Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 44942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“So we try it and see if we can continue?” she asked, meeting his gaze steadily.
“We make it work. I don’t want to lose you.”
Avery nodded. “I don’t want to be assigned to anyone else, either.”
She held out her hand. “Thanks, partner.”
“You got it,” he said, shaking hers firmly.
After she left, Wyatt’s mind boggled at the bravery and strength the Little had shown in approaching him directly. Avery might be Little, but she was a force to be reckoned with. He absolutely trusted her to have his back in any situation.
Dragging his mind from the important conversation, Wyatt put a few things away before his gaze landed on the kitchen sink. He was going to knock out that repair on his day off. Making a list of what he needed, Wyatt grabbed his keys and headed to the car. He locked his gun in the concealed safe under the driver’s seat. He didn’t want to upset all the shoppers. A gun was tough to conceal in a pair of snug gray sweatpants.
Once at the store, Wyatt found the correct size piping and the other materials he needed. Only a few customers filled the store at that hour, so he was able to check out and load everything into his car in a short time. Headed back to the house, he flipped on the radio to the live local news and weather station.
“Going to be a good day tomorrow to work on the gutters,” he decided after listening to the weather. Maybe he could get that finished quickly as well. Pleased, he switched over to a pop music station.
Negotiating through the streets, Wyatt created a schedule for his day off. Somehow, fixing up the minor items his house needed didn’t seem like work. He had dreamed of finding his Little for so long that creating the home for Lark made everything rewarding. Wyatt pulled into the driveway, hoping to unload his car and get started.
“I’m betting you’re our new neighbor,” a mature voice said from his right as soon as he stepped onto the driveway.
Wyatt looked up with a smile to see an older man and woman standing at the property line between their houses. “I am. I’m Wyatt Hazelton.”
“Hi, Wyatt. I’m Stan Murphy and this is Tabby, my bride of thirty-seven years.”
“Wow! Thirty-seven years. Congratulations.”
“Are you married?” Tabby asked with a ready smile.
“I’ve found my special lady. Now, I need to convince her I’m worth the next forty years of her life,” Wyatt answered.
“Finding her is important. But that next step is a doozy,” Stan shared with a wink.
“Don’t I know it. You all lived in the neighborhood for long?”
“We built our house here about six years ago. The neighbors are all wonderful. Tabby misses Elizabeth already. Her husband built your house. I’m glad to see someone new move in. It’s been a happy place.”
“I knew the minute I walked in it was mine.”
“Do you barbecue?” Tabby probed.
“I grill a bit. I haven’t learned how to smoke meat, but I’d like to,” Wyatt took the bait.
“Stan’s a two-time county winner for his brisket,” she said proudly.
“Perhaps you’ll share a few pointers with me,” Wyatt suggested.
“I’d love to,” Stan agreed with a nod. “What do you do, Wyatt?”
“I’m a police detective.”
“What a dangerous job! I’m glad to have you next door. This is a safe neighborhood, but it never hurts to have an expert nearby. I think your phone is buzzing,” Tabby warned, pointing to the cellphone in the front seat of the car where it vibrated faintly.
Instantly, Wyatt's attention shifted from the visitors. Pulling the door open farther, he checked his messages. He’d missed a phone call from Lark. He smiled at his neighbors and held up the phone. “Missed a call from my sweetheart.”
“You better call her back then, son,” Stan said with a chuckle. “Never leave a Little girl waiting.”
Wyatt was smiling at his new neighbor’s word choice as he returned Lark’s call. The moment the call connected he spoke, “Lark, I’m sorry…”
“He tried to kiss me! That jerk!”
He stopped moving, frozen in his spot. “Are you okay, kitten?”
“I’m fine,” she huffed. “I left him writhing in the flower bed.”
“Slow down. What happened?” Wyatt’s heart was racing. Someone had dared touch his Little girl?
She started rambling so fast it was hard to keep up. “I was showing houses to this jerk who probably never intended to buy one in the first place. We went to so many properties today I was exhausted by the time we made it to this last one. I knew it felt wrong, and I’m mad at myself for not listening to my instincts. I’m so sorry, Daddy. But I also remembered everything you taught me and did all the right things in the end. Ha.”
Wyatt was scrambling to keep up. “Did you call the police, kitten?”