Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
He palmed his forehead with one hand.
“I’m sorry, Daddy. I don’t want to hurt your feelings.”
He shook his head. “That doesn’t hurt my feelings at all, Little girl. I don’t know why I didn’t think of that possibility in the first place. I should have asked before we started looking at houses.”
Her shoulders lowered once again as she blew out a breath. “I haven’t filled very many rooms in my house yet. I’ve been saving my money to buy more furniture and stuff. Maybe you could live with me there and help me finish turning it into a home?”
She looked so hopeful, and Trace was so deeply invested in her that he wouldn’t care if she lived in a shack with an outhouse if that was what made her happy. “Of course, Mae Bug. Brick and mortar isn’t that important to me. Making you smile and laugh is all that matters in life.”
Trace wrapped his arms around his precious Little girl and kissed her soundly. “Let’s go home.”
Chapter Twelve
“I feel bad for making Lark meet us to show us a house when I knew I didn’t want a new house,” Avery said an hour later as they stepped back into her home.
“I’m certain Lark is fine. She shows homes all the time without making a sale. At least we didn’t make her take us to several properties before you admitted your preference,” Trace teased. He was carrying their new purchases, and he set everything down in the entryway before taking her in his arms and hugging her close.
Avery was beyond relieved. She was glad Wyatt hadn’t flinched upon finding out she was dating their new captain. She was also glad Trace hadn’t flinched when she’d told him she didn’t want to sell her house. He was being so kind about it.
“Are you sure you don’t mind considering my house?” she asked as she leaned back.
“Not at all, Mae Bug. Give me a full tour this time.”
She grinned. “Okay, come on.” She tugged his hands and led him down the hallway. She pointed out the three closed empty bedrooms she hadn’t shown him before.
He chuckled. “You meant it. You don’t have a single thing in those extra rooms, do you, Mae Bug?”
“Nope. I didn’t have a need for them yet. Maybe one can be your office, if you want. I mean…” She hesitated and met his gaze. “Are you serious about wanting to move in here? It seems so fast and…” She didn’t know what to say or how to feel. So many things were changing so quickly in her life.
Daddy led her into the room next to the master bedroom. “My first concern will be a nursery, Mae Bug. Not my office. Little girls need a special space where they can relax and be themselves when they aren’t at work.”
“But…” She started to visualize this room as a nursery even though the thought hadn’t occurred to her before now. The crib under the window… A changing table against the right wall… A rocking chair in the corner… A bookshelf on the left wall…
Daddy’s arms came around her. His lips landed on her ear. “We can paint this room pink,” he proposed.
She sucked in a breath and held it, trembling.
He pointed to the wall where she had been visualizing a bookshelf. “We could put in a door there so this room attaches to the master bedroom.”
He was right. It would be perfect. She’d want him to be able to hear her and get to her quickly if she was in here alone. If she had a nightmare or got scared of monsters.
She shook the extremely Little thoughts from her head. She wasn’t used to being in such a Little headspace like this. It was disconcerting. She was a police officer, for heaven’s sake. She was strong and fierce and determined. She’d never expected to meet a real Daddy who might be able to guide her and nurture her and let her be Little when she wasn’t working.
She spun around in his arms and looked up at him. “It’s too fast,” she blurted. “I’m confused.”
He slid his hands up her arms and cupped her shoulders. “It’s okay, Mae Bug. We don’t have to rush things. We have our entire lives to get everything just right.”
She inhaled slowly. “Will you be patient with me?” she asked in a tiny Little voice.
“Always. As long as you’re honest with me and don’t try to hide your feelings from Daddy.”
“Promise.” She could do that.
“How about if Daddy makes you some dinner and tucks you into bed. You’ve had a full day. You need your rest. We both have to work tomorrow.”
“Are you going to stay here with me, Daddy?”
He shook his head. “Not tonight, Mae Bug. I need to do a bit of unpacking in my apartment tonight, and you need to sleep.”