Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“Yikes!” Ellie yipped after she flounced into a chair at the last table. She jumped to her feet and whirled to glare at Garrett when he chuckled. “It’s not funny!”
“Are you going to remember to lock the door when you’re alone?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Good girl.” Before she could protest anymore, Garrett looked at his watch. “I need to check in with my office. What are you going to do this afternoon?”
“I have a new cupcake to test.”
“What flavor this time?” he asked.
“It’s a surprise.”
“Hmm! I guess you’re allowed to have creative secrets.” Garrett winked at her, sending a delighted shiver through Ellie. She loved that he had a funny side as well as a stern Daddy personality.
“May I pick you up this evening to return to Blaze?” Garrett asked, stalking forward to wrap his arms around her.
“I’d like that.” Ellie smiled at him before suggesting, “Nine o’clock?”
“Perfect, Rainbow.” He leaned forward to kiss her deeply. Garrett stepped back with a reluctant shake of his head. Taking her hand, he led her to the door. “Lock up after me. Until I have some closure on what those men were doing, I want you to be very careful.”
“Yes, Sir!” Ellie saluted saucily with her free hand and then bolted forward when his hand lightly swatted her bottom, reminding her to behave. “Oops!”
“Oops, indeed. I’ll see you at nine.”
She stood at the plate glass window and watched him cross the parking lot to a large SUV. It suited him. Garrett was subtle elegance to the core. He didn’t need an expensive sports car to make him look good. Those battered jeans hugged him in all the right places. Ellie waved when he turned and caught her watching.
“Time to get to work,” she ordered herself. After double-checking the lock, she grabbed her phone and cranked up the volume. It was baking time!
Her latest batch was cooling when her phone started dancing across the table. Ellie grabbed it before the device tumbled to the ground. Trying not to smear the florescent blue icing she was perfecting over the keys, Ellie answered, “Hello? Oh, wait a minute. Let me turn down the music, I can’t hear you.”
“Little girl, I’m at your house. Did you lose track of time?” Garrett’s dry voice sounded in her ear.
“Crap! It can’t be nine!” Ellie pulled the phone from her ear to check the time. 8:57 pm.
“I can be there in five minutes. Maybe fifteen.” She shook her head, looking at the kitchen. There was no way she’d make it out of there in less than an hour.
“Are you tired, Little girl?” his voice asked softly, making her aware of the ache at the small of her back and legs.
“Exhausted,” she confessed, leaning against the table as the adrenaline that had kept her going evaporated.
“Clean up what you need to, I’m on my way to get you. I’ll order a pizza and pick it up first. You need more to eat than cupcakes and frosting.”
“Thanks, Garrett. I’ll watch for you,” she promised.
After scooping frosting into plastic storage containers for tomorrow, Ellie ran all the dirty dishes through the industrial washer and left them on the racks to air dry. She’d just swept and mopped when a faint beep sounded from the front of the store. Hanging her apron on the corner of a rack, Ellie headed into the front room with her phone and keys.
“Let me,” Garrett suggested, taking the keys from her fingers and locking the door securely behind her. “Come on, Rainbow. Inside.” He helped her climb into the tall SUV and leaned in to kiss her lightly before pulling the belt over her lap.
“Sorry,” she whispered.
“You don’t need to be sorry. I know you’re trying to get ready for the grand opening. I won’t, however, let you run yourself into the ground. You’ll need your energy to run Little Cakes every day.” When she nodded, he closed the door and rounded the hood to slide in next to her.
“The pizza smells amazing. I hope you ordered a large.”
“The biggest they have plus extra cheese,” he assured her.
“I have some people coming to apply for a job tomorrow,” she shared as he started the vehicle.
“Good. You’ll need reliable staff. Let me know if you need me to run any background checks for you.”
“Thanks.” Ellie leaned back against the seat and closed her eyes. She’d just rest while they were driving. Within moments, she’d crashed into sleep.
A loud snore made Garrett laugh quietly. Ellie embraced everything with the same vigor she did her cooking. Instead of taking Ellie home, he headed to his house. Ellie could spend the night with him.
A few minutes from his driveway, she quieted and sniffed. Rubbing her eyes, Ellie murmured, “Where are we?” She looked around, trying to orient herself.
“We’re almost to my house. I thought you could eat and then I’ll tuck you into my nursery.”