Sweet Tooth (Little Cakes, #11)(30)

Putting the truck into gear, he headed for Nibbles & Bites. He couldn’t wait to see Elizabeth and make sure she was okay. Last night had scared him. It had also taught him how important she was.

Pulling up in front of the darkened restaurant, he picked up his phone to call to let his Little girl know he was there. A familiar figure exiting Little Cakes caught his attention. A smile spread his lips as he watched Elizabeth walking carefully with a large box of cupcakes as if they were the most precious cargo ever.

Tom jumped from the truck and jogged to her side. He pressed a light kiss on her lips even though the thought flashed through his mind to devour her like the sweet treats she held. After lifting his mouth from hers, he offered, “Let me carry that for you."

“Maybe I better hold on to it. I don’t want to crush the frosting,” she said before biting her bottom lip.

“This is a lot of cupcakes for you and me, Bunny.”

“These are for your family,” she explained. “I hoped we could drop them off there as a thank you and a sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to apologize for, but I have a feeling they’ll love these. Sweet Tooth?” he guessed.

“Yes. The frosting is just so pretty and the cake—mmm!”

“I agree. It’s a great choice for our family.”

“Our family?” Elizabeth echoed.

“I think they’ve adopted you. It’s a good thing you like me,” he teased and loved her sweet giggle. “Come on, Little girl. Let me hold these while you hop up into the cab.”

When she’d relinquished the cupcake box, Tom held it carefully in one hand and helped her up into the truck before handing it over for her to balance on her knees. He stretched the seatbelt around her and stole another kiss after leaning over her to click it into place.

A honk sounded behind him, making Tom remember he was parked at the curb. Reluctantly, he stepped back and closed her door before jogging around the truck to slide behind the wheel. “Hold on. I have just a couple of stops to make and then we can head to the family area of the farm.”

“I think it will be fun to see what you do,” she said enthusiastically.

Tom drove to the next location and suggested, “You wait for me in the truck. It will just take me a second.” He rolled down the windows to allow the breeze to flow through the car.

“Take your time.”

Once in the back, Tom hauled all the delivery items to the back of the truck and jumped down to start loading everything on the dolly. He noticed Elizabeth watching him in the truck’s large side mirror. His job was physical and honed his muscles into shape. Tom might have flexed his muscles a bit more than necessary to impress her. He liked that Elizabeth seemed as attracted to him as he treasured her.

“Do your arms or back ever get sore?” she asked when he was finished with that drop-off.

“Definitely. I do this every day though, so my body is used to it.”

“What’s the heaviest thing you have to haul around?” she asked.

“Hmm… Maybe a hundred-pound bag of potatoes?”

“I don’t mind putting some muscle cream on your back or wherever it hurts,” she offered.

“Thank you, Bunny. I might take you up on that someday.”

The next stop was close, and Tom finished the day’s work quickly. “Ready to deliver the cupcakes?” he asked.

“Maybe I should just leave your family alone for a while. You know, let them forget I called you Daddy.”

He reached over to cover her clenched hand on one side of the box. “They’ll be glad to see you and everyone in my family has a sweet tooth. They’re perfect for their dessert tonight.”

“Okay,” she whispered.

To distract her, Tom asked about the funniest thing that had happened at Nibbles & Bites that day. Immediately, giggles and pink cheeks answered his question.

“There were not one or two but three carrots in your delivery that had…” she hesitated for a second before whispering, “penises.”

“I grow them like that, Little girl. Those are the Daddy carrots. They appear in a crate when you’ve been good.”

“No way. Nature just did that,” she protested.

“Maybe.” He let his voice drift away to cast doubt.

“Daddy!” she protested, and giggles filled the cab once again.

Tom winked at her as he turned into the driveway leading down to his folks’ house and the warehouse just past it. “If you’re good, I’ll show you where that patch is some time.”

He could tell from her face that her absolute refusal to believe him was faltering. Her expression revealed how hard she was thinking about whether Daddy carrots could exist—especially if he had a special area where he grew them. She didn’t have time to worry about being back at his family’s home while he parked.

After opening her door, Tom took the cupcakes and set them carefully on the hood before scooping Elizabeth out of the truck and gently setting her on her feet.

“Are those really Little Cakes?”

They turned to see Margaret in the doorway, rubbing her baby bump.

“They are. I brought them to sweeten your day,” Elizabeth explained as they picked up the box and walked forward.

“You are an angel in disguise! I’ve been craving frosting all day. I swear this child must have the biggest sweet tooth ever.”