Page 20 of Zale's Little Girl
“Sure. I need a job. I can’t just live off you.”
“I am glad to take care of you,” Zale told her as he logged into the base employment system. “Come here. Check out these postings.”
He scooped her up and sat her on his lap so he could hold his phone for them both to see. Pippa had already scanned and dismissed a few skilled job openings before she looked up to see the men grinning at her. Instantly, she tried to slide off Zale’s lap. Her heart thudded inside her chest as she realized how much she had given away by her position.
“Stay here, little girl. They already know,” Zale told her.
“You told them?”
“Zale didn’t tell us anything, Pippa. He would never do that to you and whatever we suspect, we’ll stay quiet until you tell us personally. Your secrets are yours,” Hank said quietly.
Pippa met Hank’s gaze and felt her panic recede as concern for the stoic man took over. The anguish on his face was palpable.She didn’t know any of them well. But in the interactions she’d had with the entire team, she could sense how close they were and how different they were from other groups of men she’d encountered.
What had happened to the quietest member of the team? She immediately stopped worrying about being embarrassed and wished she could help him.
“Thank you. I guess it’s pretty obvious,” Pippa whispered.
“Only to us,” Koa said. “We’re used to seeing things others might miss.”
“They’re all daddies, Pippa,” Aspen told her. “You don’t have to worry. Each of them would fall on a grenade to save you now that they know you’re Zale’s.”
Surely, she was exaggerating. Pippa looked at the faces around the table. As her gaze met each man’s, he nodded. Her embarrassment faded. She leaned back against Zale’s chest. “But you just met me.”
Jerico smiled and wrapped his arms around Aspen’s shoulders. “It happens that way sometimes.”
“You won’t think differently about me?” she asked.
“You’re asking a group of daddy doms if we’re going to judge a little girl negatively?” Koa asked, as he raised an eyebrow in disbelief.
“Dumb question, huh?” Pippa asked, feeling silly.
“You needed to ask, so you didn’t worry. We understand. Ask any questions you need to be comfortable with us,” Hank told her.
Max reached his hand up to cup over Hank’s shoulder. He squeezed it reassuringly. The team knew whatever had happened and supported him. Somehow that made the team seem more human and not like highly trained superstars.
“Thanks for helping me,” Pippa told them. “Did you find anything that doesn’t require a lot of training or experience?”
“Food service, maintenance, childcare center. Those are all areas with the greatest need for employees,” Zale reported.
“My mom ran a daycare. I worked there through high school and took some classes before I graduated,” Pippa informed them.
“That sounds like a good match,” Aspen said.
“Let’s go talk to them and get the ball rolling,” Zale suggested.
“I can’t go apply like this!” Pippa protested, holding out her borrowed T-shirt.
“Shopping first. Then an application.” Zale amended his plans.
“I will pay you back with my first paycheck.”
“Give that idea up. He’s never going to let that happen,” Aspen said, rolling her eyes.
“Definitely not,” Jerico confirmed.
By the end of the afternoon, Pippa wore a cute skirt and blouse ensemble to submit her name for the open position. It turned out the daycare was short of several staff members. They’d even taken her over there for an interview with the manager. She must have answered the questions correctly. The supervisorshared that if her background check came back clear, she would have a job the following week.
Pippa returned to the car to wait for Zale. She texted him on the new phone he’d insisted she get to let her know she was finished. In just a few minutes, he jogged up.
