Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
“Hi, folks. It looks like we missed all the fun,” the patrolman suggested. “Want to tell me what happened?”
Twenty minutes later, a groggy Leo sat in the back of the patrol car, muttering about Littles who are too much trouble and his plans to move. Wyatt had appeared after the first responders. He entered the shop as Garrett swept up the glass.
“I think that’s the last you’ll see of Leo,” Wyatt announced.
“Really?” Daisy asked, studying his face.
“I didn’t want to suggest it, but most harassers back way off when the victim fights back. Leo’s looking for a Little to control. You two just showed him how kickass Littles can be,” Wyatt said with dancing eyes.
He laughed as Ellie and Daisy high fived each other. Sobering, he added, “That doesn’t mean I don’t want you in my self-defense class. This could have gone very, very wrong. You were extremely lucky.”
Daisy and Ellie nodded and returned to their Daddies’ arms.
Erica suddenly appeared in the doorway. “What happened? All the workers in every store are standing out on the curb.”
“I think I’m going to need you to order more ribbon,” Daisy said with a laugh before telling her assistant what had happened.
The police cars pulled away from the shop, carrying Leo down to the station.
“Crap! The cupcakes!” Bear shouted before dashing to the door. He turned back to meet Daisy’s eyes. “Are you okay here by yourself?”
“Erica’s here. And I’m good. Go save the cupcakes,” Daisy said, shooing him out the door. She realized she did feel good.
Garrett steered Ellie outside at a more sedate rate as customers trickled into the florist shop. Employees from different shops dropped in to send flowers to friends and relatives. Daisy knew they really were there to find out what had happened and support her business. She thanked everyone for being concerned about her.
By the end of the day when she turned the sign to CLOSED, Daisy was exhausted. She walked out of the shop on the way to her car, but it wasn’t alone. Her Daddy was parked right next to it.
As she approached, he got out to come wrap his arms around her. “Ready to go home?”
“I could go back to my condo.”
“Not a chance. You’re coming home with me. Take pity on a poor Daddy. Don’t make me worry about you.”
“If you need me, I’d like to be with you, too.”
“I’m always going to need you. Let’s go home and make some plans.” When she nodded, he added, “And snuggle. Daddy’s heart needs snuggles.”
“Me, too,” she chimed in, smiling at him.
“Do you remember the way?” he teased.
“I’ll follow you,” she replied, knowing it would challenge her brain to concentrate.
“Sounds good.” Bear helped her into her car before warning, “Drive carefully.”
“Yes, Daddy.”
Chapter Eighteen
“Eat your green beans,” her Daddy instructed, pointing at the last thing on her plate.
“I don’t really like veggies,” she protested.
“Veggies keep you in vase-smashing shape. Besides, you liked the veggie salad I made you the other day, remember? Let’s make them more fun.”
Bear stood and pulled a bottle of ranch dressing from the refrigerator. He poured a dollop of the thick white mixture onto her plate.
“Wait! You need one more thing.” He opened a drawer to pull out a pair of chopsticks attached at the top.
“I don’t know how to use those,” she protested.
“Don’t tell anyone, but neither do I. These are cheater chopsticks.”
He showed her how to use them and said, “Try it out. Pick up a green bean and dip it into the dressing. See if you like it better.”
Carefully, Daisy trapped one of the slim veggies and tapped the tip into the white mixture. Lifting it to her lips, she took the smallest bite possible.
“Yum! That’s good. Maybe I like green beans,” she enthused, dipping it back into the ranch dressing.
“Maybe you should listen to your Daddy more often,” he pointed out, one brow lifted even though he was also grinning.
“I like the chopsticks, too, Daddy. I think I’ll use them more often.”
He chuckled. “You’d be skin and bones by the end of the week if you tried that, considering how slow you’re able to eat with them.”
She giggled and stuffed another green bean into her mouth.
He sat back and watched as she finished her dinner.
She loved his cooking and the fact that he nearly always made dinner for her, but she really liked the evenings when they got home too late and he didn’t have enough time to feed her, because on those nights, he let her be even younger.
When they were home, Daisy was always Little, but her age range wavered greatly. Some nights she was older. Some nights she was younger.
This extended to everything. Sometimes he told her to go take a shower. Sometimes he washed her himself in the tub. He even had bubbles and bath toys.