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)
Riley nodded. “Lots,” she whispered.
“Are they all this good?” he probed in astonishment.
“They aren’t like that but they’re all better than anyone’s work I’ve ever seen. Better than mine and Maniac’s,” Tatiana chimed in, reminding Milo that she still stood close, helping hold the design in place.
“Hey!” Maniac protested before shrugging and admitting, “She’s right.”
“You should do this professionally,” Milo urged.
“It takes a while to make a name for yourself but I’m working on it.”
Milo thrust a hand through his hair before stepping away from the design Tatiana still held in her hands. He wrapped his arms around his Little girl and hugged Riley tight.
After several long seconds, he whispered in her ear, “I can’t believe you hid this from me. You were very naughty.”
“It’s always been a private thing with me—my art, I mean. The first few times you wanted to come to my apartment, I wasn’t ready to share this side of me. I don’t share my art with anyone. Not in person at least. I provide Tatiana with my designs and sometimes she sells them.”
Milo grinned at her. He felt an incredible sense of pride just knowing her, let alone the fact that she was more than an acquaintance. She was his Little girl. His woman. He wanted to shout that fact from the rooftops.
Riley swallowed and lowered her voice so only he could hear. It wasn’t really necessary. Tatiana and Maniac had given the two of them some space. “I didn’t lie to you, Daddy. I just wanted to see how you’d react before I told you. What if you’d thought it sucked?”
“I’d need my head and eyes examined. You have so much talent inside you, Riley. I’m just in awe.”
Milo lifted his gaze as more people entered the shop.
“Can we see it?” Ellie’s voice asked sweetly from the doorway.
“What are we running in here, a photo gallery?” Maniac growled from his station as Ellie, Tori, and Sue stood at the entrance.
“We brought cupcakes,” Sue said quickly to the enormous man as she lifted a box of a half dozen assorted cupcakes for him to see.
“Cupcakes? Welcome, ladies.” Maniac’s tone changed completely as he walked forward to accept the offering. Lifting it to his nose, he inhaled theatrically before turning back to Milo.
“Dude. Is this your lucky day or what? A gorgeous tattoo made by the most talented designer I’ve ever met who just happens to turn out to be your Little girl. She’s been hiding a secret from you, so you have a spanking to deliver tonight on her tight ass. And now, three women show up with cupcakes to ogle your chest.”
“Shut up and eat a cupcake, Maniac,” Tatiana ordered as she rolled her eyes dramatically.
“Okay.” He opened the box and selected a plain vanilla cupcake and took a big bite. He groaned dramatically. “I should marry the woman who made this delicious concoction.”
“Bear’s already taken,” Ellie answered with a giggle.
“The good ones always are,” Maniac mumbled around the sweet treat.
Riley stiffened in Milo’s arms. Her gaze was on Maniac. Her eyes were wide and her mouth had dropped open. “How do you know about Littles?” she murmured.
Maniac grinned at her as he licked his lips. “What? You don’t think a big burly tattoo artist can be a Daddy?”
Milo glanced at Tatiana when she gasped softly behind Maniac. Apparently Maniac’s business partner hadn’t known this fact either.
Riley smiled at Maniac as he winked at her and resumed eating his cupcake.
Milo shifted his attention to the three women who’d come in from Little Cakes before glancing down at Riley again. He wasn’t willing to let her go just yet. “They knew about this tattoo?” Milo asked, arching an eyebrow at Riley.
Riley shook her head. “Maniac kind of just told them,” she blurted in her own defense.
“We didn’t know,” Tori rushed to assure Milo.
When he glanced back at them, the three women nodded in confirmation.
“So, can we see it?” Ellie asked again, trying to peer around them to the design Tatiana still held.
Riley pressed against his chest, asking silently for him to release her so that her friends could see it.
“Okay, panda virtuoso. Let’s show them,” Milo agreed. He patted her bottom in a silent warning before stepping back.
Tatiana laughed and draped the image over Milo’s work-sculpted chest. “Come look closer, ladies. This is going to be so much fun to ink in.”
As the three new arrivals gathered around him, Milo asked, “Is anyone still left at Little Cakes?”
“Bear’s there. He’ll hold down the fort,” Ellie informed him.
“A school bus just pulled up.” Milo pointed out the front window.
“He can’t do all that alone,” Ellie squeaked before looking at Riley. “I am so impressed by your work, and I can’t believe you didn’t tell us. Be prepared. I’m going to ask a million questions.”
“Go, Ellie. I’ll be there in a minute,” Riley urged.