Sweet Tooth (Little Cakes, #11)(3)

Tom had even considered visiting the tattoo parlor, Maniac Tats, but then quickly dismissed the idea. For one thing, he hadn’t seen any tattoos on her, so it wasn’t likely she went there often. For another thing, it would be beyond absurd for him to consider getting a tattoo just to be in the vicinity of a woman.

Today he’d gotten smarter and arrived in the square a bit after three in the afternoon. After all, that was what time Nibbles & Bites closed. If there was any chance of actually seeing her, it would be at this time.

He’d hedged, wondering if she’d be more likely to head for the gym after work or the sweet confectionary. Did she even eat cupcakes? By the looks of her, it was kind of doubtful. She was fit and healthy. Not a stretch considering she owned a café with a menu filled with healthy selections.

What he could and probably should do would be to actually dine at Nibbles & Bites, but that seemed too pushy. He didn’t want to pressure her into buying his vegetables. He’d given her samples and his card. Anything else would be overkill.

So, he was playing this ridiculous game yet again today. As he stepped into Little Cakes, he realized his timing also meant the place was packed with kids just getting out of school.

Even better. Standing in line would give him some time to loiter once again. He’d been here several times. It wasn’t a stretch. His mother had a fondness for cupcakes. He often stopped to pick one up for her when he was in town. That excuse could keep him coming back over and over without raising eyebrows.

Standing in a line that was backed up to the entrance, he kept glancing out the front windows toward Nibbles & Bites. Damn, he had it bad for this woman. He couldn’t even be certain she was the sort of woman he was interested in.

Elizabeth had been quiet the day he’d come into her café, but then again, he hadn’t given her much of an opportunity to speak. He’d rambled on and on, coming up with as many things to say as possible to prolong their interaction.

His heart had skipped a beat when he’d first realized she was the woman he’d collided with at the salon. He hadn’t held out hope he’d ever see that woman again. She’d been so flustered and cute, her gorgeous curls bouncing around her shoulders, her big brown eyes wide, her full lips parted.

He’d wanted to cup her face and tip her head back. Even those few moments had led him to daydream about her being the Little he knew he wanted in his life.

After visiting her restaurant, he’d felt slightly more confident she could be Little. No one else but a Daddy would have noticed the signs. She wasn’t blatant about it in her place of work, but she had fidgeted and lowered her gaze a lot.

Those weren’t the details that really caused him to lean toward her being Little though. What caught his attention were the items on her desk that he could clearly see through the open door to her small office.

Lavender was obviously her favorite color. A lavender backpack sat on the corner of the desk. There was also a pack of colored pencils and several adult coloring books. In the corner against the computer monitor sat a lavender hippopotamus stuffie.

Tom smiled at the memory, continuing to stare out the window.

Suddenly, a voice behind him made him jerk around toward the front of the line. He knew that voice. He’d never forget it.

There she was, at the front of the line, ordering her cupcake. She was wearing the purple backpack, and she rose up onto her tiptoes to pay before she picked up the plated cupcake and a carton of milk and turned around.

Tom could only stare for a moment, his heart racing. It was hard to avoid grinning. She was so damn cute. He willed her to make eye contact with him and then held his breath as she scanned the room, looking for a seat.

The moment she spotted him, she froze. A smile grew across her face. His heart stopped. He knew in that split second she was the one. The details would work themselves out, but this gorgeous, amazing, sexy, purple-loving woman was his Little girl.

“Hey there,” she said as she stepped closer.

Tom got out of line and immediately took the plate and milk from her hands, nodding toward a table in the corner that no one had snagged yet. “Looks like you could use some help.”

“Oh. Thank you. You didn’t have to do that.”

He adored the startled oh she uttered. She’d done so several times when he’d been in her kitchen too, as if he continually caught her off guard.

After making his way to the open table, Tom set her milk and cupcake down and pulled out the chair for her.

“Thank you,” she repeated as she accepted the seat and let him push her in. She glanced at the line. “You lost your spot.”

He shrugged. “It’s okay. I’ll wait for the line to die down a bit. Do you mind if I sit with you?” He set a hand on the second chair.

“Oh. Of course.” She sat up straighter. “Please. Sit.”

Relieved, he took the second seat and met her gaze. He pointed at the cupcake. “You really like purple, don’t you?”

She flushed as she glanced at the delicacy. “Uh, yeah. It’s my favorite color.”

“I kind of figured you were a health nut. I’m surprised to see you here.” He winked to make sure she knew he was teasing her.

She giggled, and the sound grabbed his soul. She leaned in close to him so that her face was only inches away from him. “Maybe don’t tell anyone. I have a sweet tooth. I don’t let myself indulge very often, but sometimes, I have to fill the craving.”