Chapter 4
“Hi!” Coco greeted him as she walked out the staff door in the back.
“Hi, Coco. Are you hungry?” Roman had arrived about five forty-five. He didn’t want to miss her or have Coco hang around by herself.
As she got close to his car, the toe of her battered sneaker caught on the pavement and she tilted forward. Roman straightened from his position leaning on his car to catch her. Once he touched her, Roman couldn’t stop himself from wrapping his arms around her to hug Coco tight.
“I’m just a doofus,” she said, hiding her face against his chest.
“You are not. You’re tired and stumbled.”
“So I’m a kleptomaniac… klutz,” she blurted, correcting herself quickly. She looked up at him to apologize, “Sorry. When I get nervy… nervous, I mix my words up.”
His Little girl enchanted him with her cute awkwardness and mixed-up words. “Thank you for sharing that information. I’ll know I need to reassure you when you correct yourself. How do you think I should do that?”
“Reassure me?” she repeated.
“Yes, would a kiss help?” he asked, tilting her chin up. He lowered his lips to hers slowly, giving her ample time to move away or turn her head. Coco rose on her tiptoes to speed up his process.
Roman intended the kiss to be light. A brief smooch to let her know she didn’t need to be anxious around him. Within a second, that exchange blossomed into a scorching hot kiss he wished would never end.
“Looks like PLAYTIME did it again, Sofia,” Isabella said from the clinic’s exit.
Coco dropped to her heels and turned a delightful shade of pink. Roman answered smoothly for her. “We are very pleased with our match. Please thank Noah for us.”
“Will do. Have fun!” Sofia called as she herded Isabella to her car.
“Let’s go get some dinner. Would you like to drive separately or together?” Roman asked.
“Together, but it’s easier if I drive myself. Then I can zip home afterward,” Coco told him.
“Then, we’ll try it that way. I have a reservation for us at Harry’s. Is that okay?” Roman asked.
“I’ve never been there. Is it expensive?”
“It is my pleasure to pay for your meal, Coco,” he told her gently, before adding, “Inside, it’s a casual bar with dark wood paneling. People from all professions will be there after work. Your scrubs and my shirt will fit in perfectly.”
“That sounds amazing. Thank you.”
He knew she thanked him for both bits of information. “Of course. I’ll enjoy sharing it with you. Want to follow me?”
“Yes. I put your phone number from the matched announcement into my directory. Can I call you if we get separated?”
“Of course.” Roman would never lose her in route. She was too precious.
In a few minutes, they parked side by side toward the back section of the lot. “It’s busy,” she said, looking at all the groups hanging around outside as they waited for a table.
“Having a reservation here is vital.” Roman opened the door and steered Coco inside with a hand on her lower back. He enjoyed touching her and noted she didn’t shy away from him.
The hostess led them immediately to a large wooden booth toward the back. He’d requested a seat with some privacy. Roman owed his friend, Harry O’Malley, big now. This was perfect.
He gestured at the leather bench seat on one side and requested, “Sit with me.” To his delight, she scooted in, allowing him to claim the space next to her. “Thank you, Little girl.”
They took a few minutes to discuss the menu. Roman shared his favorite dishes. To his delight, she decided to take his advice and try one of his suggestions. When the flurry of ordering drinks and food finished, he angled himself slightly to face her.
“I’m enjoying your company, Coco. Would you tell me about yourself?”
“I just graduated from a veterinary technician program and got lucky to find a job with Dr. Rossi and Isabella. It’s the best vet clinic I’ve ever seen,” Coco said with a smile.
“You don’t have to tell me that. Dr. Rossi took amazing care of Buster. I miss him a lot. My house feels very lonely.”
“Do you think you’ll get another dog?”
“Someday, I’ll go to the shelter and find someone who needs a home,” Roman said. “Right now, I’m focused on you.” Even in the dimmed lighting, he could see her blush slightly.
“Do you think PLAYTIME ever makes a mistake? I mean, you’re an eleven and I’m a three.”
