Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44664 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 223(@200wpm)___ 179(@250wpm)___ 149(@300wpm)
With a sigh, she looked at her phone to check the message. Expecting to see a text from Anton that he had sent Buzzy back to her or maybe a request to see her because they needed to talk, she stared at her screen. There was a picture of Buzzy sitting on a cushion on the changing table in Da… Anton’s nursery. She could see a drop cloth on the floor with a couple of cans of paint and a brush. Focusing in on the color of the cans, she discovered he definitely wasn’t covering over Buzzy’s image on the wall. He was finishing the picture.
What does that mean?
A scrap of paper caught her eye. She enlarged that section of the photo. It was the paper that she’d written Anton’s information on for Sue. His address and phone number were crossed out and written in the margin was the word: Beenapped.
She stared at that word. Was he trying to be funny? That wasn’t funny. Outwardly, Gemma looked calm and fun-loving. Inside, she had pinned Anton to the wall with that paintbrush. No, of course not. I could never hurt the man I love.
Gemma steadied herself with a hand on the counter as that word reverberated in her brain. Love. She did. She loved Anton. And he was moving away.
Forcing herself to drive home, Gemma knew that Anton would take care of Buzzy. He wasn’t a beenapper. He was a bee babysitter.
When she realized she was jealous of her own stuffie, Gemma knew she needed to make a plan. Instantly, a first step popped into her brain. Little Cakes was already closed for the day. But tomorrow…
Anton opened his door to see a bored-looking man holding a large cardboard box decorated with the Little Cakes logo. “Hey, you must have the wrong house.” And then he repeated it louder when the man shook his head and pointed to his ears.
“Nope. Delivery for Anton.” He rattled off the right address all very loudly due to the music obviously playing in his earbuds. The delivery man thrust the box at Anton with the instructions to enjoy.
“What’s going on?” Anton asked as the man walked away. Of course, he didn’t answer. He’d never heard a word Anton said.
Staring down at the box, Anton felt a zing of hope. He’d been so sure that Gemma would respond to his message with Buzzy and her nursery. She’d ignored his calls and messages. Thank goodness she hadn’t blocked him. At least, he hoped she hadn’t blocked him. Could the cupcakes be from her?
Carrying them inside to the kitchen island, he opened the box. One had fallen over. He set it back up and looked at the display of Reindeer Tracks cupcakes. There were a dozen of them. Something was wrong with a few. The pretzel antlers were missing.
Did that jerk open the box and eat the antlers?
A picture of Gemma scooping the frosting off with the pretzel antlers popped into his mind. He looked at the cupcakes differently, checking out the pattern. Did it mean something?
Ten minutes later, his eyes were crossing from staring at the small treats. What was it? Closing the box with a sigh, Anton picked up his phone and sent another message.
The cupcakes are here. Did you take off the antlers?
When she didn’t answer, he tried to call. The line just rang and rang.
Everywhere he looked, Gemma had left her mark on his home. The home he wanted them to share. He’d spent most of the day on the phone. Talking to his boss had not turned out well. They weren’t budging. Anton knew he could look at it as a challenge or an opportunity.
He’d wanted to wait until he could give her good news, but he knew each minute that passed hurt them both more. Heading for the nursery, he picked up Buzzy and returned to the kitchen to pluck a cupcake out of the box. With his keys in hand, he headed for Design Magic.
The parking lot was jammed with people. Anton figured it was lunchtime at the restaurants in the shopping area. As he approached Gemma’s shop, the front door opened and a group of ladies exited, laden with packages and chattering excitedly. After taking one step inside, Anton could see that Design Magic was where everyone had gathered.
Gemma and her assistant were busy with shoppers. Anton hesitated just inside, not wishing to interrupt her business. A large banner bearing the words “Customer Appreciation Day” hung against the back wall. There were Little Cakes cupcakes on a small table with iced tea and coffee at the rear of the store. He smiled at the excitement bubbling around him. Gemma was a master at making her shop the favorite one to visit.
Not wishing to interrupt, he walked to the cash register and greeted the assistant who rang up people’s purchases. “I’m just going to leave Buzzy here in his normal spot.”