Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Come on. Come on. Come on!” she urged as the machine ran through its opening sequence of operations. Finally, she could open the browser and look.
“Damn,” she swore and automatically clapped her hand over her mouth as the curse word escaped. Using bad language earned her a spanking at her Daddy’s house. She shook that thought out of her mind before carefully typing in Evan’s business site.
Frantically, she searched through the photographs until she found the one Sue had shown her. There was no doubt it was her. No one had wild curls combined with that dress she’d loved so much. “I’m never wearing that again.”
“Tori?” Evan’s voice drifted through the locked door.
“Go away. You lied to me. I bet you think it’s funny, don’t you? Fool the stupid virgin,” she yelled through the door.
“Curls, what are you talking about? I haven’t lied to you.”
Ignoring the concern underlining his words, Tori answered, “Go away, Evan. You’ve had your fun. Thanks for showing me that I can’t trust you before I stupidly told you I love you.”
“You love me?” His voice dropped in volume to a low growl. “Open this door, Tori.”
“No. You need to go away.”
“Not until I figure out what’s going on. Why do you think I lied to you?”
“Go look at your website,” she spit out toward the wooden barrier. If he thought she was a fool, Evan better reevaluate that assessment. She might be inexperienced, but she knew when she’d been played.
“I’m looking at my website. What did you see… Tori, this is a mistake.”
“Yeah, that you got caught lying,” she accused.
“I don’t load photos on my website, baby girl. My assistant does that for me. She has a good eye and chooses a variety of shots to showcase. It’s my fault I didn’t tell her not to use any photos of you. I’ll call her now and have her remove it.”
Tori didn’t answer. Could it have really been just a mistake? She heard him speak.
“Valerie, I’m going to put you on speaker phone so Tori can hear you as well.”
“Tori? Your Little?” the quirky voice answered, instantly making Tori change her mental image of a hot, young assistant. She moved closer to the door so she could hear clearly.
“Yes. I promised her that any pictures of her would be private,” Evan explained.
“And I put that enchanting picture of her twirling in the wild flowers on your site. I’m so sorry, boss. I didn’t know. I’ll take it down right now. Tori, if you’re listening, I’m sorry. I’ll take care of it.”
“It wasn’t your fault, Valerie. I forgot to tell you,” Evan shouldered the responsibility.
“I don’t know if it helps but I’ve had a ton of response to that shot. You don’t ever create portraits. Everyone wants to know if this is for a new book. They love that photo,” Valerie said as computer keystrokes sounded in the background.
“There. All done. The photo is down,” Evan’s assistant announced.
“Thank you, Valerie.”
Silence stretched across the wood panel between them after Evan disconnected from the call. Finally, he spoke. “Can you open the door, Tori, so we can talk?”
“I don’t want to talk today,” she answered after a short pause. Tori didn’t feel like she should just give in.
“I don’t want you to be alone, Little girl. I’d like to apologize to you directly.”
“You’ve apologized. Now, I need to decide whether to accept it,” she answered stubbornly. It didn’t seem right for her to forgive him immediately.
“You are being naughty, Little girl,” he warned.
“I’m in my house—well, Terry’s house. I get to be naughty here.”
“I don’t like this, but I’ll leave if you’ll promise to talk to me tomorrow,” he suggested.
“I work all day tomorrow.”
“I’ll come pick you up at four when you get off.”
“My shift ends at five,” she corrected him.
“I know. I’ll be there at four to make sure you don’t scoot out the back way to escape. Do you promise you’ll talk to me tomorrow?”
Again, a hush followed as she thought. Tori wished she had her stuffie to hold as she decided what to do. The pink dragon napped in her crib—if it was her crib anymore. “Can I get Coral back?” she blurted.
“I will bring her to Little Cakes tomorrow.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to you.”
“Thank you, Tori.”
Quiet filled the hallway outside her door. Tori wondered if he was still there until she heard the rumble of masculine voices and knew her brother and Evan talked at the front entrance. Unlocking her door, she crept down the hall to eavesdrop.
“Thanks, Terry, for letting me in. I’m hoping Tori will understand that this was an honest mistake that has been corrected.”
“Good luck,” Terry said.
Even from a distance Tori heard the doubt in his tone. Her brother knew her too well. Tori knew she made decisions too quickly sometimes and stubbornly refused to change her mind. She shook her head, physically trying to dislodge the doubt darkening her thoughts.