Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 228(@200wpm)___ 183(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
“If it’s a dream, I don’t want to wake up, do you?”
“Yes. I don’t want this to be something that evaporates. Are you going to disappear?”
“No, Precious. I’m not looking for anything short-term either. I’ve searched for my Little girl for way too long. Now that I’ve found you, I’m keeping you.”
She stopped in her tracks to study his face. “I’m a pretty good judge of character. Watching everyone from the background, I notice people who are nice to their spouse when others are around and mean when they don’t think others will notice.”
“Do you also see good people who treat those they love well?”
“Oh, yes. My family members are good examples. Even the ones that work together at the restaurant—they’re around each other all day and night and they are still sweet to each other.”
“Sounds like they found the right person.”
“Maybe that’s why someone would get married or stay married to another person that treated them so badly. Because they’re not with the perfect person?”
“I don’t know that there is a perfect person out there. I do think everyone has their perfect match,” Deke assured her. “Does that concern you? That you’ll end up with the wrong person?”
“I deserve to be treated well,” she stated firmly.
“Of course you do. I guess I’ll have to prove to you that I’m the one who’s going to make you happy.”
That answer brought a smile to her face. She squeezed his hand before starting to walk again. “Little Cakes makes me happy. What kind of cupcake are you going to get?”
“I’m going to try the one you like. Malted Milk. It sounds delicious,” Deke answered as they arrived.
He opened the door and ushered her inside. Immediately, a tattooed woman at the counter greeted them. Deke loved the smile that spread Maya’s lips widely as she rushed to the counter.
“Hi, Riley! Do you have any Malted Milk cupcakes left?”
“You’re in luck. I’m down to the last three. I told Ellie to make more this morning. There are some baking right now but they won’t be ready until tomorrow,” Riley told her.
“We’ll take all three,” Deke said from behind Maya. “Two for us to eat here and one to go.”
“You’re going to take one home?” Maya asked.
“I’m going to send it home with you. We can’t leave one cupcake in the display. It will be lonely,” Deke pointed out.
“Oh, that’s a nice idea.”
“It’s the sweetest idea I’ve heard today. Well, other than that woman who ordered the bad cupcake. I had no idea what she was talking about until she pointed to a cupcake that had fallen over and had crushed its frosting. Other customers have ordered damaged, ugly ones as well. Last I heard, Ellie was thinking about having a Bad Cupcake as a monthly feature,” Riley shared as Ellie walked toward the display cabinet with a tray of cupcakes.
“What a fun thing to do! Intentionally bop cupcakes over onto the frosting. I think if I was having a really bad day, I’d want a bad cupcake.” Maya laughed.
“Exactly. We all feel bopped over some days,” Ellie said, joining the conversation as she added the tray to the display. “Can I use that word in my advertising, Maya? Bop? It’s genius.”
“Of course. If you think it will help,” Maya said graciously.
“It’s perfect. Thank you, Maya,” Ellie said before zipping away with a wave.
Deke found her blush at being the center of attention enchanting. Her face was so expressive. Each change of emotions showed perfectly on her face. There was no subterfuge with Maya. Her feelings were always on display.
Deke paid for the cupcakes and two bottles of water before ushering Maya to a table away from the other customers. “I can’t wait to try this.”
“I hope you like it,” Maya told him as he peeled away the cupcake wrapper from the treat.
Lifting it to his lips, Deke took a big bite. “Mmm!”
He could feel the frosting that decorated his nose as he pulled the cupcake away. Comically, he wiggled his nose as he tried to see how bad the mess was. To his delight, Maya giggled with unbridled enjoyment at his silliness.
“Hold on. Let me help,” she said between chuckles as she dabbed a napkin at the frosting. “Your nose wanted a bite, too. I think you’re okay now.”
“Thank you, Little girl. These are delicious.”
He plucked one of the malted milk balls decorating the top of the cupcake and popped it into his mouth. The crunch was amazing. “How does she keep those from getting soggy? I think Ellie stocks magic in the kitchen.”
“Everything she makes is so good. These, however, are the absolute best.”
“I agree.”
There was a lull in the conversation as they each took a bite. This time, Deke didn’t attack the frosting but took a bite from the side. He loved how Maya closed her eyes to enjoy the treat. The vision of her in his bed with the same expression made him shift slightly in his chair to be more comfortable as his body immediately responded to that image.