’t want to argue with him, but when he was gone, she would have to do whatever she needed to be safe. “I appreciate you want me to stay.”
An ‘eep’ of surprise escaped from her lips as he plucked her out of her chair to sit on his lap. Automatically, she tried to slide off, but he held her firmly in place. “Caden…”
“Eyes on mine, little girl.”
Slowly, she lifted her gaze to meet his blue eyes. His expression struck her—caring and concerned. “I will take every precaution to keep you safe, even if I’m not here. Your days of running are over, little girl.”
“I hate looking over my shoulder. And…” She hesitated.
“And what, Brookie?”
“I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay with you.”
“And I want you here. So we make plans, and you stick around,” he told her firmly.
“Okay. I won’t run.”
“Good girl. Now, I don’t indulge very much, but I think this calls for a celebration. What do you think about fudge bars?”
“I love them.”
Caden placed Brooklyn back on her chair and stood to grab their empty plates. “Let Daddy clean up and then we’ll have our treat.”
“Can I help?”
“Daddy’s job. How about if you color me a picture for the refrigerator? That metal surface is so boring and sad.”
“Do you have colored pencils?” she asked eagerly.
“Go check in that drawer there.” He pointed to the bottom drawer of the desk at the side of the kitchen. “Anything in there is for you to play with. Leave the other drawers alone.”
“Yes, Daddy.” Brooklyn smacked her hand over her mouth. She hadn’t meant to call him that. It slipped out.
“Repeat that for me, Brookie,” he demanded, dropping the plates onto the counter with a clatter before walking back to her side.
“Yes, Daddy,” she whispered.
“That makes me extremely happy, Brookie.”
He whisked her back into his arms and twirled around in a circle, taking her breath away. She clung to him and laughed for the first time in many months. Her heart thumped inside her chest. She’d found someone who made everything better. “No,” she corrected her thoughts. “I found my daddy.”