Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44612 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 178(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Aria smoothed down the skirt with the short layers of ruffles that he’d dressed her in with the polka-dotted top. She gave a twirl and it flared around her. Giggling at the fun, she looked back at her Daddy and decided, “I’m ready.”
“Want Daddy to do your hair?”
“Like how?” she said skeptically.
“French braid? You could wear it over your shoulder?” he suggested.
“You know how to French braid?”
“I had three younger sisters. I can do just about anything you want. If I don’t know something, I’ll figure it out,” Cameron assured her with a smile before putting his hands on her shoulders and guiding her back into the bathroom.
“Oops! I forgot. Let me find a comb here. You go get the bow you like from the fancy box on the shelf in the closet of your nursery.”
Like a flash, she was off. Eager to see what he’d put together for her, she opened the closet and found the box. Balancing it carefully on one hand, she opened it to see all sorts of bows and scrunchies in every color. After comparing several to her outfit, Aria chose the best one, carefully returned the others to the box, and put the container back in the closet.
Racing back to her Daddy, she saw he was ready. After gently brushing out the knots, he expertly braided her hair into a sleekly woven plait that naturally curved onto her shoulder. Looking in the mirror, she was enchanted.
“It looks so good!” she celebrated. “You are good at everything.”
“Not at everything, but hopefully at the things you enjoy most,” Cameron told her before dropping a kiss on her head.
“Don’t mess it up!” she cried, shielding the elaborate hairdo with her hands.
“Nothing’s going to screw that up until we take it down tonight. Well, nothing but a tornado, maybe. Come on. You have to be starving.”
“You, too!”
He soon had her tucked securely in the passenger seat. Cameron wove through the morning traffic to Little Cakes and parked the car. Automatically, Aria moved to get out but remembered to wait for him to come get her. When she leaned back against the seat, he praised her.
“Good girl.”
That never gets old.
Chapter Twenty
“Hi!” Ellie’s friendly voice called soon after Cameron opened the front door of Little Cakes. Three staff members stopped what they were doing to wave and smile.
Aria happily waved back as her Daddy led her to the bakery case after holding the door open for a tall woman behind them. “Hi! We’ve come for cupcakes for breakfast!”
“I love that hard. I get to have those every once in a while. You’d think I’d get tired of cupcakes, but nope. That’s never going to happen. There are so many flavors!”
“Of course!” Aria agreed before admitting, “We’re having Mocha Latte again.”
“Perfect! With milk?” Ellie asked.
“For both of us, please,” Cameron requested. “I’d like a couple of cupcakes to go as well for later. Do you think they’ll be okay in the SUV for a couple of hours?”
“The frosting might melt,” Riley warned. “I can fix it up with some ice in a bag to keep it stable for a couple of hours.”
“That would be great. Thanks, Riley,” Cameron said gratefully.
“Perfect solution. Now, two cupcakes to go or four?” Ellie teased. “We have a new flavor out there. It’s totally different. Blueberry Bliss.”
“That sounds amazing. I love blueberries!” the woman behind them cheered. When everyone turned with a smile, she immediately apologized, “I’m sorry. I just butted into the conversation, didn’t I? Sorry.”
“Of course not.” Ellie whisked away any awkwardness. “Blueberries are small balls of awesomeness. And everyone is welcome to praise my cupcakes. I don’t think I’ve seen you before.”
“Nope. I’m new. I’m opening a craft store in the shopping area. I needed some sugar before I unpack one more box,” the woman explained.
“Craftastic is yours! I can’t wait to get in there,” Riley said, jumping into the conversation. She waved at her tattoos before explaining, “I do a lot of drawing. I hope you have a big section for supplies.”
“I will. Definitely let me know if there’s something you’d like me to stock. I’ll keep it on hand for you. I’m Nora, by the way.”
“Hi, Nora. I’m Ellie. Welcome to the neighborhood.”
“Thank you. Please. Don’t let me interrupt. Cupcakes for breakfast sounds awesome,” Nora urged.
“I got you all rung up,” Sue called from the register with their breakfast on a tray.
“Will you have coloring books?” Aria asked, intrigued.
“Oh, yes. I have a whole wall planned. Anything you like best?” Nora asked.
“Do they make cupcake coloring books?” Aria asked.
“They do! I have one ready to be stocked on the shelf. I also have a clothing one for Design Magic, a workout one for Fitness Haven, and a fancy hairstyles one for Shear Beauty. I’m searching for a tattoo one for Maniac Tats.”