Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 44040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 44040 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 220(@200wpm)___ 176(@250wpm)___ 147(@300wpm)
“You don’t like me in my pretty dress?” she joked, holding the hem of Daddy’s oversized T-shirt out to curtsy.
“Come on, my Little comedian. Let’s put some pants on you at least,” he joked, linking his fingers with hers to tow her down the hall to the nursery.
Chapter Sixteen
Twenty minutes later, they pulled into a parking spot in front of Daisy’s condo. Daisy loved the stern exterior that everyone respected from her Daddy, but she also loved the way he tickled her as she scrambled out of the car, making her giggle. Not everyone knew he had a funny and sweet side, too.
“No tickles!” she protested, squirming away.
“Just trying to wake you up so you can choose clothes quickly. It’s almost pumpkin time.”
“Pumpkin time?”
“Remember the fairy tale when the magic disappeared at midnight and the beautiful carriage became a pumpkin?” he asked.
When she nodded, he continued, “Littles should be asleep way before that happens.”
“So, I get to stay up until twelve?” Daisy asked as they approached her front door.
“No, your pumpkin time is much earlier,” Bear answered. His tone did not brook any argument.
He looked past her and pointed, “Did you have something delivered?”
“No. What is that? It doesn’t look like a package.” Daisy rushed forward and stopped in her tracks. A battered bouquet sat on her welcome mat. As she looked up to make sure the door was locked, Daisy saw something that made her blood turn to ice inside her veins.
A red ribbon was tied around the doorknob. Daisy pointed as she struggled to string words together to tell her Daddy. Eyes glued on the tattered decoration, she backed up until her body rested against Bear’s warm chest. Immediately, he wrapped his free arm around her tummy to hold her tight against him.
In a flash, he held his phone to his ear. “Detective Hazelton, Wyatt,” Bear corrected himself. “Can you come to this address? Daisy’s stalker has discovered where she lives.” Daddy rattled off her address.
Daisy could hear the deep murmur of the policeman’s voice, and she strained to hear what he said.
“The same flowers he left on her car are sitting on her doormat.”
After a few more words, Bear disconnected the call. He kissed Daisy’s cheek to reassure her and said, “Wyatt is on his way. He doesn’t like this any more than I do.”
Twisting in his arms, she watched Bear scan the area. “You have a doorbell camera. Where’s the video stored?”
“I can get to it on my phone.”
“Pull it up. We’ll show it to Wyatt when he gets here.”
Daisy fumbled with her phone. She hadn’t looked at the footage since she’d first moved in and the condo management had shown her how to use the camera. It didn’t help that her Daddy was watching her struggle. Finally, she remembered the password and was able to back through the recording to find it.
Her heart sank in her chest as she watched Leo Miller walk up to her door. Bear wrapped himself around her as he peered over Daisy’s shoulder. The creepy guy walked up to her door and rang the doorbell. He waited for several seconds before pushing the button again. Leo didn’t seem concerned that he was on video at all.
They saw him knock directly on the door—first lightly and then pound on it. He called out her name several times before shouting, “You are being very naughty, Little girl. I’m going to turn your bottom red when I get ahold of you.”
Finally, he seemed to realize she wasn’t at home. They watched him turn away from the camera and disappear. Daisy held her breath, hoping it was over, but he reappeared quickly with something in his hands. She watched him scatter dead blossoms over her welcome mat before pulling a ribbon out of his pocket and tying it around her door handle.
“Daisy, I don’t want you to forget me. I’ll find you soon. Little girls need to be taught to behave.”
She breathed through her mouth, trying to fight the nausea welling inside her tummy. What was she going to do?
“I’m here. What did you find?”
The deep voice behind her made Daisy shriek with panic. Bear whirled around, immediately defensive as he pushed her behind him.
“Hey, it’s just us. Sorry to startle you,” the familiar figure explained, holding his hands up to defuse the panic. Avery repeated the posture just to her partner’s side.
“Wyatt! Holy shit, you scared us,” Bear informed him as he relaxed his stance. He nodded toward Avery. “Thanks for coming.”
“Want me to leave and come back?” the detective asked with a smile.
“No. We’re glad you’re here. We were watching the footage from Daisy’s doorbell camera. Something needs to be done about Leo Miller. He’s fixated on Daisy.”
“Let me see.” Wyatt took Daisy’s phone and rewound the video.
“How did he get your address?” Avery asked.