Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45218 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 151(@300wpm)
“Not my specialty, Little girl, but I’ll try to come up with something,” he promised. “Right now, I want to take you home. Are you at a good place to stop for the evening?”
“I just need to turn off the dishwasher and wipe down the counters.”
Garrett’s phone rang and he checked the screen to see if he needed to answer. “Go. Take your time. I need to take this call.”
“This is Garrett Erickson,” he identified himself for the answering service he used for his commercial properties business. As the efficient woman relayed the message, Garrett watched his Little skip happily into the kitchen to close it down for the night. When she disappeared from his view, Garrett forced himself to concentrate.
By the time, he’d finished, Ellie swept through the swinging door with her keys. “I’m ready!”
“Grab your phone,” he directed, pointing at the table.
“Oh! I wondered where that was. Look! You called me,” Ellie exclaimed, turning the screen toward him.
“I hope I’m the only one who warranted that song choice,” Garrett admonished as he ushered her to the door. To his delight, he watched her cheeks become rosy.
“Um, just you… It seemed appropriate.”
“I’m glad you know I’m your Daddy. We have just enough time to have dinner, a warm bath, and maybe story time before bedtime.”
“I’ll start going to bed early when I open the shop,” Ellie decided.
“No way. Little girls need a regular routine.” Garrett helped Ellie into his SUV.
“I don’t have to always do what you say,” she answered stubbornly.
“Of course not. You are welcome to choose to experience a consequence.” Garrett closed the door with a soft click and walked around the hood of the SUV. He slid into the driver’s seat and started the engine before looking over at Ellie.
“No, thank you,” she said politely as she scratched at a splotch of dried batter that clung to her leggings.
“Smart choice,” Garrett commented, covering her busy fingers with his free hand. He squeezed her hand when she turned to press her palm to his.
“I’m headed to your apartment. I’d like you to pack a bag of necessities to stay with me tonight. Are you ready to stay with Daddy?”
Without hesitating even a second, Ellie nodded, looking down at their intertwined hands.
“Use your words, Rainbow.”
“Yes, Daddy. I want to stay with you.” Ellie peeked up at him.
He knew his Little girl needed reassurance. “That makes my heart happy. I want you with me.”
The corners of her lips tilted upward in an instantly addictive smile. He wanted to see her this happy every day. Making a vow to keep his Little girl grinning, Garrett navigated the short distance to Ellie’s apartment.
Just as she had that morning, Ellie suggested, “I’ll just run up by myself and grab what I need. My place is a mess.”
Garrett debated forcing the issue to accompany her. He didn’t believe that a simple mess of clothes on the floor or dirty dishes in the sink were the true reason she preferred him to wait in the SUV. “You’re not hiding another man up there, are you?”
“No, Daddy,” Ellie denied with wide eyes as she vigorously shook her head.
“What is it you don’t want me to see?” Garrett asked.
After several long seconds, she caved. “You can come up with me.”
Garrett switched off the SUV. “Let me open your door, Rainbow.” He watched her as he circled the hood. Ellie looked like she was giving herself a pep talk. What am I going to find in her apartment?
After opening her door, Garrett helped her out and held on to her hand. They walked together to the entrance. He was pleased to see she had to let herself into the apartment complex with her key. Only residents could access the brightly lit corridors. Garrett followed her up two flights of stairs.
Ellie paused in front of a closed door. She turned back to look at Garrett. He brushed the hair from her face and cupped her jaw with his immense hand.
“I promise you that whatever you’re concerned about will be okay.”
“Anything?” she questioned.
“Anything.”
Ellie turned the doorknob and pushed open the door. Garrett stepped in and looked around. Everything was perfectly tidy. The only thing that caught his eyes was the appalling wallpaper. It didn’t seem to have a repeatable pattern but was completely random. Curious, he stepped toward the closest wall and stopped as Ellie darted forward to stand in front of him.
“I had permission to decorate.”
Garrett looked over her head and everything clicked into place. Stickers! She had plastered the walls of the main living space with multicolored bedazzlements celebrating everything from cartoons to brand names. Only small portions of the plastered surface peeked through. It must have taken her hours to arrange all of these.
Enchanted, he felt his lips curve into a grin. “Looks like I need to create a space for you to make your own in the nursery. That is if you have any more?”