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)
“Santa’s Kiss,” Ellie provided without hesitating. “How did you guess?”
Hunter squeezed CC’s hand. “That has to be super cute. I can’t wait to see it. You don’t happen to have any leftover pumpkin spice cupcakes, do you?” he asked with a smile.
“I do. Let me run into the back and grab a couple. They’ve wiped out the display counters out here,” Ellie said, darting away.
CC and Hunter chatted with everyone as they came forward to greet them. Their answers sounded pretty evasive to CC when she asked how everyone had decided to visit Little Cakes on the same evening. She shot a what’s-going-on look at Hunter and he just patted her back.
“Make way! Cupcakes coming through,” Ellie called as she walked forward with several cupcakes on a platter.
“Oh, Ellie. We can’t eat that many,” CC rushed to assure her. She froze as the tops of the frosted cakes came into view.
There were letters on the cupcakes. They spelled out Happy Engagement!
CC turned to look at Hunter and saw him step back to lower himself to one knee. “What?” She gasped as the roomful of excited friends fell quiet.
“CC, the very best day of my life happened when you walked into the emergency department. Do you know what I decided after treating your cat bite?”
“No,” she whispered. Her gaze was laser-focused on his handsome face.
“That you were the one I’d been searching for and I couldn’t let you get away. With every moment we spend together, I realize how right that first impression was and that I can’t live without you by my side for the next sixty or so years. I love you, Pumpkin, with all my heart.”
“I love you, too,” she whispered as tears rolled down her cheeks.
Hunter fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a small velvet box. “Camille Clover Callaway, will you marry me?”
She nodded and then realized she needed to say it aloud. “Yes! I’ll marry you, Daddy!”
As he stood with a huge grin on his face, she grasped what she had just revealed to everyone. “Oh!”
“It’s okay, Pumpkin. Most people already knew, and the ones who didn’t suspected and don’t care. They just want us to be happy,” he reassured her softly as he took her hand. “Will you try this ring on for me? I need to see it on your finger.”
“Please,” she whispered and held her breath as he slid it onto the third finger of her left hand. It fit perfectly. CC threw herself into his arms as everyone clapped and shouted their congratulations.
After a few kisses, CC stood in the curve of Hunter’s arm as people took turns celebrating and wishing them well personally. She hugged all the special people she’d met through her interaction with Ellie’s Little Cakes business and Darren’s former colleagues. The couple also met a few new faces.
“You’re a doctor, right?” a tattooed, fierce-looking man asked Hunter.
“I am.”
“If you’re interested, I’ve tattooed a few rings on doctors before so you don’t have to worry about the germs and losing your wedding ring,” the gruff man shared.
“You’re not Maniac, are you?” Hunter probed.
“I am,” the large man laughed in surprise.
“I’ve got an appointment with you for a consult tomorrow. You’re the man to see according to everyone at the hospital,” Hunter enthused. “I’m glad to meet you.”
“We Daddies need to stick together,” Maniac leaned in to murmur softly before wandering away.
“He’s a Daddy?” CC whispered, slightly in awe of the artist’s rough biker appearance.
“I think we can take him at his word, Pumpkin, but I bet he hasn’t shared that with everyone. We should probably keep it to ourselves.”
CC nodded in agreement, wondering what Maniac’s story was.
A quiet woman CC didn’t recognize stepped in front of the happy couple next. “Um…hi. We don’t know each other, but I wanted you to have this.”
She thrust an adorable, soft teddy bear in a bride’s veil toward CC. The stuffie had a sparkly ring on a white ribbon around its neck. “I own the Stuff-It store in the mall. When Tori told me in confidence that you were a Little, I wanted you to have this special bear I designed. Congratulations to you both. I hope I’ll find my Daddy someday.”
“Thank you…” CC let her voice trail away in hopes the woman would provide her name.
“Oh, I’m Rose Stewart and you’re CC. I drive through to pick up coffee all the time at your coffee shop. I’d come in, but I know I’d end up taking home a dozen cats.”
“Hi, Rose. It’s a temptation,” CC acknowledged, smiling at the soft-spoken woman. “I’m glad to meet you. Thank you for the special stuffie.”
“You’re very welcome. I hope you have many happy years together.”
Rose disappeared into the crowd before they could talk to her more.
“What a nice woman,” Hunter commented. “I’ll know where to buy stuffies from now on.”