Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 46837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46837 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 234(@200wpm)___ 187(@250wpm)___ 156(@300wpm)
“I’m good,” she rushed to assure him.
“Go get some fresh air, Riley,” Bear directed, as he moved behind the bar. He dried off a spot on the counter for Daisy to set her artwork in progress as his Little girl settled happily at the bar to keep him company.
“There’s good light in the bathroom,” Milo suggested as Riley emerged from behind the wooden barrier. He stood to steer her toward the unisex bathroom in the hallway.
“Really, I’m okay.”
“Great. I’ll be glad to give you an okay sticker when I see it.”
“You have stickers?” popped from her mouth before she could stop it. Riley slapped her hand over her mouth and groaned when her finger bumped her nose.
“I do. Now, I really need to see it.”
Relenting, Riley preceded him into the small room to stand at the sink. She watched him lock the door before pulling new bandaging in a sterile pack from his pocket. Milo washed his hands thoroughly.
“Let’s see what’s going on here,” he said as he unwound the bandage from her finger.
Riley looked away as her injury emerged. She didn’t want to see it.
“You didn’t unwrap this last night and give it some air.”
“No. It was happy in mummy form,” she tried to joke.
“I’m not happy now,” he responded sternly. “Your injury will heal better if you don’t keep it wrapped up.”
She watched him drop the dressing into the trashcan. He turned her hand and held her finger directly into the light from above the vanity. Still not looking at her finger, Riley studied his face. She loved watching him when he wasn’t aware of her attention.
Milo was ruggedly handsome. His jaw, too chiseled to be classically beautiful, contributed to the strength emanating from his powerful form. Riley traced the line of his nose with her gaze. Had it been broken once or twice?
That familiar pulse of heat deep within her flared to life again. It always responded to Milo’s presence, no matter how she tried to deny it. Impulsively, she leaned forward to press her lips to his. Freezing in place as she realized what she’d done, Riley tried to pull away, but his lips moved sensuously under hers, distracting Riley from her growing panic.
He swept her injured hand up to his shoulder as he pulled her closer. Pressed against Milo’s hard frame, the feel of his mouth moving on hers mesmerized Riley. His masculine scent and flavor filled her lungs. Reveling in their closeness, Riley squirmed a bit closer, drawing a groan from deep within Milo that made her feel powerful and desired as one kiss blended into the next.
Bang, bang, bang! Someone pounded on the door before calling, “Are you almost done in there? I’ve been waiting forever.”
“Tell Riley her break’s over, anyway.” Bear’s amused voice drifted through the door, bringing a groan from her throat.
Lifting his head, Milo answered, “I’m changing a bandage in here. It will take a while. Try the restroom by the entrance.”
Riley leaned forward to brace her forehead on his powerful jaw. She struggled to pull herself back to reality. She really didn’t want to go there. Standing in the circle of Milo’s arms felt so good.
“Let me rebandage your finger, baby, before they break down the door,” Milo urged her in a gentle voice that caressed over her mind like a physical stroke of his hands.
“They’re never going to let us forget this, are they?”
“Never,” he confirmed as he skillfully treated her injury.
Finished, he cupped her chin to lift her gaze to mesh with his. “We’re going to talk about this, Riley. No running.”
“Later. I need to get back to work,” she answered quickly. Riley would put off that conversation for as long as possible. There were some things she didn’t want to admit, even to herself.
“We will talk tomorrow. Do you work at Little Cakes?”
“Yes, until three.”
“I’ll be there at two forty-five. Don’t try to miss me on purpose, okay? I want you to be brave, baby.”
“O-Okay,” she stumbled over her answer, unsettled by his ability to read her mind.
With one last kiss that made her toes curl in delight, Milo unlocked the door and ushered her out. Upon seeing an amused audience in the hallway, Riley held up her brilliant white bandage as proof that they hadn’t been fooling around. No one’s expression looked like they were swayed by that at all.
Shrugging as if she didn’t care what people thought, Riley forced herself to walk calmly back to the bar. She could feel Milo following her. His presence had embedded itself on her radar.
Finally behind the wooden bar, she blew out a sigh of exasperation. What an idiot I am! I’ll never hear the end of this. Ducking her head, Riley concentrated on cleaning glasses as she consoled herself that something would distract everyone from her soon. This was Blaze. Something fiery always captured everyone’s attention.