Page 45 of Finding Little Fiera

He should be thinking about the logistics of the upcoming race. He needed to review the timing and ensure all safety protocols were in place. Instead, his gaze was fixed on tracking his little firefly. Fiera stood with Sadie, Wren, and Daisy near the water cooler, her medal still hanging around her neck.

She had been adorable at lunch. He’d told her not to be a showoff with her medal. Obviously, he should have been more specific. She didn’t wave it around or hold it out for people to congratulate her, but somehow she’d managed to walk around with her chest stuck out as far as she could, pretending to be surprised when people noticed.

Now she was animated, hands flying as she talked, sunlight catching in her hair like it had been spun there on purpose. He must have made his point about her sunglasses because theywere perched on her button nose. It took restraint not to tip them back up on her head so he could see those incredible eyes.

His chest tightened. He liked watching her. A lot.

There was something about her that didn’t settle quiet inside him. No, she filled him with sparks that could cause a flame if he wasn’t careful. Was he ready to be swept away after two days?

He’d spent years being the steady one, the grounded one. The man who didn’t bend, didn’t sway, didn’t soften. That steadiness had driven more than one Little crazy. They told him he was too strict, too structured. Too Daddy.

But Fiera?

She leaned into it. It was like she’d been waiting for someone solid enough to hold her storms at bay. Or at least help her navigate through them. With all that spirit, all that bright, defiant fire held inside? Lord help him, she needed a keeper.

And he wanted the job.

He dragged a hand down his jaw. She’d laughed during that last race. Not the tight, forced laugh she’d used on the bouncy bull. That one had been filled with competitiveness.

This one was freer. Like she was starting to trust that she didn’t have to win to matter. He liked that more than he should. He would have to figure all that out later. It was time for the last section of games to begin. “All right!” he called, clapping once. “Littles, bring your stick horses.”

Groans and delighted squeals rose together. He grabbed the upturned wooden bucket and set it in the center, stepping up so he could see over the crowd. That’s when he noticed it.

Fiera’s sunglasses, the ones she’d been wearing exactly like she should minutes before while she was standing in the shadows, were now perched on top of her head.

If his scowl brought his brows any lower, they were going to get tangled in his eyelashes. That made three times today. Whyon earth would she wear them properly in the shade, but break the rule when she stepped into the sunshine?

Did she think he wouldn’t address it since he had to start the next race? Was she testing him? If either of those were true, she was in for a big surprise.

He hopped down and strode across the grass toward her. The second she spotted him coming, she straightened and held out both hands as if she could magically stop him. Yeah, good luck with that.

“Daddy, don’t,” she muttered under her breath.

He stopped in front of her, arms crossed and stared at her sunglasses.

Ball’s in your court, firefly. How are we going to play this?

Her chin lifted, and those luminous blue eyes met his, daring and soft all at once.

Without a word, he reached up and slid the sunglasses down from her hair to the bridge of her nose. “That’s three.”

Her lips parted. “Three?”

“Three reminders to wear your sunglasses in the sun.” His voice dropped. “Three’s the one that’s gonna cost you.” The flush that crept up her neck was mesmerizing.

Behind her, Wren stage-whispered, “Ooooh.”

Sadie elbowed her, and Daisy giggled. His naughty girl didn’t seem to see anything funny about it. Good, that meant she was learning.

Fiera swallowed but didn’t look away. “Yes, Daddy. Sorry.”

The words hit him square in the gut. He stepped back before he did something reckless like kiss her in front of God and everybody. So, he returned to the bucket and his duties. The idea that she would be thinking about what was going to happen when they made it back to the cabin shouldn’t make him chuckle, but it did. That and the knowledge his little firefly didn’t have any clue what he had planned for her.

“Okay,” he called out, voice carrying. “Here’s how this works. You are going to make four lines. You’ll be timed individually. Ride your stick horse from the starting line to that cone”—he pointed toward the one in the middle of the clearing—“circle it clean, then head to circle the cone on the left, then circle the one on the right, then head to the post on the far side we used this morning. Round the post, then head back to the starting line. The riders with the fastest five times get prizes.”

A chorus of exaggerated whinnies erupted. One of the Littles stomped like a charging stallion. He loved the freedom of expression that came with Little space.

Wren tossed her hair and yelled, “Hyah!” and Sadie stretched out her muscles. Daisy neighed so loudly that a couple of Daddies laughed from the sidelines.