Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“I’m sorry your Daddy isn’t here yet,” Ellie said softly.
“Is Riley tending bar tonight?”
“I think so,” Ellie replied absentmindedly. A man at the door to the daycare caught her attention. She turned around in her chair to greet Garrett with a big smile. “Look, Daddy. I made this for you!”
While he oohed and aahed over her drawing, Lark headed for the bar. Wandering in, she smiled at the Blaze members who complimented her cute outfit.
“Thanks!”
Sliding onto a stool at the bar, she met Riley’s eyes. “Vodka tonic with lime.”
“That’s a stiff drink for a cupcake,” the tattooed bartender commented as she picked up a glass.
Lark just shrugged.
“I love your clothes. You look just like a blue raspberry cupcake.”
“I wanted to make my Daddy smile. He’s busy at work,” Lark explained sadly.
“That sucks.” Riley scooted the drink across the bar.
“Hi, Ladies!” Milo Dante joined them and put in his drink order.
“Are you doing a demonstration tonight, Milo?” Riley asked.
Her tone was casual, but Lark caught a hint of something else in Riley’s voice. Lark studied her friend’s face, searching for clues about what was going on.
“My favorite girl is on bar duty tonight,” he said lightly. Milo met Riley’s gaze and paused, as if waiting for her to answer.
“No one is having fun tonight,” Lark commented to break the silence before lifting her glass to take a large swallow. Sputtering as the strong drink hit the back of her throat, she set the glass back on the bar top.
“Slow down there, cupcake,” Milo advised with a grin.
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Lark muttered and drained her drink before tapping it on the bar top to signal she needed another one. “Maybe I need to get a bit frosted.”
Riley laughed and refilled her glass. “Maybe Little Cakes needs to make some spiked cupcakes. I bet those would be popular.”
“I’d try it,” Milo confirmed.
“Me, too,” Riley agreed.
“Count me in,” Lark added, taking another drink.
“Don’t look now. Your Daddy just walked in,” Riley warned. She moved down the bar to draw Milo’s attention away from the stern-faced man who approached.
“Kitten, how many of those have you had?” Wyatt asked, sliding into the empty seat next to her.
“Not enough?” Lark chirped merrily as she lifted the glass to drain the last of the clear liquid.
“What is this you’re wearing?” Wyatt asked, straightening her skirt to cover her thighs.
“It was my cupcake surprise.”
“It looks like a blue raspberry cupcake.”
“Yeah, but the fun got all sucked out of it,” Lark said sadly before pulling her cute frosting cap off her head.
“I’m sorry I missed seeing your outfit earlier, Little girl. Are you ready to go home? I think you’re going to be happy to see your crib.”
“You’re going to lock me behind bars so you don’t have to spend any time with me tonight, aren’t you?” she demanded.
“That tells me you’ve definitely had enough to drink and it’s time to go home.” Wyatt stood to wave at Riley. “Let me settle her bill. How much do I owe you?”
When Riley mentioned the total from her drinks, Wyatt shook his head and counted out that amount as well as a healthy tip for the bartender.
“I’ll double your tip next time if you water down her drinks,” he promised softly.
“I already did that,” Riley assured him.
“I should have figured you were a good friend. I’ll take her home.”
Wyatt scooped his Little girl into his arms and headed for the door.
“Whoa! Daddy, the whole world is spinning around. Can you walk quieter?” she asked.
“I’ll try kitten.”
“Ow!” Lark put her hand on her forehead and grimaced.
“I had a feeling you weren’t going to feel very well this afternoon.”
“I have a killer headache,” she confessed, keeping her eyes firmly squeezed shut because the light coming through her eyelids was already too bright. A vision of herself throwing up in the bushes at the end of the parking lot bounced into her mind. “Did I…”
“Yep.”
“I didn’t even ask my question,” she protested argumentatively.
“Did you drink too much? Get sick? Yell at your Daddy? Get sick again? The answer to all those things is yes.”
“I didn’t drink that much.”
“I’d rethink that assessment, or I’ll give you the punishment you’ve earned now instead of waiting until you feel better.”
Lark squinted her eyes to see if he was joking. Slamming her lids back closed, she knew he wasn’t from that one glance. “I don’t drink very often.”
“According to Ellie, you never drink.”
She didn’t know what to say to that. His first statement registered on her foggy brain. Lark peeked out again and asked, “Did you say afternoon?”
“It is after two now,” Wyatt confirmed.
“I had showings this morning,” she panicked, throwing the covers back and whirling out of bed. Bad decision. Lark swallowed hard as she clung to the top of the mattress as she waited for the world to stop spinning.