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)
Evan shook the images from his head. They weren’t real. Not yet. Could they be?
After hefting his backpack onto one shoulder, he headed for the cupcake shop. Determined. Hopeful. Filled with promise.
His heart was racing as he stepped into Little Cakes. The scent of frosting and chocolate assailed him. The place was warm and had a vibe that made him want to sit and stay awhile. He just might if a certain pixie with cute ringlets would smile at him again.
No customers were in the shop right now, which suited him just fine. It was an odd hour. Midafternoon. Kids weren’t out of school yet and the lunch dessert crowd was over.
His gaze shot right for the counter where two women were smiling at him. Neither of them was Tori, which disappointed him. Maybe she wasn’t working today.
There were a thousand other possibilities too. Maybe she didn’t work here at all. She simply liked cupcakes and owned one of their shirts. Maybe she did work here, but she was married or engaged or had a boyfriend. Maybe she hadn’t even found him remotely attractive and that was why she fled the park as fast as she could.
Evan recognized the very exuberant woman with big brown eyes, bobbed brown hair, an enormous smile, and a slight bounce as Ellie from the club. She was the owner. “Evan. How are you? Welcome to Little Cakes. I don’t think I’ve seen you here before. Is this your first visit?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“You had to be brought up in the south. No one calls me ma’am,” Ellie said with a friendly smile after laughing. “I’m Ellie if you don’t remember.”
He couldn’t help but return her grin, absorbing her enthusiasm as he continued walking toward the counter. “Of course I remember you, Ellie.”
He easily recognized the second woman as Riley, the bartender from Blaze who also played in the daycare. Things were looking up. He liked his chances. “Riley, hi!”
“Hi, Evan. You here to ruin that perfect waistline? Little Cakes is full of temptation,” Riley suggested.
The two women stopped to consider his form for a minute. Evan forced himself not to chuckle.
When the door leading to the kitchen swung open, Evan glanced in that direction, hoping to find Tori stepping into the room. Instead, his gaze landed on Tarson Kirkwood, AKA Bear, as the Littles at Blaze referred to him.
“Ahem!” Tarson cleared his voice to get Ellie’s and Riley’s attention.
Ellie’s cheeks flamed red and she jumped into shopkeeper mode. “Hey, Evan. It’s your lucky day. We just restocked the display after the noon rush.” She picked up a flyer from the counter and held it out to him. “Here’s a list of what we have. Some of them rotate.” She pointed at the chalkboard above them. “The list up there is what’s available today.”
“Thank you.” He gave Tarson a wave and then tried to focus on the cupcakes. They looked incredible, and he would definitely be purchasing some, but he needed to ask about the woman from the park.
Clearing his throat, he faced Ellie and Riley. “Does a woman named Tori happen to work here?”
Ellie clapped her hands together and giggled. “She sure does. Wait… Are you the man from the park?”
There was a God.
Evan grinned. “I suppose I am.” It was extremely promising that she’d mentioned him to her coworkers.
“Tori didn’t tell us it was you.” Ellie held up a finger. “I’ll get her.” She spun around and hurried to the back room.
Yes. Thank you, God.
Riley was also grinning. “Ellie’s right. Tori didn’t mention it was you she met at the park.”
Evan shrugged. “I’ve never seen her at Blaze. Maybe she doesn’t know who I am,” he suggested.
Riley rolled her eyes. “She doesn’t need to be a member of Blaze to know who you are. Everyone knows who you are.”
“Definitely not everyone,” he pointed out. Maybe not Tori.
Riley glanced at the front door. “I’m surprised people didn’t see you coming in and rush in behind you to get your autograph. In fact…” She leaned her elbows on the glass counter. “I would never ask you at the club, but I own a hard copy of your Tour of Flowers book. Please tell me you’re planning to come back here again. I’d love to bring it in so you can sign it. I just love, love, love your work. Your photography is out of this world. I’ve used the pictures as a reference for tattoos I’ve designed.”
“What a compliment! I’d be happy to. Any time, Riley.”
Suddenly the door to the back opened. Ellie rushed past Tarson, dragging Tori behind her by the hand.
Riley spun around. “Tori, you didn’t tell us the man from the park was Evan Parker!”
Tori glanced at Evan and then at Riley. “Uh… I didn’t know.” Her cheeks pinkened in that adorable way they had several times the day he met her.