Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44951 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Adam glanced around the store. “That reminds me, I’ll start situating the rest of these stuffies so they can see better.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Rose murmured softly. “I can do it after you leave or in the morning.”
When he glanced at her, she was biting that lower lip again. He hoped to God he was reading her correctly and that she didn’t want him to leave any more than he himself wanted. “It’s no problem at all. How much more work do you need to do tonight before you can go home?”
Adam busied himself arranging the first layer of stuffies in the first bin while he asked that question, hoping he wasn’t spooking her.
“Nothing else. I just need to lock up and…” She lifted her gaze to him and stiffened. “I hope you’re not an ax murderer who plans to follow me to my car and kill me.”
He stopped moving and turned to fully face her. He hated the renewed fear in her eyes, but he was also glad she had the sense to question her environment and ensure she was safe at all times.
Go big or go home, Adam. He took a deep breath. “I’m not an ax murderer, Rose. I’m a Daddy, and I’m concerned about how you get safely to your car at night.”
She swallowed as she absently hugged the beagle against her chest. “Do you mean you’re a father and you have children?”
He shook his head. “Nope. I’m not a father. I have no children. I’m a Daddy.” He took a tentative step closer to her before reaching out to gently lift her chin. “And you’re the cutest Little girl I’ve ever set eyes on. Please tell me you’re single.”
She swallowed again. “We just met.”
“It feels like I’ve been here for hours while at the same time it’s been moments. Not enough of them.”
When she bit her lip again, he used his thumb to pluck the swollen flesh free, loving the sweet gasp that escaped her lips. She oh-so-subtly tipped her cheek into his palm. “I think so too,” she whispered.
Adam gave a silent, internal fist pump. Thank. You. God. “You didn’t answer my question. Do you have a Daddy, Rose?” He needed to know this detail before he took things even one more step further.
“No,” she answered.
He exhaled all the oxygen from his lungs. “Thank goodness. I hate that I have a busy schedule this week, but I hope you’ll agree to go out with me as soon as we’re both available at the same time.”
She blinked those big brown eyes at him, her cheeks adorably flushed. “I think I’d like that.”
He couldn’t stop the relieved smile. “Good.” Suddenly, he had a new idea that replaced the hot chocolate vision. “Have you ever been to Little Cakes in the strip mall?”
She nodded. “Lots of times. It’s the best.”
“How about if we meet there for our first date. It will be open and public. Little girls should never give a stranger their address until they’re certain he means them no harm.”
She smiled broadly. “I’m glad you said that. I was afraid you would want to pick me up at my home… Well, my apartment. That’s my home now.”
He shook his head. “Not for the first date. However, if you’ve spent much time at Little Cakes, I bet we have some mutual friends who can vouch for me. Do you know Tarson, the baker?”
She nodded. “Yes. I know most of the employees. They’re, uh…”
Adam grinned. “Little. I know. I’ve seen several of them at Blaze from time to time. I’ve never seen you there.”
“I just moved here to open this shop about six months ago. I don’t have close friends yet. Except for trips to Little Cakes, I’ve been working long hours for months.”
He frowned, not wanting to overstep yet but feeling worried about her at the same time. “Little girls shouldn’t work so hard.”
She shrugged and took a step back, freeing herself from his touch. “I might be Little on the inside, but I haven’t had much time to practice lately. I don’t have a Daddy and I’m nearly always in my adult headspace, working long hours. Opening a business is time consuming. I don’t have a choice yet, but I do have several employees who are nearly ready to be left here alone for several hours. I was hoping to start doling out more responsibilities soon.”
“You should do that. If you don’t, you’ll wear yourself out. Besides, I’d like to spend as much time as I can with you so I can get to know you and vice versa. I’ll start to get jealous of the bears and bunnies and puppies if you talk to them more than you talk to me,” he teased, glancing at the bins of stuffies.
She giggled, a sound he loved. “You can’t get jealous of inanimate objects.”