Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
“Perfect.” He glanced at her. “My realtor has found a few homes for me to look at. She says she can show them to me this afternoon. How does that sound? Would you come with me? I’d really like to have your input.”
Avery licked her lips. “Uh, who’s your realtor?” she asked, concerned she might know the woman.
He palmed his forehead. “Right. Duh. You know Lark. She’s Wyatt’s girlfriend. I mean I assume you know her since Wyatt is your partner, and I assume you were with her and the rest of your friends at Blaze the other night for the costume party before you ran off.”
Avery gasped. “I didn’t run off,” she lied.
Trace scrunched his face and he reached for her chin to encourage her to meet his gaze. “What did I say about lying to Daddy?”
She tried to look away, but he held her chin. “Sorry, Daddy.” His reprimand made her squeeze her legs together though. For some reason, every time he called her out on something, butterflies jumped around inside her and her panties grew wet.
“I haven’t asked you why you took off like that Wednesday night. Would you like to tell Daddy?”
Avery shook her head the scant amount she was able.
He chuckled. “How about you do so anyway.”
She licked her lips. “I didn’t want you to know who I was.”
“I gathered that. Why, Mae Bug?”
“I was afraid it would affect my career,” she admitted softly.
He smiled and leaned in to kiss her. “Thank you for being honest with Daddy. I hope you know me well enough by now to believe your private preferences will not affect your career.”
“Yes, Sir, but uh, are you sure you want me to go look at homes with you? I mean Lark and I are friends and we’re sometimes Little together when we’re at Blaze, but we don’t mix it with our careers.”
Trace searched her face, seeming to think for a moment before responding. “I would never ask you to do anything that makes you uncomfortable, Avery. I promise. You have my word. I really do want your input on my house though. If you’d like to tuck your Little side away while we’re with Lark, that’s perfectly acceptable.”
Avery felt a slight panic growing inside her. If she went house shopping with Trace, Lark would find out they were dating. It was also possible other members of the community would see them together.
When she didn’t say anything, Trace spoke again. “Tell Daddy what’s really bothering you.”
She swallowed. No sense keeping her fears to herself. Besides, it wasn’t a secret. He already knew about her concerns. “People might see us, Daddy.”
He narrowed his gaze. “Are you embarrassed to be seen with me?” he teased as he slid his hand around to the back of her neck.
She gasped and shook her head. “Of course not. You know that’s not it. You’re the sexiest man in the entire town. No one could ever be embarrassed to be seen with you. But you’re my boss, and I’m worried about what people will say about me.”
“Why don’t you let Daddy handle that if it becomes a problem, yeah?”
Her cheeks heated. “You can’t order people to treat me fairly, Trace. They might do so when you’re watching, but they’ll talk about me behind my back and resent me for getting preferential treatment.”
“Have you had problems being treated fairly at work in the past, Avery?”
She shook her head. “No. Never. I work twice as hard as any man around me. I work out every day too so that no one can accuse me of not being fit enough to do the job. The other detectives respect me.”
“Then why do you think they will stop respecting you now?”
She shrugged, staring at her hands in her lap. “I don’t want to give anyone a reason to even consider it.” She lifted her gaze. “I worked hard to get where I’m at, Trace.” She was well aware she was using his real name, but this was a serious conversation that required her adult persona to be present.
Trace grabbed her hands in her lap and stilled her fidgeting with a squeeze. “Look at me, Little girl.”
She looked up, trying to control her emotions. Her adult self could do so easily. She could be hard as nails in any situation when it called for it. But Trace was pulling on her Little self. He made it hard to hold on to her stern cop personality.
“Good girl. I know we haven’t known each other long, but I also know you feel the same connection I do. You’re mine, Avery.”
Her breath hitched. She licked her lips. “You said that earlier. Surely you don’t mean it.”
“I do mean it.” He lifted her hand and pressed her palm against his chest. “Do you feel that?”
She nodded slowly. “Your heart?”