Chapter 11
Brooklyn glanced at Caden as he drove toward Zale’s. She’d woken up from the nap he’d insisted she take about an hour ago. Already, she had more energy than she had in a long time.
Caden reached a large hand over to wrap around her thigh when he noticed her looking at him. “You okay, Brookie?”
“Yes. I’m good. Better than good.”
“Sounds like you need a naptime every day.”
“I’m sure I’ll get caught up on my sleep soon,” she told him.
“Remember when I showed you the camera in that teddy bear on the tall dresser in your nursery? I’m going to check it at two p.m. each day. Your cute bottom better be in that crib or it will be red when I get home.”
“You’re not really going to spank me.”
“Of course I am if you’re naughty. If you don’t fall asleep, you can read or simply relax, but I want you in bed from two to three.”
Brooklyn bristled at his demands. Who was he to order her around? She opened her mouth to argue, “Daddy…” That one word stopped her from arguing. If she wanted him to be her daddy, she should probably let him be one. Brooklyn rubbed her hand over his and smiled as he intertwined their fingers.
“Yes?” Caden asked.
“Never mind. I’ll stretch out and try to nap.”
“Good girl.”
She squeezed his hand at the praise. Those two words did something to her inside.
They drove for a short time in silence until Caden slowed. Brooklyn leaned forward peering through the windshield. “There’s a bunch of trucks there.”
“We may be the last ones to arrive,” Caden said.
“What if they don’t like me?” Brooklyn asked.
“That’s not going to happen. You helped save Giana, remember? Who knows what would have happened if you hadn’t driven her away from that jerk.”
“I don’t want people to like me for that,” Brooklyn admitted as he turned around to park in front of a small home.
“Even without that daring rescue move, everyone would love you. Just be yourself.”
“All of the women with your teammates are Littles? I don’t really know how to be little. What if I do something wrong?”
Turning off the car, Caden shifted in his seat to meet her gaze. “I’m sorry you’re worrying so much. You seemed excited to go earlier. Do we need to leave?”
Brooklyn bit her bottom lip as she fretted over what to do. If they took off, everyone would think she didn’t want to meet them. She did, but she was scared. The more she thought about it, the more her fear escalated.
A knock on the window made her shriek and jump. She scrambled to the side, almost scaling the console that separated Brooklyn from her daddy. Caden scooped her into his arms and pulled her the rest of the way onto his lap.
“Sweetheart, you’re okay. It’s Giana. Look,” he reassured her, pointing to Giana, who stood frozen outside.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sneak up on you,” Giana shouted through the glass.
“No, it’s okay. I overreacted,” Brooklyn panted, trying to stop shaking as she pressed herself to Caden’s reassuring warmth. She’d forgotten to focus on her surroundings like she normally did.
“Giana, we’ll come inside in a few minutes. Okay?” Caden called.
Giana nodded and appeared crushed. She jogged back inside. Brooklyn watched her go and suspected Giana was upset. Brooklyn’s heart raced in her chest. She pressed a hand to her chest, trying to stop it.
“I feel horrible. She shouldn’t blame herself for my being nervous. I shouldn’t have panicked. You wouldn’t let someone attack me.”
“I wouldn’t. I should have noticed Giana approaching. It’s okay. We’ll go in and you can talk to her in a couple of minutes. For now, let me hold you. Can you slow down your breathing? Inhale with me, sweetheart. Now, exhale.”
Brooklyn struggled to follow his directions. Fortunately, after a few rounds, she could match her breath to Caden’s. The panicky feelings inside her chest lessened, and she relaxed against him.
“Feeling better, Brookie?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Caden kissed her temple and hugged her close. “Would you like to go inside, or should I call Zale and tell him we needed to go home?”
“We have the dessert. They’ll hate us if we don’t take it in.”
“They won’t hate us, but that’s a good excuse to join everyone. I think Giana would like to see that you’re okay,” Caden told her.
Brooklyn hesitated and then agreed. “You’re right. We need to go inside. If I give you a sign, will you get me out of there?”
“You bet.” Caden popped open his door before she could change her mind. He carried her with him as he stepped out. Setting her feet on the street, he wrapped his arm around Brooklyn’s waist until she was steady. “That’s my girl. Shall I get the dessert and the waffle maker?”
She nodded and stood quietly, scanning the area as he shifted to grab the stuff in the back. When he returned to her side, Brooklyn tucked herself next to him. Caden pressed a hand to her lower back and guided her around the house to the backyard.
“Hi, everybody,” he called.
Greetings came to them from the small groupings. Three men stood by the grill, flipping burgers. Giana sat with two other women on lawn chairs nearby. The final two men played a game with targets and beanbags. Zale headed forward to greet them.
“Hi. I’m glad to see you again, Brooklyn. Welcome!. Please make yourself at home.” A brunette appeared beside him. “Here’s Pippa. She’s my little girl.”
“Brooklyn, I’m so glad to meet you. Thank you for helping Giana,” Pippa told her as the other women joined their conversation.
Brooklyn stiffened her legs to keep from running. “Hi, Pippa. Zale. I’m afraid I made a fool of myself outside. I’m sorry, Giana.”
“Oh, no! I was an idiot. I dealt with a threat for a short time, and I still freak out from time to time from something random. I’m really sorry I scared you,” Giana told her with tear-filled eyes. “Especially after you saved me.”
