CHAPTER THIRTEEN - SARAH
Tani and I walked hand in hand to the bakery and the whole way there she had me list all the sweets I had. When we walked in, my sister Angie was chomping at the bit to leave.
“Tani, this is my sister, Angie. Angie, this is Hunter’s daughter, Tani.” Tani smiled and offered her hand which Angie took.
Angie’s eyes were wide but then she looked at me and mouthed: she’s so cute. And she wasn’t exaggerating at all. Tani was the prettiest little girl with her big blue eyes that were far more inquisitive than most children’s her age and her curly, pale blond hair that was a mess from a hard day on the playground.
She walked over and peered into the front case and then turned to me. “You weren’t kidding. You do have all that stuff in here.”
I took her by the hand and led her around back to the kitchen where I had some fresh baked cupcakes that had cooled since my time with Hunter. “How would you like to decorate your very own cupcake?” Angie stood in the door and watched as I lifted Tani up on a stool and helped her wash her hands. “We have to get our hands clean and then I’ll help you decorate it how you want.”
“Awesome!”
I helped her down from the one stool and up onto another one near the icing table where I had bags of every color icing ready to use. I showed her how to hold the bag and she took the instruction well. “It’s all about the pressure you put on the bag as you move the tip. It takes some getting used to.”
She piped out an irregular shaped heart. “Can I make one for Daddy?”
“Yes. Any kind you think he’ll like, and when you’re done we’ll take them and have them after dinner.”
Angie pulled me aside to tell me goodbye but before she left, Tani insisted on giving her the first cupcake with the heart. From the sappy look on my sister’s face I wondered if she were in love with the child as much as I was. She was a neat kid, and I was sure it was all Hunter’s doing.
I watched Tani, standing close so she didn’t take a dive on the tall stool, as she decorated three more cupcakes. “This one is for Daddy, this one is for me, and this one is for you.” My cupcake had an H and her Daddy’s had an S. “You like Daddy don’t you. The H stands for Hunter.”
I was nearly startled by her intuitiveness. “I love it, thank you. And yes, and I do like your Daddy very much. He’s a special man.” She giggled and gave me a look like she wanted to ask me something. “What are you thinking of?” I was almost afraid to ask, but then she giggled and shook her head.
“Maybe you can get tattoos.” She held up her arms for me to lift her down.
“Tattoos of what?” I had always wanted a tattoo.
“You get ‘Hunter’ and Daddy gets ‘Sarah’. That means you love each other.” She wagged her brows at me and then hurried into the other room as soon as her Dad arrived. He came in the door with a big smile for his daughter.
“Are you two ready to go?” He had barely gotten the words out when Tani took him by the hand and lead him back to the kitchen.
“It’s a cupcake for you. It’s got Sarah’s letter on it.” She gave him a big grin. “These are our desserts.”
I grabbed a box to pack up the cupcakes and then we were off.
We went for a nice dinner and then finally to the mall where Tani wanted to go to a toy shop so she could make her own stuffed animal. Hunter explained that she collected them and so it sounded like fun to me. I waited as Tani chose a pretty brown bear which she stuffed all on her own. Then she whispered something to Hunter and he nodded. He took me by the hand and we walked across the store to look at some other things he said he wanted to get Tani for Christmas. Ten minutes later the saleslady called us over and Tani held something behind her back.
“Let’s see what you made,” Hunter said and Tani pulled not one, but two bears from behind her back.
“They’re beautiful.” She held out one brown bear and one pale gold bear that almost matched Tani’s hair.
“This is me and this is you. You can have my bear.” She handed me the pale gold bear and said I could dress it any way I wanted.
My heart melted at that moment. “Thank you.” She brought me to an area where we got to choose its clothes and then we sat dressing the bears. Tani’s had an apron and a tiny spatula and cap. I was head over heels for this child.
By the time we left, Tani’s eyes were getting heavy, so Hunter lifted her up and carried her out to his truck. We drove to his house and put her to bed and the two of us went to the living room to talk and put our feet up.
“She’s amazing. She’s so well-mannered and kind. It’s not every day you see that. You should see some of the kids that come into the bakery.”
“I agree, but then again, I’m totally biased.” He brushed a stray strand from my face and then placed his hand over mine, playing with the ring.
“I’ve been looking at it all day since you gave it to me. I keep playing with it.” I was surprised my sister hadn’t seen it.
“I want to go down and get our license Monday. Maybe we could take an early lunch if your sister’s going to be around?”
“I’ll see if she’ll come in a bit early. If she thinks we’re having a lunch date, she’ll be more than happy.” I laughed and then stretched my arms out over my head and yawned.
“Your car is at the bakery, so you have two options. You can sleep over or take my truck home.”
As much as I wanted to go to his bed, it didn’t feel right my first day after meeting Tani. “I better take your truck. I don’t want to impose on Tani too soon. But I’ll come back tomorrow and we can hang out a bit if you want?”
He leaned in and kissed me, pulling me close and rubbing my back. I melted against him. The backrub was as good as the kiss and I thought about staying the night anyway. “You come over bright and early and I’ll make us all breakfast.”
I yawned again and stood up. “I better get going while I’m still awake.”
He narrowed his eyes and pulled me back down to his lap. “I think it’s too late. You should stay.”
I shook my head and protested. “Tani will know I spent the night.”
“I have a guest room. My Mother uses it all the time so you’re welcome to it. I’ll tell Tani you got tired and she’ll not think anything of it.” His eyes softened and then he brushed my hair back again. His hands felt so good against me. He stirred my desires and I couldn’t help but want him. I hated how weak he made me. I’d been determined not to let myself give into him, but I was slipping.
“Fine. I’ll stay. But I want you to tuck me in.” I brought his hand back up to my face and leaned into it, resting against his palm.
“I’ll do you one better.” He stood and before I knew what was happening he scooped me up into his arms and carried me upstairs to bed. It was the first time I’d given in when my inner voice was telling me ‘no’, and it wouldn’t be the last.