Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Whoa! I want to hear whatever thought just formed in your mind,” Hunter said perceptively.
“These covers are just hot,” she lied to cover the blush she knew colored her cheeks.
“No lying, Little girl.”
“You’re not my Daddy,” she snapped back automatically.
“Yet.”
The definitive tone of his voice made her pause. Before she realized what she was doing, CC nodded and echoed his answer, “Yet.”
“Good girl. Let’s get you dressed. I’ll put Tangerine in your car and Sunshine can carry him in for you. Have one of the other employees who helps you close up put him back in your car. Your infusion appointment is at ten-thirty. Are you okay to drive back and forth?”
“Of course,” she answered, shocked by how well he’d thought out her day. “You sure are organized. Thanks for thinking of everything.”
“You can pay me back by letting me come back after my shift at the hospital tonight.”
“Are you going to stay here again?” she asked, torn between wanting him to say yes and afraid he’d say no.
“I’m going to stay with you until your IV therapy is over.”
There was no way to argue with the certainty that was contained in that sentence, so CC just told him the truth. “Thanks. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
“I don’t plan on you ever finding out. Tonight, we’ll keep talking about what we both need from our relationship. Think about it during the day, okay?”
“Okay,” she whispered back.
“Alright, Tangerine. It’s time to go to work,” Hunter declared, moving the now indignant cat off his chest. As the cat protested loudly, Hunter rolled off the bed and circled it to flip CC’s covers back. “Go potty.”
Within minutes, he had her dressed and ready to go. His talented fingers quickly braided her hair in two plaits on each side of her head. She loved the look, and somehow it didn’t matter that she didn’t wear makeup.
“Are you going to wear those clothes to work again?” she asked, twirling one braid around a finger as Tangerine chomped his food.
“I’m prepared. I have a couple of sets of clothes in my trunk. I never know if I’ll get stuck at work and need to change. I’ll grab a shower in the locker room and be in the emergency department in a jiffy.”
He turned her to face him. “I do not want to see you in the hospital again. Don’t lift anything over ten pounds max. That’s probably not one of your large bags of coffee. Your employees will be glad to help. Your infusion days will be over soon. Take it easy and let your body heal.”
“I will,” she promised.
“Good girl.” Turning his attention to Tangerine who’d finished his food and wound his way around their ankles, Hunter said, “Come on, sweet boy. It’s time to go stake your territory on the best cat bed in the sunlight.”
Hunter led her to her car, helped her settle inside, and placed Tangerine’s carrier in the passenger seat before he leaned in to kiss her gently and shut her door. She watched as he climbed into his own car and started the engine. She missed him already when he turned to head for the hospital. “How can he mean so much to me already, Tangerine?”
CC expected Tangerine’s normal loud yowl in response. Instead, his deep purrs filled the car, making her laugh. “You get it, don’t you, Tangy? He’s just that special.”
Chapter Nine
The days passed quickly. When they removed the line from her arm, declaring that the infection was defeated, CC drove to the hospital eager to share the good news with Hunter. As she walked into the emergency department, she second guessed herself.
“Can I help you?” the attendant at the check-in desk asked before she could leave.
“I’m so sorry to bother you. Is there any way you could let Dr. Warren know that CC is here?”
“Let me look,” the woman typed something into the computer and laughed. “I think I can do that. You’re on his list. The only one on his list.”
She sent a quick message and smiled at CC. “I’m glad to meet you. I’m Whitney.”
“Hi, Whitney. It’s good to be on the list?” she asked, trying to understand.
“There are a lot of people who claim to be close personal friends of the doctors and nurses they’ve met here. For security reasons, the employees have lists of people they wish to see. Anyone else can leave a message if they’d like. I almost didn’t check. Dr. Warren hasn’t had anyone on his list since he got here four years ago.”
“Telling all my secrets, Whitney?” Hunter’s friendly voice made the employee whirl around to smile.
“Yep! That’s me. Official secret revealer,” Whitney replied cheerfully.
Hunter wrapped an arm around CC’s back and steered her into the restricted area. “There’s a small conference room over in the corner. We can talk there. Is everything okay?”