Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45110 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
He laughed. She could be funny. “I’ll try to make sure neither of those happen tonight. Have you gotten lots of parking tickets?”
“Never. Um… I really don’t go anywhere. Just to work and back home.”
“You liked going to the mall,” he reminded her.
“I loved going with you. I’d never go by myself,” she confessed. “My parents hired a driving instructor for me when I turned sixteen. After I passed my test, I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere. Terry helped me learn the route to Little Cakes when I got a job there.”
“Then it sounds like we need to explore the city. You’ll love this town.”
“I do already,” she answered pertly.
Evan extended a hand over the console and squeezed hers when she wove her fingers with his. Catching sight of a big billboard announcing their destination, he hoped she liked his plans. He’d thought long and hard about what their second date should be after the dragon stuffing and frozen yogurt.
When he pulled into the parking lot, Tori tipped her head to peer out the window better. “What is this place?”
“You’ll see.” He parked the car, turned off the engine, and climbed out. She was still staring at the front of the building as he opened her door, a confused look on her face. She was working so hard to figure out where they were that he had to reach across her to unbuckle her, which didn’t hurt his feelings at all.
“What’s a Glow Park?” she asked as he took her hand.
He adored her innocence and wide eyes. “You’ll see,” he repeated.
As soon as they stepped in the front door, she grabbed his hand tighter. “Evan? It’s dark in here.”
He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her to the side before getting in line to buy tickets. Facing her, he tipped her chin up to meet her gaze. “I should have asked you if you were afraid of the dark before I brought you here. Does the dark scare you, Curls?”
She glanced around. “No, not if you’re here. But what are we going to do?”
“We can choose. Everything here is designed to be played in the dark. The only lighting comes from all the parts that glow in the dark. Hot neon colors.”
“Like what?”
“They have putt-putt golf, bowling, darts—Velcro ones, of course—paintball, a maze, ball pits. You name it, they probably have it.” He watched her face closely, relieved when she smiled.
“That sounds like fun.”
He couldn’t resist a quick kiss to her lips before he asked, “Which option appeals to you?”
“Maybe putt-putt? But I’m not any good.”
“Perfect. I’m not any good either.” He threaded their fingers together and led her to the line, loving the way she stood so close to him, wrapping her entire arm around his and plastering herself to his side.
After purchasing their tickets, he guided her to the entrance to the mini-golf so they could choose glow-in-the-dark clubs and balls. He wasn’t surprised when she chose pink.
She was giddy by the time they reached the first hole and set their balls down. “I can’t even see the hole. I’m going to suck at this, Evan.” She pursed her lips and met his gaze, an odd look suddenly taking over her face.
He frowned and hauled her closer so he could see her expression better in the dark. “What’s wrong, Curls?”
“Is that what you want me to call you? Evan?”
His heart skipped a beat and he stole another kiss. “I want you to call me whatever makes you the most comfortable, but when you’re ready, I’d like you to call me Daddy, okay?”
She nodded and glanced around. “Even in public?”
If he wasn’t mistaken, she liked the idea, which warmed his heart. “That’s up to you, Curls. I would never be embarrassed for you to call me Daddy in front of other people. Our lifestyle choice is no one else’s business. But you do whatever feels right for you. If you’d rather call me Evan when other people are listening, I will totally understand that. Or…” he kissed her lips again, “…you could whisper Daddy softly so I’m the only one who hears,” he suggested.
She giggled. “That might be fun, as long as I don’t forget and mess it up. Sometimes Ellie and Riley mess up at Little Cakes. They turn hot pink when they forget and say Daddy a bit too loudly. No one ever pays much attention though. I don’t think the people in this community are very judgmental.”
“I agree, Curls. That’s why I love living here.” He reluctantly released her to take a step toward the hole. “Ready to play, Little girl? If we don’t start hitting this ball, we’re going to be holding up the line.”
She hurried to join him. “I haven’t ever done this. How do I hold the club?”
It was certainly no hardship for Evan to stand behind her, his chest to her back so he could reach around and help her line her hands up on the club more or less correctly.