Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 46077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 46077 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 230(@200wpm)___ 184(@250wpm)___ 154(@300wpm)
She widened her eyes. “Of course not.” That was preposterous.
“Well, I don’t have doubts about being a Daddy either. Your Daddy. I will not be changing my mind. Ever. You’re mine and I’ll remind you of that every day until you believe it. After you believe it, I’ll still tell you every single day.”
She felt her heart beating faster in her chest at his earnest declaration. “I’ll try.” That was her honest answer. It was going to take time for her to fully trust anyone again. She’d gotten badly burned the last time she’d trusted a man.
“That’s all I can ask, Cherry. While you’re learning to believe in Daddy, can we go back to my house and snuggle on the couch?”
She smiled. “I’d like that.” She’d love it. She’d love if she never ever left him again. But she worried too.
He kissed her gently. “What I’d really like is if you’d stay with me. You packed quite a few things this morning. I bet it’s enough to stay at my house for a few days.”
“Really?”
“If I had my way, you’d never go back to your house, Cherry. I could tell the place made you feel anxious. It has bad memories. You don’t have to make any firm decisions immediately, but stay with me. When you reach a time when you trust your heart to make it permanent, we’ll sell the house. We’ll move whatever furniture you want to keep, including your grandfather clock, to my house, and live happily ever after.”
She rose off her chair and threw her arms around his neck. He made it sound so simple. Could it be that easy?
“Look, Daddy!” Sue pointed to a bright yellow note on the door as soon as she emerged from her car. They had stopped by the parking lot in front of Little Cakes to pick up her car and she’d followed Davis to his home.
“I wonder what that is? Let’s go see.” Davis opened his door and shot a warning glance at Sue when she released the latch as well. “Wait for Daddy.”
Squirming on her still sore bottom, Sue dropped her hand from the door. “Sorry!”
Seconds later, she allowed him to help her out of the car. Sue loved the light kiss he planted on her hair as a reward for being good.
Davis took her hand and led her inside as the garage door descended. Heading straight for the front door, he opened it and peeled the sticky note from the door. “Wow! They’re fast. The furniture guys stopped but we weren’t home. I’ll call them now and see if they can swing back by.”
Sue watched him dial the number on the paper and held her breath as she strained to hear. When she placed her ear next to the phone in his hand, Davis switched it to play on the speaker.
“Delivery.”
“Hi! This is Davis Irving. I missed my delivery.”
“Mr. Irving. You’re in luck! We’re two blocks away. We’ll stop at your house before heading home for the night,” the gruff voice answered.
“Thank you! We’ll be here.”
Disconnecting the phone, Davis wrapped his arms around Sue and lifted her from the floor in a giant bear hug. He carried her to an open space and twirled her around in a circle.
“Whee!” Sue squealed as her feet rose from the centrifugal force.
“I don’t know how we got moved up to the head of the line to receive furniture but I’m not going to question why,” he said as he set her feet back on the floor. “Looks like we get to put furniture together tonight. Want to help Daddy?”
“You’d let me help?” she asked in shock.
“Of course. I’ll do a final tighten on all screws and bolts to make sure everything is stable but I have a feeling you’re a good direction reader.”
“I’d be really good at that. And I can hold sides while you get them put together,” she suggested.
“Perfect.”
Sue ran over to the window when she heard a car engine. “It’s not them. It’s just a car,” she reported to Davis. “Wait! Someone’s getting out. It’s Elizabeth.”
Turning to look at Davis, she asked, “She comes to your house?” Fury bubbled up inside her, making her tremble. She thought she might faint. How had she so badly misjudged Davis? He’d obviously lied to her. Otherwise how would Elizabeth know where he lived and stop by without warning?
“No, she definitely does not come here,” Davis corrected her as he walked toward the window.
She couldn’t believe what a good actor he was. His jaw actually dropped like he was shocked that Elizabeth walked down his walkway to the front door.
“I don’t know how she got my address or what she’s doing here,” Davis told her convincingly. Was he telling the truth? “There’s only one way to figure out what’s going on.”
The doorbell rang and then they heard the screen door rattle as it opened. “What the…” Davis growled as he strode toward the door as the handle turned and Elizabeth pushed her way into the house.