Page 41 of Zale's Little Girl
Pippa pulled into the base and showed her documentation. The guard on duty sent her directly to the personnel office to get her badge. She was very careful to follow his directions. Those guards looked stern. Were they daddies?
She laughed at herself as she parked the car. Leave it to her to suspect a lot of men were daddies now after she’d found Zale. There couldn’t be too many around.
An hour later, she’d signed a bunch of forms and watched a couple of mandated training tapes. When they declared she had finished everything they required for a new hire, Pippa took her new badge, sporting a fairly pleasant picture of her and drove to the daycare. As she walked in the door, employees and a few parents checking on their kids greeted her. She could tell this would be a good place.
CHAPTER 14
She’d forgotten how tired running after three-year-olds made you. Maybe as a teenager working for her mother, Pippa had enjoyed unlimited energy. Today, she felt every day of the twenty-four years she’d been on Earth.
That exhaustion balanced with the ache in her cheeks from smiling so much. She loved that the parents stopped by to have lunch with or check on their children during the day. Everyone had welcomed her and helped Pippa get acclimated to the schedule.
While she didn’t feel like an experienced employee yet, Pippa knew she would pick up all the nuances of the job as she learned more about the kids and the staff. The woman in charge of the toddler room was so kind. Pippa hoped she’d get to stay there permanently.
Climbing into her car, she tried to anticipate what would happen tomorrow in the baby room. She liked babies. Would she rather have charges who thrived on bottles, fresh diapers, and being held? Pippa decided not to make her final decision until she’d tried all the positions.
She drove out of the base as she considered the pluses and negatives of all the rooms. So deep in thought, Pippa didn’t realize she’d made a wrong turn until she noticed how different everything appeared. Realizing she should have turned on her navigation program, Pippa pulled into a parking lot to reorient herself.
A flash of white caught her eye, and she glanced up to see a large white SUV pass.There has to be a thousand white SUVs.Connecting her phone to the Jeep’s navigation, she retraced her steps and figured out where she’d made a mistake.Okay. Look for the red barn next time and turn right.
Pippa was determined to adjust to her new life, and that included being able to drive around without getting lost. With everything seeming much more familiar, she relaxed. Making herself notice all the white SUVs, Pippa reminded herself that they had to be the most plentiful vehicle on the road. She had nothing to worry about.
Pulling into Zale’s driveway, Pippa triggered the garage door opener and parked the Jeep inside. Smiling at the duck bottoms facing her, Pippa decided she could understand why Jeep owners loved their vehicles. As far as she knew, no one else did anything as fun as the ducks.
After lowering the garage door, she grabbed her sling bag and her lunchbox. Sliding off the seat, Pippa headed inside. She dropped the water bottle she’d used as an ice source to keep her lunch cold back in the freezer. Pippa shoved the bottom freezer drawer back into place and whirled around to go get changed.
A large body lounged against the kitchen island. Even as her mind recognized Zale, her surprise screeched from her mouth. “Ahhhh!”
“Hi, kitten.”
His deep voice broke her paralysis. Pippa bolted forward to throw herself into his arms. “Daddy!”
Zale squeezed her tightly against him, lifting her feet from the floor. “I missed you, little girl.”
“I missed you so much, Daddy.”
“Let’s go sit down and you can tell me about your day. You started at the daycare today?” he asked.
“How did you know? I didn’t leave a note or anything.”
“I ran into Aspen at the base. After she got a few kisses from her daddy, she told me the two of you had celebrated last night.”
“I could use some kisses,” she said, batting her eyes at him.
“Me, too.” Zale cupped her face and kissed her softly before deepening the exchange. Heat flared between them. When he lifted his head, they were both breathing quicker.
“Maybe I tell you about my day later?” Pippa asked.
“Good plan.” He leaned forward and threw her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry.
“Daddy, I can walk!”
Whack!His hand swatted her bottom firmly, drawing a gasp from her lips. “I think this bottom needs some attention on the way.”
“I’ve been good,” Pippa promised as they entered the hallway.
“Right. How many vegetables did you eat?”
Silence filled the air. There hadn’t been any on the pizza last night. She was getting a deluxe one next time. That type would have peppers and onions disguised under the cheese. Lying to her daddy wouldn’t be a good idea.
