Series: Paige Michaels
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45455 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 227(@200wpm)___ 182(@250wpm)___ 152(@300wpm)
Ellie jumped in her spot as she glanced up, obviously startled. “Wow! You scared me. Cupcake emergency? It happens to all of us.”
“Is Tori here by any chance?”
“Tori? Yes. She’s in the back. Let me get her for you.”
In just a few minutes, Ellie returned with Tori. “Here she is. Are you getting gift ideas for your Daddy? Mine always loves kisses.”
“I’ll keep that in mind. Could I talk to Tori alone, Ellie? I’m sorry,” Kiki apologized for shooing the pleasant bakery owner away.
With an intrigued look, Ellie excused herself. “Of course. This must be important.”
“What’s up?” Tori asked.
“Terry had to go away for a work emergency. I’m confused. I thought he was an accountant. What exactly does he do?” Kiki questioned.
“You’ll have to ask Terry about that,” Tori said, shutting down immediately.
Kiki realized that Tori wasn’t going to tell her anything. Quickly, she tried to cover her concern. “Ooo, this is so mysterious.”
“Can I treat you to a cupcake?” Tori asked in an apparent attempt to distract Kiki.
For once a sweet treat didn’t sound too good. Kiki shook her head slowly. “I’m sorry to bother you.”
“No bother. I’m glad to see you. I wish I could help, but it’s up to Terry to explain everything,” Tori said softly.
Kiki sighed as she turned around and left Little Cakes. She didn’t even pick up one of her favorites. Her stomach was unsettled. Coming here had probably been a bad idea. She felt worse than she had before she’d arrived.
Tori’s reaction had confirmed her suspicion that something was definitely fishy about her Daddy’s job. If he were simply an accountant, no way would Tori have reacted the way she had. She would have simply told Kiki that yep, sometimes Terry had to go to Chicago for a meeting.
An emergency meeting.
In Chicago.
For an accountant.
It wasn’t even close to April fifteenth.
Kiki drove back to his house much slower than she’d bolted to Little Cakes. When she arrived, the house felt empty without him. She’d never been there alone. Daddy was always there to greet her and hold her and cook for her.
She shuffled to the fridge, pausing when she saw her latest picture stuck to the front with a cupcake magnet. It made her smile for a second before she returned to frowning.
She opened the fridge to find several meals all neatly stacked for breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. They even had instructions.
This confused Kiki even more. How did her Daddy have time to organize meals? And why hadn’t he called her before he left instead of leaving her a note?
She didn’t like it. Something was sitting wrong with her. After wandering around the house, she determined it was pristine. He’d made the bed. He’d even tucked Spike under the covers on her side so his head stuck out on the pillow.
When she eased Spike out of his spot, she nearly cried. He was wearing the sock. “Where did Daddy go, Spike?” she asked him.
The alligator was a traitor. He surely knew. After all, he’d been home all day while Kiki had been at work, and yet now he said nothing in response. He wouldn’t even meet her gaze.
Kiki set him back on the bed and headed for her Daddy’s office. She’d only been in that room a few times. He wasn’t usually in his office when she was home. He hadn’t told her it was off limits or anything.
She eased in slowly, looking around. It was as pristine as the rest of the house. Every surface was clean of dust. Not a paper in sight. Everything was filed or in a drawer.
When she stepped to the large filing cabinet, she realized it was securely locked. No reason to panic. Whatever papers an accountant has would be confidential.
The desk was also clear of most things. It had a monitor, a keyboard, and a mouse. There was no computer at all. Also not strange. He used a laptop. Of course he would have taken that with him.
My phone! Kiki rushed back to the kitchen where she’d left her purse so she could find her phone. Surely he’d left a voice message or a text by now.
Nothing.
She sighed.
She should eat, but she wasn’t hungry. She could call or text her Daddy, but she didn’t feel like it. What would she say? Where are you? Why did you leave so abruptly? What kind of accountant has mid-week emergencies in the off season out of town?
Chills on her arms made her shiver. The house was too big and too quiet without him. It had grown to feel like her own home in the past week. She’d gradually moved more of her things here. She’d considered breaking her lease and moving in entirely even though she’d only known Terry for a short while.
Maybe she’d made a terrible mistake agreeing to be his Little girl so quickly and without hesitation. When something seemed too good to be true, it often was. Was this one of those times?