Brooklyn stepped away from Caden and wrapped her arms around Giana. “How about if we forget we saw each other a few minutes ago? I’m really glad to know that you’re safe now.”
“I’d like that. Let me introduce you to Aspen.” Giana stepped back slightly to wave the other young woman forward. “This is Aspen.”
“Hi, I’m Brooklyn.”
“Hi! We’re glad you’re here,” Aspen greeted her cheerfully.
“Giana told us about you driving like a badass to get her to the base,” Pippa said with a grin.
“Language, Pippa!” Zale corrected from behind the cluster of women.
“Sorry, Daddy,” Pippa apologized. She turned back to the women to whisper, “I’ve already gotten in trouble twice today. Let’s go talk over there by the swings.”
Giana hooked her arm with Brooklyn and said, “Good idea.”
The quartet distanced themselves together. Brooklyn couldn’t believe how the conspiracy to keep the men from overhearing their conversation made her feel like one of the group immediately. She glanced over her shoulder at Caden and gave him a thumbs up. He smiled and waved.
“Are you really okay?” Giana asked quietly.
“Just jumpy. I’m always expecting the worst to get me.”
“I hate that for you. You’re safe here. Those guys would take down anyone who even thought of messing with us,” Giana told her in a louder voice that the other women could hear.
As the others nodded, Giana added, “I’m strong. I’ll keep you safe as well.”
A movement caught Brooklyn’s eye, and she looked past the ladies to see an enormous animal approaching. “Um… Is that beast friendly?”
The massive dog bumped into Aspen’s leg and leaned his heavy bulk on her. Everyone laughed as Aspen took a step to the side before bracing her legs to withstand the weight. “This is Rexy. Despite his fierce appearance, he’s a big softie.”
“He has to eat a lot,” Brooklyn said, studying Rexy.
“He does.” Aspen winked at her. “He’s handy for munching the green beans I don’t want to eat. Rexy draws the line at broccoli, unfortunately.”
“Suddenly, I want a dog,” Brooklyn said.
“I know. Right?” Giana chimed in. “I work long shifts. It wouldn’t be fair for a dog to be trapped inside for so long. I have to eat my own vegetables.”
“Daddy approaching!” a voice warned.
The women turned to see Zale heading their way. Brooklyn realized he’d announced his arrival so she wouldn’t get spooked. She really appreciated his thoughtfulness.
“It’s dinnertime. Come grab a burger. There might even be some veggies for you to eat.” Zale met at each little girl’s eyes to make sure they’d gotten his message.
“No fair using your supersonic hearing, Daddy,” Aspen fussed before turning to Rexy. “And you! Why didn’t you warn us?”
“We sent him down to tell you to come eat. You didn’t read the note I tucked under his collar,” Zale said.
Aspen ran her fingers around Rexy’s neck and pulled out an empty plastic bun bag. She held it up and glanced up at her daddy. “I don’t get it.”
“Doesn’t that say the hamburgers are ready?” Zale asked, chuckling.
The women spontaneously groaned in unison.
“We couldn’t coordinate our reaction to the bun message again if we tried,” Pippa said. The group dissolved into giggles.
“If we don’t get up there soon, Max will eat all the food,” Zale told them.
Max’s piled-high plate immediately motivated everyone. Caden’s plate looked very similar a few minutes later. Of course, he’d piled food on his to feed both of them. Brooklyn settled happily on his lap like the other Littles did with their daddies.
I wish this moment could last forever. Brooklyn hadn’t enjoyed a social life since Brent got mad at one of her friends after another and shut them out of her life.
Brooklyn could feel the ties between the men.
They would be friends for a long time after their military service ended.
Brooklyn basked in the laughter and good-natured ribbing that characterized the group’s interactions.
She also learned a lot about her daddy. These powerful, skilled men trusted Caden with their lives. In return, he had dedicated himself to making sure each soldier was battle-honed and prepared to survive whatever the higher-ups threw at them.
Caden had never talked about his efforts with the group. He’d never bragged about himself or taken credit for the team’s successes. Her heart bursting with pride, Brooklyn kissed his cheek.
“Are you okay, sweetheart? Was that a signal that we need to leave?” Caden asked.
“No way. This is fun. Thank you for bringing me, Daddy.”
“Super fabulous!” Pippa called, holding one of the fudgy brownies Brooklyn had chosen for her and Caden to bring for dessert. “These are amazing!”
“I think the brownies were a good choice, little girl,” Caden whispered in her ear. “Want to go get us one before they disappear?”
Nodding, Brooklyn slid off his lap to dart over to the picnic table.
The debate over caramel or double-chocolate brownies being the best completely distracted her from returning with a brownie.
The women slid onto the bench seats and chatted, enjoying the chocolaty treats that seemed to evaporate before their eyes.
“You didn’t save me one, did you, little girl?” Caden asked from the end of the table.
Brooklyn looked at the empty platter and felt bad. “Oops? Sorry, Daddy.”
Caden patted his flat abdomen like he was Santa with a big belly. He turned slightly back to the men and announced in a loud voice, “That’s okay, Brookie. I’ll have less to burn off tomorrow in our ten-mile training run.”
“I should not have eaten that second helping of potato salad,” Koa moaned.
Laughter filled the backyard. Happy, Brooklyn stood and rushed to hug her daddy. If only this could last.