Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45314 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“What goes on must come off,” he reminded her. When that statement made her stumble, he steadied her with a supporting arm around her waist as they walked out of the room. His low chuckle made her shiver.
A few minutes later, Grayson held the door open for Valerie to walk into Little Cakes. An incredible, sweet aroma swirled around them.
“Mmm!” Valerie hummed in delight as she sniffed.
“Hi, Valerie!” Ellie called from behind the display counter where she waited on an immaculately dressed woman.
“Hi, Ellie!” Valerie responded, adding a wave and a smile as the customer turned around to see who had walked in. Valerie watched the beautiful woman’s gaze skip over her and focus on her Daddy.
“Grayson! They let you out of that truck?” she said, abandoning her task of picking cupcakes and floating over the floor to stand in front of the handsome man. “I thought you worked every day?”
“Sometimes I do, Adrienne. Today, I’m off spending time with my special girl.”
“Oh, is this your daughter?” Adrienne asked with obvious faked interest.
“No, this is my significant other.” Grayson claimed Valerie and hugged her one-armed against his side.
Valerie looked up at him with wide eyes. Significant other could include so many things: partner, wife… Little girl.
“Oh, I didn’t know you had someone in your life,” Adrienne stated as she moved closer to Grayson, deliberately blocking his direct view of Valerie.
It was so aggressive that Valerie shifted away from Grayson despite his arm around her. She turned slightly to twist from his grip and headed for Ellie. She’d leave her Daddy to take care of that woman.
“I’d stomp on her cupcakes, but she hasn’t paid for them yet,” Ellie whispered.
“Your cupcakes are too pretty and delicious to smash.”
Both women turned around to see the pushy woman reach one hand out to draw a suggestive line down Grayson’s chest toward his abdomen. When she didn’t stop, he wrapped a hand around hers to halt her progress. The brash aggressor turned her hand in his quickly, transforming his easy grip into holding hands.
Valerie bristled and watched to see what Grayson would do. His expression was stony. If she’d been on the receiving end of that glance, Valerie would have wilted away. It didn’t deter Adrienne. She continued to edge closer as Grayson shifted away. When he looked up to see Valerie watching, Grayson shook his head slightly and didn’t try to be subtle as he walked away from the woman to rejoin Valerie and Ellie.
“Sorry, Cupcake,” he whispered and kissed her lightly before turning to Ellie.
“Hi! How’s my favorite baker?” Grayson asked Ellie.
“I’m good.” Tarson’s booming bass made them all turn to smile at the large man filling the doorway that led to the bakery’s kitchen.
“Bear!” Ellie said with a huge smile.
Valerie giggled at their antics. She’d visited so many times and loved all the staff. “You guys!”
“Excuse me. I guess I’ll get those cupcakes if anyone is working,” Adrienne interrupted with a snide tone that seemed to come very easily to her.
“Of course,” Ellie said smoothly with a professional tone.
The others moved a few steps away to allow Ellie to ring up the unpleasant customer’s cupcakes. In a few minutes, Adrienne turned from the cash register to lock eyes with Grayson. “I’ll see you soon. Somehow, I always have packages coming.”
“I’ll drop them at your door,” Grayson promised.
“Toodles,” Adrienne said to him before nodding dismissively at the others.
When the door closed behind her, Valerie exhaled shakily. Just a few minutes of interaction with the flirting woman had solidified the reality of Grayson’s job. He was an extremely attractive man who interacted with women every day.
She stared at him, wondering how many propositioned him every day. And how many times he’d dallied with any of them. That was how she had met him after all.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking, Little girl, but I don’t like it.”
“Uh oh!” Ellie whispered before excusing herself. “I’ll go restock the new cupcakes. It looks like the customers have emptied out the Caramel Drizzles.”
“Caramel Drizzle sounds good, doesn’t it?” Valerie commented to distract Grayson from wondering what was going on in her mind.
“Let’s get a couple to go, and we can taste test them at home. I think we need to be alone to talk.”
“Really? I just want to try some cupcakes. A glass of milk sounds good, too.”
“Stop trying to sidetrack me, Little girl. We’re going home to talk.”
Quickly, he captured Riley’s attention and asked to have two Caramel Drizzle cupcakes boxed to take with them. The tattooed beauty smiled at Valerie as she efficiently organized and rang up the order.
“I miss the Birthday Cake cupcakes,” Valerie shared sadly.
“They’re so cheerful. I miss them, too. I’ll tell Ellie two more people were asking for those to be one of the permanent selections we have every day,” Riley commented.