Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 70558 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70558 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 353(@200wpm)___ 282(@250wpm)___ 235(@300wpm)
Oh, that hadn’t sounded terribly grown-up or like a comment a boring guy would make.
Shoot.
Tate’s eyes twinkled but he didn’t laugh. “I’m glad you like my visits.”
“I do.” Was that fine to say? “I mean, you’re very nice.”
I was starting to remember the main reason why I’d been single for so long.
I was awkward.
And it didn’t help that when I got stressed, I forgot what I’d been going to say to begin with. That just made me look weird and way too quiet which made the awkward part worse.
But this was Tate and I didn’t ever have to see him again if he thought I was ridiculous.
“I…I wanted to tell you that I appreciate how nice you’ve been to me and how you made sure I ate enough vegetables.” He had very strong opinions on buying cookies without being able to list off what vegetables I’d eaten recently.
Tate smiled without making me feel ridiculous, and I could feel my little side wanting to come out and play. Something about Tate just made me want to show him all my toys and my favorite party dresses and just everything. “I meant it when I said you were my favorite customer.”
Oh, he was just so nice.
“I…” How had I been going to do this? I’d planned it out but somehow it’d escaped my head. “Do you have other favorite customers?”
The awkward was back…I knew it but I hadn’t been able to stop myself.
At least I hadn’t stood there quietly like my mouth was broken?
How did other people flirt?
They seemed to just do it like it was as natural as breathing and whatever they said sounded fascinating and naughty. I just sounded like I needed a nap before my words would make any sense.
I could feel the panic setting in, but Tate shook his head and looked like it was a perfectly reasonable question. “No, I only have one favorite. He’s very polite and he has a sweet tooth.”
Blushing, because I just couldn’t help myself, I rocked back and forth on my heels. “But he eats his vegetables and had a salad for lunch.”
Mostly because the lettuce had been about to go funny if I put it off any longer.
“That’s wonderful. Good…good job.” There was something in his expression that said he’d been going to say something else.
Good boy?
He’d always given off Daddy vibes—he asked about what I ate and he made sure I wasn’t working too much and he always knew when I was stressed.
“Thank you.” Feeling all squirmy inside, I swung the bag and looked down at the floor, wondering if I was going to lose my nerve. “I…I was going to ask you something but I don’t know if I should.”
Might as well make sure he knew I wasn’t so good at the whole take life by the horns idea.
“I think just admitting that makes you very brave.” Tate’s soft words had me looking back up at him, still feeling weird, but a little less worried than before.
“Really? I think…I’d wanted to…” Oh dear. This was so frustrating.
It was also why I needed a Daddy…but it was going to make it impossible to get a Daddy.
I was pretty sure I had one who just showed up one day bringing me ice cream, and I still couldn’t manage to talk to him about anything date-ish.
I hadn’t even managed to ask if he knew he was a Daddy.
My online friends said some men didn’t know that they were Daddies until their littles found them. I’d thought that was crazy but then I’d met Tate. I just didn’t know what to do now. I should’ve asked more questions to my online friends, but I thought I’d been prepared.
Evidently not.
As I took a deep breath and tried to figure out where to start again, because it was really getting to the point of ridiculous, Tate shifted closer to the door and cleared his throat. I really hoped he was going to let me down nicely, but I was brave and looked back up again.
He didn’t look like he was mad.
That had to be a good sign.
I just didn’t know what his blank, maybe concerned expression meant. “Addison, were you going to ask me out?”
I was pretty sure the world stopped while I tried to get words past the lump in my throat, but when that didn’t work, I had to settle for nodding.
He smiled.
Oh wow.
That couldn’t be a bad thing.
His smile even made his eyes twinkle as he glanced down at the bag I was still swinging. “Well, now that you’re not my customer any longer, would it be inappropriate if I asked you out instead? I happen to know a good restaurant that makes cookies for dessert.”
He did?
“I like cookies.” Shoot. That wasn’t very grown-up.
“I know.” His smile got even wider and just seeing how happy he was made me want to throw myself at him. His chest was broad and he had strong arms and I just knew he’d be a very good cuddler. “How about—”