Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“I’m so glad to hear that. Fall is going to wind down soon, and that flavor will go into hibernation until next autumn. We’ll have to introduce your coffee connoisseurs to the next holiday flavor.”
“Is that CC I hear out front, Ellie?” The booming voice coming from the kitchen belonged to Tarson. Hearing him made CC smile. He liked to sound gruff, but they all knew he was a giant teddy bear underneath, especially his Little, Daisy.
The door to the kitchen swung open a moment later, and the large man filled the frame. He nodded behind him. “I’m working on the holiday cupcake. You might want to feature them in your shop. You want to come back and sample?”
CC twitched with excitement. “I’d be honored.”
Tarson held the door open as he stepped back. “You can’t tell anyone. It will ruin the holiday excitement.”
“Cross my heart,” CC promised as she and Ellie followed Tarson into the kitchen. It smelled even better back there. She groaned. “I’d gain a hundred pounds in a month if I worked here. It smells so good.” She took a deep inhale.
Tarson rounded the giant island and pushed a plate of cupcakes closer. “See what you think.” He grabbed a knife and cut one of the beautiful cupcakes in half.
CC winced as the gorgeous confection was destroyed. “They’re too pretty to eat.”
Ellie giggled. “We get that a lot. It’s hard sometimes. Especially on the intricate ones that take a bit longer to frost.”
CC reached for a bite and popped it in her mouth. She moaned around the flavor as her eyes went wide. She chewed and swallowed before speaking. “I wasn’t expecting the peppermint frosting. It’s delicious. And the chocolate cake is so moist. The Santa hats are so cute. Those are going to fly off the shelves. I bet they will sell well with my peppermint mocha next month too.”
Ellie clapped her hands together. “I hope so.”
CC winced. “Not going to lie though. I’m still the biggest fan of the pumpkin spice flavor. Are you sure you can’t keep those in stock year round?”
Tarson belly-laughed as the two women returned to the front of the store. She heard him muttering about Littles and their favorite flavors.
“I’ll box you up four pumpkin spice for later,” Ellie said as she bustled around to the back of the counter. “On the house.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
Ellie waved a hand at her. “Of course I do. With all the promoting you do for me at CC’s Purrfect Coffee, it’s the least I can do.”
“Well, I appreciate it. And I’m sure Hunter will too when he sees them. Pumpkin spice is his favorite flavor too.”
Ellie handed her the box. “It must be a match made in heaven then. Have a fun date night.”
CC headed out to her car. Just as she settled the cupcakes in the seat next to her, the bag from Design Magic on the floor, her phone buzzed, indicating an incoming text.
She smiled as she picked it up, and her smile grew when she saw it was from Hunter. She was head over heels for him. No denying that. Now, if only she didn’t worry so much.
I hope you’re at home napping like I instructed, Little girl.
She glanced at the time and realized it was already three-thirty. Yikes. She texted back:
Just heading home now. I went shopping to pick up a few things.
She watched the three dots, waiting for his response.
I’m intrigued. You better not be driving and texting. I’ll spank your bottom hard if I ever catch you doing that. My emergency room gets at least one accident victim a day caused by texting and driving.
CC winced at the thought of anyone getting into such a senseless accident. It made her heart hurt. She bet it was hard on Hunter when he had to treat those patients.
No, Daddy. I would never do that. Promise. But I might do something else naughty that isn’t as dangerous if it means you intend to spank me.
She hit send before she could overthink her bold declaration and take it back. She groaned and bit her lip while she waited yet again for his response.
Several minutes went by. She got nervous. Finally, she put her phone away, started the engine, and drove home. When she arrived, he still hadn’t responded.
CC felt foolish as she entered the house with her cupcakes in one hand, her purse and package in the other. Had she said something he didn’t like?
Maybe Hunter wasn’t into that sort of thing. Spanking. Darren had spanked her often. Not because she was naughty, because she rarely misbehaved. He gave her what he called “maintenance spankings.”
She’d enjoyed them. They helped her get into her Little headspace after work and reminded her how much he cared about her. She hadn’t been spanked in two years. Hell, she hadn’t done lots of things since Darren died.