Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44908 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Her mother gasped. “How dare you threaten me. Put my daughter on the phone.”
“You won’t be speaking to her again. If you try, I will change this number. Goodbye.” Callen ended the call and turned toward Jordi.
She ran into his arms. “I love you, Daddy.”
He held her tight before tipping her head back and meeting her gaze. “No more, Sunshine. No more stress will come from that woman. I meant what I said. If she tries to contact you, we’ll change your number.”
“Okay, Daddy.”
He smiled. “Now, how about those cupcakes?”
“Hi!” Ellie exclaimed as Jordi skipped into Little Cakes.
Jordi really needed a hug from her friends, so she raced across the room and pulled Ellie and Sue and Tori in for a hug. All four girls were giggling and squeezing each other in seconds. They rocked so hard they nearly toppled to the floor.
When Jordi pulled back, she glanced around for the first time, grateful to see there weren’t any other customers in the shop. That could have been awkward.
“I’m going to lock the door,” Tarson declared as he emerged from the kitchen.
Jordi’s eyes went wide. “I’m sorry. I bet you were about to close.”
Ellie grinned. “This is even better. We can close up and talk without any more customers coming in.”
“You sure?” Callen asked. “We were hoping to get here in time to grab a treat, but we can come back tomorrow.”
“Goodness, no,” Ellie declared. “It’s cupcake time!”
A male voice that didn’t belong to Tarson boomed from the entrance, making Jordi spin around to see Ellie’s Daddy, Garrett, coming in just before Tarson locked the door. “What’s this about cupcakes?” Garrett asked.
Jordi could see his eyes were sparkling even though he was trying to look stern.
“Daddy!” Ellie raced over to hug him. “Look! Jordi and Callen showed up just now. Can we all have cupcakes and milk before we have to go home?”
“I think that’s a great idea, Rainbow.”
“Do you still have the Caramel Drizzle ones?” Jordi asked hopefully.
Sue leaned over the display and nodded. “Yep. There’s two more left.”
“Excellent,” Callen said. “We’ll both have one.” He set his hands on Jordi’s shoulders.
When she tipped her head way back to look at him, he was grinning. “It’s our signature cupcake, isn’t it?”
“Yes, Daddy. It is.”
“Certainly is easier to work with than the next special Ellie has come up with,” Tarson grumbled.
Ellie giggled as she waved a hand through the air dismissively. “Don’t listen to Tarson. He’s just frustrated because he can’t get the cherry to stay on top. It keeps sliding off the frosting.”
Tarson growled, or he tried to anyway. Underneath his attempted scowl, his eyes were dancing with laughter. “Who wants to eat cherries anyway?”
“Daddy!” Daisy shouted as she emerged from the back room.
Jordi hadn’t realized Daisy was even there.
Daisy skipped around her Daddy as he changed his expression to smile at her indulgently. “You just need to use a thicker frosting,” she declared. “And maybe push the cherry into the top deeper.” She planted her hands on his chest and rose onto her toes. “And stop complaining about maraschino cherries. Everyone knows they are the yummiest treat ever, right, girls?” She twisted around to glance at all the rest of the women in the room.
Jordi nodded with Ellie, Sue, and Tori. “I love them.”
“All Littles love cherries, especially the pretty red ones that come from a jar and don’t resemble a fruit at all,” Sue declared.
Tori playfully slapped a hand over Sue’s mouth. “Shh. Don’t you dare say that in front of my Daddy. I keep trying to convince him maraschino cherries are a good fruit choice.” She pealed with giggles.
A knock sounded at the door behind them, and Jordi turned around to see Tori’s Daddy, Evan, and Sue’s Daddy, Davis, standing outside.
Tarson hurried over to unlock the door and let them in.
“It’s a cupcake party!” Ellie declared as she opened the display case. “Cupcakes for everyone.” She started putting them on plates. She handed Daisy a Lemon Chiffon, Sue a Black Forest, Tori a Pink Lemonade, Jordi a Caramel Drizzle, and finally plucked out a Rainbow Sprinkles cupcake for herself.
The Daddies helped the Littles sit together around a table and brought them all cartons of milk.