Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 49
Estimated words: 45138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45138 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 226(@200wpm)___ 181(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
She’d spent so much time with him lately that she’d gotten used to having him around her when she wasn’t at work. She’d begun to expect him to be with her in the evenings. Their odd arrangement felt natural to her.
But things were going to change now. She didn’t need him to baby her anymore. Her hand was healed and her other arm no longer needed to be so protected. What would happen to their relationship?
CC didn’t think she was imagining things. She called him Daddy. He seemed to love being with her. Was it possible she’d misread his future intentions? Maybe he was simply going to take her to dinner to celebrate her news and drop her off.
Goosebumps rose on her skin at the thought.
“CC?” Sunshine shook CC out of her musing.
CC licked her lips. “I just realized I’m not sure exactly how my relationship with Hunter is defined.”
Sunshine frowned. “What do you mean? The man adores you. Anyone can tell.”
“Does he?” Why did she feel so uncertain?
“Definitely.” Sunshine reached across the desk and clasped CC’s hand. “I bet you’re just nervous because now that the doctors have cleared you to resume your normal life, things between you two can move to the next step. It’s been a while since you’ve been intimate with a man, hasn’t it?”
CC nodded. There was a lump in her throat. “I’ve never been with anyone except Darren,” she admitted to her friend and colleague.
Sunshine smiled warmly. “I can understand how that would make you nervous. But you know Hunter pretty well by now. He would never do anything you weren’t ready for.”
“Do you think he’s even interested in me that way?” CC bit her bottom lip, stressing it with her teeth.
Sunshine nodded. “I know he is. Every time he stops by the coffee shop he follows you around with his gaze, grinning like a man in love. He sounded genuinely excited when he asked me to open tomorrow.”
CC swallowed hard. “What if he expects me to have sex tonight?” She jerked in her seat, her spine going rigid as she had another, far more horrifying, thought. “What if he doesn’t?”
Sunshine chuckled. “I’m certain he would never pressure you if you’re not ready. I’m equally certain he’s ready to take things as far as you’d like.”
CC nodded slowly as she gave her friend’s hand a squeeze. “You’re right. I’m being silly.” She released Sunshine’s hand and jumped to standing. “I need better lingerie.”
Sunshine laughed. “Excellent idea. Why don’t you pop over to Design Magic and get something new that will make you feel sexy?”
CC glanced around. She’d already been gone from the shop for a few hours today. She wasn’t the sort of person who wasn’t at work from open to close every day. Lately, she felt like she’d been there less often than she’d been away.
Could she really leave again to go shopping? That was totally out of her normal personality. And lingerie? What brought that on? Hunter had seen nearly every pair of panties and bra she owned in the past two weeks. If the man was interested in her even after finding out how unexciting her undergarments were, surely she didn’t need to impress him with sexy lingerie.
“You’re overthinking,” Sunshine said with a giggle. She stood. “Go. Get something new. You deserve it. I’ve got things covered here. You’ve been working your behind off in this coffee shop for years. You made me assistant manager for a reason. Take advantage of it and pamper yourself for a change.”
CC slowly grinned. “You really think I should?”
Sunshine nodded. “I know you should.”
“I’ve never been to Design Magic. It’s in the strip near Little Cakes, isn’t it?”
“Yep. Maybe you can stop and get yourself a treat while you’re over there.”
CC picked up her purse. She’d just arrived at work. Already she was leaving? What was up with her lately? Ever since that kitten had bitten her, she’d been another person. Either the cat bite had addled her mind or…she was in love.
She shuddered. Love? Oh, no. Was she? She shook the idea from her mind and focused on Sunshine’s suggestion. “I don’t think I need any more cupcakes. I’ve been eating at least one of those pumpkin spice ones every day for weeks.”
“Maybe you need another flavor for a change?” Sunshine suggested, her eyes twinkling.
“Blasphemy. There are no other flavors.”
Sunshine laughed. “Maybe you could stop at Little Cakes and take a look in the display. You never know when another flavor might catch your attention.”
CC took a deep breath and looked around. “I should be working,” she murmured.
“Nope. You should be shopping and taking time for yourself. CC’s Purrfect Coffee is running purrfectly. You’ve spent years making it a must-stop location for thousands of people who need their coffee fix early or at lunch. You’ve created a haven for kitten lovers and kittens. It runs itself. Go take care of you.” Sunshine pointed at the door.