A Pinch of Sugar (Lights Camera Insta-love 1)

“That won’t be necessary,” I say briskly, cutting him off before he can start recommending entrees. “I’m here to speak with your manager. Alice.”

His brows shoot to his hairline. “Alice?”

“Yes.” She stops behind the restaurant owner, seeming to balance on the balls of her feet and something inside me goes…soft. Like the center of a lava cake when it’s been sliced open. This effect she has on me is as alarming as it is addictive. “In fact…if you’ll kindly give her the night off, I would be happy to return the favor.”

The owner turns and looks at Alice, then back at me, his eyes as wide as an owl. “I suppose I could step in tonight…in a managerial capacity…if you would be willing to tweet about Landmark and its delectable dessert menu?”

On the inside, I’m rolling my eyes. Everything these days is about social media. Thank God I have people on the payroll to handle that nonsense on my behalf. “I’ll have my assistant contact you.” I move past the man who dares to block Alice from my view. “Shall we?”

She blinks several times. “Just like that, you expect me to walk out of my job? On a Saturday night?”

I raise an eyebrow. “Yes.”

A sound puffs out of her. “Have you considered the fact that you’re the second man today to decide the course of my fate without even consulting me?”

“This is not the same thing,” I growl, moving into her personal space. The scent of sugar wraps around me and I momentarily lose my train of thought. Where was I? Right, she compared me to that wanker ex-boyfriend of hers. Is she serious?

I press my mouth to her ear and despite the sparks in her eyes, she goes pliant immediately and moans, the pointed tips of her breasts grazing my stomach. By God, if I don’t get between her thighs soon, I’m going to go insane.

“I don’t want to put you on some ridiculous reality show, Alice. I want to take you home and fuck you until your legs shake.”

She whimpers, swaying closer, and I can’t go any longer without feeling her body up against mine, so I wrap an arm around her lower back and pull her close.

“But…” The pink stain of her blush climbs to her hairline. “What about the things I told you? I thought…”

“What, darling?”

Her whisper is barely audible. “I thought maybe you weren’t feeling it.”

“Feeling it?” Her adorable American slang reminds me of our age difference. People in the restaurant are wondering if I’m her father, but I don’t give a damn about what anyone thinks.

No one except this girl.

I care quite a bit what she thinks about me and it’s not sitting right that she’s compared my actions to some dolt she’ll never see again—mark my words. It’s sitting even less right that her assessment is correct. “Alice, I’m…sorry for assuming you would come with me.” The apology sounds odd in my voice. When was the last time I apologized to another human being? Have I ever? “I’m scheduled to return to London tomorrow and I find I’m rather resentful of every moment that passes in which we’re not alone.”

Alice’s green eyes tick to mine and she seems to be holding her breath. “Tomorrow?”

“Yes.” I don’t want to think about time limits now. The very possibility of getting on a plane without this girl and leaving…I don’t like the pressure it puts in my chest. But there is an order to everything, just like baking ingredients. This matter of not leaving Alice behind in New York will be handled in due time. After I’ve been inside her and I can bloody concentrate. “Will you come to my hotel tonight?” I keep my voice low, my lips grazing her earlobe. What I say next sends my world spinning in a new direction—one that feels right and makes sense. It’s everything that’s been missing. Alice is everything that’s been missing. “I need to be your Daddy.”

Her legs give out and I catch her right before she crumples the floor.

“Is that a yes?” I ask, my lips twitching.

She nods. Vigorously.

Swinging her up into my arms, we leave the restaurant in a wake of camera flashes, but nothing lights up the night like her shy smile.

Mine.

5

Alice

Sebastian buckled me into the cab.

Buckled me in and double checked the strap, kissed me on the forehead.

It’s all I can think about on the short drive to his hotel.

How caring for me comes so naturally to him. He holds my hand on the seat between us, his thumb brushing my knuckles, right to left. I can see the jut of his erection and when he sees me looking at it, he holds the index finger of his free hand to his lips. His obvious state of arousal is our secret.

I need to be your Daddy.