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)
She shook her head. “No. I mean I love working with them because I feel like I fit in and it’s a relief, but I’ve never discussed it with them.”
“Ah. Well, I bet they’re going to ask you a bunch of questions now. Does that make you uncomfortable? I could tell them to mind their own business if you’d like. They’ll listen to me.” He chuckled, hoping she understood that he was mostly kidding.
Her cheeks turned pink again. “No. That’s okay. I don’t mind. They’re my friends.”
“Good. Now, what are you going to tell them about me?”
She sucked in a breath. “I don’t know.”
“How about if you tell them I asked you to go out with me tomorrow afternoon, and you said yes. You can tell them we’re going to the mall to the teddy bear store so you can choose and fill your own stuffie and then the yogurt place to gorge ourselves on mostly sprinkles, gummy bears, and chocolate syrup.” He lifted a brow and held his breath.
She stared at him again. “Really?”
“Yes.”
“I’ve never stuffed my own bear before.”
He poked her tummy with his free hand. “Have you stuffed your tummy with tiny gummy bears though?”
She giggled. “Yes.”
He smiled at her. “Say yes, Curls.”
She licked her lips and then nodded. “Yes.”
He blew out a long breath. “You sure do know how to make a Daddy work hard for a first date. I thought you were going to turn me down.”
She giggled. “I doubt many women turn you down for dates.”
“You think so, huh?”
She glanced around up and down the street. “You could ask any woman on this street to go out with you and she would say yes.”
He never took his gaze off Tori. “There’s only one woman anywhere near here who I want to go out with me, and lucky for me, she just said yes.”
Relief flooded him as he rose and took her hand to return her to her job. “I didn’t even ask if you work tomorrow.”
“I don’t. Can I meet you here though?” she asked hesitantly.
“Of course. That’s a great idea, Curls. You should never let a man pick you up at your own place for the first date. Very safe of you.” He reached for one of her adorable curls and gave it a tug so it sprang down and bounced back.
The overwhelming urge to bury his hands in those soft curls consumed him. But that would have to wait. Probably for a while. Tori didn’t seem like the sort of woman who got into a heated embrace with a man on the first date, and that pleased him.
When they reached the door to Little Cakes, he pulled out a business card and handed it to her. “My number’s on the back. Text or call me if something changes and you can’t meet me, otherwise, I’ll see you here tomorrow at two, okay?”
“Yes.” She stuck the card in her back pocket and fidgeted her fingers together.
“See you tomorrow, Curls. Be brave and come to meet me. I’m not playing games. I only want to spend time with you.” It took every ounce of his strength to walk away and leave her, knowing he wouldn’t get to touch her again for twenty-four long hours.
It wasn’t until he was back in his car that he realized he hadn’t purchased a cupcake. He smiled to himself and breathed in deeply. Hopefully, there would be plenty of opportunities to sample every cupcake they made in the coming weeks.
Chapter Three
What was she doing? Keeping herself from dashing through the bakery to the back entrance, Tori forced her feet to remain in place. He’d never see her walking along the backside of the strip center. Only the trash and delivery trucks drove there. If she cut through the neighborhoods, she could make it back to her brother’s house without crossing any major streets that Evan might drive down to reach the bakery.
“Stop planning your escape!” she whispered furiously to herself.
“Want me to wait with you?” Sue asked from behind her.
Whirling, Tori almost dropped the Pink Lemonade cupcake she held in her hand to look at her fellow employee. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean to surprise you. I thought you’d heard the door,” Sue said with a smile. “You’re taking him a cupcake?”
“He didn’t leave with any last time. I thought he might like to try it. Do you think it’s too much? I could stash it in the back to take home later.”
“I think it’s a perfect thing to do. He’s going to love that flavor. It’s your favorite, isn’t it?” Sue asked, moving to stand next to Tori.
“I love them all, but this one is the best.”
“It’s funny how we all like different flavors. We really are the best saleswomen because we can say we like the variety people choose. I like them all too much,” Sue said and patted her thighs meaningfully.