“You are very lucky we haven’t set up rules and consequences for you, Little girl,” Roman told her sternly. “If you ever speak so poorly of yourself, you’ll be stretched over my thighs for a severe spanking.”
She swallowed hard. “You’d spank me?”
“Definitely. Does that scare you?”
“You wouldn’t hurt me.”
He stared at her for a moment, marveling at the conviction in her tone. “I would chop off my own arm first. I would, however, redden your bottom to help you remember you are special and wonderful.”
Tears filled her eyes. “No one has ever thought I was special. I’m just me. Coco. The girl who mixes up words and flounders when she speaks with people.”
“Perhaps those are your secret powers, Coco. Not weaknesses,” Roman suggested. He leaned forward to kiss her lightly, keeping himself under strict control in the restaurant.
“You’re pretty good with words,” Coco whispered when he shifted back against the leather seat back.
“I’m pretty good with the truth,” he corrected her. “They must know we’re hungry. Our food is arriving.”
Roman kept the conversation light as they ate. Coco devoured her meal, praising the selection that Roman had recommended. His food tasted better than ever before. Good company enhanced everything.
He held her hand as they walked back to their vehicles. “When can I see you again?” he asked. When she hesitated answering, he added, “Do you work this weekend?”
“On Saturday for a half day. Then I’m free.”
“It’s supposed to be a beautiful day. Would you like to come over to swim?”
“Um….”
When she hesitated, he guessed she was worried about being seen in a skimpy bathing suit. He hated others had made her feel so self-conscious about herself. “You can wear shorts and a T-shirt if you’d like. I’ll grill some food for lunch. We can relax and get to know each other even better.”
This time, she nodded. “I’m not a great swimmer, but I love paddling around. That would be lovely. Thank you.”
“Give me your phone, Little girl.”
She opened her device and passed it over. Roman quickly searched to find his phone number and address that she’s already saved and changed the listing to Daddy with his full name in the surname spot. He already had her name and number saved from the PLAYTIME announcement.
“Bring an extra set of clothes to change into after the pool,” he told her. “Do you have laundry to do? You’re welcome to throw it into my machines while we relax together.”
“Really? You don’t mind? That would really help.”
“Of course not, Little girl.” He tugged her toward him by their clasped hands and looped his arms around her waist to lift her. “It’s an entirely selfish idea. If you do your laundry at my house, we can spend Sunday together as well. You could stay at my house.”
“You are devious,” she said, smiling at him. “Can I make that decision later?”
“Spending time with you inspires creative thinking. I’m inspired by the chance to gain more time with you. For tonight, will you text me when you get in your room? I’d like to know that you’re safe.”
“You don’t need to worry about me.”
“I won’t if you send me a message, Little girl.”
“Okay. Can I have a goodnight kiss?” she asked, peeking up at him.
Roman pressed his lips to hers. Enticed by her sweet taste, he deepened the kiss. Her answering moan of desire went straight to his cock. She felt so good in his arms. He squeezed her tight as he explored her mouth.
When he struggled to remember they were in a restaurant parking lot, Roman forced himself to lift his head.
From the bemused look on her face, he guessed she’d forgotten they weren’t alone as well.
“Damn, Little girl. You have woven a spell around your Daddy. I’m going to have to be careful or you’ll wrap me around your little finger. ”
She bit her bottom lip and thought about that for a second. “I’ve never felt like this before,” she confessed.
“Never have I, Coco. Let’s get you into your car before I ravish you. I want you to shower and crawl into bed when you get home. No dawdling or watching TV.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I can’t wait until that’s ‘yes, Daddy’.”
Roman saved her from answering by setting her back on her feet. He helped her into her car, leaning in to fasten her seatbelt and steal another kiss. This time, he kept it short before standing up once again.
“Remember, text Daddy when you’re home and safe.” He waited for her to nod before closing her door firmly. Watching her drive away was incredibly hard.
Soon, she’ll be mine.