Tied With Me (With Me In Seattle)(70)
“Watch your hands, partner,” Matt warns him.
“You’re the best.” Asher sets me back on my feet and kisses my cheek. “Dump that * and marry me.”
Matt’s eyes narrow and darken and his lips firm, but he stays where he is, watching.
“Sorry, handsome.” I pat his cheek and back out of his embrace. “I’m content with what I have.”
“Damn.” He smiles ruefully.
***
“You’ll love the strawberry ones,” Casey assures a customer, carefully placing four of the cupcakes in a white box, her tongue held between her pink lips in concentration. Casey is adorable. Where her father has dark hair and eyes, Casey has long, curly red hair, green eyes and freckles all over her perky little nose. Her skin is perfect, soft and pink.
She looks like a porcelain doll and is going to give the boys a run for their money one day.
“Thank you, young lady,” the elderly customer says with a grin and then takes his treats to Anastasia to pay.
“You’re welcome,” she replies politely.
“You’re a natural at this,” I inform her. “Want a job?”
She giggles and pats her white apron that is roughly four sizes too big for her small body. “I’m too young to work.”
“I guess so,” I agree with an exaggerated sigh. “But one day, you’ll be great at this.”
She smiles widely, showing off a missing tooth. “I’m glad I got to come here today instead of staying with Abby.”
“You don’t like Abby?” I ask as I rearrange the almost-empty glass case.
“I love her, but sometimes it’s boring.” She pouts a bit and then jumps in, helping me.
I smile to myself and step slightly to my right, making room for her.
“We just hang out at her house and watch TV all day. Summer is boring.”
“Does your dad do stuff with you on his day off?” I ask. I wonder where her mom is!
“Yeah, Dad’s days off are the best. But he works a lot.” She shrugs and eyes the strawberry cupcakes. She’s already had two today.
“You can take all of the strawberry ones that are left home with you today,” I say, earning a big smile. “We’ll consider it your pay for all of your help.”
“Wow! Thank you!” She hugs my waist tightly. “They are my favorite.”
“I’m going to lock the door, Nic,” Anastasia says.
“Sounds good, thanks.”
“We’re closing already?” Casey asks with a frown.
“Yep, it’s closing time. But I have to mix some frosting for tomorrow morning. Do you want to help?”
“Yes!” She races into the kitchen, eager to help.
“I think you have a new best friend.” Anastasia laughs. “I’ll handle the cleanup out here so you can get prepped for tomorrow.”
“Thanks. Just let me know if you need me.”
I walk into the kitchen to find Casey waiting for me by my large stainless steel work station.
The same one that Matt made love to me on just a few weeks ago.
“Okay, let’s get to work.”
I hand her ingredients and bowls, and she and I work together, measuring and mixing. She’s funny and sharp as a tack, catching on quickly.
“Justin Bieber is so not cool anymore,” she says with an eye roll. “Austin Mahone is hot.”
“He’s hot?” I ask with a laugh. “Aren’t you too young to think that anyone is hot?”
“Yes, definitely,” Asher replies as he and Matt walk into the kitchen.
“Daddy!” She thrusts the bowl she’s holding into my hands and runs to her father, jumping into his arms. “I’m a worker bee now!”
“You are?” he asks with a laugh.
“That’s what Nic said. Right, Nic?”
“You’re an excellent worker bee,” I agree, nodding my head.
“Were you a good girl?” Asher asks her.
“I helped all day! Nic let me serve customers and make frosting and I met Leo Nash!”
“Leo stopped in this morning,” I add, laughing. “She thought that was pretty cool.”
Casey smiles and nods and hugs her dad, then squirms out of his arms and hugs Matt around the waist. “Hi, Uncle Matt.”
“Hi, munchkin.” He squats next to her and tweaks her nose. “I’m glad you had fun today.”
Elizabeth Wein's Books
- Archenemies (Renegades #2)
- A Ladder to the Sky
- Girls of Paper and Fire (Girls of Paper and Fire #1)
- Daughters of the Lake
- Hiddensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker
- House of Darken (Secret Keepers #1)
- Our Kind of Cruelty
- Princess: A Private Novel
- Shattered Mirror (Eve Duncan #23)
- The Hellfire Club